The junior and senior art classes started making pinch pots last week. Working artist and potter Linda White-France is sharing her tools and expertise.

Some of the senior art students are creating dresses from duct tape, recycled materials and other embellishments. Why? It is a sculpture. It is requires working co-operatively and it is fun!

Also "Photoshop Elements 10 and Premiere" software has been installed on 6 computers. Now the Media Arts class and the yearbook group can really get going on photo editing. The sky is the limit!

Today Artist and Teacher Amelia Epp came to Pender with me to lead us in a process learning about creating sculptures. Besides learning about some principles of sculpture we talked about working with others. Communicating, listening, keeping it positive, inviting quiet people to contribute, being open to suggestions, thinking creatively... these all help to create an interesting sculpture.

We took advantage of another gorgeous fall day to take the group Grade 7 photo for the yearbook.

The Grade 7 and 8 Art students are showing me the following assignments:
1. Name Tag
2. Colour Wheel
3. Face shading
4. Self Portrait with realistic proportions
5. Picasso-like self portrait
6. Big Water colour painting using at least 5 techniques.

Next week we will start a sculptural project. If anyone has items with a shape... preferably recycled items... please drop them off in the art room. (little boxes, containers, ( clean), anything with shape that you might want to get rid of.... shoes, pine cones, etc.....) Thanks in advance!

After a ride up the gondola we started with a hands on sketching workshop. As we left the chalet we were thrilled to see two big and beautiful grizzly bears up close and personal . ( behind an electric fence).  We  tromped through the snow to the Long House where a Squamish Nation elder named William told us stories and led us in some singing and dancing. Then artist Mark Hobson told us stories about living on a houseboat in Tofino and painted us a seagull painting for us to bring back to Pender. On our way to lunch we were delighted by a friendly blue grouse.We toured two different gallery displays with art and sculpture by Robert Bateman and other famous artists for conservation. The day wrapped up with a great film about artists who were responsible for saving a rainforest in the Congo as protected areas for gorillas. Thanks to the Moms who drove and to the students who made the effort to broaden their minds.

Fresco means fresh. The senior art students have a wonderful collection of small frescos they have created by sculpting plaster then painting. The final image is sprayed to give a protective coating so the colours will be fast and the image will be fine in a room with moisture. After practicing a variety of watercolour techniques, the students are starting to use watercolour paints on textured watercolour paper.

The Media Arts class has been busy using what they have learned about the cameras and composition. Here are a few examples from the portrait assignment. Well done!

Grade 7/8 Art ....En plein air ( outside )

The first assignment involved looking at something closely for about 5 minutes. Then the students were asked to draw the image with their eyes closed. For many it was difficult to let themselves commit to paper with eyes closed. It might not look good. We have all been given some subtle lessons about not being that good in art, but it is the process of experimenting and trusting that is important. Everyone is an artist! Some of the students created some interesting images with their eyes closed.  Those abstract compositions will eventually be part of an original painting. At the very least the students were outside enjoying the sunshine.

Ms. Davies in Art 7 and 8.

The Grade 7 and 8 Art class is being taught by student teacher Ms. Davies and supervised by Ms Forsyth. The class learned about Picasso and started creating their own versions of a Picasso portrait. Here's wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

Emily Carr, Salvador Dali, Franklin Carmichael... these were a few of the favourite artists we saw at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Unfortunately the gallery was being renovated so a few of the floors were closed. 
I think we would like to go back when the construction is finished and see more of their collections. We learned that the building was originally used as a court room and has jail cells underneath. Thank you to the Moms who picked up the Pender students in Sechelt after 7 pm. It was a long day and a good time was had by all.

Senior Art Field Trip to Vancouver

October 4th Blog

This is only a test.