This fun weekly art class is perfect for a full art curriculum for homeschoolers or any young artist seeking art enrichment with a variety of art media! Over six weeks, learners will explore a variety of famous artists such as James Audubon, Claude Monet, and Louise Bourgeois, learn many new art techniques, and create their own drawings, paintings, prints and sculptures! This course is "Level 2" in the series of art classes that I offer, but it is not necessary for a student to have already taken "Level 1" before participating in this course! For a full semester of art, students may enroll in my Level 1 or Level 3 class as well. 

       These projects introduce and reinforce art history, vocabulary and artistic skills that form a strong foundation of knowledge for young artists to progress in their creative development. I have designed these lessons in conjunction with my other classes to provide learners with a comprehensive art curriculum from ages 5-13 that is fun, process-oriented, and fosters personal expression and creativity!
   
     I focus on building skills, self-confidence, and personal artistic expression in all of my classes.  My teaching style is fun, easy going, patient and encouraging and all levels of artistic ability and experience are welcome and celebrated! 
    
In these classes, we will first explore the work of artist and scientist, James Audubon, and a variety of birds around the world while learning how to draw a bird from careful observation and using watercolor paint to create a beautiful habitat for your bird to enjoy!  Next, we will explore the Impressionist paintings of Claude Monet and learn how to create waterlily art using a variety of techniques including drawing, watercolor painting, printmaking and collage all in this one fun project!  Finally, we'll learn about the difference between 2-D and 3-D art, the amazing spider sculptures made by Louise Bourgeois, and we'll create our own 3-D tree sculpture! 


Day 1: Bird Drawing/Painting from Observation 1
We will begin our class with a brief discussion about John James Audubon, an artist, outdoorsman, and scientist who traveled across North America in the early 1800’s discovering, documenting and painting over 400 bird species in great detail. Each learner will select their own bird and we will work together to look carefully at bird photographs and break down how to draw a bird shape as a class. We will learn that although birds have some basic shapes in common, each one is unique and our drawings should be unique as well!  Then we will discuss where our birds might be, what they would see in their environment, and use our knowledge of birds and our imaginations to draw some details to our backgrounds! 

Day 2: Bird Drawing/Painting from Observation 2
We will briefly review what we learned about James Audubon and how he drew birds carefully from observation, including their habitats.  Learners will add colors and details from observation.  (Photographs of birds from different countries around the world will be provided.) Then we will discuss some options for completing our backgrounds with paint.  We will look at the color wheel and learn how to create a rainbow or sunset with watercolor paints if the artist desires.  After painting our backgrounds, learners will be encouraged to share their beautiful masterpieces with the class!

Day 3: Water Lily Prints 1
We will begin by exploring the beautiful Impressionist paintings of Claude Monet. We will also look at the color wheel and learn how to use a wet-on-wet technique with watercolor paint. We will work together to add imaginative details and colors for our pond all over our papers with watercolor paint, just like Monet!   

Day 4: Water Lily Prints 2
We will briefly review what we learned about Impressionism, the art of Claude Monet, and the color wheel.  We will learn what a collage is and discuss some methods to cut and glue on our lily pads. Then we'll move on to the best part - mixing up our paint and adding our flowers with a fun printmaking technique!  Learners will be encouraged to add their own creative details to their paintings and then to share their beautiful works of art with the class!

Day 5:  Tree Sculpture 
We will learn about the differences between 2-D and 3-D art, the amazing sculptures made by Louise Bourgeois and Jeff Koons, and we'll create our own 3-D tree sculpture with paper!

Day 6: Animal Sculptures
We'll briefly review what we learned about sculptures and look at the art of contemporary paper sculptors. We will use a variety of techniques to create a cat, dog or an imaginary animal out of paper! Students will be encouraged to share their artwork and their ideas with the rest of the class!

Please Note:  Class times may run longer than 45 minutes for children that work very meticulously.  I'm always happy to stay in class longer with these learners as they complete their projects!