Kindergarten:
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Students examine four distinctive landscapes to fuel spontaneous creativity and thoughtful examination. From the starkly beautiful, arid desert-scapes of New Mexico, inspired by artist Georgia O'Keeffe, to the ephemeral mountain-scapes and waterways of China, inspired by artist Cheng Yan, to the bold and electrifying sea-scapes of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, inspired by artists Yayoi Kusama and Bridget Riley, and finally, to the ever-transforming landscapes of Earth, itself— concealing fossilized hidden treasures from ancient civilizations and life forms gone by— the Earth holds many secrets just waiting to be unearthed by the adventurous artist.
Students examine four distinctive landscapes to fuel spontaneous creativity and thoughtful examination. From the starkly beautiful, arid desert-scapes of New Mexico, inspired by artist Georgia O'Keeffe, to the ephemeral mountain-scapes and waterways of China, inspired by artist Cheng Yan, to the bold and electrifying sea-scapes of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, inspired by artists Yayoi Kusama and Bridget Riley, and finally, to the ever-transforming landscapes of Earth, itself— concealing fossilized hidden treasures from ancient civilizations and life forms gone by— the Earth holds many secrets just waiting to be unearthed by the adventurous artist.
Kindergarten Projects for this course- Landscapes 1, 2, 3 and 4:
Kindergarteners begin their 1st landscape by rediscovering the intricacies of a leaf’s many patterns and shapes—adding elements of fantasy and whimsy by drawing/painting embellished, geometric designs using pencil, pen, metallic markers and watercolors to communicate a feeling of temporality against a colored sky. From adorning leaves to adorning vases, students learn about China’s famous Ming Vases from the early 1400s, noting how symmetry, pattern, balance, and emphasis of subject play an important role in characterizing the essence of this type of period vase. To showcase their vases more powerfully, students learn about abstract art, warm and cool color palettes, and shadow effects in order to create a backdrop
(2nd landscape) that enlivens, yet doesn’t detract from the primary subject. Thin twisting stems, branches, and airy green leaves offer a final softened touch, and nod to utilitarian design for these exquisite ‘blue vases’ from the Ming Dynasty. From China to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, students explore the concept of camouflage and pattern in art and design, as well as the significance of anatomic concealment as a vital trait for survival for several marine-life specimens. Using biomorphic shapes and bold patterns, made from pencil lines overlaid with glue lines and chalk pastels, students are able to mimic their 3rd landscape: an imaginative underwater world of vivid color and repeating patterns—perfect for concealing their fish within. Once the backdrop is created, students then draw 1-2 playful fish on black paper, cut out their silhouettes, then repeat the same bold designs on their bodies in order to cleverly hide them within their backdrops. Can you find them? Only the observant eye can tell…. The final frontier, 4th landscape-- explores the concept of organic life concealed underneath layers of earth in the form of fossils. With life-science habitats in mind, kindergarteners examine the fossils of eggs and birds from our distant past—immortalized in sedimentary rock, their feathered ancestors are none other than the winged dinosaurs, Theropods, that took to the sky. Yet with fantasy in play, students’ clay birds, nests, and egg sculptures are restored back to life—unearthed at last in all their chirping glory.
