mrspicasso's art room

This digital portfolio was created during a class I took, using Windows Movie Maker . It is a very easy program to use and is free to download. I plan on having my 5th graders create their own digital portfolios using all of their artwork that has been loaded on to Artsonia.

Here it is! My classroom is about 90% ready to go. I just have a few books to put away and 4, yes, 4 bulletin boards to finish. *sigh* This year, I have color coordinated my tables. I have placed a basket containing 4 pencils. 4 erasers, and one pencil sharpener in the middle of each table. The numbers will correspond to a bulletin board with art jobs. For example, person #1 may have the job of putting supplies away. The infamous soffet containing my collection of artsy items. We often use these things in still lifes. I always get tons of compliments on this collection. Some of these photos are from last year, but I am going to put them here, since this post is also about organization. I have two ware carts that I really don't use as ware carts because my kiln room is right in my art room. Instead, they have become extra shelves. These shelves are set up for my fifth graders. They keep their sketchbooks in the green buckets (from the dollar store) and their projects on the shelv

I was honored to recieve this award from Mary at the blog Mary-Making . Visit her blog- it's awesome! I had seen my blog posted for this award on another blog, but I cannot for the life of me remember whose it was. So, if you were the other person who gave me this award... thank you also! As the rules state, you must:Rule # 1.) Thank the person who gave the award. See above! Rule # 2.) Share 7 things about yourself: 1.) I have taught art for 15 years and never plan on retiring. Ok, maybe someday, but I cannot see myself doing anything else! 2) I have been married to my husband, John for 18 years. We began dating at age 14, so I have spent most of my life with him in it. 3.) We have two children, Nathan, and Nick. Nick is a freshman this year and I couldn't be prouder. We lost our older son, Nate, 4 years ago to an AVM (ArterioVenous Malformation) when he was 13. If you are interested, you may learn more about my son on his memorial website. 4.) I was the only one of m

Only 7 days until the little ones come back to school, so I spent a few days preparing my room. I'm not done yet, but I had to share a few items that I've accomplished so far this week. It took me all day to create this paint palette and splashes of color on the walls, but it was so worth it! I am thinking it would make a great mural... must remember to mention that to my principal. If this doesn't impress my students at Open House, nothing will! The framed art above the rail are Fred Babb posters that came from this poster book and framed in these inexpensive, but nice frames from Dick Blick. Awesome! I made a set of stencils so that I can make signs using the Ewie D font anytime I want. Love it! Here are the supply shelves all nice and color coordinated. The drawered unit is perfect for sorting smaller sized projects. I love all of the rainbow colored items in this photo! This year, I made labels that I am *hoping* are more student friendly. I t

As I giddily unpacked the new art supplies for the year, I realized that sharing some of my favorite finds would make a great post. * I am crazy for this little Peruvian Retablo from Crizmac . If you are not aware of this company, you should be! They feature many art pieces from around the world, including Oaxacan Animal carvings, instruments, masks, Molas, and more. * These large cardboard portfolios from Calloway House are great for storing posters, art examples, and other artifacts. I used them to create artist themed boxes, where I keep all of the resources I use when introducing that artist. * This glitter gel from Color & Company looks beautiful when added to liquid watercolors. The kids love the extra sparkle it adds to their work. * Paper Popz are my newest find. I can't wait to pour these out on the table for my kinders to use in a Miro inspired collage. * These Prismacolor sharpeners are fabulous! But, be sure to keep a close ey

This is a great beginning of the year projecy that I have done with my 5th graders. Materials: oil pastels, nice drawing paper (such as Canson Mi-Tientes ) in various colors, cut in half vertically (19" X 25" cut to 9 1/2" X 12 1/2"), sunflowers to view, examples of Vincent vanGogh's work, chalk, scrap paper for "sloppy copy" Encounter: 1. View examples of vanGogh's sunflowers and also examples of real sunflowers. 2. Students should practice drawing sunflowers in a sketchbook or on scrap paper. I demonstrate drawing the sunflowers' petal shapes and leafs on the board. 3. Students choose a piece of paper in their color choice and use chalk to draw their sunflowers, filling the entire paper. 4. Show students how to lay down the base color for their flowers, stems, and leafs using oil pastel. 5. Students continue to add layers of color until the entire flower is bodly filled. 6. Encourage students to add accents using unexpected color combinat

Our school is switching over to Moodle and our old website is gone, along with all of the links I had on my webpage. I am going to start a new collection of useful, interactive sites to be used with my students and thought I would share with you. Have fun exploring! Surrealist Painter Etch-A-Sketch Online ALPHABET OF ART Tessellation Town Getty Games Destination Modern Art PIXLR The Artist's Tool-kit Pointillism Hands On Crafts Art Safari Art Jungle Still Life SurrealPainter Matisse For Kids Arty Factory Color With Leo I Know That! Greek Pot Painter Architect Studio 3D Super Crayon ARTSOLOGY A PINTURA MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS Balls OPTICAL ILLUSIONS THE COLOR TEST Mark Kistler Imagination Station IMAGINATION AT WORK NGA Kids LADY LIBERTY FIREWORKS MR. PICASSSOHEAD (warning here - there have been "nasties" in the gallery) SNOWDAYS Learn to Draw With Gary Harbo MAKE A FLAKE ANDY WARHOL Pointillism Pra