The children of Russian Hill School created two one of a kind pieces inspired by feathered dinosaurs and prehistoric birds. The book “A Field Guide to Mesozoic Birds and other Winged Dinosaurs” by Matthew P. Martyniuk was used as the main source of research and reference for this project. The students were assigned their own prehistoric creature and learned about its own unique characteristic, and the place it was discovered. This first step of the process helped the children connect with their dinosaur/ bird, resulting in more engagement and dedication into creating the feathers for the mandala.

The individual feathers that the children painted were cut from one big piece of muslin fabric, symbolizing unity and inclusion. Each child painted multiple feathers using different brush stroke techniques they have learned throughout the school year. This required the use of fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. High levels of concentration were asked of the students to be able to create intricate and repetitive patterns to create the “feather” effect on top of their painted feathers.

The last process is scrunching and flattening metallic origami paper. The students were asked to handle a delicate medium. Each origami squares were placed carefully to resemble a damier pattern, followed by installing each individual feathers to create a Mandala inspired composition. The mood and color story of the art pieces were inspired by ancient mandalas, synchronized swimmers, Japanese gold leaf technique, a high end purse, the homeless crisis in San Francisco, and Beyoncé’s Coachella Music Festival performance.

Framed Dimensions: 41”x41”

Medium: Acrylic/metallic pen on muslin fabric, metallic origami paper, and cardboard.

Lead: Alex William Brownlee, Jr.
Assistant: Maria Lyvette Loyola

Value: Priceless

The children of Russian Hill School created two one of a kind pieces inspired by feathered dinosaurs and prehistoric birds. The book “A Field Guide to Mesozoic Birds and other Winged Dinosaurs” by Matthew P. Martyniuk was used as the main source of research and reference for this project. The students were assigned their own prehistoric creature and learned about its own unique characteristic, and the place it was discovered. This first step of the process helped the children connect with their dinosaur/ bird, resulting in more engagement and dedication into creating the feathers for the mandala.

The individual feathers that the children painted were cut from one big piece of muslin fabric, symbolizing unity and inclusion. Each child painted multiple feathers using different brush stroke techniques they have learned throughout the school year. This required the use of fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. High levels of concentration were asked of the students to be able to create intricate and repetitive patterns to create the “feather” effect on top of their painted feathers.

The last process is scrunching and flattening metallic origami paper. The students were asked to handle a delicate medium. Each origami squares were placed carefully to resemble a damier pattern, followed by installing each individual feathers to create a Mandala inspired composition. The mood and color story of the art pieces were inspired by ancient mandalas, synchronized swimmers, Japanese gold leaf technique, a high end purse, the homeless crisis in San Francisco, and Beyoncé’s Coachella Music Festival performance.

Framed Dimensions: 41.5”x41”

Medium: Acrylic/metallic pen on muslin fabric, metallic origami paper, and cardboard.

Lead: Alex William Brownlee, Jr.
Assistant: Maria Lyvette Loyola

Value: Priceless

This project piece was inspired by an interest in printing techniques (replication) and our prehistoric unit study. Children learned about dinosaurs (herbivores, carnivores, sauropods, etc) and chose one to draw. Children made several iterations before the final piece was completed.

For the background “landscape” we used acrylic paint on gel printing plates along with textured rollers to create backgrounds. Then stencils were used to print “plant” shapes and a circle gel printing plate for the “sun/moon” shapes. Finally, homemade stamps were used and an acrylic pen was used to outline them.

The dinosaur pop-up was created using free drawing techniques, copy making, and watercolor. Each child chose a dinosaur after looking through a dinosaur encyclopedia and made a pencil drawing with a teacher.

Then the children traced their pencil drawing with a black marker and copied their drawing on the photocopier. Children tried out different watercolor techniques before a final technique was chosen. A final shimmer coat was applied and the cut out dinosaurs were then placed and glued onto the prints.

Framed Dimensions: 48"x38”

Lead: Nathan Weber

Value: Priceless

This project piece was inspired by an interest in printing techniques (replication) and our prehistoric unit study. Children learned about dinosaurs (herbivores, carnivores, sauropods, etc) and chose one to draw. Children made several iterations before the final piece was completed.

For the background “landscape” we used acrylic paint on gel printing plates along with textured rollers to create backgrounds. Then stencils were used to print “plant” shapes and a circle gel printing plate for the “sun/moon” shapes. Finally, homemade stamps were used and an acrylic pen was used to outline them.

The dinosaur pop-up was created using free drawing techniques, copy making, and watercolor. Each child chose a dinosaur after looking through a dinosaur encyclopedia and made a pencil drawing with a teacher.

Then the children traced their pencil drawing with a black marker and copied their drawing on the photocopier. Children tried out different watercolor techniques before a final technique was chosen. A final shimmer coat was applied and the cut out dinosaurs were then placed and glued onto the prints.

Framed Dimensions: 48"x38”

Lead: Nathan Weber

Value: Priceless

Paper Quilt: 35 hand painted squares, quilted and sewn

Inspired by recent scientific findings that some dinosaurs had feathers, the teachers and children at RHS have been intrigued to delve deeper into research to learn about the pre-history of life on earth. Our unit study experience has become much more than one merely regarding the Jurassic period existence of dinosaurs and volcanic eruptions. We have been searching information further back and forward in time to learn about ALL things that flew to include raptors, birds and insects. As a result, we have been discovering more about geologic and botanical changes that promoted and sustained life on earth through unrecorded history. This arts piece is the culmination of what our preschool “paleontologists’ have found out so far.

Drawing and Painting: Children followed a two-project procedure for creating individual quilt squares. Animal/insect life studies were hand painted separately and glued into habitat drawings.

Quilting and Sewing: Many thanks to teachers and parents who volunteered their time and effort to see this process to fruition!

Framed Dimensions: 54”x71.5”

Lead: Bonnie McFadden
Assistant: Stephanie Davis

Value: Priceless