Exploring Different Mediums

Grade 5 students were given a challenge in class. They had to make 3 ATCs using new mediums or using mediums in a way that they never had before. They were provided with a variety of paints and drawing tools. The 3 cards that each student had to make were:

1) A card with warm colours
2)A card with cool colouors
3) a card with both warm and cool

Here is the mosaic we made using at least one ATC from each student in Grade 5NC, 5AL and 5KL!

Grade 5 students are currently studying explorers in their unit of inquiry. In art class, we are exploring colours. During the last class we mixed colours and made a delicious colour wheel out of icing and cookies. Today we were explorers and artists as tried to find new ways to use different media. We made ATCs that had warm colours , cool colours and ATCs with both kinds of colours we liked. Here are some of our creations:

The cool colours are blue, green and violet. The artist used water colour pencils, oil pastels, and bingo dabbers too!

The warm colours are red, orange and yellow. This artist used water colour paints and bingo dabbers.

This card has both warm and cool colours. The artist experimented with blending the wet paint with a tissue. She also used oil and chalk pastels and water colours!

This artist tried to apply the paint by splattering the paint.

Reflections on Exploration Centers:

Sometimes when we try new things it’s hard to be a risk taker. We were afraid that we might mess up our art.

Finding ideas was hard at first.

Sometimes, when we take risks we find that we like what happens to our art. Sometimes we don’t like what happens. That’s OK too because we learned something.

When we messed up, sometimes we didn’t throw it out. When we did something to fix it, it worked out really well and we found a new way to use the materials!

Watching other people helped us to come up with new ideas too.

ATC: Artist Trading Cards

Artist Trading Cards (or ATCs) are miniature works of art about the same size as sports cards! They must be 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches just the right size to fit inside standard card-collector pockets, sleeves or sheets. ATC cards originated in Switzerland where artists made and traded them, often through the mail. They can be made from almost any media such as pencils, pens, markers, acrylic paints, watercolour, found objects or cloth. The cards are traded rather than sold. You can make just one artist trading card or you can make a whole series. GWA students have so many ideas: family members, flags, animals, abstract art, teachers! join the fun!

We now have an ATC Center in our cafeteria where students can work during recess in the hot weather. You can sign up to take care of the booth or join us to make and trade cards any day at lunch or recess!

Tell us about your cards! What medium are you using? What is your theme? We would love to hear from you!