Thursday, February 16, 2012

This Week in the Art Room

Some 2nd graders finished their Chihuly-inspired paper macchia this week. I'm not sure which part of the process kids found most exciting -- watching the spray starch foam and move the color around the coffee filter (here) or unfolding the stiff, dried finished macchia all ready to glue to its base!!


Other classes painted the first part of their Concentric Squares (based on Frank Stella's Concentric Squares). Next week we cut them apart, share pieces with friends and make new pieces of cooperative art.
Here are a few on the drying rack.

11 comments:

  1. we're making macchia this week in K too....they ADORE it!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. cooperative art! I love it! I will be looking to you for inspiration as my theme for this years art night will be cooperative art!

    COOL! I'll check back later and let you know what I come up with too! I think we will do a bottle cap mural.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hmmm the computer ate my comment. Let's try again.

    I'm going to be doing this project in April, so I need to pick your brain a little, since your results are SO awesome. I have liquid starch so I tried putting it in a spray bottle, but the results are definitely NOT the same. Plus there's no foaming and fizzing to get excited about. So, can you tell me how many cans of spray starch you used for how many kids? I want to make sure I buy enough. And are your filters the standard size? I have GIANT coffee filters, donated by the local Nice 'n Easy shop and I don't want to buy more, or cut the big ones down. I'm concerned they are going to eat up all my markers too.

    By the way - the squares are gorgeous too! What brand paint?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The filters were just regular size basket style.

      As to the starch, I started with a can I had at home that was about 2/3 full (I guess) and it got me through 3 classes -- about 64 kids. I started a new can for the other 3 classes and still have plenty left. I was surprised at how far it stretched. We are lucky to be located right across the street from a supermarket, so I don't usually panic about amounts of stuff, as I can always dash across the street and buy more. But, I definitely understand your concern!!

      I did tell the kids there was no need to color really solid with the markers, because the color would run when sprayed with the starch. That may help preserve your markers.

      Generally, I'd say "Don't worry about too much with this project -- it is really pretty much a "no fail" kind of process!!"

      We just used SAX brand tempera for the squares -- I think it was Tru-Flow.

      Delete
  4. I just did the macchia's with the 2nd graders this past week- they turn out awesome! This website has some awesome links to share, too: http://tcm.childrensmuseum.org/themuseum/fireworks_ofglass/games_35.htm#

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the tip on the Children's Museum site. It is TERRIFIC!!!!

      Delete
  5. These machia bowls are awesome.
    I love the boldness of colors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should have seen the kids' faces as we sprayed the starch and colors brightened. Sooo fun!!

      Delete
  6. Oh this looks great!

    What you can do with coffee filters :)

    I can imagine the faces! Great project!

    ReplyDelete
  7. christie, this is so cool! thank you for the idea!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Loving this!!!!! Thanks for showing your process! Off to go get some liquid starch! :) Pinning (Stealing) :)

    ReplyDelete