Student Artwork

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Spring 2023

Basquiat in Sidewalk Chalk

For the last week of school, we watched part of a documentary centered around Jean Michel Basquiat, an artist frequently featured in art classrooms (for good reason!). His art looks messy and infantile. But his thinking is far from it. He frequently uses symbols, such as a crown, and draws parts of the human body. His art is expressive of how he is feeling--no rules or mistakes. After watching the documentary, students first created sketches of their own subject matter in Basquiat's style. They then transferred those sketches onto the sidewalk with chalk. I was very impressed with one of my 6th grade students who even signed the art using Basquiat's signature, Samo. You can see his sketch and sidewalk chalk art in the top two pictures.

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Spring 2023

Surrealism + Perspective

The following 4 entries are from one unit: Surrealism and Perspective.

Surrealism + Perspective, part 4: 3D

Our last unit of the year was centered around the combination of surrealism and perspective. For the last part of the unit,  students created 3D sculptures of everyday objects enlarged, based on the work of Claes Oldenburg (who creates giant statues of objects like clothespins, spoons, and wall plugs). Students worked in groups to decide on their object and then create it from cardboard and paint. They also learned cardboard connection techniques such as flange, L brace, slot, and tabs. Students created sculptures of objects such as Ramen noodles, Uno cards, and Extra gum. 

Surrealism + Perspective, part 3: 2D

Our last unit of the year was centered around the combination of surrealism and perspective. For the third unit part, students practiced different ways of creating a one point perspective (such as a landscape, a room, or buildings from above). Students then chose their favorite way of creating one point perspective and created a final work that included at least 10 surrealist elements.

Surrealism + Perspective, part 2: research

Our last unit of the year was centered around the combination of surrealism and perspective. For the third part of the unit, students worked In groups to explore different parts of surrealism (including contemporary and historical artists and concepts such as the endless stairs) as well as perspective. You can see a picture from the Visual Arts showcase (held at the end of the year) where students displayed their research. 

Surrealism + Perspective, part 1: digital

Our last unit of the year was centered around the combination of surrealism and perspective. We started by talking about surrealism and creating a big list of surrealist element examples. Students then created a simple surrealistic landscape using JS Paint online (a digital art website, a replication of Microsoft Paint). Students could only use their mouses, but they managed to create some outstanding work! They were required to Include at least 5 surrealist elements.

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Spring 2023

Jr. VASE (Visual Art Scholastic Event)

Jr. VASE is a state-wide art competition for middle school students. 8 students joined me after school, twice a week to work on artworks of their choice. 6 students attended the Jr. VASE competition with great success. The top two pictures depict a very talented student in 7th grade. She recieved a platinum award at the competition (the top 10% of artworks there!). Most of all, the students had a blast attending their very first VASE event! 

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Spring 2023

"Name Zentangles"

At the beginning of this project, students engaged In basic drawing practices. They then practiced these basic shapes In the form of Zentangles (doodles) around their name. Students were asked to fill up the entire paper with designs and color.

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Spring 2023

Debate on Ai Art Within the Context of Copyright

Currently, there is controversy in the art world--Artificial Intelligence generated art. After learning about copyright and watching videos discussing the controversy of Ai Art, students engaged in a debate discussing the pros and cons. The pictures above were created by myself, from researching Ai art. It also Includes quotes from student reflections--what they wrote in reflection of copyright to Ai art. 

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Spring 2023

"Memory Collage"

To start this project, we looked at Romare Bearden, a collage artist who lived during the Harlem Renaissance. He created various collages based on his memories of that time period in his life. Students reflected on their own memory and chose one to create out of construction paper. Most students chose to depict pets that they once had or childhood memories. 

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Spring 2023

"Monochromatic Collage"

We started our collage unit with monochromatic collages--only one color of picture cut out from magazines. Each student chose their color and searched through all magazines to find as many images of that color as they could. This was the first time many students worked with collage or Mod Podge. 

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Fall 2022

"Cardboard City"

The original idea for this project came from my time co-directing the Scratch Maker Camp (through Families Learning Together) over the summer of 2022, through Dr. Sean Justice of Texas State University. 

First, we held a Town Hall meeting to discuss which buildings would be the most Important for a city to have (such as grocery stores, city halls, hospitals, gas stations, and more). Next, students worked in groups to create plans of their buildings. They constructed their buildings using cardboard, Klevver Kutters, glue, tape, hot glue, and paint. Students also learned how to create light circuits using LED lights, copper tape, and coin cell batteries. Along the way, students learned terms such as architect, engineer, troubleshooting, blueprints, and more. This was a bit hit with all grades of my students! By the ending phases of my project, I had 100% engagement. Students were so proud of their work that I decided to hold a Visual Art Showcase in December of 2022 for families to see the cities all put together. 

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Fall 2022

"Leaves of Gratitude"

In the hallway close to my classroom, we have a chalkboard wall that the art teacher is in charge of decorating. I collaborated in November with the school counselor at KIPP Connect MS. She instructed all students (6-8th) in writing things they were thankful for. They wrote them on a single leaf and then we taped each of them onto a tree that I drew onto the chalkboard. This picture shows two 6th grade students helping me to tape more leaves up on the tree.

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Fall 2022

Multimedia Self Portraits

For this project, I wanted to give students the option of using multiple materials within one artwork. They had the options of pen, pencil, colored pencils, markers, watercolors, and acrylic paints. You may notice a spooky theme to a few of the portraits, because It was the week of Halloween. 

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Fall 2022

Contemporary Hispanic Artists - Zines

Students were introduced to the idea of zines for this project. For Hispanic Heritage month, students chose one contemporary Hispanic artist to research, create a zine about, and share within a presentation with the class. The larger picture Is a wall inside my classroom where zines can be hung up to be read by anyone visiting.

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Fall 2022

Art Club - Digital Art on Miro

Art Club meets once a week for an hour. We don't have much time to work, but I try to introduce new mediums for the students to try. This particular week, we tried collaborative digital art on Miro--where you can draw in real time with your classmates. 

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Fall 2022

"Papel Picado Printmaking"

During Hispanic Heritage month, we studied contemporary Hispanic artists, such as Kathleen Trenchard (located in San Antonio, TX). We talked about how papel picados could be considered an art form. Since normal papel picados require an X-Acto knife, I chose Instead to show students how to carve papel picado designs into foam, add color via markers, and then print them on wet paper. We had great success!

KIPP Connect Middle School, 6-8th grade, Fall 2022

"Tapestry Stories"

Students used fiber materials to build a tapestry. They selected colors, texture, and the order based on a story they wanted to tell. Students learned how to make their own looms and how to make their work into a functional tapestry. This lesson plan was created solely by me--based off of an idea I had while working on my teaching certification. Within my students' written reflections, I had one student tell me that this was the most relaxing project she had ever done and that she looked forward to art class every day so she could keep working on It. 

STEM - Engineering Camp (1 week, 10-12 year olds)

In this camp, we worked with the students on machines (understanding how to connect a machine to a battery and create a "mark-making" device), circuits, building with cardboard, and more. 

Scratch Class through ArtSpace (1 week, 10-12 year olds)

For one week, I taught a class on the kids coding website called Scratch (scratch.mit.edu) through ArtSpace at Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos. 

Self Portrait with Fingerprints (6-9 year old class, ArtSpace)

Color Mixing with 6-9 year old class at ArtSpace

Crockett Elementary, Spring 2022, 2nd & 3rd grade

Build a Bug -This is a lesson I designed within the first half of my student-teaching at the Elementary level. You can see the full lesson plan here.

Skills learned: research, sketching, planning, critical thinking, construction/sculpture, working with recycled materials, and collaboration.

Crockett Elementary, Spring 2022, Kindergarten & 1st grade

Dancing with our paintbrushes - Students were asked to use their paintbrushes to "dance" across the page. I demonstrated how to change their brush movement and color according to the feeling of the song. 

Skills learned: tempera paint, abstract art, and connecting art with music

Crockett Elementary, Spring 2022, Kindergarten & 1st grade

Memory Collage - Students were asked to visualize a memory in their mind and then create a collage using only paper. At the end of the class time, students came together to share the stories of their memory collages. For instance, the student on the left chose a memory of riding a roller coaster. Another student wanted to create a collage based on her memory of going to the zoo and feeding the giraffes. She loved the idea that giraffes have purple tongues. Another student created a small collage of herself holding her baby sister (bottom picture).

Skills learned: storytelling, planning, created a physical depiction of an internal memory, collage, glue skills, using scissors, and reflection with their classmates.

Crockett Elementary, Spring 2022, Kindergarten, 1st grade, & 5th grade

Jean Michel Basquiat self-portrait prints: Mrs. Amy Hall at Crockett planned this lesson originally, but as part of my student teaching, I taught this lesson as well. The students would start with a piece of styrofoam and draw in their self portrait and name. Next, they used regular markers to color the styrofoam. A new piece of paper was then laid out and misted with water to prep the paper for the print. The students then printed their self portrait onto the paper. The picture on the left is from a 1st grade class and the second from a 5th grade class. This lesson could be used across grade levels and explanations/directions adjusted for different needs.