Monday, October 3, 2016

Cubists and Clay!

I am so impressed with the amazing portraits completed by the 5th graders a few weeks ago. After learning about Picasso and the origins of Cubism, they were challenged with drawing a self-portrait in the Cubist style. This was not easy, as many students were uncomfortable with rearranging their features in such a new way.  After painting the portrait in acrylic, they used the wet chalk technique to give the portraits color.  They are just incredible!








4th graders finished coil pots and are ready to glaze them.  Once they learned how to make a coil and twist, turn, swirl and braid the coils, they were set free to build a 6" coil pot. The results were amazing.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Welcome Back!

I am so excited to be back for the new school year. August is such an exciting time in the art room. With a freshly organized and squeaky clean classroom, I am anxious to begin a new adventure in art with all of my students.  This year Mt. Bethel is implementing a new specials rotation calendar. Instead of an 8 day rotation in art, music, computer and science, we will divide the school in half and rotate the specials over the four nine week periods.  So if your student does not have art for the first two nine weeks, they will have art for the last two nine weeks and vice versa.  

If you have not registered for a parent account with Artsonia please do asap. Accounts from last year will carry over to this year. Please fill out the form under the Artsonia tab above to create an account. 

I am in need of donations, so please think before you recycle. Right now I am flush with egg cartons, but I am in need of other materials.  I would love to do a cool weaving project on CDs, so send in your old CDs, please! 



Friday, April 22, 2016

Thank you!

The art show last night was a huge success! It was wonderful to see so many families browsing the art and supporting the Mt. Bethel art program. Over 450 pieces of art were sold. If you were unable to make it to the art show and forgot to send in a pre-sale form, there are a limited number of post sale frames.  Please email me asap at rachael.astorga@cobbk12.org to reserve a frame.  The art work will be sent back to me in 2-3 weeks.  






Friday, March 11, 2016

Stop Motion Animation, Blue Dog and Paul Klee Castles

Kinders are studying the artist Paul Klee and designing dream-like castles using cardboard and black ink. Next week they will add color.

2nd grade studied the New Orleans artist, George Rodrigue and were inspired to paint these colorful dogs using complementary colors.

5th graders are working on stop-motion animation. These great videos will be posted on the blog as soon as they are finished.

Monday, February 1, 2016

We have a winner!!!

Congratulations to 4th grader Markee Laney for winning the Allatoona Ally & Friends Artist Challenge Contest! Twelve Cobb County 4th and 5th graders drew their best pictures of Ally- Lake Allatoon's friendly fish mascot. Thier illustrations will be published in a coloring book that is distributed to the community through doctors’ offices, restaurants and retailers to educate others about water conservation.



Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Weavings and Self-Portraits

One of my favorite units to teach is 2nd grade weaving. THis is the first time students weave using a loom and yarn. It is an activity they love and beg for more! Recycled cardboard is cut up to make a small loom, and students learn how to dress the loom with warp and weave with yarn. Threading needles and tying knots are a huge part of the learning process. 

Kindergartners finished self-portrait paintings this month. After studying their faces in a mirror and learning the shapes that make up our features, they painted these sweet self-portraits using tempera paint.  Oil pastel and chalk were added for the details and a study of patterns in the background.