Art Studio Update

Wednesday's classes are complete and it's another short week...  Muddy Brook artists are creating wonderful work as they find and solve problems in the studio!  Peer reflection and sharing are happening often, as artists have learned talking about their art helps them understand the process of making it and stretch to make their art better.  They are learning from each other.  :)

 Early Kindergarten students discuss which of their pieces they are going to revisit and share the stories of their art.





4th graders paint sculptures.


Last week I attended the National Art Education Association convention in Seattle, WA.  I presented with my cohort from the School for Art Leaders, gave a workshop on collaboration with Artist Trading Cards, and was recognized for my work with the School for Art Leaders this year.  It was a very busy conference!  It is important to share and learn from other art educators.  I'm glad to be home and back in the studio with the most amazing artists, Muddy Brook Students!

SteAm was the theme this year.

 The workshop attendees were excited to make some art, trade their cards, and bring ATCs back to their studio classrooms  in elementary, middle and high schools from all around the country.

Middle School Art Teacher In Scholastic Teacher

Katie Malone-Smith, our talented art teacher at Monument Valley Middle School, has a lesson in Scholastic Teacher Magazine this April!   Learning all about photography as an art form is one of the many things our students can look forward to in middle school art class.
 Great job to the students featured and Mrs. Malone-Smith!

Busy Studio Days!

Artists have been busy in the studio!  Students are thinking deeply about their work and changing as problems arise.  Artists make plans and change their plans!

1st graders are painting their 3D structures.

The Box Town community takes time and effort.

2nd graders are working on choice artwork.

They choose their media and subject.

Some are revisiting the self-portraits from the Jacob's Pillow residency.

Many 4th graders have been enjoying printmaking when we have class.

Student Lead Showcase

Our families are visiting Muddy Brook for the annual student lead showcase Friday afternoon, March 9th and Wednesday afternoon on March 14th.   Specialist area teachers are happy to welcome you into our learning spaces.  In the art studio you can make an art card while you talk about art as a family.  Here are some questions you can answer:

Which art materials do you like to work with?  Why?

What is challenging for you in art class?

Artists are problem solvers.  How do you solve problems in art class?

How do you know when your artwork is finished?

As your art teacher I enjoy listening to families talk with each other and chatting with students and their people about their artistic process!

Art Studio Learning Link

Greetings from the Art Studio!

It’s great to be back in our own space and to have the sunshine streaming in our studio windows!  After a restorative vacation artists are busy learning all around the studio.

Our youngest learners have all studio centers open and are making plans, solving problems, sharing their work and cleaning up.  Artists make plans and artists can change their plans.  Perseverance and problem solving are tested and grow through the arts!

First grade is constructing their box town.  We will be working on this for many weeks and then children will join together to play with their own community!

Second graders are finishing up open projects and sharing their ideas and observations with others. 

Third grade is in the process of illustrating their own stories which will be on display at the Norman Rockwell Museum for our school wide family day in April.

Fourth graders continue to learn about printmaking techniques.  Our students love to mono print and experiment with color and texture!

March is Youth Art Month.  YAM celebrates the arts in schools and the creative ways children express their thoughts and feelings through the arts.  The Spotlight on the Arts Visual Art Show is on display in the Crane Room at the Berkshire Museum.  Eight students from Muddy Brook are representing our school in the show.  The exhibition will be on display throughout the month of March.

I hope you had a chance to read the wonderful article about our students’ Random Art of Kindness that was in the Berkshire Record.  A copy of the article is on display on the bulletin board in the main hall if you missed it.

March is a wonderful time to reflect on all the gains our students have made so far this year and to plan big projects for the next months.  Please make time for art play at home.  “Play is the work of childhood.”- Mr. Rogers

Artfully Yours, Ms. Benton