Seventh Grade Artist Trading Cards

Before making our trading cards students were given PowerPoint presentations on creativity & originality, also one on high quality examples of trading cards.
I gave students some activities to draw out their creativity that are based on techniques used in writing classes. I emphasized story, message, and emotions. Additionally, students were given several mini lessons regarding materials, and techniques for creating engaging trading cards including Styrofoam & marker prints, sand paper & crayon transfers, crayon and black tempera etchings,tape resist, glue resist, rubbings, water soluble marker washing, and line drawing.

Georgia O'Keefe Style Chrysanthemums

Water based markers washed with water.
DK, K and 1st graders were introduced to Georgia O'Keefe and her inflated compositions of flowers. Students were encouraged to leave the tips of the petals off the page, but this was really heard for them. These little ones tend to interpret what that know about the subject and ignore the boundaries of the paper.

Chrysanthemum Collage -second grade

Interpreting a chrysanthemum in paper was a bit challenging for these second graders, but they did a great job of solving the problem and of establishing a unique style through composition and materials.

Chrysanthemums - third grade

Oil Pastel on white paper, painted over with diluted blue tempera.

I bought chrysanthemums and had them in planters and vases on the tables. I'm sorry I didn't get pictures of the students working during this process.
These paintings are vibrant and sweet at the same time.

A few words about developmental perception. Children often attach their artistic expression around certain behaviors influenced by their peers. Examples would be stick people, bug people, suns in the corner of the paper, a blue stripe for the sky, a green stripe for the earth, v-shaped birds, and five petaled flowers.

While I modeled (with restraint so as not to impose my style into their style) how to construct a chrysanthemum, students demonstrated some problems with their perception that is reinforced by the creative influences of their peers. Students want all the flower stems to show, and sometimes they would bend the stems around other flowers, or they would draw stems that seemed to begin or end in inconceivable places.

This year I have talked a lot about the invisible composition and implied line. What I love the most about these discussions is seeing the thunderstruck expressions on the faces of those who "get it." Also, I love the excited energy that is born out of their having acquired greater clarity in seeing objects.

Folk Art Eyes by Second Graders

Tempera on cardboard with oil pastel designs. Black construction paper background.

This lesson is based on a folk art piece (artist unknown) make from scrap wood. Students were encouraged to create high impact through their choices of colors and patterning.

Consider this thought while appreciating this work, "The attentive eye sees and reflects what is wonderful in our world."