Going Green in the Art Room

This year I've been trying to use as many recycled materials as possible in the projects I plan. There is an amazing amount of useable trash produced by a typical school in one day. While some projects benefit from nice quality watercolor or drawing paper, other projects can be just as good or better when done on recycled paper surfaces.

For the project pictured here I had students bring in empty cereal boxes. The lightweight cardboard and smooth surface were ideal for using as book covers. We cut the boxes open and used the inside of the box as a surface for botanical illustrations in watercolor and sharpie marker. The assignment was to invent a plant that could help solve a global issue. The light brown of the cardboard added to the 'green' theme of these paintings.
Look in your school cafeteria and you will find all kinds of treasures for art making. The lunch ladies now check with me first before they chuck out the trash. These small cardboard boxes came with some of the prepared foods they reheat that sadly count as 'nutrition' in a typical school kid's life. However, these boxes, along with fabric scraps and other items from the recycle bin made for a fun "food" sculpture project that didn't cost a dime and kept these materials out of the landfill!

Words and Pictures

When I was in college I had a large, black, clothbound sketchbook. Since photography was my main medium, I really didn't do much sketching in it. Mostly I wrote down thoughts about artists and art making. I also wrote bad poetry about my future husband, a fellow art student, but that's another story! I never thought of it as a diary or journal, but really that's what it was.

As in many art classrooms, the first project I give students each term is to assemble a sketchbook. Students use these sketchbooks for completing a variety of art exercises including drawing, but I also (gasp!) ask them to do some writing. Occassionally, a student will ask (and not always in a pleasant voice) why they have to write in an art class. Since writing is a district-wide goal I could always pass the blame on to 'the administration,' but I'd rather have my students know that I value using words to understand art and the art making process and that I care what they think.
I explain to my students that writing helps them think and thinking is part of creating. So, a few days a week, I display an open-ended question related to our current unit and ask the students to respond in writing. And, yes, I do insist on complete sentences and proper punctuation!
At our recent student-led conference night I was thrilled to observe students proudly opening their sketchbook/ journals and sharing their thoughtful writings on a variety of topics from personal symbols to the important role artists play in society.
While circulating during a recent journal response session I noticed some unrelated personal writing accompanied by hearts and a boy's name (I teach middle school.) The student quickly covered the page giving me a worried look. I just smiled and said, "I'm so glad you're filling your sketchbook with what's important to you," and I meant it. Writing does have a place in the art classroom, whether or not it's mandated from the central office.