Mini Matisse Goldfish Bowls

by Elizabeth Van Allen  for scribblesbyartteachervanallen.blogspot.com

I love this tiny fish
with the big eyes!

If you're looking for a fun lesson to reel in your younger students, you've found it! 
(bah dum bah! I love a good -or bad- pun!) 
I often struggle with formulating good lessons for my youngest students, and this mini matisse masterpiece really did the trick.  I loved the idea of interpreting Matisse's mid-career painted subject matter in collage, the medium he used later in his career.  My kids seem to be enjoying this, so I figured that yours would too.  Enjoy!

Mini Matisse Fish Bowl Collages

Materials:

• Scissors
• Glue
• Pencil
• Colored Pencils
• Marker (optional)
• Googly Eyes (optional)
• White paper for the bowl- sized between your medium and large, mine was about 4"x5".
• 3 sizes of colored and/or patterned paper for the wall, table, and fish.  Medium should be 1/2 the length of the large, and the smallest depends on the size of the bowl you are drawing.  I used 6"x9", 6"x4.5", and 2"x3".

Process:

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8. 
9. 
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This artist included all
the latest trends in fish
bowl interior design!

What artist-based lessons have been 
a hit with your 

youngest students?

This lesson was taught step-by-step, so 

working on this coloring sheet kept the
interest of quick-draw artists while the 

rest of the students finished their work!

Another Matisse fish bowl project
similar to mine from Mrs. Teitsma
at Jamestown Elementary.  Check
out the full J.E. Art blog here.

Read and Create: Love Monster by Rachel Bright

by Elizabeth Van Allen  for scribblesbyartteachervanallen.blogspot.com

I love this book.

left: one of my examples, middle: the book, right: a first grader's monster

Love Monster is about a funny-looking, slightly googly eyed monster who lives in a world of cute, fluffy things like bunnies and kittens.  Nobody loves him because he isn't cute, so he sets out on a journey to look for someone who'll love him just the way he is. While Love Monster is a great book for Valentine's Day, I often use it with classes/students that have bullying and low self esteem issues. 

Author/Artist Rachel Bright

Talent alert: this wonderful book is written and illustrated by Rachel Bright.  This multi-talented artist from the UK uses a printmaking process called solar etching to create her whimsical and well composed images.  Being the total printmaking (and book arts) geek that I am, I love finding illustrations that go beyond the standard drawing or painting!  If you have a few minutes, check out her amazing website, www.lookonthebrightside.co.uk.

My Monster, the project that I pair with Love Monster, gets nearly 100% student buy-in every time I teach it.  It can be made as simple or complicated as is appropriate, and is not limited to the simple materials I have shown.  Whether your 'monsters' are little or big, this project is sure to please even the most discerning young artists!

Directions:

What books and projects have you found that get and keep kids' attention every time?

Share with us by commenting below!

This year's first batch of monsters, courtesy of my
middle school combined AS/LSS class!