Mrs. Gover's Art Room

Every day in the Byam art room, new discoveries are made by our student artists exploring the possibilities of art-making in each center. Recently, one of our fourth grade students experimented with creating a color gradient print using scratch foam printing. The technique she developed was so successful that her classmates wanted to learn how to do it as well! Alyson did our demonstration for the day so that she could share her technique with the rest of her class. It is always awesome to see students learning from each other, and it was fun for the class to have a guest "teacher" for the day!

For the past couple of weeks in the Byam Art room, we have been talking all about and making recycled sculptures! We took a look at and discussed artwork by Rodney McCoubrey, an American artist who creates delightful sculptural works of art with found objects. It was a fun activity to see if the students could point out different types of objects that the artist has used in his work, from keys, to cables, to toy cars! We talked about why artists use recycled things in their art-making, and how it is good for the environment! Images below are of work by Rodney McCoubrey. More can be found at https://www.rodrigosrecycledart.com/ In our new Construction Center, students have been working in innovative and creative ways to make sculptures using mostly recycled objects. I have been amazed at the ideas they have come up with, and the ways they have figured out how to combine different materials! The students have been so excited to open up and work in this center.... I think ...

I wanted to share some photos today of students working and showing off their wonderful, creative artwork! I have been amazed how students have progressed this year... Working in a choice-based environment was certainly new for them in September, and they have adjusted to (and been super excited about) going through the art-making process of a real artist: coming up with an idea, choosing tools and materials to show that idea, working hard with their chosen subject and medium to complete their artwork, and reflecting on it to make improvements.  My students have become more and more independent in the art room, working on their own and sometimes in small groups to learn how an artist works in the studio, and how they can create artwork that is truly meaningful to them and that they are proud of.  A couple of days ago, after creating a watercolor painting, one of my kindergarten artists exclaimed, "I am an artist!" What a wonderful realization and moment to witness! The B...

It is printmaking center opening day here in the Byam Art room! Students in one of our second grade classrooms got to try out this exciting new center this morning. We discussed what printmaking means, as well as about the materials and tools we have available in the center. They loved experimenting with the pattern rollers and texture stamps, as well as the "random objects for printmaking", such as sponges and plastic containers. Some students even decided that their prints from today would be their piece to display at our art show in May. Next week we will be learning how to make gyotaku prints using rubber animals!

  I'd like to share this great article I read today about Mark Rothko, abstract expressionist artist and art educator, and his thoughts on teaching art to children. If you are interested in the theory behind student-directed art, please check it out! How to Teach Art to Kids, According to Mark Rothko

Students in all grades have been learning about the color wheel! Primary colors, secondary colors, warm and cool... we have been learning about how colors work together and how we can use them in our artwork. Our first graders, who have been learning about primary colors, have been participating in the primary color challenge as part of our standards-based report card assessment for this term. They have been challenged to create a work of art in one of our centers using only the primary colors: red, yellow and blue! It's great to see how different all of the artwork is, and how the students are able to show they know the primary colors through drawing, painting, and collage!

I am pleased to announce that four Byam students have been chosen to participate in the Massachusetts Art Education Association's Youth Art Month exhibit at the State Transportation Building! This exhibit provides an opportunity for Massachusetts art teachers to enter a few works for display each year, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. As always, through our student-directed approach, students have made these works of art from their own creative ideas, using the materials and techniques they have learned about in our various art centers. Please see more information on the exhibit below! Building Community Through Art Youth Art Month 2018 Students, grades K through - 12, from across Massachusetts have been selected to have their artwork displayed at the State Transportation Building in Boston. This exhibit, sponsored by the Massachusetts Art Education Association (MAEA), is part of Youth Art Month (YAM), a national celebration held each year durin...