1st Graders Study the Art of Van Gogh

Bell School 1st Grader recently completed a unit on the works of Vincent Van Gogh. This is one of my favorite projects during the school year. The kids have the opportunity to study the life of this amazing artist. One of our favorite books is "Getting to Know - Van Gogh". 

A little interesting story about the Vincent Van Gogh Sunflowers that I found on the web Although I've read about his story a number of times I thought this was a great way share with children Van Gogh's motivation for these particular paintings... It was August. Vincent didn't have any friends in Arles and was very lonely. He decided to invite a fellow artist, Paul Gauguin, to come and stay with him so they could paint together. Vincent wanted his friend Paul to feel welcome, and he wanted to impress him with his skill as a painter. So he created four sunflower still-lifes to decorate the walls of Paul’s bedroom. Paul Gauguin wasn't very fond of the sunflower paintings and immediately removed them from the wall of his room. Little did he know that a hundred years later one of Vincent’s sunflower paintings set a record for the most expensive painting in the world...

The project included sketches of flower pots and large flowers. Students used white glue to outline their sketches. When the glue was dried. They created an impressionistic drawing style using bright mix of oil pastels in a quick short stroke. Similar to the quick painting style of the impressionists and Van Gogh.

 

National Grand Bank Show - November 2014

Congratulations to our Bell School Art Students for their selected entries into the National Grand Bank Art Show!
Works from Marblehead Public Schools grades K-12 will be on display during the winter in the lobby of the NGB Main Branch located on Pleasant Street in Marblehead.

Original art created by our very talented young Bell School students.
Front Row - Left to Right: Madeline & Madeleine grade 3, Cameron & Anais grade 3. Back Row - Left to Right: Matilda grade 2, Riley grade 2, Sadie grade 3 and Sam grade 3.

2014 Marblehead Festival of Art Youth & Student Bell Artists

The following Malcolm L. Bell School art students have been selected to exhibit at The 2014 Marblehead Festival of Art Youth and Student Exhibition! Congratulations to all our young artists!

July 3–6

49th Marblehead Festival of Arts.

Youth Art is a non-juried exhibit of original work in the categories of crafts, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. This exhibit features the work of students in preschool through grades 4 attending public or private schools in Marblehead, nonresidents in school or taking lessons in Marblehead, and Marblehead residents attending private schools out of town. The exhibit will be held at the Old North Church, Marblehead.

For more information on the Marblehead Festival of Arts visit their website at www.marbleheadfestival.org

Caroline B. Grade 2

Caroline G. - Kindergarten

Clara D. - Grade 2

Devin W. - Grade 3

Isabel W. - Grade 3

Julia B. - Grade 3

Katie P. - Grade 2

Lianna D. - Grade 2

Mac O. - Grade 3

Madelyn L. - Grade 2

Nate S. - Kindergarten

Olivia H. - Kindergarten

Quinn H. - Kindergarten

Riley S. - Grade 2

Sadie J. - Grade 2

Serena N. - Kindergarten

Shakayla B. - Grade 2

Sophia I. - Grade 3

Theo B. - Grade 3

William W. - Grade 2

Getting Ready for Fine Arts Night!

Georgia O'keefe Inspired 3rd Grade Art

3rd Graders working on large abstract floral art based inspired by Georgia O'Keefe's work created in tempera paint and charcoal pastels.

Kindergarten Last of the Snowmen!

During one of our last cold snaps we finished up our lessons on mixed media in Kindergarten art. Here are a few examples or our kinder snowmen. I had received some very nice recycled wrapping paper that worked great for this project. Using the wrapping paper I let the kids use to create ksnowmen accessories. I was able to use this process to assess their shape recognition, ability to cut and understanding of spacial relations between the size of the snowmen and the size of their accessories. The kids really enjoyed this project.