The bunny sculptures are finally finished. My 8th grade Studio in Art students (Chittenango Middle School, Chittenango, NY) created these papier-mache sculptures just in time for Orthodox Easter. They are currently on display in the school library.
We recycled Ithaca hummus containers for the baskets and Starbucks iced coffee bottles for the armature. In addition, we used paper towels, aluminum foil and masking tape.
The papier-mache is paper towel bits adhered with Mod Podge. Then we added acrylic paint.
Since it is the year of the rabbit in the Chinese zodiac, I thought it a good time to try this first-time lesson. I am pleased with the results. They are really cute!
My Art-8 students viewed the paintings of Canadian artist Daniel Bergeron, specifically, his installation in Regent Park in Toronto.
Then they painted the teachers and staff at our school! The steps were as follows:
Create an Abstract Expressionist base coat on the canvas.
Trace a contour line version of the face photograph onto the canvas via graphite paper then paint the lines with black paint.
Add paint – Abstract Expressionism, solid areas, and patterned areas.
Using Mod Podge, adhere parts of the photograph onto the painting, as well as some patterned paper.
Touch ups plus add bits of fluorescent and metallic paints.
This is my sample (above). We used acrylic paint.
Here are the results. They are on display in the school library. I’ve got one more class finishing up tomorrow for a total of fifty-five paintings. So fun! <3
A small class of 8th graders created these trompe l’oeil donuts. They each created a half dozen to be placed in a real DD box provided by the local Dunkin’ Donuts on Route 5 in Chittenango, NY.
Here’s how they did it –
Armature consisted of aluminum foil and masking tape with paper towel pieces wrapped around each. The goal was to create life-sized donuts of the same size and thickness. Two classes.
Papier mache was added in the form of paper towel bits adhered with Mod Podge. They used bamboo brushes. This step took several classes.
Celluclay is a paper pulp that when mixed with water, makes a type of gooey glue/clay substance that sticks when dry. This was used for the frosting element. One or two classes.
Students painted the Celluclay portion of the donuts with acrylic paint. They used different tints of colors plus browns to depict chocolate. Each donut a different color. Two classes.
They added designs with paint. This included dashes and dots, stripes and/or splatter painting. One class.
Finally, they painted Mod Podge in spots and sprinkled various glitters/sequins/glass beads to the donuts. One class.
Everyone who sees them in the boxes thinks they are real. “Oh, can I have one?” LOL – so great! <3
My friend Joyce introduced me to Ithaca brand hummus. I also take various vitamins and eat cottage cheese on occasion. The recycling began to accumulate and I thought, if we add styrofoam balls, we could make humanoid sculptures.
It is so fun to create something new. A derivative of a contemporary artist based on found object materials that reflects cohesive themes. My sample was an angel (not pictured). I added the Ithaca hummus container lids for wings. It, sort of, resembled a Golden Globe award, so I added that concept. It would be the Angel on Earth award.
Students assembled their armature, used paper towels and Mod Podge for papier mache then used at least three different materials for texture and design. They considered themes based on personal interests and/or were inspired by classroom materials.
I had patterned papers with animal motifs and packages of fabric papers, Origami paper, African designs and Navajo-inspired designs. I also had actual fabric donated by the Home Ec. teacher last year and wallpaper sample books that someone recently shared with me.
In addition, I have a backroom stocked with old Barbie dolls that we harvested for parts. I brought a few things in from my personal art supplies (antique flag toothpicks, an extra lion head cat costume, assorted buttons, twine, peacock feathers).
Students were graded on construction, use of materials, theme and quality of papier mache application. Can you guess what award each sculpture represents?
Tashkovski bracelet, Theory cardigan, Faithfull the Brand dress, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Rag & Bone bootsAllSaints dress, BCBGeneration sandals
The weather has been fluctuating towards warmer. It felt incredible to wear sandals in Syracuse yesterday. We’re getting there!
Tashkovski bracelet, AllSaints scarf, Aqua Cashmere turtleneck, BCBGMaxAzria skirt, Rag & Bone boots
We are using india ink in the Studio in Art classes, hence all the black outfits. I love a good theme. For some students, this is their very first time using the medium. We are practicing first then creating hand drawings adding Persian pottery pattern designs to the compositions.
Tashkovski bracelet, AllSaints top, C by Bloomingdales cardigan, Kobi Halperin skirt, Rag & Bone boots
I wrote a song called India Ink in honor of the lesson. I have been posting songs and poetry on YouTube and TikTok. So fun! <3
Faithfull the Brand top, Trina Turk skirt, Nine West bootsRebecca Taylor top, Zadig & Voltaire skirt, Rag & Bone boots
Here are my outfits from the past couple of weeks. Just getting around to posting – I am on Mid-Winter break right now. For a while there, I wasn’t even feeling like having my picture taken because we were knee deep in an acrylic painting project and I was washing brushes every day. I was wearing some of my back-of-the-closet stuff paired with smock and apron layering.
#theory #joesjeans #rebeccaminkoff
They have lifted the mask wearing rule in regular life but not yet at school.
I’ve been removing the mask for my photo ops with the exception of this one (above). It is a denim mask from Mother – the first one I bought in 2020. This is the first time I wore it. The fabric is super thick and I could barely breathe in it, lol, but it was the only thing pulling this look together. Oh, and I sounded like the teacher in the Peanuts cartoon that day. No one could understand a thing I said.
I wore the red jacket for a Valentine/Heart Association day combo. I wasn’t feeling like wearing red that day because I am not a fan of the “let’s all dress the same” scenario. I prefer to choose outfits based on how my body feels, what I am doing lesson-wise and what the weather is like.
Our school does this “Purple Thursdays” fashion statement, which was initiated by a previous violet-loving principal. Purple is not my vibe, although I have a couple of things I could wear once in a blue moon (purple moon?) so, I partake only occasionally.
I got my hair cut again – this was mask related. It is easier to go without hair accessories while wearing a mask. My hair is actually a lot lighter than it looks in the pictures. Chalk that up to fluorescent ceiling lights. The lighting seems to be better in Katy’s room, though. We take the pics during our mutual planning period in the mornings.
#rebeccataylor #frame #ragandbone
I have been watching a lot of YouTube videos and learning about “content creators”. They are lifestyle vloggers who share their lives and do product placements for a fee. (I stumbled upon this young lady, who happens to be a Syracuse University grad – Margot Lee.)
I am fascinated by this concept and may investigate how I can do something similar in the future. I really love YouTube.
Here are some of the celebrity portraits my 8th grade Studio in Art students (from Chittenango Middle School) finished back in March. I didn’t display them because I was saving them for the school fair, which never happened.
I allow students to pick almost anyone – meaning anyone “appropriate”, and this year you will see a variety from sports, performing arts, the art world and social media (and one grand-dad). Two Steve Harveys, lol. He wins as most popular this time.
My B-day Art-8 students (Chittenango Middle School) created these clay masks. We used Sax Colorburst glazes. They have silica flakes that pop in the kiln creating confetti-like effects.
I offered students thirteen different colors and asked that they use at least six, making sure to place three coats of glaze on the mask for each color. It was tricky because the glazes transform in the kiln – there is that allowance for serendipity that doesn’t work if you are a control freak, but totally does if you are experimental.
I added a wire to the back so they can hang on the wall. Students took them home today. I miss them already!
