The Ratner School Art Program

What a busy week and weekend we have had at the school! Sunday's open house was filled with prospective parents and students visiting our school. I always enjoy the opportunity to show others what our art program is like at The Ratner School. Every parent I met commented on the work they viewed throughout the school and how impressed they are with the skill and creativity our students exhibit. I am so proud of our students!  

We are currently working on a project in every art class to help raise funds for the maker space. There are many hand tools, fasteners and materials we still would like to purchase and all the students want to take part in helping build the space. We have contracted a company to create blank card sets with the artwork of each student represented on the individual cards. Many thanks to Sydnia Tcheurekdjian on finding a company to work with us. I am still working out the details of price and how you can purchase the cards, but I promise I will let you know when I get it all settled. The work is beautiful and I think everyone will be pleased to buy the cards featuring the artists of our school! 

I love the portraits the students draw of me and give as gifts. 

Kindergarten Art

The Kindergarten artists finished the work on the Chinese Zodiac. They showed great skill and understanding about details, color use and correct material control. The work was sent home on Thursday and I hope they were able to tell you more about the symbols of the zodiac. I am having a wonderful time watching the tremendous growth in our youngest artists!

Great pirate rabbit!

1st and 2nd Grade Art

This class was the first group to complete their card project. The students decided to focus on zentangle designs, remembering the successful zentangle name project from the beginning of the year. We talked about making the cards black and white, but the class really wanted colorful cards, so we set on creating the patterns with markers and watercolors. They were careful with their patterns and are very excited to help raise money for the maker space! I can hardly wait to see the final cards printed.  

3rd and 4th Grade Art

This class did not really get a vote in the imagery for the card project! We had already begun the Van Gogh flower painting project and I did not want them to lose momentum. The students created a still life with the flowers in the vase for the image on their cards. This only helps them with the composition, details and color choices for their large painting. The smaller sketches are wonderfully painted and they are very proud of their work.

5th and 6th Grade Art

All the students in the 5th and 6th grade class finished their cards and they are amazing! The class decided to focus on the subject matter of birds. They could create a realistic drawing of the bird of their choice using their observational skills, or they could create a "hybrid" bird. Some students combined animals, most chose to create a more realistic drawing of a bird. I am impressed with the work they created and I believe the images will be very successful as cards.

7th and 8th Grade Art

We had our final run of printmaking this week and the majority of students were pleased with the prints they pulled. We began work on the images for the cards at the end of the week. The students at this grade level wanted to have completely unique cards from one another. I am letting them choose the subject matter for their work and am excited to see how their work will evolve.