4th Grade - Positive & Negative Plaster Cloth Sculptures

This is a fun sculpture for focusing on positive & negative space. We looked at a few sculptures that illustrated negative space. Henry Moore was one of the artist we looked at closely.

Then we worked on creating negative space with 4 pipe cleaners. 

I cut up a pile of plaster cloth into strips and gave them cups of warm water. They dipped and wrapped the pipe cleaners. Once wrapped, the wrapped pipe cleaners can get heavy, changing the shape. We used toilet paper rolls to hold the shape while they dried. Students had a piece of paper with their name on it, underneath was a piece of styrofoam just for support.

Day 2, we painted them with acrylic paint. We used semigloss latex in colors. It worked perfectly! 

5th Grade - Miro Abstracts!

This lesson was a fast filler lesson that turned out great! Students were inspired by Joan Miro by viewing a slideshow with many of his works of art. Then students brainstormed on a 9x12 by drawing several overlapping freeform shapes. From there they were to break up the spaces further and could turn them into alien like creatures or just an abstract... whatever the shapes inspired! 

We worked on a cold press 9x12 watercolor paper that we had on hand. First used watercolor paint and blew it with short straw pieces. Once dry, students drew with pencil first and outlined with Big Brush PITT Pens. Last step, we colored a few of our shapes in with oil pastel. For a quick lesson, these turned out really cool!!!

6th Grade Positive & Negative Shapes!

This is a lesson many teachers have taught for a few decades. My mother taught this lesson to me when I was young, it was fun to make a basic illusion with positive and negative cut shapes! This version in black and white can be eye catching, simple. And then adding a pop of color is fun too!

We start with the smallest 4x4 black square, cut a shape on each side, then glue the "scrap" to a 8x8 white paper. Plug in the puzzle pieces... Put a little glue on the back, flip out, lining up the edges perfectly with the scrap. 

Repeat... cut 2 shapes on each side of the 8x8 white. Glue the 8x8 onto a black 12x12. You see where I am going???

Finally, last step! Cut 3 shapes from each side of the black 12x12.  Glue to the 16x16 white final sheet! Finish gluing the flip shapes... DONE! 

Add a pop of color by creating some interesting positive and negative shapes... Matisse style or make something up! Have fun! 

3rd Grade - Joan Miro Abstract Freeform Shape Designs

Some of my favorite Joan Miro paintings are the ones with many shapes overlapping and creating new shapes.  We looked at several of his works of art that created some interesting shapes from layering.  To create our compositions, we drew two very large, loopy freeform shapes, with the goal to create other shapes. This lesson is a great transition between two larger lessons that take a few meeting times.  This one only takes 2 class times and is very productive!  Enjoy!