Art Class - Project #5

Today marks the end of Project #5 and they will start another new theme next week. 

After reading a short Dinosaur story to the kids, Teacher Maria asked them what they would like to add in the background.  Kimi refused and only added some soil and stone on the ground and a dark cloud.  As there weren't as black.grey paint around, Kimi just took some green and drew.  He told Teacher Maria that dark clouds were coming

Then, when he saw his classmate painted polka dots on her dino, both Kimi and the other boy wanted to do the same!  Teacher continued to reiterate on what is background, foregound, etc.

Art Class - Project #4 & 5

This is the finished piece of the canvas parrot that Kimi did last week which I had forgotten to post.  Besides the last project's Elephant.. this got to be by far my favourite.  Oh oh, hope I won't keep saying that week after week?  I like it cos it is on canvas and the colours are just awesome.  Love the blends!

As promised, Teacher Maria started with Dinosaur theme this week.  Actually, Kimi wanted a 3D papier-mache but they did a 2D drawing instead.  Before lesson, Teacher Maria showed them some books first before giving them some pieces of scrunched up paper/newspaper, toilet rolls and got the kids to 'assemble' the dino before sketching.

I thought that is such a clever way!  There were many different pieces of shapes and sizes for the kids to choose - necks, body, legs, etc.  The kids have to use a little thinking to see which goes where.  Example, there are few sizes of ovals which they have to decide which is for the head and which is for the body. 

Teacher Maria has also started a sketch book for the kids to log their work.  Below is Kimi's sketch of the dinosaur before he transferred to the art paper.

I love how Kimi confidently draws the tail at the exact placing where a tail should be

Is dino smiling yet?

Instead of drawing like everyone else, a side profile dino, Kimi said he wanted his dino to turn and look at him and smile. 

Teacher Maria said she loves Kimi's bold and creative style.  Kimi also said that dinos must be VERY big so he wanted to fill his paper with the dino. :)

Art Class - Project #4

During our Malacca drive, we missed Kimi's art class so Teacher did a make-up class for him individually.  As such, he was able to sit with her and completed a handpainted Blue & Yellow Macaw on canvas.  To me, it was sooooo beautiful!!

I must say that Teacher Maria is really patient and great with kids! :)

The 1st piece Kimi drew through Teacher Maria's verbal guidance.  Exploring the different shapes and sizes of an oval to create a pix.

The left was drawn by Teacher Maria and Kimi copied the one on the right

More practice to get this piece in pencil and then filling it in using different colours to create the macaw by fingers.

Art Class - Project #3

This time round the kids practised tearing up papers and for the next few days, Kimi kept tearing everything!! Oops! But it is good finger practise, we know. :)

They will tear paper into all shapes and sizes and from there Teacher Maria asked them what they can see from the different pieces of paper.  I like how she guides the kids.  Not by telling them the 'destination' and then 'navigating' their way there.  But rather, let them use their creative minds to think what they can achieve with what they have at hand.  This is what art is really and all about, isn't it?

Anyway, as usual, Kimi can always see an elephant in everything!  Even the clouds in the sky or the bubbles patterns he makes on the shower screen! :)

This is by far, my favourite piece!  I love how he managed to get this beautiful 'batik-like' colour and how close the colour is to the real elephants!  Wished I could make this into a fabric!  Wouldn't that be beautiful?

From the torn paper, they assemble the pieces to see the prototype

Then they re-do it with getting the colour they want, tearing again and assembling it.  Kimi says it's his elephant splashing and playing with the water at the river by the rocks!  I love his creative and rich imagination! :)

Art Class - Project #2

In the 2nd project, Teacher Maria taught the kids about the different texture that can be obtained from different paint mediums and objects.  The kids went around the house and outdoors to rub and stamp on different things.  How fun!  Kimi even used his dinosaur for some of the rubbing and transfers!

The kids learnt about spatial differences and overlapping.  How a building will look when it is behind, so on and so forth.  They also get to select the roofs they like to complete a pix of buildings that is then pasted on the black background.

The 1st week with all the colourful backgrounds

The almost complete work - I forgot to take a pix of the completed work!

Art Class Update - Project #1

Remember Kimi's first Art Class?  We finished the 'Underwater/Sea Creatures Themed Project' which stretched over 3 lessons and Kimi learnning the use of different mediums and colours blends, etc. 

Here's my proud trooper with his final piece that we take home. :)

For the final lesson, Kimi chose a clown fish which he drew and painted on his own.  He also did some tearing, cutting and gluing of crepe paper for the sea anemone.

Teacher Maria commented that Kimi is very bright and has good fine motor for his age and when he wants to concentrate, he can do very well.  Guess, we have to continue to encourage him to work on this area.  After the 1st 30 mins, he gets very distracted and wants to do his own stuff.  I think Kimi has gotten familiar with the surroundings hence such behaviour.  It's ok, its only his 3rd lesson, I truly think he is doing fabulously already. :)

Last week (2nd lesson), he drew a sea turtle and did some stencil sponging of fishes.  I love his colour blends of the turtle, it's so beautiful!

Colour blending using brush and fingers

The sponging of fish stencils

Last week's work

Kimi's clown fish

Kimi's First Brush with Art!

Today is Kimi's first class with Teacher Maria. Wow, imagine we have been waiting since last year to get a suitable day & time! She is very packed with students!

Anyway, I went with a heavy heart as Kimi tends to 'stick' with me and not want to do anything if I am out of sight. Sometimes, he can be rather unco-operative and unwilling to try new things.

But, I was so suprised that he was completely 'at home' the moment he reached her place. She is rather patient and can handle kids well. Within 5 mins, they were chatting like old friends and I was able to 'disappear' into the living room.

Kimi more or less paced today's lesson. He had wanted to do a Dinosaur theme but Teacher M managed to persuade him to follow with today's theme. They were supposed to do a clown fish but Kimi insisted on a shark so Kimi and his classmate did that. Somehow, I knew that would happen cos the other boy, though slightly older, was not as assertive and vocal. It was just his voice throughout the lesson!! (*faint!*)

However, I am so proud of Kimi as he stayed in the room till the end of the lesson. I could hear him just talking and talking non-stop. I think Teacher M must be really tired out by him? She was sweating buckets at the end of class while explaining the lesson to both mummies.

For me, I was just so so glad that Jireh's mummy gave me this contact. Kimi enjoyed his art lesson so much and was looking forward to his next! :)

Today's lesson :-
Theme : Sea Creatures
Technique :

1. Use of large brushes to create large brush strokes. Teacher M said this is to train their muscles. Allow kids to draw/paint 'big' so that once they have better control, they can progress to smaller strokes and finally details.
2. First the kids are asked to paint the sea and she also explained that the sea is not made up of 1 solid colour but myriad. Hence the many colours. This makes for interesting understanding of colour mixes and hues.
3. Then they used leaves for stamping and finally using pencil to draw a shark.
4. Teacher M said that Kimi is very confident, independent and adventurous. (Wow! that did not occur to me!) Although her instructions were to brush long, heavy and large strokes, halfway through, Kimi would say he wants to dabble a little or use the brush this way, etc. She allowed him cos she said that is what art is all about - freedom.
5. I was really amazed by the shark!! Yes, he drew that!! I can't believe it. Of cos that was after some practice. She revealed that she first drew 1 for Kimi to see and allowed him to follow. He would come out with circles and wierd shapes. Then she would ask whether a shark looks like that. And they progress to a large oval and finally details. For example, she would tell him to move his pencil up when drawing the dorsal fin, etc. She would explain where each detail should be placed.

The Shark. I knew this was Kimi's cos he is always saying he needs to draw a smile. :)

The sea in myriad of colours! See the dabbing and finger prints and stamps? I shouldn't have placed the shark there...blocked up the beautiful ocean.