"Elf"ing our self

Ms. T as an Elf



This week many classes are making self-portraits as elves. I thought it might be fun to share this video, and link so that you can elf your self online as well if you would like!

Wishing you all a very happy holiday season!

Ms. T

Smocks! Smocks! Smocks!

5th graders from Ms. Otrigoza's class model their smocks

It's that time of year kids! Everyone needs to bring in a smock from home. We are starting to do some interesting, messy, and crazy things in Art. It's really important that you all bring your own smock from home to protect your clothes from any damage.

By having your OWN smock, you will not have to share germs or critters with anyone else!

What if I don't have one? EVERYONE can find an old shirt at home, either from Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Sister.... it doesn't matter what it looks like. Please bring one in to school in the next few weeks if you haven't done so already :)

My Art Show

I just thought I would share with everyone where I will be showing my art work this weekend in Chicago! I will have a tent at the Lakeview Fall Fiesta. the event is around the intersection of Southport and Addison. I will be there from 12-7 on Saturday and Sunday if you would like to stop by and say, "HI!"

Welcome Back to School!

I thought it would be nice to start the school year off with some inspiration! The art work below is by 5th grade student, Janejira N. Janejira is an amazing artist that has taught herself how to draw on the computer from watching Youtube videos! Since 2nd grade, every day she gets out her computer drawing tablet and creates a manga style cartoon!

Each year art teachers in the district select one student to participate in the Gallery 62 program. This last school year it was Janejira. She had a 4 part self-portrait (one of the parts is shown below). The assignment was given as an in-class drawing assignment, but Janejira took it home and created the work digitally! Wow! Great work Janejira!! 

My hope is that her art will inspire us all!

"We can always be friends, even if we're different"

"Plant Omega"

"A Seal from Sweet My Comic"

"The Musical Side"

"Artistic"

"The Idea"

Retirement Gifts

This year will be the last one for 2 very special teachers at Cumberland Elementary. Mrs. Polson, and Mrs. Michalsen will be retiring at the end of the year. I worked with each of the classes on a special project to help them remember their last class, and their time at Cumberland.

The students had two jobs to help make these collages. The first was to write a note to their teacher wishing them luck, and expressing how they felt about them. The notes were incorporated into the background of each collage.

Each student also got paint or print a piece of paper to incorporate into the collage. I pieced the papers (that included paw prints, lunch calendars, homework assignments, and letters home) on to an underpainting that I had created. This way everyone had a hand in the finished piece of work, yet it comes together to create one image that holds special meaning to these special teachers!

Cougar Contest

 

Winners of the Cumberland Cougar Contest were recently announced! All 4th and 5th grade students were invited to create a drawing of a Cougar that will be used for future Cumberland Spirit Wear. The staff members at Cumberland voted for their favorite designs, and did they have some amazing art to choose from! All of the contest entries were fantastic!

The winner of the Cougar Contest was Tara J., a 4th grader.

Second place went to Riya P., a 5th grader,  for her very graphic Cougar.

Third place went to Joanna K., a 5th grader.

There was a Fourth Place tie between Jamilee J. and Melissa G.!

Thank you to all students that submitted drawings! We were blown away by the drawings that we received, and plan to hold another contest in the future!!!

Tromp l'oeil April Fool's Day

Everyone in Mrs. Huffman's class today got glasses! Just kidding, it was an April Fool's joke. The 2nd graders all looked at photos of people's eyes to draw them onto a pair of glasses. This makes the students look very silly! They look real, but they just aren't themselves. I got this lesson from the blog, Art Projects for Kids.

The students learned a little about tricks that artists like to play on people. One of the styles they use is called tromp l'oeil. Below is a picture of a drawing that someone made on an actual side walk. The realistic drawing plays a trick on the viewer as it looks like the sidewalk is caving in because it is done so well!

Cougar Mascot Contest

Cumberland School is in search of a new school mascot. We are holding a drawing contest in search of a very special Cumberland Cougar. Here are the requirements:

-All 4th and 5th graders are welcome to submit a drawing of a cougar.
-Drawings should be in black and white (sharpie).
- Drawings and parent permission is due to Ms. Todorovich by Monday, March 18th.
- Teachers will vote on the drawings and a winner will be announced on Friday, March 22!
- Top 3 entries will receive a prize!

Valentine Teddy Bears

Last week, Staley the Chicago Bears' Mascot, visited Cumberland School to talk about bullying. It was such an exciting assembly that I decided to draw bears with my first grade students. They did a FANTASTIC job!

This week we drew teddy bears together and created Valentine's Day teddy bears by following step-by-step directions I am posting below. Every bear was unique and adorable!

I was so inspired by these bears and decided to do a painting of a bear myself. My bear is much more scary and fierce than our sweet teddy bears. Bears are one of my favorite things to paint.

February Display at Forest Board Room

This month Cumberland and Iroquois have an art display at the Forest Board Room for the Board of Education, and visitors to enjoy. The display is a sample of recent student work from all levels at Cumberland School. The following students have their art work on display:

Michelle G. - 1st Grade   Color Study Heart
Annaliese V.- 1st Grade   Symmetrical Mitten Print
Vivian P. -2nd Grade   Circle Color Study
Dimitri S. - 3rd Grade   Warm/ Cool Color Snowflake
Pavlina P. -3rd Grade   Positive/ Negative Space Heart
Angela L. - 4th Grade  Egyptian Mummy Case
Michael L.- 5th Grade   Henna Design Hand Art
Christian L. - 5th Grade   Snowman Perspective Study
Riya P. - 5th Grade   Leaf Line Relief
Elian A. - ELS Program   "There Was An Old Monster"

Also recently at the Forest Board room, Mr. Abraham Lee (who teaches at Cumberland and at North School) and I were honored by Dr. Westerhold and Mrs. Murphy the D62 School Board President for earning our National Board Certification in Art Education! Mr. Lee, and I wrote each wrote a four part paper explaining how our art instruction is aligned with National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. We also took an exam as part of this process. Fortunately Mr. Lee, Mrs. Curtis (a Literacy teacher at North School) and I can proudly call ourselves National Board Certified Teachers!

Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year 2013! Be on the lookout for some new and fun features that will help you create your own art projects at home.