Van Gogh three weekin' it

Oh how I love the three week art project! I think it forces my Kindergarten students to slow down and really appreciate the long art project.

Van Gogh inspired art projects are always good staples, and this one is inspired by "The Sunflowers." Since spring is coming (I think) I thought it was time for some flower power in the art room!

The first week is all about these fabulous, colorful, embellished flowers.

You need a lot of strips of paper for this project- so prepare to hang out at the paper cutter for a while... Make a mix of different colors and have extras ready for early finishers.

Usually, the students use about three strips of paper and fold and cut out the petals on a curved arc. Does it have to be an arc? Does it have to look symmetrical and perfect? Well... Whatever the results, have them decide how it should evolve and be put together. Give them the basics and let them run with it, mistakes and all.

Lately I feel like I have been walking a fine line with what I want my project outcomes to look like while trying to save some wiggle room for creativity. When a student messes up, or has to problem solve on their own, or breaks out of the boundaries of the project... Hey, we call that being creative and I would be a fool to stop it. Sometimes the best art projects are made by rule breakers.

Therefore, don't be too militant with how the flowers look or you will wind up with a whole class of the same flowers... Meh!

Encourage that they have some symmetry going, overlapping and solid design... And then let them go wild with embellishments.

Students loved having the freedom to make some unique flowers... collaging on some novel embellishments like buttons/fabric scraps and draw using Crayola slick sticks (these things are wonderful but they don't last long).

I will be posting more on the following weeks of this project as it progresses.

One thing is for sure... Winter it's been cool having you around, but take a hike.