The Art Program has started with self-portraits, so that we review our past knowledge of drawing portraits and develop work more in depth. In the 5th through 8th grades, Night Watch by Rembrandt Van Rijn was introduced and discussed. Leonardo da Vinci’s portraits also were reviewed as the students drew themselves. We will be discussing more art history, with artists such as Pieter Breughel the Elder, Rosa Bonheur, Diego Rivera, and Velasquez, as we develop our themes of narrative in painting this semester with the 5th through 8th grades. We are challenging ourselves by setting a goal to paint multiple figures in an image, just as the early Masters included many people in their images. The students have worked since their first art classes at PNA to develop their artistic vision and to draw with courage. It is the process of art that is the most important, rather than the end product. In time, as each young artist works on his or her art, students achieve the work they are planning to do.

Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keeffe, Faith Ringgold, Romare Bearden, Eishiro Abe, Shoji Hamada, Mary Cassatt, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Edouard Manet are just a few of the artists to be discussed in the art classes. Traditional Alaska Native art, and traditional art globally will be discussed. Recently, I took a mask carving class in which we observed Perry Eaton make a traditional Alutiiq mask. Our students demonstrate the courage needed to be an artist, and to do one’s work well. As Martin Luther King, Jr., said, ”Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Bird and fish mounts are also being drawn in our classes. We are using them for subject matter and as inspiration for backgrounds. The students are learning to draw the shapes of mallard and merganser ducks, a great-horned owl, a northern hawk owl, a yellow Irish Lord, and sculpin through direct observation. So far we have worked with charcoal, chalk pastel, oil pastel, and acrylic paint. We will be working in wood carving with the 3rd through 8th grades in November.

The reflection, or critique, is an important part of the class. We often discuss the work after we have completed it. Bloom’s Taxonomy is used for the higher-level critical thinking processes, and students learn to use these different levels of thinking. We work to understand the subtleties of language in order to express ourselves better verbally. Our framework is built with the elements and principles of design. We work hard, and do as much as possible in our class time. Music, language, movement/dance, poetry, math, and science are some of our interdisciplinary connections. Responsive Classroom and an emphasis on caring for others are part of our daily classroom work. We laugh together as we immerse ourselves in the process of art.

---

AND…
If you recognized that opening line from the Sound of Music song
​”Do-Re-Mi”, then you must be a fan of show tunes!  Want to hear more? Mark your calendar for PNA’s Winter Concert,
​”PNA: ON BROADWAY!”
​Friday, December 1st at 6:00pm in the gym.  Enjoy an evening of Broadway’s best performed by the amazing students of PNA!!! ​