Our Current Projects

 

 4th Graders are creating space collages! They painted sheets of paper with various colors and added texture using different objects.  After creating this paper and a dark background, they are now in the process of collaging the paper to create the planets and other details. They are also learning about how to create an interesting composition. 

3rd Graders are in the process of creating a Greco-Roman town.  They are working collaboratively to create one artwork showing a variety of buildings and details with the style of architecture from Greece and Rome.

2nd Graders are in the process of creating a Native American parfleche, or "pouch".  They prepared brown paper bags to resemble rawhide by crumpling them and then we ironed the paper.  Now the students are drawing and painting their designs.  Next week we will add beads, feathers, and tie the pouch together using string.

 1st Graders are finishing their "Wild Things Collage."  They are creating this artwork based on the book Where the Wild Things Are.  Students have created their own wild thing and drawn it's habitat.

 

Kindergartners are creating a winter landscape and learning about the artist Grandma Moses.  They used two shades of blue to paint their creative sky.  They are now creating artistic evergreen trees, using a variety of shapes and lines.

Pre-K has completed their shape paintings.  The first day we learned about painting procedures and painted a variety of shapes.  The next day we drew shapes and lines on top of the painting.

Art to Remember Projects

For the last week and a half we have been working on artwork for our Art to Remember Fundraiser.  

4th Graders have created underwater scenes with watercolors.  

3rd Graders have created modern landscapes using oil pastels.

 2nd Graders created landscapes showing details and depth.

 Kindergartners created flowers.

 1st Graders created multiple flowers from a bird's eye view.

Kindergarten Robots!

Kindergartners have been learning about shapes and how to take care of the art materials this fall! Here are some delightful shape robots they have created.

Art Club is starting soon

Art Club will start next Wednesday October 3rd! We will begin with painting the snowplow for the city of Harrisonburg, then we will create some large scale artwork after that!

1st Week of School

We have had a good first week of school in the art room! Students are learning about the art room expectations and about using art materials properly.  Newcomers, 4th and 3rd graders are creating sketchbooks that they will use throughout the year. 2nd graders are drawing a "pre-instruction" self-portrait that will I will keep until the end of the year when we draw another self-portrait to show their growth.  1st graders are tracing their hands and designing them using lines, shapes and other drawings.  Kindergartners and pre-schoolers are learning about different media we will use throughout the year, and are creating an "Art Materials Book." 

Welcome Back!

Welcome to a new school year!  In just a few days we will be making new artwork and filling our room with  wonderful creations. Throughout the year we will reuse materials to create recycled art projects or need to use these items for painting.  If you and your family have any of these items and would like to donate them to the art room, please bring them to Mrs. Ritter!
Flat cardboard sheets, (please no boxes, but flat pieces)
Yogurt containers, big and small
Meat trays
Bubble Wrap
Newspapers
Buttons
Plastic bottle caps, any size
Please no paper towel rolls....we've got enough for the year :)

Fourth grade ended the year with a painting project inspired by Mola art from Panama.  They learned about the cultural importance of these designs and incorporated similar attributes of repetition and bold color in their own designs. 

Have a wonderful summer!  

1st Grade Pinch Pots

1st Graders have finished their pinch pots and they look beautiful!  Students learned how to impress designs into the sides of the walls with textured beads and other tools.  They also learned about glaze and its purpose on ceramic objects.  They were delighted to see their dull glaze "paint" turn into glossy bright colors after being fired again in the the kiln. 

   

                                   

First Graders are learning about clay and are creating pinch pots.  They are also designing the

pinch pots with clay tools and other objects to add texture and pattern on sides of the pinch pot.

After they are fired in our kiln students will learn about the glazing process!

Mud Cloth Paintings by 3rd Graders

3rd Grade is in the process of creating a mud cloth style painting.  On the first day of this lesson we have used an interactive website to learn about Bogolanfini from Mali, Africa.  Each student participated to create a piece of mud cloth as a class.  Students then used their imaginations and symbols and designs from authentic cloth to design the brown paper.

March is Youth Art Month!

Here are some Smithland Students in action on their wonderful creations!  During March we will be celebrating Youth Art Month with special activities in art class and also have a PTO sponsored "Art Expressions" Exhibit.  This is artwork that students choose to display, either from home or made in art class. 

HCPS Art Show is Coming Up!

It will be at the Massanutten Regional Library through April.  The opening is Saturday, February 25th, from 1-3pm.

4th Grade Coil Pots

4th Graders are now creating coil pots.  Most classes have finished building them and adding their own creative details, including spirals, lids, and handles.  As soon as they are dry they will be fired and then we will glaze them!