Teachers Are Artists Too!!!

Benavidez Elementary teachers have had two scheduled art afternoons where they could come and explore their creative sides. The teachers learned about creating clay pots using the coil method of building. Creativity abounded! We had pots of every size, shape and design. After the pots were completed and fired in the kiln, a second art afternoon was held for teachers to glaze their pots. The results were FANTASTIC!!! Everyone had fun. In the spring we are going to be doing Zentangles.

Learning Community Quilts

The students began the school year discussing learning communities and how we could tell the story of each individual class. The students studied the art of Faith Ringgold and read her book Tar Beach. They began to work on a self-portrait in a caricature-style. After using a mirror to look at facial details and draw,  the students used watercolor techniques to paint their likenesses. Following the self-portrait with a lesson on pattern and design, the children created a frame for their work with their own pattern. All portraits were then hole- punched and strung together with yarn to create a "class quilt." I did this project several years ago with other students and was happy to recycle the idea with improvements..

Self-Portraits by Me, Myself

The self-portrait was the theme for Pre-K and Kindergarten's first project. Students studied the parts of the face in both English and Spanish. The children explored the five senses in creating this work. They  also learned about the art basics of color and gluing properly. Great fun was had by all and the result speaks for itself!

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

The theme for our school this year is based on the book, Oh The Places You Will Go!, by Dr. Seuss. This is a perfect theme for the art room because of all the places we will go both virtually and in our imaginations.

Come enjoy the artistic journey with us this year!

Planting a Rainbow

    Pre- K and Kindergarten students visit the Benavidez Garden and grow many plants and vegetables. In connecting this learning with art we studied the book Planting a Rainbow and created rainbow gardens using various colors and designs to represent spring flowers. Some students even added insects to their gardens. Paired with their collage butterflies and their symmetrical painted butterflies - the May art display is FANTASTIC!!!

Self-Portraits - Picasso Style

Students in Grades 1- 5 studied the famous Spanish artist – Pablo Picasso. In learning about Picasso and his different art styles, the students created Self-Portraits – Picasso Style. Students learned that Picasso experimented by looking at faces from the front and profile at the same time and set out to create self-portraits doing the same. The children used mirrors to view themselves and drew out their designs. Line, shape, color, and texture were the art elements the students studied to begin their work. They also used the Design Principles of texture, emphasis, contrast and pattern to complete the designs. The third grade students visited the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and were able to view a Picasso portrait in real life. The artworks were very successful and the students were proud of their Picasso Self-Portraits!