Teams of 2 or 3 Organize Themselves for Medieval Architecture

Students on a mission negotiate role assignments without a hitch during early morning art classes. Once the fifth grade students are given the go-ahead,  the designers, cutters, builders, and managers naturally take on their roles to get the job started. They work out problems together, attempting various solutions and optional ideas. Small group work is punctuated by large group discussion, question-answer sessions, and independent research and pre-design drawing. 

Seeds of Creativity Are Watered from the Start, in Kindergarten!

The path to expert starts at fun: children who have feelings of joy, happiness, and pride associated with early childhood memories of experiences in school, perhaps especially in their art classes, are more likely to continue to have a positive connection to divergent thinking, open-ended explorations, the arts, creativity, and innovation throughout their lives: skills they will need the most in their futures. Feeling entitled and empowered to fully participate in the richness of creative expression is a basic civil right for all global twenty first century people. I feel extremely honored to be able to introduce meaningful art experiences to young children and to be able to share so many methods, materials, cultures, and venues of visual art with people of all ages through my career as both an art educator and an artist.

Medieval Architecture for Fifth Grade Students Launch into Construction

After internet research on medieval fortresses from China to Timbuktu, from Whales to Tibet, Overby-Sheppard students begin the measuring and foam core cutting process. Stage one of the construction will soon be put on hold for necessary design revisions and further studies in measurements. The use of rulers will take a prominent role in Mrs. Kelley's architecture class!  

Mrs. Kelly's ART CLUB meets for plein air river scape painting

A special day painting  on Church Hill

This was five year old, De'Juan's first time ever working with clay! His excitement was contagious and to this day he looks forward to  art class with excitement.

September 2007

From my first year at Overby-Sheppard, when I taught art classes from a rolling cart: "The Art Cart" in the homeroom classes. Here are some fourth grade students working on their "School Spirit Bags",  my September  opener: a character-building portfolio project!

The Monochromatic Wood Sculpture Project

M.L.K. Middle School Eighth Grade Wood Sculpture Projects at Stage II. 2007. Javonte Williams shows pride in his work as his classmates discuss the finer points of negative space.