Ceramic Clay Projects

All classes have started the ceramic clay unit. We have covered care of tools, storage of clay projects, wedging clay processes, combining clay, and clean up. Students were given bonus points for bringing in a small towel to cover clay projects while in the modeling process. The firing process is up in the air at this point. It is important to me that each of my students get the opportunity to work with ceramic clay....so I will make the firing happen ---options include possibly firing at Central High School or waiting until the move takes place. The kiln has already been removed from our current building. I may need help transporting the projects to the firing location. I will let you know when the time comes.

Grade 6
Students have formed two pinch pots followed by combining these pots into an egg shape with a coil around the middle. Students will smooth the surface completely. Points have been recorded for the pinch pots and the egg. Each student will decide on a frog or a fish as their subject. Demonstrations for each option were shown today. Students will procede with independent work on Thursday, Friday, and Monday. Students will follow the step by step process with points given along the way.

Grade 7
Students have designed a vessel sketch (with measurements) and created a template from that sketch. Points were given for both. I demonstrated the slab/coil building process as well as the importance of smoothing as you build. Students will continue independent work on Thursday, Friday, and Monday. Students will be evaluated on following their template as well as the construction process.

Second Quarter

Students created Chinese brushwork paintings this past week and finished them off with calligraphy stamps and red chops. A few of these will go to Kickapoo High School to be on display in their new lobby for the French Club special display in recognition of the importance of learning a second language.

Field Trip....
Permisson forms will be sent home soon for the field trip to Springfield Little Theatre to view the production of "Babes in Toyland". We will do a quick theatre arts study before we view the show and record various responses to the production after the viewing. Cost will be $7-$8 per student to cover the cost of the ticket and transportation.

Extra Credit Opportunities:
PTSA Reflections contest, CASA card contest, SPS budget book....information on the classroom door.
Viewing/response sheets to any area fall high school musical. Options include:
Central-Once on this Island
Glendale-Putnam County Spelling Bee
Parkview-Grease
Kickapoo-Into the Woods
Willard-Children of Eden

New Projects this coming week
All classes will be starting ceramics. Please bring a small towel to cover clay for storage. We will limit our projects to single items and keep them compact. It is up in the air as to the firing situation for our projects. I may have to wait until moving into the new school or fire at Central High. We will wait it out and see. Thanks for your patience.
Grade seven will start with sketches on Monday. Grade six will start with demos and organizing equipment and storage.

End of Quarter

Recent assignments collected for the Quarter grade are:
Art Starts
Pastel Still life ...graded and posted on STI
Chinese Brushwork practice sheet

Pastel Still Life work on display
Please stop by and enjoy the wonderful hall displays. Across from the classroom you will find the grade 7 Pear Still life work. Students could chose regular or oil pastel as well as how they would organize the finished product. We have some wonderful fruit still lifes with fabric, one grouping of 9 different pears mounted together(Andy Warhol influence), and most students chose two to three drawings mounted as a whole art piece. I was very pleased with the student work. I have had many wonderful comments on the student work. I hope families will treasure the art created by each student. Grade 6 has fabulous fall pumpkin and gourd still lifes by the door. These are so nice and will be great for families to show in their homes each year at this time. It will be very hard for me to decide what to display at the Springfield Art Museum at the end of the year.

Chinese Brush Painting
All classes have completed a brush stroke practice sheet with the bamboo brushes donated by the Schmittling family. Students have really enjoyed learning to use the brushes. Thursday and Friday were spent learning to paint fish, bamboo, and a monkey. Students will be putting skills to use next week to complete a Chinese brush work painting...with poem and chop.

Major Projects Continue

All classes have been working with still life drawings. These pastel drawings will be a major project grade. We have moved slower than I would like, but the students have some strong art pieces. Both grades are having some talking issues which takes away from their working time. Part of the problem stems from students needing one on one instruction as well as lack of focus from other students. To avoid team referrals I have developed Extra time/wait time lessons. With one teacher and over twenty students it is easy for students to get distracted waiting for me to make my rounds within the room. If students are waiting for my help grade 6 has two options. I introduced "Mad Labs" a few weeks ago and this week they can work on Aboriginal seed pod designs. Grade 7 will get an "Expanding your Gray Matter" drawing on Friday. I hope that this will solve some of the current problems.

Projects and due dates
Grade 6...Fall still lifes will be due next week. Friday we will have a class critique to check progress. Monday-students will get a tally sheet of the points for each part of the project. Students will be able to self evaluate their projects and complete areas that are lacking.

Grade 7...Friday may be the last class working day for the pear still lifes. The projects will be due Wednesday. This group will also get a tally sheet to self evaluate their projects and complete areas that are lacking.

Beginning Projects & Information

Pre-instruction drawings-All students have finished pre-instruction drawings: hand, portrait, figure, and building with landscape. These drawings will help me to see each students' current art skills. It will be fun to measure our improvement by viewing these drawings at the end of the semester.

Elements of Art worksheets-All classes are just finishing the Elements of Art review. We have created mini samples of each Element: line, shape, value, texture, color, space, and form.

Still life studies-Seventh graders will start with drawings of pears in various art materials. After these basic value/shading studies the students will move onto a study of American artist, Georgia O'Keeffe. We will concentrate on large floral pieces.
-Sixth graders will work on pumpkin and groud drawings.

Visiting artist-We will have a visiting Chinese brushwork artist come into the classroom possibly on Friday. This has been made possible through Springfield Regional Arts Council.

What's with the colors this time??? email me for bonus points!!!

Keep in mind---1. Students should be saving Starburst and gum wrappers for a recycling project. 2. The art field trip will be in December and be a cost of around $8.00 per person.

Back to School

Welcome to Mrs. Gardner-Snodgrass' ART class...Grades 6 & 7

Tell me the correct reasons why I used the three colors for the word ART and you will start the semester off with bonus points. My son and I have been busy getting the classroom ready. I am setting out samples of project ideas for each grade level. I am looking for ideas from you too!

Hope for COOL weather!! See you on Tuesday, August 25.

Thank you!!!!

Thank you to the Watson Family for the generous gift card to Hobby Lobby. Thank you to my classroom helper Tiffany for all she does to help put up displays and keep things organized in the art room. I don't know what I would do without her help this semester.

Current Projects

Grade 7- ceramic frog instruments are drying...mallets have been made this week with dowel rods and instant papier mache'. Students will paint frogs after firing. The dowel rod mallets will be stained and painted to match the frog design.

Students are working on designing an illuminated letter for printmaking. Students will reverse and transfer the letter onto a soft cut block. They will then use linoleum cutters to make a 4 color reduction print.

Grade 6- ceramic wind chimes are drying...along with a practical ringer, decorative ringer, and 3-4 handmade beads. Students will paint and construct the wind chimes after the firing process.

Students are working on designing an African shield for printmaking. Students will carve the design into a foam block....print 5-6 and then cut and collage the prints to form 2 final prints. We will sew around edges and add the handmade beads.

The 4th Quarter

I gave a general update on the happenings in the art room in the 4th Quarter Spartan Speaker. To update:

We had many impressive art pieces in the All School Art Exhibition at the Springfield Art Museum. I took African prints, Frogs on Parade, ceramic tiki totems, an architectural wardrobe, and a wonderful watercolor chameleon painting. The students will be awarded certificates at the Honors assemblies. Congratulations to all the students.



I was pleased to take my classes to Springfield Little Theatre's production on Mulan, Jr. Classes completed over 70 fans that were illuminated on strings of lights throughout the lobby. Our big collaborative project was constructing a 3D dragon which greeted patrons as they entered the theatre. Thank you to my 3rd and 4th hour classes for all their work on the dragon.



Students are currently working on a wooden person cut-out that will be part of the "features Area" at Artsfest this Saturday and Sunday on Walnut Street. Artsfest is an annual street festival that promotes area and regional artists. The theme of Artsfest this year is Art Unites. Our person will be connected to other painted cut-outs to create a large display. All students individually sketched ideas for the project and ideas were combined to create our person. We have painted, markered, constructed with cardboard & duct tape, woven papers together, and all sorts of creative techniques to complete our multiple visions. We will continue to work until Friday. The cut-out is on display in the hall by room 166 during breaks. We will display again after Artsfest is finished with it.

Current hall displays are 7th grade watercolor chameleons and 6th grade tempera houses. Both displays are very bright and colorful. Stop by to view the artwork.