NAME IN PERSPECTIVE

We will be learning about one point perspective this year. The name assignment is a bit of a warm up. We take our time drawing our names in block letters then connect them to a vanishing point.

HENRI MATISSE COLLAGE

Henri Matisse was said to have "painted with scissors". We will look at his amazing collages and then create our own collage of a person in action. Students will think about shape, visual movement and a focal point.

BIKE DRAWING

Observational drawing is a great way to improve your drawing skills and your "seeing" skills. The fourth graders will do their best to draw a bike that is enlarged to go off the page on 3 or 4 sides. We discuss negative and positive space, contour line and pattern.

TAPESTRY WEAVING

We will study several new techniques for weaving and create tapestries with good design. We will spend at least four art class times on the weaving as well as time in their own classrooms. Students may need to bring their weavings home if they are not keeping up. The replacement cost for the looms are $20 and will need to return to school with their weaving if they are taken home.

ONE POINT PERSPECTIVE HALLWAY

Students are introduced to one point perspective in this lesson. Students all started their hallways the same with a checkerboard floor. After the basic form, students decide where their hallway is located...outerspace? an aquarium? a school?

• overlapping
• objects getting smaller in the background 
• objects going up the page in the background
• objects in the background have less detail
  Website with Many 1 pt Perspective Tips
  
  

EMPTY BOWLS

Let's do some good for the community! Empty Bowls has been a Hopkins Tradition for many years. Students from the elementary, junior high and high school partner with local artists and programs to create hundreds of bowls to raise money for Resource West and the Hopkins Food Shelf. The even always takes place in March to correspond with Youth Art Month and our district Art Show at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.

See the bowls from 2013
Mrs. Acker
Ms. Albrecht
Mrs. Hahn

COIL BOWLS

4th graders will be making two bowls this year-- one to donate and one to keep. Their second bowl will use the coil method of hand building. It is a fun and fast way to construct something out of clay.

PARFLECHE AND WINTER COUNT

There is a rich history of art making in the Native American tribes throughout America. We will look at two art forms from Minnesota Tribes.
The Parfleche is a type of carrying case that was used by tribes like Lakota, Cheyenne.
A Winter Count is a visual record of events that have happened.  It uses symbols to show these events. The 4th graders will create their own symbols to highlight their event.

Minneapolis Art Institute Native American Collection

STILL LIFE

Still life is a great way to practice observational drawing and composition. We will look at the work of Paul Cezanne and then students will draw from a still life in the room. They will use color to build up value and show form.

CHAIR DESIGN

Students will discuss industrial design and create a chair design of their own. We will talk about how design can solve problems or be ornamental. The students will write about their designs when they are done drawing them.