off the map....

Students in 2-D art utilized maps and contour drawings of bikes to create these colorful monochromatic compositions.

Forced Perspective photos

Using our county's digital camera lab, students created optical illusions emphasized by forced perspectives.  Pretty BELIEVABLE, huh?

spirit day fun

Mrs. Taylor (fellow art teacher), Mrs. Armentrout (school nurse) and myself pose for a little spirit day fun!  As you can tell, I obviously know more about football than Mrs. Taylor=).

JMU Memorial Hall Art Show

Aliyah Smith

Jesse Layne

Alyssa Wilberger

Caleb Kilgore

7th grade artists

Lauren Shirkey

Emily Wimer

Several pieces of art were chosen to hang for the next year in a special exhibit at JMU's Memorial Hall. Congratulations to these students as they represent Hillyard.

abstract trees

After completing a realistic tree drawing, students created abstractions where rhythm was emphasized.

realism vs abstraction

Students looked at landscape photos from the area featuring trees.  They then created a realistic representation of that tree.  Next, they will create an abstraction based on these drawings.  Look for photos of this step real soon.

2-D art students begin the 2nd semester by creating portfolios based on the work of Stuart Davis.  Elements of art were emphasized and reviewed.

Stained glass mosaics

 Using scrap pieces of stained glass, 3-D art students created mosaics.

Meet Ms. Gautsche

We welcome Ms. Gautsche to our room=).  She will be with us for 8 weeks completing her student teaching experience.  She currently attends EMU and will graduate in the spring.  We look forward to experiencing new and exciting things in the art room!

Hi!  My name is Laci Gautsche and I have the great privilege of Student Teaching with Ms. Swortzel for 8 weeks here at JFHMS.  We have some really exciting projects in the plans for my time here, and I am so eager to continue working with a great bunch of students.  Here is a bit of information about myself: I will be graduating this coming May from Eastern Mennonite University.  My favorite artistic medium is painting, but I also enjoy working with clay and doing other mixed media work.  In my spare time I like to go for walks, make cards, and plan for my upcoming wedding in July.  I have been greatly inspired by a 4 month cross cultural experience to South Africa and Lesotho in 2011.  While there, I lived with several host families, learned the Sesotho language, and experienced the educational system.  I came back inspired to continue teaching young people.  It is my goal to be a caring educator who strives to give students sustainable experiences (learning experiences that will inspire them to keep learning throughout life.)  I am so excited for all that is to come in these next few weeks.

x-ray prints

Exploring aboriginal x-ray paintings, students selected animals that represented their innermost personalities and executed double reduction prints.

micography

Students studied the ancient art form of micography that has its roots in Jewish traditions.  They then chose an emotional photo and utilized words to create value and meaning in their work.

A famous twist

Students studied several styles of modern art and then had to recreate a famous painting but put a rural twist on it.....such as a pointillist cow =)

Critters invade

Artists studied the amazing creatures of Dan Reeder  and created papier mache monsters.