Welcome to Art

Welcome to the St. Augustin Catholic School Art news page. I am excited to meet my new students for the new school year. Please check out the "About Mrs. Crawford" page to get to know me better. Check back to this website throughout the year for news and updates about what is happening in art at St. Augustin Catholic School.

First Trimester

     The first projects of the year were centered around the annual Home and School fundraiser, Original Works.  Kindergarten students made a ladybug collage; First graders painted a heart after learning about artist, Jim Dine; Third graders drew and painted a mixed media snowman; and Fourth graders drew a parrot in the manner of Mexican Amate Bark Painting.  After being introduced to French artist, Henri Matisse, Fifth graders made a paper collage using their hand as a subject.  Sixth graders drew a pastel portrait of either their pet or an animal they chose.  Seventh graders learned about Molas, an art form created by the Kuna Indians in the San Blas Islands, then made their own cut-paper Mola.  The Eight grade worked with color and design creating a painting in the manner of Sonia Delaunay.

      Kindergarten next learned about the color wheel by mixing play dough to make secondary colors.  They next learned about artist, Mondrian.  They created their own painting in the manner of Mondrian using primary colors, shape, and line.  The First grade were introduced to Yayoi Kusama, a Japanese artist who uses repetitive dot designs and often uses pumpkins as her subject.  Students drew their own pumpkin, painted it, and stamped a polka-dot design.  They now recognize Kusama's pumpkin sculpture in the Pappajohn Sculpture Park!  Linking "Day of the Dead", Second graders made Q-Tip skeletons  in many action poses.  Third graders began working on a painting and collage related to "Day of the Dead". 

     Fourth graders began working on a wire sculpture in the manner of Alexander Calder.  The Fifth grade looked at the history of artists drawing their own self -portrait, then learned the proportions of the human face.  They will be drawing their own self-portrait wearing a mask.  Sixth grade created a composition using a variety of pressed leaves and oil pastel.  Seventh grade began a project using color theory and color schemes.  They first constructed a radial design and will begin using a different color scheme in each square of their design.  After being introduced to the ceramic masks of American artist, Kimmy Cantrell, Eighth graders designed, constructed, and painted cardboard masks.  They will write a reflection about the story, emotions, or concept reflected in their mask.

Second Trimester

    Kindergarten students were introduced to the American artist, Beverly Buchanan, who is best known for her small house constructions called, "Dwellings".  They are constructing 2D collage houses with popsicle sticks and colorful designs.  First graders are using paper sculpture techniques to make a relief sculpture, "Paper Playground".   Second graders finished designing and making a printing plate for a Christmas print -but we ran out of time to print them before the holidays!  They will still enjoy making their printed image. 

     Third graders finished a "Skelo-cat" Day of the Dead collage and are learning about Claes Oldenburg and Pop Art.    Fourth Graders finished their wire sculpture and are beginning a project based on Pablo Picasso and Cubism.  Fifth grade completed their chalk pastel self-portraits.  This year they will be wearing masks in their portraits. 

Sixth grade is working on a metal project using one of their initials as a subject.  They are beginning to work on the design for the mounting.  Seventh grade continued to work on color theory, painting four different color schemes on a radial design.  The Eighth grade is learning about printmaking by carving and printing a linoleum cut.