Day 1
How Colors Make Us Feel
Today we watched the Dr. Seuss video My Many Colored Days and used that as a launching point for our projects. Your child created 2 pieces, each representing a different emotion through the use of color as well as composition, medium and technique.
RED = ENERGY
These kids have plenty of energy! So, we harnessed it in and they each create a masterpiece conveying that energy in 2 dimension. They used a technique called “resist”. Simply put, water and oil don’t mix. We did a little science experiment to demonstrate that concept and then applied the concept to paper using oil pastels and a water based paint made from a very special surprise ingredient! Don’t forget to ask your kids how they made their paint!
BROWN = SAFETY, STABILITY & RELIABILITY
To bring down their high energy, all the kids laid on the floor with their eyes closed and talked about where they feel the most secure, what makes them feel safe and when they particularly need reliability. In response to that, they created mixed-media collages in various shades of brown.
ACTIVITIES
- More about My Many Colored Days:
www.seussville.com/titles/days/
- You’re your own “Lava Lamp”(oil/water experiment):
NOTE: The kids will bring home all of their creations after the 3rd class. Please schedule a time that day to review their work with them. They will be so proud to show it off to Moms and Dads!
Day 2
How Colors Make Us Feel
Your child created 2 pieces, each represent-ing a different emotion through the use of color as well as composition, medium and technique.
Yellow= Happiness & Enthusiasm
Orange = Joy and Glee
The children were introduced to the concept of “line” and using it to represent objects or ideas. This project also demonstrated the concept of dark colors receding and light colors emerging to create depth. We used all sorts of objects, dipped in yellow and orange, to glue to the paper. Each object ( uncooked spaghetti, rubber bands, and yarn to name a few) created a different type of line.
Grey = Sadness & Feeling Stifled
The children had the opportunity to explore a medium called Conti. Conti is compressed charcoal- smeary, chalky, smudgy charcoal. We used white as a highlight and black for the low lights on grey paper, which provided a neutral ground for the kids to work on. The children were introduced to the idea of putting shadows and light into their drawings, or shading.
Activity
Get some Conti at the craft or art supply store and try this same project with your kids at home. It is extremely therapeutic and a great way to get your kids talking about what bothers them the most, after you admit to them some of your own fears and doubts. Put on some solemn music, get some Kleenex (for blending – not tears) and just enjoy the moment. Hint: spray your finished pieces with aerosol hair spray when you’re finished to help keep down the smearing.
Day 3
How Colors Make Us Feel
Your child used 2 different techniques to create the materials to combine for a collage.
Blue= Trust, Loyalty, Confidence, Intelligence
Green= nature, growth, harmony, freshness.
Texture There are two types of texture: visual and tactile. Visual texture refers to the illusion of the surface's texture. It is what tactile texture looks like on a 2 dimensional surface. “Tactile” means touch. Tactile texture is the actual feel of a 3 dimensional surface.
Activity
Just like we did today, take a stroll with paper and crayons in hand. See how many textures you can find to rub along the way – the sidewalk, tree bark, rocks, etc… Crayons work great; they just don’t color mix very well. Be sure to peel the crayons and use them on their sides. When you finish with the crayons you can melt them together to make one beautiful crayon that deposits all of the different colors onto the paper at one time.