The Art of Ed | Professional Development for Art Teachers

May 23, 2013

Paste Paper 101

The end of the year is all about using up old supplies. Because of this, paste paper is a perfect project to do this time of year. All you need is some leftover paper mache goop and tempera paint. The process is a great way to learn about texture, while the finished product can be used for a variety of projects like journal covers or collages. Simply follow the step-by-step...

May 22, 2013

Posted by Ian | 3 Comments

Better Paintings Through Digital Sketches

When it comes to painting, students are always ready to get to work. However, art teachers know planning first through sketches will produce better outcomes. It can be quiet challenging, trying to slow the students down as they rush through their sketches just so they can start the painting stage. The answer to how we can have students take their time and produce better sketches,...

May 21, 2013

Posted by Jessica | 3 Comments

Watercolor Pencils: Providing Painting Control in ...

Have your students ever completed a beautiful and intricate drawing pre-painting, only to have the drawing get obliterated by gobs of paint during the painting process? It’s always sad to see the beautiful details of a drawing become lost, and often makes me wish I never allowed students to use the paint in the first place. One trick I have to keep details sharp in a drawing,...

May 20, 2013

Posted by Cassidy | 4 Comments

Use Simple Materials to Make a Print with Tempera ...

There are so many methods you can use with tempera paint. The possibilities are endless. Today I’d like to talk to you about my favorite tempera paint technique: using a cardboard collagraph and tempera paint to make a print. If you’re familiar with traditional printmaking techniques, you know that it can be an expensive and time consuming process requiring special tools and...

May 17, 2013

Posted by Sarah | 10 Comments

Renewing Your Artistic Spirit

My husband is a mechanic, and in our garage he has no less than three vehicle projects at a complete stand-still. The other day I asked why he didn’t spend more time working on them and he replied, “Probably for the same reason you don’t make much art: I do it for a living. Sometimes the last thing I want to do when I come home is work more.” No wonder I married this guy!...

May 16, 2013

Posted by Cassidy | 13 Comments

My Favorite Economical Glaze: Amoco Teacher’...

If you flip through your Sax or Dick Blick catalog, you will find over 12 pages filled with a variety of different glazes made by different companies. You can find over 30 yellow glazes, 33 red glazes, and 83 blue glazes. The glazes drastically vary in price depending on the brand and color. As we all know, glaze is one of the most expensive items we purchase for our...

May 15, 2013

Posted by Ian | 8 Comments

4 Foolproof Ways to Help Students Develop a Passio...

There has been a great deal of discussion in educational circles about helping children find their passion. As art teachers, we hope all our students will be passionate about making art. But what makes something a passion? There is an assumption that if we are good at doing something then we have a passion for it. But this is not necessarily so. Everyone in my family is passionate...

May 14, 2013

Posted by Heather | 6 Comments

5 End-of-the-Year Rituals Revealed

It’s that time of year again. Spring is here, students are bouncing off the walls, and you find yourself day-dreaming of lazy Summer days. But if you are like most art teachers, you may also be dreading the end of the year as you think about packing up and cleaning the art room. Well, we are here to help with 5 end-of-the year rituals to get your room organized, cleaned...

May 13, 2013

Posted by Amanda | 6 Comments

Two New Products To Include in Your Order for Next...

Whenever I sit down to put in my order for the following school year, I feel torn. On the one hand, part of me wants to put in the exact same order each year. I know what I need and it saves a ton of time. On the other hand, I love looking through the art catalogs for new and exciting materials. I can get sucked in for hours. Well today, I’d like to save you a bit of time by...

May 10, 2013

Posted by Heather | 12 Comments

A Creative Way for Students to Leave Their Mark!

As an elementary art teacher, I find Spring to be bittersweet. I am ready to rush out the door and enjoy summer vacation, but I also find it very hard to say goodbye to my students, especially my 5th-graders. After working with them and watching them grow for 6 years, I can honestly say that I will miss them (well, most of them anyway!). This is why I designed a new tradition...

May 9, 2013

Posted by Cassidy | 48 Comments

How Do You Use Recycled Magazines in the Art Room?

I inherited an abundance of old magazines when I started teaching middle school. Most of the magazines were National Geographic magazines from the 1960-1980’s and others were teen magazines donated from the school library. Somehow I continue to acquire magazines. My colleagues randomly drop them off in my mailbox and my family members send them my way. I feel like I have old...

May 9, 2013

Posted by Ian | 1 Comment

Creating Tape Murals: Free Lesson Plan Download

Grade Level: HS Art Education Lesson Plan Art Elements: Line Art Skills: Line Variation/ Hatching Making Connections: Street Art, Murals * Get more free lessons like this, on our Lessons Page Let’s face it, the people who design school buildings don’t have one artist bone in their bodies. Gray cinderblock hallways lined with drab colored lockers are the daily site for students...