2013 Elementary Art Show for grades 4 & 5

Mercer County Library System announces its spring 2013 art show, themed: Books “Draw” You In!  Children in grades 4 and 5 will be able to submit one painting or drawing, no bigger than 9”x12” to their local Mercer County Branch Library no later than Friday, Thursday February 28, 2013.  The art work will be judged on adherence to the theme Books “Draw” You In! and  on content, form and texture. A panel of local judges from each community will award local prizes of first, second and third place. Each branch will display its own entries and winners throughout the month of March.  The three winning art pieces from each Library will then go to the West Windsor Branch to be displayed from April 8-30. Contact your local Branch Library or a member of the youth services staff with any questions.  A flyer with a required art submission form can be obtained at any Branch location.

 Explore and celebrate art and creativity with a few of these suggested websites:

TheKennedy Center ArtsEdge

Appreciating art spurs curiosity, which helps develop lifelong learners. These articles, entitled “My Child, the Arts, and Home,” from the Center for Arts Education, will help you learn ways to encourage your child to think creatively and be inspired by the arts in your home. Visit the other sections of ArtsEdge too.

SnowDays

Create a unique snowflake online!

Visual  SistineChapel

Visit the Vatican’s 360-degree interactive view of the frescoes and art work at the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

courtesy moma

Destination Modern Art

This engaging and fun website by the Museum of Modern Art enables elementary school-aged children to explore the museum, its artists and their techniques.

The Artist’s Toolkit

ArtsConnectEd is an interactive Web site that provides access to works of art and educational resources from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Walker Art Center for K-12 educators, students, and scholars.

Art is Fun!

An art appreciation resource for beginners and art enthusiasts.  Explore this website to learn about the artistic process through the following sections: media, art by subject (still life, landscape, portraiture, abstract, nature), art by style, drawing & painting lessons, artists and art supplies.  A fun website for all, created by Theneeya McArdle.

Recommended art and illustration books available for circulation in the MCLS collection:

Astonishing art by Susan Martineau

Presents ten craft activities using items found around the home, providing step-by-step instruction for such projects as animal masks, photograph collages, and sock puppets. 2012.

The Art Book for Children Book Two by Amanda Renshaw

Encourages young readers to explore objects of art along with concepts such as clocks, time, music, mirrors, collecting, movement, line, and shape, and explains how great artists used these themes to create their works. 2007.

Art That Moves: Animation Around the World by John Bliss

Discusses various forms of animation around the world. 2011.

A Book About Color : A Clear and Simple Guide for Young Artists by Mark Gonyea

In this follow-up to A Book About Design Mark Gonyea explains how artists visualize and choose colors. 2011.

Cartooning: The Only Cartooning Book You’ll Ever Need to be theArtist You’ve Always Wanted to Be by Art Roche

Kids can learn how to create original illustrations and funny cartoons. 2010.

So, you want to be acomic book artist? by Philip Amara

Presents a step-by-step guide to creating, publishing and marketing comic books, including developing compelling characters, approaching publishers, and adapting storylines for video games and movies. 2012.

-Laura Gruninger, Lawrence Headquarters