Class Mural and Kehinde Wiley

Students compared two successful portrait artists, Kimmy Cantrell and Kehinde Wiley. Students explored their art by visiting their websites and viewing numerous interviews. They chose a piece that spoke to them and wrote a short analysis. They are currently working on a 4 x 5′ enlargement from an 8.5×11″ image of the above painting by Kehinde Wiley. Each student is responsible for one of the above rectangles. This group is a great group to work with…very responsible, respectful and hard working. It already looks amazing!

Half Face Portrait

Artists were asked to choose someone they admire or who inspires them. I was so pleased and impressed that so many kids chose friends and family members. And the work! They put hours of careful layering and shading and you can see just how beautiful the portraits came out. I can only hope they are as proud of their pieces as I am!

Original Watercolors

Artists as Advocates

This is an amazing twelve year old artist. She is constantly creating whether it be drawing, polymer clay sculptures, knitting or this incredible piece of fashion art. Students studied a few different artist advocates, most of which are supporting our oceans and promoting cleaner waters. Many used trash and recycled it into articles of fashionable clothing to promote their cause and create awareness to our growing plastics problem.

Origami by A.J.

Koi Pond on Main

No swimming or diving

Mr. Dexter’s students created an entire pond of beautiful and colorful Koi fish in a pond that appeared on Main Street this year. It was surrounded by various stones and grasses. Students of different abilities all were able to create a fish for this tremendous group exhibit.

Half Face Portaits

Students love this project: they get to choose their subject AND they end up with a beautiful portrait they’re proud of and won’t leave on the bottom of th their locker. This student actually knows Mr. Marchand and intends to show it to him. I believe Marchand will be pretty impressed!

Stunning Surrealism

I remember working with a science teacher who referred to this assignment as the “yellow project”. I love the uniqueness of each piece and the that the choice of the animal as a personal symbolic representation of each of the artists.

We begin discussing Surrealist works by Dali and Magritte. We then discuss symbolism. We look at animals and discuss what words come to mind, for instance, the lion symbolizes leadership and power, the bald eagle freedom and strength. The students are asked to write down 5-8 words describing themselves. The kids choose and ultimately then draw a contour of an animal they feel shares a personality trait with them and write a reflection. Eventually they fill their contour drawing with No.2 pencils.

Their works are playful and surreal representations of each of the artists.

Middle School Fashion Show coming soon!

Science + Art

Sixth graders drew in the parts of the flower and labelled the different structures, creating their own diagrams . Students are getting ready to create their abstract paintings in oil pastel but we need to know our flower parts!