Faith Ringgold Mural

1st grade viewed the quilt artworks of Faith Ringgold. We reviewed symmetry and introduced radial symmetry. Then we worked together to create radial designs that would become quilt squares. 

I used their squares as the edge of a giant quilt mural, basically a giant version of 2nd grade's Ringgold cityscape collages. 

The quote is the last line of Ringgold's stroy, "Tar Beach". This mural took me the longest to make so far this year, but definitely worth it! ^_^

The Highwaymen

5th grade learned about the Highwaymen, a group of artists in Florida during the 1950s who sold their artwork by the highways. Their oil paintings of landscapes are very popular now and can be found all over the country. I learned about the highwaymen during Art Scouts last summer from amazing art teacher Jennifer Alvarado and I was excited to share their art with my students.

Original work by Highwaymen artist.

We started by viewing their works and identifying foreground, middle ground, and background. Then we sketched out our landscapes.

We added color with chalk pastels, working in "cloudy" shapes, then blending with liquid starch. I love this beautiful, painterly look they got! Gorgeous!

Look at that depth!