Hokusai's Mount Fuji

I have done a few projects now, based around Hokusai's famous woodblock prints. Currently I am working with a Year 5-6 class to create their own version of Hokusai's Mt Fuji print. To give it a bit of a twist, the students could change the sky (some became sunsets.....others had thunder and lightning!) and they also had to add their name (in some type of calligraphic style).

Indian Henna Hands

Continuing with our current Ancient Art theme, my Year 4-5 classes are designing their own Henna Hands. After tracing both hands, we painted a wash of diluted orange ink over the hands and a diluted purple into the background.

Students are now creating their designs in pencil and will then go over with fine black pens. We are also planning to add a pattern into the background....more photos to follow when we are done :0)

Well....they are all done...took a while as they were quite painstaking to complete!

Mondrian Inspired

I have done this project a couple of times now with Year 1's and 2's and it has turned out really well and is a great way to introduce the work of 20th century artists!

Before we start, I show lots of pictures of Mondrian's work and examples of how his designs have been used in everything from shoes to houses! Then they complete a design sheet (this is a great way to do a simple assessment and see how their visual literacy skills are developing).

**PLease Note; I am happy for anyone to save and use this design sheet - however, if you repost it, please link back to this site. Thank You!

After they have finished their design sheet, they use a ruler to divide up their square paper and decide which sections they will colour (using mainly primary colours and leaving some areas white). To finish they use strips of black paper (I collect these off cuts throughout the year), glue them down over their pencil lines and cut off any excess.

I have done similar projects inspired by Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky. These and many others are included in my book that came out at the beginning of 2012. I wasn't sure about putting it on here at all as it feels strange to be promoting your own stuff (I certainly don't claim that it is the best art book out there - just a collection of projects that I know work because I have used them all in my own classroom) 

Anyway this is it....it's available as a hard copy or as an ebook.

Ready-Ed Publishers - Teaching Primary Art by Chani Crow

Zen-Doodles Group Project

I had never heard of zentangles until recently....to me it was doodling! (and doodling it will remain!) But it turned out to be a great project to do in between bigger and messier projects.

Each student got a 'quarter' to complete and then we created a display of circles. A great way to do a group project where each student still gets to take their own work home.

After some feedback (thanks Phyl), Ive decided to call these zen-doodles!

Clay creatures....inspired by Shaun Tan

Shaun Tan (along with Maurice Sendak) is one of my favourite illustrators/artists. After failing miserably to make a three footed mug, I was reminded of one of his strange creatures from his book 'The Lost Thing'.............and this is what it ended up like...

Merlyn's Clay Workshop

I was lucky enough to attend a clay workshop for teachers run by fabulous instructors, Merlyn and Fran. These were some of the results (fallen angel by myself and tree by my fellow teacher, Sandy)

Clay Tiles

I love how versatile these are! You could glaze them and add holes to hang them, use them as clay coasters or as texture rubbing plates. The impressions were made using some beautiful vintage batik stamps that one of the workshop participants brought in. I want some!