Jennifer Cascino

These #watercolor resist and #oilpastel monsters focus on the #elementofart #TEXTURE. We looked at many illustrated creatures like #wherethwildthingsare and imagined our own monsters. Ms. McCarthy’s and Ms. LaRiva’s combo kindergarten/first grade class ROCKED this project!!!

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We read #thedot and looked at #kandinsky circles in squares. There were loose energetic dots and tight thin dots and bold heavy dots- each conveying a different artist’s creative vibe! Thanks for the inspiration @cassie_stephenz and @pinterest wonderland!

We always start the year off with self portraits, some of them had a ‘twist’ to reveal who is behind the mask. Our blended learners worked with serious focus and creative intent that exceeded my wildest expectations! Thanks again to @cassie_stephenz for inspiring this lesson!

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Getting ready for summer with some splashing doggies! We used pencil, oil pastel and watercolors, the. Added some splatter paint! #organizedchaos inspired by #messheldonsartroom #sasartists #elementaryartists #theyareallsodifferent

Let’s make a drawing from a ‘frozen memory from time’ that you have about a scene in your kitchen or neighborhood. Remember and draw the details like Pippin did: who was there? What were they wearing? Describe the furniture and walls in your drawing. What do the storefront windows and signs look like, the sidewalks or trees? Who or what is the focus of your memory – is it a delicious apple pie on the table, your cat lounging on the couch or a relative cooking? Maybe draw your home learning desk space or your classroom.? How does it look from where you sit? Use color to set a mood and expressions on faces to show feelings.

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We used black acrylic paint to design, fold and print butterflies. Understanding symmetry and the roll color with pattern plays in nature was reflected in the artists’ chalk pastel design. Blending and gradients also became an important role in our art!

I am SO EXCITED about all of the handmade postcards that came to me from my artists who worked on the #Collaborative #MailArt lesson!! Check out the cool fluorescent orange stamped lines the post office added to the fronts, along with the holiday date postal stamps, I couldn’t have asked for more interesting collaboration from our #USPS! Stay tuned as I will be decorating envelopes and sending back to students!

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Surrealist artists were discussed along with symmetry in art and nature. We used paint bottles to drawing with paint lines, then folded and squish. part 2 was to find imagery in the abstract, using oil pastels to bring out our visions.

Our 3rd thru 5th grade artists participated the #googledoodle contest visually expressing the theme ‘how they show kindness’. I think we surely have some winners here! #kidsarekind

I developed an 8 day watercolor unit with 9th grade high school students—experimenting with techniques such as wet on dry, wet on wet, washes, masking, salt/alcohol resist, and blotting using liquid, tube and cake watercolor paint. We brought the materials outside to the park to observe and paint landscapes.

We learned about styles of #streetart and #graffiti in our Brooklyn neighborhoods and then made our own #tags to show off our creative lettering skills! These young artists in blended learning have blown me away with their focus and excitement to create!! I thank all of my students for giving me a reason to make some #artonacart!

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Looking at symmetry in art and nature, folding paper and using chalk to print a mirror image of our alien robots. we folded and cut all of the details from colorful paper, working with layers and contrasting colors.

Using liquid watercolors to mix colors and make strange head shapes! What faces do we see and how can we bring them to life with sharpies, color pencils and pastels? We looked at artwork by @fayemoorhouse and were inspired by her quirky personalities!

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I created a 6 week weaving unit with 1st graders that kicked off with creating paper looms and moved on to textile weaving on a cardboard loom. We explored the history of weaving, where we find weaving around us every day, along with how to make textile art that expresses our personal stories using creative materials.

This project took a lot more ‘everything’ than I thought it would! We measured, we studied color theory, we mixed and painted, we traced and cut, we collaged and painted some more adding details with oil pastels to transform our #colorwheel into eyeballs of all kinds! Inspiration for project from CCNY art buddy @psychopsychic

The Kindergarten and First grade artists looked at all kinds of ceremonial hats and headdresses along with studying different feather patterns and colors from birds all over the world. These sculptural collages of paper feathers were inspired by and honor the African #Juju Headdress — a traditional ceremonial piece created from natural or dyed chicken and wild bird feathers that symbolizes prosperity and divinity in #Bamileke culture. The students used oil pastels to create colorful patterns followed by a wet on wet watercolor technique. From there, they used their scissor skills to masterfully cut and fringe feathers — the final collaboration then assembled into these exquisite dimensional collages.

In honor of #blackhistorymonth we looked at #faithringgold quilts and painting reading #tarbeach and discussed freedom through imagination. We collaged ourselves flying through city skies with people and animals we love! We used oil pastel and salt resist with watercolor for the sky! #flyhighinthesky

Second grade did #contourdrawing of their shoes for an auction collaboration piece for the #redparty a few weekends ago. This was a hot ticket! Second graders also did #contourdrawings of veggies in a beautiful collaboration piece.

All students will learn the basics of sewing - the running stitch, the whip stitch, sewing a button and beads… then apply their skills to sewing/painting a plate, then for older grades… making a bag or a custom creature! Stay tuned, this project is in progress!

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#facial expressions are key to understanding how an artist is feeling... how do we #unmask our EMOtions while staying safe? Just put your #emopop into action and your pals will understand! #cassiestephensinspired #somanyteeth #somanymissingteeth #safeselfportraits

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First group of #linocut #blockprints by studio one. Students used original photos and sketches to inspire a block design and patiently carved line art into their block to pull a print. #speedballink #magicofprinting #highschoolart

I developed a 3D construction unit for high school students investigating how identity relates to place. We experimented with technical attachment techniques used in sculpting with recyclable materials, then planned and created dimensional representations of personal spaces. We brought these spaces to life using stop animation and green screen editing!

We focused on layers and subtle color variations, practiced different watercolor techniques and tricks and moved on to capturing gourds and small pumpkins by leaving light areas alone, layering on mid tones and then lastly adding in details and darker shadows. Watercolor is a tough medium but I was most proud that the students tried more than one approach, pushed through frustrations and had some pretty beautiful results even if it wasn’t what they were picturing in their head as ‘perfect’ #perfectiondoesntexist #happyaccidents #whatisagourdanyway #vivapapertowelssavewatercolors #highschoolart

Students used #modelmagic to sculpt #dragoneyes, taking a break from their rigid 2point perspective drawings! #houseofdragons #nevertoooldformodelmagic

After doing some blind and continuous line contour drawing challenges, we drew the lines of our shoes in sharpie with bold lines. Then we learned how to get texture by doing rubbings of the bottoms of our shoes!

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Looked at Chris Uphues’ artwork and then learned to cut symmetrical hearts, add expressions and stamp with paper shapes.

We observed photos of birds and looked at artists’ work of drawn, sculpted and painted birds before we poke, stretched and molded our own little creatures. Feathers, straws, pipe cleaners and sequins details our feathered friends, finishing off with a coat of paint!