Miss Mueller's Art Methods Projects

  Description: In this project, we were asked to create a clay coil pot. We had to create our slab of clay using a paper template to cut out the bottom of our pot. Then we had to create coils of clay by rolling them out. We had to use the scoring and slipping method when constructing our pot. Our pot had to have a least five coils on it and then we had to either add a color or a design to our pot. I decided to paint my pot white.  Extension Activity: I could have students create a flower pot for a science class. We would create our coil pot with air dry clay. Once our pot was created, students would be able to plant some seeds in the pot. We would talk about how to keep a plant alive in a pot. I could also have students make their own pots by not using the coil method. 

  Description: In this project, students were asked to create their own bracelets with yarn using the weaving technique. We had to take three straws and tape them together to create the system in which we would weave our yarn in and out of it. Then we chose three different colors of yarn and create our bracelet by weaving under and over the straws. Then we took the bracelet off the straws and tied it together. I chose yellow for sunshine, pink for dance, and purple because it is my favorite color.  Extension Activity: Students could use this weaving technique using more staws to create a larger bracelet. They could choose more than three colors in order to make it a little more detailed. In addition, students could use the diagonal method in creating their bracelet design. For example, they could weave under and over two straws in order to create this pattern rather than weaving under and over one straw at a time. 

  Description:  In this lesson, I taught students how to make a paper mola design. Students had to draw their own animal image and then cut it out. They had to make their animal with complementary colors and had to layer these on top of each other. They then had to make a background design using small rectangles and glue them down. Students had to have at least five different colors of paper. They also had to draw a design on their animal when it was finished.  Extension Activity: An activity that I could do would be having students use different shapes to fill in their background of the paper mola design. I could also try using the layering process of pieces of paper and cut out the shapes with an X-Acto knife. I think it would be cool if students created their paper molas and we hung them around the room on a piece of string to represent the flags that they hang in the Kuna culture.

  Description: In this lesson, students had to use the technique of printmaking to design their own quilt. We had to put paint on our gel plate and then roll it around with the rolling tool. Then we had to use either a stencil or stamp with our paper on top of it to create a pattern. We used two pieces of paper and were able to create whatever design we wanted on it. We had to have one print that had at least two patterns on it from a stencil or stamp. Then we cut out our papers into squares and arranged them in a design for a quilt.  Extension Activity: I think that you could have students use printmaking with several different types of materials for the printing. You could use a sliced apple, leaves, bubble wrap, and even foam stamps. Teachers could use this activity in a science class by using leaves as the stencil/stamp to print with. I think that it would be really cool if students could make a larger quilt and then put all of their artwork together to make an even bigg...

  Description: This was a painting lesson using the dotting technique. We were provided with information about the technique of dot painting and were introduced to artists who used this technique in their paintings. Then we were told to draw a flower starting from the inside petals and moving to the outside petals. Then we each got to grab one color of paint and make three different shades of it. We had to have a shade that was lighter and darker than the original color, so we had to use white and black paint to make these shades. Once we finished making our colors of paint, we had to use a q-tip to paint our flower using the dotting technique. We then were encouraged to create a background and leaves to go along with our flowers with whatever materials we wanted.  Extension Activity: Another activity that you could have students do would be to create a large image using only dot painting. I think you could start off with the students brainstorming what image they would like...

  Description: This project involved drawing. Students were told to draw bubble letters for the initials of their names. We got to practice making bubble letters on another sheet of paper before we drew them on our final project. Then we had to brainstorm five designs/images that we would want to use to fill in the empty spaces on the page. We had to have at least five different lines or patterns, 5 different colors, and 3 different mediums, and at least three shapes. I decided to use flowers, paw prints, pizza, music notes, and sunshine with clouds for my shapes and patterns because I love all of these things.  Extension Activity: I think this project could be redone by having students write their names on a larger piece of paper using bubble letters. This could be their portfolio for all of their art projects for the time they are in that class. Students would be encouraged to put several designs on their projects that represented themselves. They would be encouraged to us...