Staff Profile
My name is Bridget Houghton and I am thrilled to be your student’s visual arts teacher this year at
Westgate Community School. I am so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of your students’ creative experiences and Artistic Growth. This year will be my fourth year as part of the Westgate Community. I received my BA in Art Education from the University of Wyoming and am pursuing an MA in Art Therapy and Social Emotional Learning.
Throughout the year, I aim to expose students to a wide range of different artists, art styles, and art mediums such as charcoal drawing, printmaking, and kiln fire clay among others. Through instruction and encouragement, students will talk intellectually about art and discover the beauty in the world around them. They will learn how to use the elements of art and design principles within their work and recognize them in others' work, including their peers. They will also learn about how art has evolved throughout history and explore multicultural art from around the world.
Classes
Posts
10/28-11/1
10/14 - 10/18
9/23-9/26
9/9-9/13
New Rotation
Week 3 - 8/19-8/23
WELCOME BACK!!!!
1/29-2/2
Happy Wednesday. My apologies for the late post. This is the final week for our first rotation for K-6 so it has been high energy in the art room.
This week in Art:
7/8 – Soap Carving – This week, students are transitioning from additive sculptural methods to subtractive sculptural methods. They studied the works of Michelangelo and how he used large marble blocks to carve out his sculptures. Students had the choice of picking a plant/animal native to Colorado or creating an abstract design for their soap carving. After finishing their sketches, students will be provided with a pencil, toothpick, paperclip, and a plastic butter knife to carve their soap into their desired design.
5/6 – Character Creation Illustration – Students started designing their own characters last week, giving them a backstory and physical appearance. This week they will create a watercolor illustration of their character, using emphasis through colors, lines, shapes, size, or location within their painting. In their Language Arts class, they will create a short story to accompany their paintings of the character they imagined.
3/4 – Cubism Objects – Students studied the works of Pablo Picasso and how he would combine different views of the same object to create one singular image. Students have brought in objects to draw for their project and have drawn these objects in their sketchbooks to practice. Students will then paint one object and cut it up, rearranging the pieces to complete their final cubist art pieces.
Kindergarten – Warm and Cool sunset – Students will be focusing on the warm and cool colors, using them to create a sunset over the ocean using Quick Stix paint sticks. We will also be finalizing our clay by painting them with watercolors.
1/2 – Self Portraits – Students are completing their final art project for the year which is a self-portrait. Self-portraits are a great way to measure a student’s artistic progress year to year. This year we are inspired by the artwork of Yali Ziv, a portrait artist from Israel. And to finish off, we will be painting our pottery on Friday.
1/22-1/26
Happy Monday! I hope you had a fun and restful weekend.
This week in Art:
7/8 – Cardboard Lanterns – Last week, students began the construction of their first larger project, using cardboard and tissue paper to create a lantern. This week students will be finalizing these lanterns and conducting a self-critique, thinking about the process they took, how they think it turned out, and contemplating different ways they could recreate this project if they were to try it again. Later this week they will be transitioning into their second project which will be focusing less on details and more on a simplified form.
5/6 – Clay Story Books - Last week, students began their kiln fire clay project through their planning process and starting the base of their project. This week students will be finalizing details on their projects and leaving them to dry before our first kiln firing this weekend. Towards the end of the week, students will be starting the planning process for their painting project and completing that next week while we wait to be able to glaze our clay creations.
3/4 – Clay Boxes - Last week, students began their kiln fire clay project through their planning process and starting the base of their project. This week students will be finalizing details on their projects and leaving them to dry before our first kiln firing this weekend. Towards the end of the week, students will be starting the planning process for their painting project and completing that next week while we wait to be able to glaze our clay creations.
Kindergarten – Clay Patterned Drop Bowls - Last week, students began their kiln fire clay project by learning where clay comes from and how we can use it to create all sorts of things. This week students will be using different clay tools to create marks and details on their projects, before “dropping” them into plastic bowl molds and leaving them to dry before our first kiln firing this weekend. Towards the end of the week, students will be learning about ways to create three-dimensional effects without a three-dimensional medium while we wait to be able to glaze our clay creations.
1/2 – Clay Coil Bowls - Last week, students began their kiln fire clay project by learning where clay comes from and how to use it to create all sorts of things. They were able to start their coil bowls last Friday and will be finishing them this week in class before leaving them to dry before our first kiln firing this weekend. Towards the end of the week, students will be learning about ways to create three-dimensional effects without a three-dimensional medium and completing their second sculpture while we wait to be able to glaze our clay creations.
1/8-1/12
Good Morning,
Welcome back from break! I hope you had a fun and restful break.
This semester, K-6 will focus on transitioning from two-dimensional to three-dimensional creation, while 7/8 is going into sculpture for Quarter 3 and then digital art for Quarter 4
This week in Art:
7/8 - New Year's Agamograph - Students will be thinking of a singular word they want to use to describe how they want their 2024 year to go. They will use that word and a picture to create an optical illusion artwork known as an agamograph where you see one image when looking at it one way, and a different image when you look at the artwork from a different point of view. Later this week, students will begin their first larger project by using cardboard and tissue paper to create a lantern, choosing which style from history they want to use as inspiration.
5/6 – New Year's Agamograph - Students will be thinking of a singular word they want to use to describe how they want their 2024 year to go. They will use that word and a picture to create an optical illusion artwork known as an agamograph where you see one image when looking at it one way, and a different image when you look at the artwork from a different point of view. Later this week, students will begin their kiln fire clay project through their planning process. Next week students should not wear their most expensive/favorite clothes as they might get them dirty when working with the clay.
3/4 - New Year's Agamograph - Students will be thinking of a singular word they want to use to describe how they want their 2024 year to go. They will use that word and a picture to create an optical illusion artwork known as an agamograph where you see one image when looking at it one way, and a different image when you look at the artwork from a different point of view. Later this week, students will begin their kiln fire clay project through their planning process. Next week students should not wear their most expensive/favorite clothes as they might get them dirty when working with the clay.
Kindergarten - New Year's Agamograph - Students will be thinking of a singular word they want to use to describe how they want their 2024 year to go. They will use that word and a picture to create an optical illusion artwork known as an agamograph where you see one image when looking at it one way, and a different image when you look at the artwork from a different point of view. Later this week, students will begin their kiln fire clay project through their planning process. Next week students should not wear their most expensive/favorite clothes as they might get them dirty when working with the clay.
1/2 - New Year's Agamograph - Students will be thinking of a singular word they want to use to describe how they want their 2024 year to go. They will use that word and a picture to create an optical illusion artwork known as an agamograph where you see one image when looking at it one way, and a different image when you look at the artwork from a different point of view. Later this week, students will begin their kiln fire clay project through their planning process. Next week students should not wear their most expensive/favorite clothes as they might get them dirty when working with the clay.
12/4 - 12/8
Good Morning Everyone!
Happy Monday! I hope you are all having a great start to your week. We are approaching the end of our first semester for the 23/24 school year. I am sure everyone is excited for winter break to come. With 7 days left of the semester, we are finishing up our final projects in art.
This week in art:
7/8 - Industrial Revolution vs. The Environment - This week in painting, we are continuing to work with Miss Charlie talking about the environmental impact of the Industrial Revolution on our society. Students are brainstorming places in and around our community that have been impacted by industrialization and relating it to something they care about personally. Whether that be: Ski Resorts vs the Rocky Mountains, The Cross-Continental railroad vs Wild Mustang herds, or Metro Denver vs the Plains and the animals that live there. We are studying David Ambarzumjan, a German contemporary painter who emphasizes the juxtaposition (contrast) between what is, what was, and what may be. Working with the students has been a joy and from their ideas and preliminary sketches, I am beyond excited to see the outcomes of these paintings.
5/6 - Value - This week, students are completing their final project of this rotation, utilizing value to determine the forms within a human skeleton. Students will be drawing on black paper with white charcoal to create a sketch of the human skeleton using highlights and shadows to give the illusion of depth to their artwork.
3/4 - Color - Students are trying out a new art medium this week through printmaking. After studying the work of American Pop artist Andy Warhol, students are creating a self-portrait study where they get to experiment with different color schemes through the use of a stamp-printing method.
1/2 - Color - Students are studying the work of Jim Dine and his use of analogous colors. Students are going to experiment with colored tempera paint sticks to emulate the simplified shapes used by Jim Dine while incorporating their knowledge of analogous colors.
11/27 - 12/1
Good Morning Everyone!
Happy Monday! I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving week!! Grades have been uploaded so please go in and check your students' grades for this rotation. Our rotation's final grades will be posted on Friday, December 8th.
This week in art:
7/8 - Acrylic Painting - This week in painting we are finalizing our Chuck Close-inspired Portraits. On Wednesday, we will be starting our final project, working with Ms. Charlie, and exploring the environmental impact of Industrialization. For this project, we are focusing on the work of David Ambarzumjan, a German contemporary painter. His collection of works titled "Brushstrokes in Time" emphasizes the juxtaposition of what was, what is, and what may be, through an exploration of our relationship with nature. Students will be brainstorming and emulating his work thinking about the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the environment around us.
5/6 - Line and Pattern - Students are finalizing their zentangle silhouette project this week. Students will transfer their silhouette and zentangle designs to the watercolor backgrounds we created. Once they are done transferring their silhouette and zentangle patterns, students will go over their lines with Sharpie to make their designs bold.
3/4 - Line and Color - This week students are starting on their final paper for their Paul Klee line project. Students will be drawing in a continuous line, experimenting with different line styles, without intersecting their lines. Once they finish that, they will use oil pastels in the color scheme of their choice to create a blended pattern throughout one side of their line, leaving the other side white. This creates distinct positive and negative spaces within their artwork.
1/2 - Shape and Value - This week, we are focusing on a realistic style of artwork through still-life drawings. The focus of these drawings will be to use shape and value to create a realistic drawing of objects in front of them. We will be studying artworks by Samantha Bell, Dan Duhrkoop, and Richard Romero.
11/6-11/9
10/30-11/3
Good Morning Everyone!
Happy Monday! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!! I cannot believe it is already the 3rd week of Quarter 2! Grades have been uploaded so please go in and check your students' grades for this rotation. Our rotation for K-6 is coming to an end next week.
I will be out at the end of the week (Thursday and Friday) and there will be a sub in the classroom.
This week in art:
7/8 - Multi-Media - This week in painting we are starting on our final papers for our multi-media animal project. Students are creating artwork illustrating an animal using watercolor and pen/ink techniques. This project is due on Wednesday, November 1st. They will then complete a critique and start researching their next project.
5/6 - Line and Pattern - Students are finalizing their zentangle silhouette project this week. Students will transfer their silhouette and zentangle designs to the watercolor backgrounds we created last week. Once they are done transferring their silhouette and zentangle patterns, students will go over their lines with Sharpie to make their designs bold. These will be due on Wednesday, November 1st.
3/4 - Line and Color - This week students are starting on their final paper for their Paul Klee line project. Students will be drawing in a continuous line, experimenting with different line styles, without intersecting their lines. Once they finish that, they will use oil pastels in the color scheme of their choice to create a blended pattern throughout one side of their line, leaving the other side white. This creates distinct positive and negative spaces within their artwork. These will be due on Wednesday, November 1st.
1/2 - Shape and Value - Last week students completed their first drawing project, focusing on Abstract Art through their study of Joan Miro. This week, we are steering in a different direction, focusing on a more realistic style of artwork through still-life drawings. The focus of these drawings will be to create shape and value. We will be studying artworks by Samantha Bell, Dan Duhrkoop, and Richard Romero.
Kindergarten - Shape - Students this week will be continuing their adventure in the world of Abstract Art through the work of Reginald Laurent. Students will learn about different ways to combine lines, shapes, and colors in Abstract Art and how artwork does not always have to include a subject or recognizable image. They will get the chance to work with a new process called crayon resist painting. Students will begin the project drawing with white crayons on their paper and then use watercolors to reveal their images.