A New Chapter

I am starting a new chapter in my life, and I have moved 545 miles away from my former home in Big Rapids MI, where I taught K-6 art at Crossroads Charter Academy, to southern Illinois, where I am teaching K-12 Art at Galatia High School and Galatia Elementary. I cannot begin to describe all that I learned during my time at Crossroads Charter Academy. I met some fine folks, learned how to manage an art classroom, taught my very first lessons, and grew personally and professionally.

Please stop by our new k-12 Art Education blog:
www.galatiak12art.blogspot.comThank you for following

Signing Off,

Kate Eshelman

Drawing Pigeons with Mo Willems

Starry Night Collage

The Year End Echo

I have taken the students' work off of the walls and am sending it home. I never noticed how the room echoes when it is not full of art.

Drawing Pigeons with Mo Willems

After reading the book "The Pigeon Wants a Puppy" by Mo Willems, the kindergarten students learned how to draw a series of shapes in order to draw their own pigeons. The students used their creativity to come up with something new for the pigeons to want.

Take a Closer Look

After viewing the work of American artist, Georgia O'Keefe, the fourth grade students were inspired to create watercolor paintings of flowers. The students viewed photographs of flowers, and in order to capture the details of each flower, they painted a zoomed in version of the photo.

Coil Pots

The 6th grade students learned how to create coil pots. First, I demonstrated the process of creating a coil pot; then the students planned their projects by sketching four different options for their final works. The next week, the sixth graders rolled slab bases, rolled coils, and attached the coils by using the technique of scoring and slipping.

Art Brings Hope, Healing and Change

There are moments when I am astounded by the sincerity and depth of my young art students. Below is a conversation I had yesterday with one of my very young artists who has recently lost a loved one:

Student: "Mrs. E., did I do a good job on my drawing?"

Me: "It looks great! I can tell you are working very hard today."

Student: Do you think _____ would like it?"

Me: "Yes, I think they would be very proud of you."

Student: "Since you're a teacher, can you copy things, like pictures, like make two copies of one picture..."

Me: "Yes, why do you ask?"

Student: "I want to give it to _____. I want to put it on their grave. Can you use the machine to put the plastic stuff on the outside of the drawing? Sometimes it rains really hard outside by the grave, and I want to be able to come by and wipe off the rain drops.

me: Of course.

I was reminded of the theme of the MAEA conference in 2008, "Art Brings Hope, Healing and Change." As an art educator I find my purpose in encouraging students to engage in the process of creating images in an effort to gain a better understanding of their social and natural contexts. My hope is that students will create meaning through this process.

Clay Turtles

The second grade students created clay turles by starting with an upside down pinch pot as the shell. Next, the students pinched a head, tail, and feet from the existing pinch pot. To complete the turtles, the students painted the turtles with various shades of green tempra paint.

Final works from the Pottery Wheel

Slab Boxes

The fifth grade students have been utilizing the techniques of rolling clay slabs and connecting slabs by scoring and slipping in order to construct ceramic boxes. We are excited about the new glaze colors!

Kindergarten Pinch Pots

Clay Cuisine

The Fourth Grade students sculpted their favorite foods out of clay. We learned that most students prefer traditional American cuisine, but some have other preferences, such as sushi, yum!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

After reading Eric Carle's book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the first grade students had a great time creating caterpillars out of recycled egg cartons. The students learned that you do not need to buy expensive materials in order to make art. In fact, some of the best art materials may be lying in your recycling bin or trash can!

Throwing on the Wheel!

I have been giving sixth grade students independent tutorials on the pottery wheel, and thus far, they have been doing a great job! I have to give a big THANKS to Paul Eshelman for patiently teaching me these pottery techniques last summer!
(More pictures to come)

The Universe Is my Home

Culinary Arts + Clay