8th Grade Art Studio

April 10, 2013

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to everyone who was able to donate clothing to the 8th grades Refashioned Fashion Show project. 

All of the 8th graders gathered in the studio Wednesday morning to select items from the donations. Normally 8th graders are not in the studio as an entire group, but to make the selection process fair for both 8th grade groups we all met early. After consulting as a group, one representative from each design team began the selection of items on behalf of the group; team representatives were free to consult with the group about selections during the process, but to avoid a mob approach only one team member could be on their feet at a time.  Afterwards, we met in our ususal class groups and students began to edit, finalize, and construct, their outfits.

Outfits and accessories will be constructed by altering/sewing unwanted clothes and using unconventional materials (metal washers, paper, wire, etc.). Students are required to created their outfit using repurposing techniqures and basing the design on their current style preferences (preppy, hip, casual, sporty, etc.), drawing from a historical era of fashion (e.g. the renaissance, the roaring 20's, disco 70's, etc.), or costume (knight, animal, nature, etc.). Design groups will receive certificates for attending to assignment parameters and achieving group goals by considering each members ideas and strengths when making decisions.

8th Grade Embarks on a Fashion Journey

The 8th graders are embarking on an end of the year fashion adventure via their creativity, the art studio, and community donations of clothing. Students will be working together in groups to create a "fashion forward" repurposed outfit to be worn by the group's model in an end of the unit Fashion Show on May 29th. 

Outfits and accessories will be constructed by altering/sewing unwanted clothes and using unconventional materials (metal washers, paper, wire, etc.). Students are required to created their outfit using repurposing techniqures and basing the design on their current style preferences (preppy, hip, casual, sporty, etc.), drawing from a historical era of fashion (e.g. the renaissance, the roaring 20's, disco 70's, etc.), or costume (knight, animal, nature, etc.). Design groups will receive certificates for attending to assignment parameters and achieving group goals by working together, considering each members ideas and strengths when making decisions. 

February 20, 2013
8th Grade Prepares for the Light

8th Grade students have been developing their image transfer skills over the past few months. Working through a variety of techniques and materials, students are now creating final collages for a gel medium photo emulsion transfer onto a tyvek hanging lamp shade. Utilizing, magazine images, photo copy prints, and hand drawn designs, 8th graders have made an original 11"X34" design for their own hanging lamp. Students will be adding color using transferred color, and added color (sharpie, paint marker, watercolor, etc). The lamps will be alight and on display at this year's TBS Student Art Show.

January 30, 2013
8th Grade Collages, Copies, and Transfers Images Into Lamp Shades

8th Grade students have been developing their image transfer skills over the past few months. Working through a variety of techniques and materials, students are now creating final collages for a gel medium photo emulsion transfer onto a tyvek hanging lamp shade. Utilizing, magazine images, photo copy prints, and hand drawn designs, 8th graders have made an original 11"X34" design for their own hanging lamp. Students will be adding color using transferred color, and added color (sharpie, paint marker, watercolor, etc). The lamps will be alight and on display at this year's TBS Student Art Show.

November 14, 2012

8th Grade Gets a Bright Idea
Last week, 8th grade students were introduced to the process of transferring photographs from a printed copy onto watercolor paper. Today, students began transferring photos onto light muslin cloth that can be sewn onto tote-bags, t-shirts, pillows, and more; all skill-building techniques in preparation for the spring repurposed fashion show.

Students used magazine images, fabric, a folding tool, and gel medium (non-toxic) to transfer pristine photos into grainy reinterpretations of the original. Unlike the watercolor paper, the fabric did not need to be presoaked and the magazine images did not require a lot of rubbing to transfer the image, but still necessitated a lot of patience because the thin magazine paper could tear.  Unlike the colorful and detailed  transfers of inkjet images onto watercolor paper, the magazine images on the fabric were hazy and cloudy. Students and I discovered that a little light brought the image out distinctly. Next week students will transfer inkjet images on fabric to see if the results will be clearer and brighter than the magazine print transfers.

November 7, 2012

8th Grade Transfers Images and Their Plants
8th grade students were introduced to the process of transferring photographs from a printed copy onto watercolor paper. In the coming weeks students will begin transferring photos onto light muslin cloth that can be sewn onto tote-bags, t-shirts, pillows, and more; all in preparation for the spring repurposed fashion show.

Students used inkjet photos, watercolor paper, a folding tool, and gel medium (non-toxic) to transfer pristine photos into grainy reinterpretations of the original. Students found that the process required pre-soaked paper and a lot of patience rubbing the image with the folding tool to get a satisfying end result. All (including myself) were amazed each time the transferred image was revealed.

8th graders also began their class by sketching their own hand-built flowerpot (with pre-potted plants placed in or beside them) and then by planting their flowering plant into their finished pots. Students considered the needs of their plant based on the size and configuration of their pot. Some students found themselves filling in extra space, while others found the need to reduce their plants original dirt amount. Students will attend to their plants weekly to clip away dead debris and water.

October 24, 2012

8th Grade Transforms and Transfers Images into More

Students used inkjet photos, watercolor paper, a folding tool, and gel medium (non-toxic) to transfer pristine photos into grainy reinterpretations of the original. Students found that the process required pre-soaked paper and a lot of patience to get a satisfying end result. All were amazed each time the transferred image was revealed.

8th grade students were introduced to the process of transferring photographs from a printed copy onto watercolor paper. In the coming weeks students will begin transferring photos onto light muslin cloth that can be sewn onto tote-bags, t-shirts, pillows, and more; all in preparation for the spring repurposed fashion show. 

October 17, 2012

8th Grade Reworks Images to Create New Designs

8th Grade students this year will get to present a repurposed-fashion Fashion Show to the Berkeley School community this spring. In preparation 8th graders will be working over the coming months on graphic design, sewing, and the articulation of a style or culture through clothing. Today, students used stock photos to cut, color, and glue together a new image, message or theme optional.

October 10, 2012

8th Grade Continues with Clay!

Students have been instructed on the different stages of clay ware: greenware- still maluable, leather hard- fragile and breakable, bisqueware- after the first kiln firing, and final glaze piece- after liquid glazes are applied and the piece is fired for the last time. Students have learned to apply underglazes to greenware OR bisqueware and that liquid gloss glazes MUST be applied ONLY to bisqueware. Students have chosen their construction process and the color theme of their flower pots, all creative inspiration is cultivated and supported on an individual basis.

Students continue to work with clay, stacking coils, slabs, and spheres to create a new flower pot for their observation drawing flowering subjects. Using various hand building techniques, such as slab, coil, braids, and spheres students score and slip their pieces together until reaching the assigned specifications of 6"Hx4"D. Students also continued to practice their centering and on the wheel so they can keep their new skills sharp.

October 3, 2012

8th Grade Puts their Best Face Forward
During my unfortunate absence on Wednesday, 8th graders had the opportunity to contribute their self-portraits to the "One Community, Many Faces" campus project begun during the Fall Festival and inspired by a 2/3 student's experiences in Copehagen. Students and families in the K-8 Berkeley School community have been contributing to this project currently on view outside the east Art Studio door. 

“The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers & cities; but to know someone who thinks & feels with us, & who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

September 26, 2012

8th Grade Flower Vessels

Students continue to work with clay, stacking coils, slabs, and spheres to create a new flower pot for their observation drawing flowering subjects. Using various hand building techniques, such as slab, coil, braids, and spheres students score and slip their pieces together until reaching the assigned specifications of 6"Hx4"D. Students also continued to practice their centering and on the wheel so they can keep their new skills sharp.

September 19, 2012

8th Grade Begins to Create

In their first studio class, 8th Graders completed their first observation drawing of a potted flowering plant and they will continue to draw the same plant once a month as the plant grows and blooms. Students will make clay pots to repot the plants in the coming months, and in the spring we will plant them outside and continue our observation drawings once a month outside. Today student's began creating their flower pots using various clay hand building techniques, such as slab, coil, braids, and spheres. Students also continued to practice their centering and on the wheel so they can eventually make a 6"Hx4"D flower pot on the pottery wheel.

Middle School students begin every studio class with a 10 minute silent observation contour drawing. Sometimes the observation subject is a still life and other times it is an object or environment chosen inside or outside the studio. Students are encouraged to study the object they are drawing, checking in visually every 5 seconds to confirm the angle, shape, or texture of the next line they are about to draw.

September 12, 2012

8th Graders Discover the Wheel!

8th Graders had the special honor of christening the studios two new pottery wheels. After their 10 minute observation contour drawing exercise, students watched and commented as I demonstrated the techniques for preparing clay and "throwing" it on the wheel to create vessels. Students were shown the mechanics of the pottery wheel, the bat, and the tools needed to work on the wheel. Demonstration included attaching the batt to the wheel, the perfect speed for centering the clay, how to center your clay (don't let the clay bully you!), tricks for shaping the clay into different forms, and how to remove the vessel from the batt. Ultimately, students will create planters for the flowering plants 8th graders will continue to draw once a month throughout the school year. Students will also work over the next few months to create a dinner set of 4 cups, bowls, salad, and dinner plates.

September 5, 2012

8th Grade in the Art Studio

8th Graders were the first to have Art Studio classes this week. This year's 8th graders have kicked off the new year with observation contour drawings, new material introductions, and fun group drawing activities.

Middle School students begin every studio class with a 10 minute silent observation contour drawing. Sometimes the observation subject is a still life and other times it is an object or environment chosen inside or outside the studio. Students are encouraged to study the object they are drawing, checking in visually every 5 seconds to confirm the angle, shape, or texture of the next line they are about to draw. Today 8th Graders completed their first observation drawing of a potted flowering plant that they will continue to draw once a month as the plant grows and blooms. Students will make clay pots to repot the plants in the coming months, and in the spring we will plant them outside and continue our observation drawings once a month outside.

Group drawing games in the Art Studio are important for fun, team building, and increasing organizational skills.

Scribblish, the game in the slideshow below, encourages drawing, writing, and interpretive skills. Fashioned upon the idea of telephone, it is best played with 4+ participants.  Here's how you play:   The 1st person draws a picture in the first folded square on the scribblish sheet and passes it to the person next to them. The second person looks at the picture and writes what they think is happening in the  picture in the second folded square. Here's where it gets tricky! Before the second person passes the sheet to the third person, they fold down the first square (with the drawing) so the third person can not see the drawing. The third person reads the writing and then draws a picture of how they think that would look. Then before the third person passes it to the fourth they fold and hide the drawing (1st square) and writing (second square) so that the fourth person can only see their drawing on the third square. The fourth person looks at the picture and writes what they think is happening in the  picture. Repeat until your sheet is full.
Sometimes the beginning and end match, and other times they are as different as night and day!!

September 5, 2012

Art Cards are being reintroduced this year. An Art Card is a 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" card that can be designed and decorated using any materials or art techniques to create imagery and content. Because of the small working space, Art Cards are a great medium to explore new materials and ideas without feeling like you have to fill a huge space or create a perfect work of art. Art Cards have been created by past middle school students, and The Berkeley School won the 4th and 5th Annual Artist Trading Card contest hosted by the magazine SchoolArts.
5th Annual Artist Trading Card contest Winner and contestants (link)

In their first class, 8th graders completed an art card exercise that combined the size of the art card and the group participation of the Dadaist game The Exquisite Corpse. Students drew an image on half of an art card (white and black paper) utilizing the 2 predrawn lines at the base. After all the halves 

are completed students, match their white half to the corresponding black half (matching A to 1, 

B to 2, etc). The results are surprising!! 

(2011-2012) Spring Time is Drawing Time in the Middle School Art Studio!

Middle School students begin most classes in the studio with a 10 minute silent observation drawing. Sometimes the observation subject is a still life, an object or environment chosen inside or outside the studio. Students are encouraged to study the object they are drawing, checking in visually every 5 seconds to confirm the angle, shade, shape, or texture of the next line they are about to draw. Students will continue to work on their perspective, depth, and shading techniques through the end of the year in addition to their 8th Grade End-of-Year self directed art project.

Imagine/Reimagine

The Berkeley School Annual Art Show March 23, 2012

Reimagined Books for the 
Imagine/Reimagine Art Show at the Berkeley School

Beginning with a donation of books from a middle school library in San Francisco. Eighth graders chose from this lot of recycling-bound books to use in their altered book project. Sorting through titles, sizes, eras, content, colors, and their own relationship with books and reading or grappling with the content of a book, students made their choices.


Some students had a clear vision of the altered book they wanted to create, others had a sense of an alteration technique  they wanted to perform, such as folding or cutting out pages in the book. Starting with ideas, concepts and sketches recorded in their sketchbooks students began their projects. Students worked an average of 16 hours creating the detailed work presented in this year's Art Show, many adopting themes into their visuals that were inspired directly from the the subject matter in the book chosen, but every student heightened the visual possibilities housed in the words and structures of everyday publications like cookbooks, textbooks, history books, fiction, and illustrated children's books.

8th Grade in the 2011- 2012 Middle School Art Studio

Students reflect on last years studio and project experience writing about of areas of success and challenges, taking note of materials and techniques that were used. 

The main 8th Grade project that will be showcased in this year's TBS Art Show are altered books.

Students were introduced to the medium of altered books and shown varying paper altering techniques such as folding, cutting, and decorating. Students are given an array of materials and tools to use each week in the studio to advance the completion of their ideas.

2011 - 8th Grade Fashion Show
The 8th graders are embarking on an end of the year fashion adventure via their creativity, the art studio, and community donations of clothing. Students will be working together in groups to create a "fashion forward" outfit to be worn by the group's model in an end of the unit Fashion Show on June 7th. Outfits and accessories will be based on their current style preferences, drawing from a historical era of fashion that appeals to them (e.g.  the renaissance, the roaring 20's, disco 70's, etc.), and created out of repurposed clothing.




2011 Art Show Preparations and the Completion of the Self-Portrait Diorama
Students in the 6th-7th grades worked in the first weeks of March to complete their final efforts on their Diorama project. Artist statements detailing the students relationship to their diorama scene acted as a conduit giving the viewer insight to the connection between the artist and their work.




Doodle 4 Google Final Touches 
Students in the 6th-8th grade challenged themselves to adapt the Google logo into their own interpretation of their goals for their future. As students developed their graphic designs, and wrote their artist statements many students found that their own life goals involved global goals for peace, environmental health, and general assistance to those in need.




8th Grade One Point Perspective Drawing
8th graders applied their minds and mark making skills to the technique of one point perspective drawing. Students viewed demonstrations of the technique, learning the steps and rules necessary to transform a 2D surface into a 3D image. Most valuable rule, all vertical lines are drawn parallel to each other at 90 degree angles; otherwise the drawer finds that all of their objects are leaning to and fro. Students were encouraged to recall their earlier understanding of dimension using foreground, middleground, and background sizing techniques 




7th & 8th Grade Field Trip to The Oakland Museum of California's 
Vivo: Days of the Dead Exhibition









8th Grade Studio Time September 2010 - February 2011
See "Focus" Page for process/project slides and information.