EMES makes art together

December 1, 2023 / Christine Coddington
Title: Rainbow Rocket
Size: 24”x18”
Medium: acrylic paint
Description: Kindergarten artists worked in small groups to paint abstract designs directly on a cradled wooden panel. Beginning at the edges and working inward they painted large patches of color as a base layer. Additional layers were created using small blocks of color along with line, shape, and pattern designs. Students were thoughtful in selecting colors that would stand out next to each other, and  they enjoyed talking together about their painting. As the final step in their creative process, the class brainstormed title ideas for their piece then voted for their favorite.

Every fall, each Eastern Mennonite Elementary classroom creates a collaborative piece of artwork. This fundraiser brings together the creative imaginations of each grade guided by EMES art teacher Erin Williams. This year’s elementary artwork will land in someone’s lucky home by raffle in time for Christmas!

This year’s pieces and description follow. See the gallery, right, of students creating the masterpieces. All proceeds benefit the EMES art department. Thank you in advance for supporting the EMES art department.

Raffle tickets are $15 each, or five for $50. There are three ways to purchase raffle tickets:

  • Pay by credit card here. Note which grade, if multiple grades also list the number of tickets for each grade.
  • Send cash or check to Jen Stoltzfus in the EMES front office with a note of how many tickets you want to purchase, and for which grades. Make checks payable to EMS, memo EMES Art.
  • Purchase in person at the EMES Christmas concert on December 7.

Ticket sales will remain open till Tuesday, December 12th. Winners will be drawn Wednesday, December 13th, and notified immediately!

Elevate your correspondence with EMES notecards with the collaborative artwork on each. These notecards will make great cards to send in the mail throughout the year!

EMES Notecards

Orders due by Dec. 8 to receive your cards by Christmas break!

Blank note card sets featuring the artwork are for sale. Each set of six cards features one photo on the cover. Purchase a pack of six for $10 and choose if you want all from one grade, or a variety pack.

Submit your order by clicking on this link. Orders received by Friday, December 8th are guaranteed to be ready by Christmas break.

To pay for the note cards:

  • Select “Charge student’s account”
  • Select  “Cash or check”. Make checks out to EMS, with “note cards” in the memo. For both forms of payment include a note with your name on it.

*You must complete the note cards order form, regardless of how you are paying.

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KINDERGARTEN

Title: Rainbow Rocket

Size: 24”x18”

Medium: acrylic paint

Description: Kindergarten artists worked in small groups to paint abstract designs directly on a cradled wooden panel. Beginning at the edges and working inward they painted large patches of color as a base layer. Additional layers were created using small blocks of color along with line, shape, and pattern designs. Students were thoughtful in selecting colors that would stand out next to each other, and  they enjoyed talking together about their painting. As the final step in their creative process, the class brainstormed title ideas for their piece then voted for their favorite.

1ST GRADE

Title: The Colorful Ghosts

Size: 24”x18”

Media: acrylic paint

Description: 1st grade artists used printmaking to create a colorful quilt-like composition. Each student rolled paint onto a rectangular piece of foam and stamped the shape onto the wooden panel. After designing a printmaking block with foam shapes, they rolled paint onto it and stamped it directly over their solid block of color. Students repeated this process with a partner to create a second print. These student pairs practiced sharing their ideas for design and color choices. The last printed block was created by the entire class. As the final step in their creative process, the class brainstormed title ideas for their piece then voted for their favorite.

2ND GRADE

Title: Mary Jo’s Flower Farm

Size: 18” x 24”

Medium: acrylic paint, acetate paper

Description:  Inspired by their field trip with kindergarten science buddies to Mary Jo’s Flower Farm, each second grade artist designed a colorful flower using acetate paper. Students worked in small groups to paint a foreground, background, and vase. After painting individual stems, students attached their flowers to the composition. As the final step in their creative process, the class brainstormed title ideas for their piece then voted for their favorite.

3RD GRADE

Title: Rainbow Shadows

Size: 24”x18”

Media: paper, acrylic paint

Description: 3rd grade artists each painted four 4×4 squares of paper a solid background color (chosen from the project color scheme), then used a variety of tools such as spools, wooden blocks, and lids to create patterns and implied textures. The large squares were cut into a series of squares and rectangles. Students adhered their individual pieces onto a cradled wooden panel, intermingled with those of their classmates, arranging them into a quilt pattern. As the final step in their creative process, the class brainstormed title ideas for their piece then voted for their favorite.

4TH GRADE

Title: Cozy Fire

Size: 24”x18”

Medium: acrylic paint

Description: 4th grade artists brainstormed and voted on an inspirational saying to serve as the centerpiece of their painting. Next, they collaborated to determine the color scheme and design. This was an important exercise in both sharing and listening respectfully. Students worked in small groups to draw and paint the composition. As the final step in their creative process, the class brainstormed title ideas for their piece then voted for their favorite.

5TH GRADE

Title: Shapes Collide

Size: 24”x18”

Medium: fabric, acrylic paint

Description: 5th grade students began their batik creation by drawing a simple line and shape design on a small rectangle of paper and tracing it with black Sharpie. After the papers were taped onto a piece of cardboard, covered with wax paper, and finally covered with a large piece of white fabric, students carefully traced their designs with glue onto the fabric. Once the glue was dry, students painted the sections of their design with acrylic paint. When the paint was dry, the glue was washed out of the fabric to reveal the white outline left by the glue. As the final step in their creative process, the class brainstormed title ideas for their piece then voted for their favorite.

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