We haven't been having enough fun around here lately. I'm going to post a lot more art and craft projects in the next couple weeks. Fun is what summer break is for, after all!
I found this great project today. It is definitely a project for older kids and they will need adult help. Fortunately, adults will like this project, too! If you want to make this a family project, younger children can help their older brother or sister or parent by gluing sequins and beads to the lid (but they should use a more kid-safe glue).
In case you had the same idea that I had, aluminum foil cannot be used instead of reflective contact paper. It isn't shiny enough and the beads and sequins don't reflect like they would in a real kaleidoscope.
I also tried using wax paper and tissue paper instead of a plastic lid with beads and sequins. That doesn't work either. Follow the directions and the result is beautiful. Your own working, handmade kaleidoscope!
Here is the link to the video at eHow.
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Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Phidias and Classical Greek Sculpture
Phidias was a great Greek sculptor who lived and worked during the Classical Period of Greek art. During the Classical Period (440BC- 323BC), sculptors were interested in showing people and animals from all sides and from all angles. Sculptors wanted people to be able to walk around their sculptures and admire every part of them. They still carved decorations into walls, but they produced more large, free-standing sculpture.
During the Classical Period, artists focused on learning how to create perfect bodies. Sculptures were meant to celebrate man as the perfect creation of the gods. Sculpture didn’t show fat or wrinkles. Instead, it showed strong, muscular bodies.
Phidias was an important sculptor during the Classical Period. He directed the sculptors who created the Parthenon friezes (sculptures that are set into walls) at the Parthenon. Experts believe that Phidias designed the building and decoration. He also created the sculpture of Athena that stood at the Parthenon. Above is an example of a relief from the Parthenon.
Experts also believe that Phidias created that huge sculpture of Zeus that stood at the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. The sculpture was seven times the size of a man. It was carved from ivory and decorated with gold. It is counted among the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. Above is a drawing of what the sculpture may have looked like.
During the Classical Period, artists focused on learning how to create perfect bodies. Sculptures were meant to celebrate man as the perfect creation of the gods. Sculpture didn’t show fat or wrinkles. Instead, it showed strong, muscular bodies.
Phidias was an important sculptor during the Classical Period. He directed the sculptors who created the Parthenon friezes (sculptures that are set into walls) at the Parthenon. Experts believe that Phidias designed the building and decoration. He also created the sculpture of Athena that stood at the Parthenon. Above is an example of a relief from the Parthenon.Experts also believe that Phidias created that huge sculpture of Zeus that stood at the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. The sculpture was seven times the size of a man. It was carved from ivory and decorated with gold. It is counted among the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. Above is a drawing of what the sculpture may have looked like.More about Greek art:
Friday, August 1, 2008
Art Fraud Detective by Anna Nilsen
I was at the book store yesterday and came across a great book. Anna Nilsen’s Art Fraud Detective is a clever find-the-difference book that allows readers to compare paintings to slightly messed-up fakes.
The pages are split with the fakes on the top and the originals on the bottom. Each original painting appears next to an artist biography. The biographies are written for ages 9-12 but younger children can also enjoy studying the paintings.
Some paintings have not been changed, some have only one change, some have two, three, or four. Each painting that has been replaced with a fake includes a hidden symbol that tells you who created the fake. When you have studied every painting and discovered who created the fakes, you will be able to solve the big mystery: who is the good guy?
The book includes 34 paintings. Many are by artists you have already read about on this blog. Van Eyck, Botticelli, Raphael, da Vinci, Brueghel, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Degas, Monet, Seurat, Rousseau, van Gogh, and Picasso are all featured in Art Fraud Detective.
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The pages are split with the fakes on the top and the originals on the bottom. Each original painting appears next to an artist biography. The biographies are written for ages 9-12 but younger children can also enjoy studying the paintings.
Some paintings have not been changed, some have only one change, some have two, three, or four. Each painting that has been replaced with a fake includes a hidden symbol that tells you who created the fake. When you have studied every painting and discovered who created the fakes, you will be able to solve the big mystery: who is the good guy?
The book includes 34 paintings. Many are by artists you have already read about on this blog. Van Eyck, Botticelli, Raphael, da Vinci, Brueghel, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Degas, Monet, Seurat, Rousseau, van Gogh, and Picasso are all featured in Art Fraud Detective.
Return to main page.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Decorate Your Own Greek Vase
Decorate your own vase like the Ancient Greek vases you saw yesterday and Tuesday!
Supplies Needed:
Paper
Colored Pencils
Black Crayon
Scissors
Toothpick
This project can get a little messy so protect your work space with newspaper.
Begin by choosing colored pencils. I picked reds, yellows, oranges, and browns because they reminded me of the color of the clay the Greeks used for their vases. Cover your sheet of paper with color. Mix it up. Color large patches of yellow and small patches of brown, circles of orange and triangles of red. Go nuts.
When your page is completely covered, color over the whole thing with a black crayon. You’ll need to press hard and color in several directions to cover the colored pencil.
Now draw a vase on the back of your page. I folded my paper in half so the vase would be symmetrical. When you’re happy with the vase, cut it out.
And now comes the fun part. With a toothpick, scratch patterns and pictures onto your vase. The toothpick will scratch off the crayon and let the colors show through. My vase is shown below. Though not something you would see on an Ancient Greek vase, I drew two people dancing. You can draw anything you want on your vase, including made-up creatures. Be creative.
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Supplies Needed:
Paper
Colored Pencils
Black Crayon
Scissors
Toothpick
This project can get a little messy so protect your work space with newspaper.Begin by choosing colored pencils. I picked reds, yellows, oranges, and browns because they reminded me of the color of the clay the Greeks used for their vases. Cover your sheet of paper with color. Mix it up. Color large patches of yellow and small patches of brown, circles of orange and triangles of red. Go nuts.
When your page is completely covered, color over the whole thing with a black crayon. You’ll need to press hard and color in several directions to cover the colored pencil.Now draw a vase on the back of your page. I folded my paper in half so the vase would be symmetrical. When you’re happy with the vase, cut it out.And now comes the fun part. With a toothpick, scratch patterns and pictures onto your vase. The toothpick will scratch off the crayon and let the colors show through. My vase is shown below. Though not something you would see on an Ancient Greek vase, I drew two people dancing. You can draw anything you want on your vase, including made-up creatures. Be creative.
Return to main page.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Ancient Greece Part II- Archaic Period
Before you read this, refresh your memory about the Geometric Period of Ancient Greek art. Remember how stylized and unrealistic the people and animals looked?
The Archaic Period began around 700BC and ended around 480BC. You’ll notice a big difference between the art of this period and that of the Geometric Period. During this period, Greek artists created much more realistic images. The people have muscles and their faces are detailed. The horses now look like real horses. And there’s something else you’ll notice (look at the bowl below)—the Greeks began to include mythical creatures like griffins (part lion and part bird) and sphinxes (part lion and part woman).
During the Archaic Period, Greek art was influenced by art from other areas of the world. This is because the Greeks were trading goods with neighboring areas. They were also setting up colonies to their east and west. Contact with other cultures allowed Greeks to learn to cut gemstones for jewelry, work with metals, and carve ivory.
Still, though, the Greeks continued to make sculptures and decorated vases. As I said earlier, the images became more realistic. Look at the decoration on the vases above. Big difference from Geometric Period vases, huh?
The Archaic Period began around 700BC and ended around 480BC. You’ll notice a big difference between the art of this period and that of the Geometric Period. During this period, Greek artists created much more realistic images. The people have muscles and their faces are detailed. The horses now look like real horses. And there’s something else you’ll notice (look at the bowl below)—the Greeks began to include mythical creatures like griffins (part lion and part bird) and sphinxes (part lion and part woman).
During the Archaic Period, Greek art was influenced by art from other areas of the world. This is because the Greeks were trading goods with neighboring areas. They were also setting up colonies to their east and west. Contact with other cultures allowed Greeks to learn to cut gemstones for jewelry, work with metals, and carve ivory.Still, though, the Greeks continued to make sculptures and decorated vases. As I said earlier, the images became more realistic. Look at the decoration on the vases above. Big difference from Geometric Period vases, huh? 
During this time, the Greeks began sculpting nude standing male figures (called kouros) and standing female figures with loose cloth draped over them (called kore). You have probably seen statues like the ones shown above.Return to main page.
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