Tuesday Art Studio

Round painting in colors by Benjamin. Of particular interest is that the secondary oranges, purples, teals and golds were created solely by mixing other primary colors. They were not present in the paint cups as seen here. The discoveries occur when layering wet colors or by picking up a different color on the same brush.

TODAY'S ACTIVITY
Our visit to the Art Studio is always a welcome change of setting for our young learners. The sun-drenched room invites a new perspective for new and familiar activities alike. Here's what was on the menu today:

• Solid tempera painting with fingertip "claw" brushes.
• Glass drop "jewels" in bins of pink water with funnels, scoops, cups and bottles of various sizes.
• Easel painting on circular blue paper, using brushes with very long handles to refine motor control.
• Collages on grid paper with 3/4" squares of color, cancelled postage stamps, and stickers.
• Hexagonal tiles on a textured tile grid.
• The requisite drawing/cutting/taping table with plenty of envelopes - I see a unit on "mail" in the future (strong motivation to learn writing skills)
  

A set of Snakes by Taye. Tayes use of patterned stripes and figurative description are fascinating enough. What really caught my eye was the incredibly careful retracing of outlines. Amazing, really.

NOTE: You can click on any image for an enlargement.


TODAY'S STORY
Peter's Chair, by Ezra Jack Keats. In keeping with yesterday's survey, we read this marvelous tale of a young boy coping with the a new baby sister. Peter is dismayed. All of his old baby furniture is turning up pink! First his cradle, then his high chair and crib. There's only one thing left - his chair. He decides to run away with Willie the dachshund, taking his chair, his baby picture and a bag with cookies and dog biscuits. Willie brought his bone. On the street, Peter decided to rest in his chair, only to discover that he no longer fits! When he comes in for lunch, he plays a trick on his mother. Seeing his shoes below a curtain, she spys him. She draws the curtain back, only to discover that he only placed his shoes there! He pops out from behind a chest and surprises her. At the end, Peter helps his father paint his old chair pink for his sister, Susie. Willie tracks through, leaving pink pawprints on the floor. Tomorrow we will read another book by the same author, Louie, in preparation for completion of Sonya's paper bag "Puppet Pal" project.