In our second class we engage the relationships between chalk (+ charcoal), water, and sunshine.
How do they get along?
What happens when they mix and mingle?
Our canvas is the sidewalk in front of the art studio.
After engaging the familiars - dry chalk on dry pavement - we add a new element: water.
We soak the sidewalk then apply the chalk.
The children describe this interaction as 'melting,' as in the chalk begins to melt with the water.
Next, we consider spreading the 'chalk paint' with various brushes including a hand broom, paintbrushes, and sponge paint rollers.
Chalk - a stick that turns to powder - reminds us of charcoal!
Thus, charcoal quickly enters into the play.
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| Ephemeral chalk and charcoal art before it washes away |
Using our fingers lends the most control distributing the 'chalk paint' on the sidewalk
while our feet and toes serve as splendid stamps!
Our foot stamping is a transition to large-scale mono-printing.
Placing paper over the wet pigment the children dance in circles to soak up and transfer the designs.
We even wonder about bubble wrap, to stomp or to stamp?
Answer: both!
The sunshine is bright and warm, quickly drying our wet works.
Water-bearing is an essential role in the afternoon's artistic discovery.
We pour it, spray it, squeeze it, and clean with it while the sun disappears it altogether.
The children's interests inform their activities making the curriculum emergent.
Focusing on the all-encompassing process of engaging everyday media in novel ways allows us to learn through doing.
As the saying goes, "There's nothing to it but to do it!"
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| Remnants of our artistic afternoon :-) |
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