Hampton Academy Art Show at the Library

Hampton Academy opened their art show at the Lane Memorial Library on Tuesday February 6, 2006. It was a standing room only crowd and those who attended were treated to refreshments. This year, the school has a new art teacher, Dona Boardman, and she combined with Jane Copp to represent the entire school. The art show is a tradition that Mrs. Copp has instituted since she arrived at Hampton Academy six years ago. It will be on display for the month of February. To view photos from the show please visit the photos on this flickr site

Mrs. Copp shared the following about her students' work this year:

6th grade work that was displayed this year included Clown Portrait drawings that instruct tonal shading, Birch tree watercolor paintings that introduce techniques of this medium, Paper folding landscapes using the principles of repetition and unity, Playing Card designs were presented again, Grecian vase designs with written mythologies, Cubist portraits were done with oil pastels in a unit studying Picasso and watercolor paintings of Folk Art from India.

7th grade work for the year 2007 included Tessellations of people and Islamic tile designs that both integrate math concepts, Ribbon drawings were done to study graded shading and perspective, large African masks were done with paint, mosaic pieces and rafia, Warm and Cool color portraits were done in tempera painting as we studied techniques such as over-painting and pattern, Classic and Antique automobiles were drawn as pencil techniques such as hatching and subtraction were taught and
renditions of Grant Wood's American Gothic were done in colored pencil.

8th grade work this year included Watercolor paintings of boats as we studied the work of Winslow Homer, Animals were drawn on Scratchboard using the principle of substraction, Barn landscapes were done with pen while we studied texture, Papier Mache masks were done with tempera paint, Drapery still-life work was done in a unit studying Leonardo da Vinci, Glass jars with flowers were painted with watercolor and Candy wrapper still-life renditions were done in colored pencil as we studied shadow and highlights.

Mrs. Boardman shared the following about her students' work this year:

In 6th grade a unit on Plastercraft greek pots was introduced. This project is an integrated unit with language arts and social studies for the 6th grade as students write a Greek myth, build a pot in the style of ancient Greek potters and then illustrate their Greek myths on the pot. The students loved the chance to bring their ideas 3D! Each design was as unique as the creator.   Also in 6th grade, the students studied Georgia O'Keeffe. This unit combined the study of bones from science with Mr. Tierney with the study of American Painter Georgia O'Keeffe. Students chose a work by O'Keeffe or in the style of O'Keeffe and created giant watercolor paintings. They loved opening up and painting big! Scratchboard NH wildlife was a lesson in the 6th grade. Students studied NH wildlife then chose an animal and created it in scratchboard. Some students will enter their work in the NH wildlife contest sponsored by Plymouth St. College in June with hopes of winning a month on their annual calendar.   The study of Contour Instruments was another lesson in the 6th grade. The students learned the difference between drawing on the left and right sides of the brain in this integrated study of musical instruments.

In the 7th grade, the students created art imitating the view from Kaleidoscopes.   Students studied design and color. I love this unit because every student has success and starts the year feeling like an accomplished artist!   In the 7th grade social studies the study of world cultures is integrated as we study what can be learned about society by looking at the shoes people wear at different times during the ages. Students made clay shoes and painted them. Artist Research Projects were completed in the 7th grade. They chose an artist of any kind: cartoonists, photographers, clothing designers or classical painters. They did a research paper on the artist, created a work in the style of the artist and then dressed like him or her for an artist brunch sponsored by Ms Boardman where they interviewed each other to learn about different styles.   In the 8th grade, studies of color and design were used in creating artwork from the hallway ceiling tiles. These tiles will remain in the hallway to greet everyone! The students are excited to have left a
mark on the school that will be remembered.   8th graders integrated their poems from language arts with art by illustrating their poetry in sharpie with elements from their poems and then using watercolor paint. 

8th grade students also created "oceanscapes" from oil pastels.

In their art classes the following intellectual challenges are presented: problem-solving, abstract decision-making, creativity, processing of perceptual information, accountability and evaluation, the development of a cultural literacy and the application of visual art media, techniques and processes. Mrs. Copp and Mrs. Boardman take great pleasure in sharing the students' hard work with the public. They believe that through the various mediums, the students are able to discover the artist within each of them as they develop problem solving skills, creativity and self esteem.

By Linda Libbey, Friends of the Lane Memorial Library