Artstock Flyer

It's almost time for Artstock. Mark your calenders!

I always seem to flirt with deadlines but I think I might be cutting this one too close. I really need to get some art pieces done! I hope inspiration spanks me today.

Exchange student coming.....

We have a Japanese exchange student coming tomorrow. Because I want him to have a "real" American experience, I'm going to run around like a crazy person today cleaning, organizing and hiding things so he gets a "proper" impression of the American culture. My house can look quite "proper"....a few times a year.....when I know quests are coming......and I have time to hide the extra stuff in my bedroom, the garage, and my art room. It won't be easy to keep up for a week and a half but I'll do my best to represent. I'm thinking it's a bit like when I make my boys wear clothes they would never pick out themselves for family portraits, because I like the illusion.

KVIE Art Auction

I'm excited that my mixed media artwork "Serenity" was accepted into the KVIE Art Auction.  I had mixed feelings on whether or not to donate it because it is one of my favorites.  In the end I figured if I wanted to get a piece in and represent myself well I should go with something I liked most.  At least the woman at KVIE who accepted it told me it was the best she'd seen so far.......to bad she was the receptionist and not one of the jurors. (I'm still waiting to see if it will be part of the online auction or included with the art auctioned on the air)

"Serenity"  (mixed media: foil, acrylic medium, plexi, watercolor)

 

Art Fest 2012

This weekend was Art Fest at the High Hand Gallery.  Lots of artists demonstrating what they do best.  I demoed mixed media jewelry on Saturday.  It was a fun day in the fruit shed.

Final Student Project Posting For This School Year

The fifth graders worked on patterned animals inspired by the illustrations in the book "Calabash Cat".  The author/illustrator, James Rumford, was inspired by a calabash gourd cat decorated with African inspired patterns.   The book follows the adventures of calabash cat as he seeks to find where the world ends.  Along the way he encounters animals from different lands.

This project took 4 one hour class periods. On the first day we practiced creating patterns with sharpies.  The next class we drew a variety of animals and then each student picked their favorite to use for a final project.  During the remaining two classes the students used sharpies to add decorative patterning and then used colored pencils to enhance the patterning.  They finished their project by cutting and pasting their animal to a brown or black paper background.  Some students used sharpies to add patterns to the background.

First week: practice patterning

Second week: draw animals

Third/Fourth week: choose animal, add patterns, cut out, paste to colored paper, add final details

      

Elementary Students Pastel and Watercolor Musical Instruments

School ended a few weeks ago so I'm late posting this but I figure better late than never.  

I make an effort to connect my art lessons to the learning objectives of each grade level.  The sixth graders theme was music.  After some thought I decided to use musical instruments as my tie in. We began the first session of the unit with a review of the elements and principles of art and then looked at artwork that included musical instruments.   We discussed the elements of art and the art media used in each example.  

The second week the students practiced drawing instruments from photographs and then created a final design focusing on one or two of the art elements.  By the third week most were ready to start their final project. After a necessarily brief demonstration on how to use pastels and watercolors the students were allowed to choose the media that best suited their design. 

The entire project took 4 one hour sessions.  The end result was a fabulous mix of colorful, abstract designs.  I was very impressed with the variety and creativity of the final projects.