Japanese teabowls

I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Japan with a ceramics class as part of my grad school coursework. We learned traditional Japanese hand building methods, saw the sights, and took shifts firing the town's anagama kiln. Have you ever fired a wood kiln?? First, let me just tell you it is hot! There's a real fire in there folks! Next thing you should know is that you have to get the kiln to temperature and then maintain it. This required us putting wood in the little opening every 4-5 minutes. All day. And night. For days.

This trip only fueled my love for this second grade teabowl lesson that I have done many ways over the past 12 years. My favorite part is having a tea ceremony with our bowls at the end of the unit!

Here are a few of our bowls before I loaded them into the kiln this morning. This year I had students look for common themes in the designs of contemporary teabowl artists. They noticed most of the designs were either inspired by nature or geometry. Next they chose a limited color palette to represent the simple beauty that is part of the Japanese aesthetic and set to work with the glaze. Can't wait to open the kiln Monday morning and see how they turn out!

-- Mrs. A

O'Keeffe inspired slab bowls

I arrived a little early this morning to unload the kiln and just had to share these beauties!!

Fourth grade students created these by rolling clay slabs and using a bowl to mold the shape. We saved the bowl in a gallon ziploc bag and added the flower details the following week. Students looked at photographs of flowers for ideas to help them create the petal shape, pistil, and stamen details in the center. After the bowls were bisque fired we used Mayco Stroke & Coat glazes for the amazing colors!

I know some moms who are going to love when these come home!!

-- Mrs. A

The Great Wave

I love printmaking and I love this lesson I developed with another art teacher a few years ago!!

We started by looking at Hokusai's famous prints from the 36 views of Mt. Fuji series. Students created their own wave design with repeating lines to show movement in the water on a piece of 4.5"x12" printing foam. These waves were printed twice so they could be arranged to show depth. We learned how to do what I call a rainbow roll with two warm colors to make a nice gradient in the sky and then glued it all together. On the last day we cut out silhouettes of surfers, boats, dolphins, birds, and I even spy a surfing yoda with light saber. I just love seeing what these artist come up with!

-- Mrs. A

Art Show 2013 Slideshow

We had a great turn out for the art show! See the slideshow below for some of the featured artwork from this year's show.

Kindergarten artwork: Mondrian's Lines, Thiebaud's Desserts
First grade artwork: Warm and Cool Cityscapes, Pop Art Gumball Machines, My American Gothic
Second grade artwork: Pop Art Self-Portraits, Buchanan Folk Art Houses, Gyotaku Fish Prints
Third grade artwork: Kahlo Self-Portraits
Fourth grade artwork: Pop Art Prints, Magritte Surrealist Rooms
Fifth grade artwork: Self-Portrait Prints, Winter Landscapes

Parents and students also enjoyed filling out reviews of the artwork on display!

Hi again and coil bowls

Hi! I'm back and busy in the Art Studio! Check out the amazing coil pots that 3rd graders are creating! We are using Lizella clay from Georgia and using the coil building method, just like the Cherokee did hundreds of years ago! Since the bowls are functional art students will be able to use them. I can't wait to see the finished work!

I will start sending home finished bowls in March during our Empty Bowls Food Drive!



Look at these out of the bowl (box) thinkers!:


-- Mrs. A

Announcing Baby A!  Eli was born September 24th and I am enjoying every moment at home with him!  I hope everything is great at school and am looking forward to seeing all of the amazing artwork when I return.

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Reduction Styrofoam Self-portraits

Fifth grade is finally finishing up the reduction styrofoam prints inspired by Andy Warhol. Here are a few that just came off the drying rack! These prints take a long time but the result is worth the wait!


First we studied facial proportion and used mirrors to draw a self-portrait. Then we transferred the drawings to foam.


We printed 3 colors and reduced the plate before each new color. It was a little tricky to register the plate each time! I think these prints will look great at out art show in March!

-- Mrs. A

Picasso to Warhol at the High Museum!

I have very exciting news!  The Picasso to Warhol show at the High Museum is OPEN!  This amazing exhibition features more than 100 world-famous artworks from the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Each grade level will study two artists featured in the exhibit this school year.
Kindergarten - Piet Mondrian, Henri Matisse
1st grade - Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock
2nd grade - Henri Matisse, Jasper Johns
3rd grade - Joan Miró, Constantin Brancusi
4th and 5th grade - Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder

See below for artists and images included in this amazing exhibit!

Picasso to Warhol images

I hope you can make it to see the show! Remember, Fulton residents get FREE admission the first Saturday of every month!

Drawing a Portrait

Fifth grade will begin drawing their self-portrait for the reduction print project this week.  If you would like some extra practice, watch these short videos by OliArt!  Don't forget this is a self-portrait - look in the mirror to see how your features are shaped and spaced.

Video 1: Basic proportion


Video 2: Draw along with Oli to make your self-portrait


Boys and girls, if you make a self-portrait at home with these videos please bring it in to show me!

Do you recycle?

Mrs. Argentina is looking for your old CDs or DVDs to make into a weaving project!  If you have an old music or data CD or DVD please send it in!  Scratches are fine :)

Here is what the finished weavings will look like:

I found the picture at this blog - http://makeitawonderfullife.blogspot.com/2011/06/more-cd-weaving.html

Also, when you switch out your calendar for the new year, consider sending your old calendar to the Art Studio.  Calendars often have great images of landscapes, animals, and buildings that we can use as reference for drawing and painting!

Thanks for thinking of us!