First Trimester Comes to an End

We have had a busy, productive first trimester to start our school year.  As report cards come home in the next week, I wanted to take a moment to remind my artists and families that we are just beginning our adventures this school year as budding artists.  It is very common during the first trimester for students to be developing in their art skills, which is a 2 on the report card.  This does NOT mean that our artists are not performing well, just that we are to continuing to work to grow to mastery, which is a 3 on the report card.  For most of our objectives this trimester, students are just being introduced to new media and techniques.  If there are areas of deep concern, I will contact parents directly.  We are having a fantastic start with hard working art students who are pushing through challenges and obstacles to continue to grow.  Please celebrate your young artists and continue to encourage them to do their very best as they learn and grow in the art room.

Gift Lists

As the holiday season approach, I have parents asking about good art supply ideas for their budding artists.  Here are some ideas for gifts for the artist in your family:

1.  Kwik Stix tempera paint sticks

2.  Prisma Color colored pencils and a good quality hand sharpener.  Prisma Color makes their own shapener too.  These are expensive colored pencils, but the quality is amazing.  Your older artists will love them.

3.  Drawing Pencil set 

4.  Sketchbook

5.  Modeling Clay (Crayola Model Magic is easy to use and can be colored or painted when it dries)

6.  Weaving Loom and yarn

7.  Liquid Watercolor paint or Watercolor sets

8.  Metallic Markers (Crayola makes a great set)

9.  Oil Pastels (These come in all sorts of fun sets; metallics, neon, etc..  We use Crayola brand in school, but there are several great brands available.  Students can use watercolor paint over the oil pastels to create a wax resist.)

10.  A box of sculpture items (pipe cleaners, wood sticks, wood scraps, cardboard, tape, glue)

11.  Colored tape or Washi tape

12.  Blank canvas for painting