Just what I’ve been up to lately…
Category: art
This is a student’s drawing I came across and had to bite my lip to stifle a laugh. I had to ask him to draw something appropriate for school but secretly thought it was funny. These are the little things that make me smile and make my day better.
I’ve been doing a lot of journaling lately….I used to do it all the time, and have had a diary or journal since I was old enough to write. But, in the last few years, my journals have gotten less and less inspiring. They are usually filled with To Do Lists, important info, and work data. I wanted to get back to when I used to actually enjoy writing and creating art in my journal. And while, the circumstances for my delve back into my enthusiastic journaling were not exactly positive, I have remember just how much of a calming effect and a release of tension they are for me:
Does anyone else like to journal? Does it have the same effective on you? Send me pics and I will post them on my blog (one day, someone will actually answer me and it will be awesome!)
 |
| some art from my journal…I am loving triangles and simple gemoetric shapes right now.
I will be the first to admit, that I rarely, if ever, have a original art idea. I always see pieces that I love and admire, and usually want to buy for my house so I can stare at them forever but cant afford them so I create my own version, and more versions and they are not exact replicas by any means. I don’t think I am an artist, I think I am just really good at copying other people.
|
 |
| I did this one on an a sheet of music from an old family chorus book I got at the thrift store. |
 |
| This one was with watercolors and sharpie in my journal. |
 |
| I call this one “Triangle Lady.” |
And here are some of my favorite geometrical prints I have found on various sites:
 |
| I LURRV THIS ONE: “Sami Woman Print” by lisacongdon |
 |
| “Her Colorful Coat” Original drawing by heartpumpsart |
 |
| “The dimensions of a Volcano” by Judy Kaufmann |
 |
| “If I could I Would Give You the Entire Universe” print by artist: Meredith Schwab via her etsy shop dittydrops |
Okay, I have to expain what the design means because that was an important part to to me. The half circles and small vertical lines or dashes form the Native American symbol for rain. (I found that info here: http://horsehints.org/IndianSymbols.htm) and looks like this:
or this…..
and it stands for: change, renewal, and fertility (not so sure about that part yet).
Underneath the lines are what look like the letter “V” sideways. But, it is the Runes’ language symbol “kenaz” which literally translates to “beacon.” It stands for: vision, revalation, knowledge, creativity, and inspiration. (I found that info here:http://www.sunnyway.com/runes/meanings.html).
These meanings are all very representative of what I am experiencing in life now and I have always wanted to get this tattoo on my forearm so that I have a constant reminder of the important things in my life. Also, I guess my personal life is in the shit-er right now and drastic times call for drastic measures right??
 |
| Butch drawing the design on with markers first |
 |
| Butch’s drawing of my design. |
I went to Certified Customs http://www.certifiedcustoms.net/ in Denver Colorado and my Tattoo artist’s name was Butch. He was awesome. They closed at 12am but he said he would tattoo me after his last client (usually, they are appointment only–but I was desperate)
Everyone there was really nice and pretty friendly for it being 2am on a Friday night, and them being tattoo artists.
 |
| Can you tell its starting to hurt now? Yeah, it was. But, it was good pain. |
 |
| my best friend Cassie on the left and my new friend Blair in the red. |
 |
| woo hoo! Finally done! Both of us looking worse for the wear. |
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds is not only one of my favorite childrens’ books, but it is also one of my personal favorites. As a teacher and an artist, I find it incredibly inspiring for both children and adults.
The Dot is a story about a little girl named Vashti who doesn’t have much faith in her self as an artist. One day at the end of art class, Vashti has yet to draw anything but her art teacher encourages Vashti to “make a mark, and see where it takes you.” Frustrated and annoyed, Vashti slams her pen down on the paper creating a small, single dot.” Her art teacher sees something more than just a black dot and Vashti comes to art class next week to find her dot framed in gilded gold and hanging behind the teacher’s desk. This sparks Vasthi’s creativity and her belief in herself. From there on out, Vasthi can’t be stopped!
I love it because it inspires the reader into believing in themselves. So, for the last art class, I read the book at the beginning of the class to the students and then let them go crazy with markers and pens. They took their assignment very seriously and came up with some beautiful and unique “Dots”:
I was so impressed with how much they loved the book and how excited they were to do this activity. If you need a filler or an opener for an art class, I would def. recommend it. Just read the book, and let your kids go crazy with blank paper and markers.
Also, worth reading to your kids is Ish also by Peter H. Reynolds, and it has the same sort of artistic inspirational message. Reynolds has a great website that is full of ideas and activities. He also answers questions from students: http://www.peterhreynolds.com/dot/
And of course…I had to do some of my own Dot inspired artwork:
 |
| watercolor crayons |
 |
| acrylic paints on a moleskin journal |
Due to certain recent depressing and drastic circumstances in my life over the last few days(which I wont even bring up here in my happy place…but if you want to feel better about your life…go here: http://www.blessedrthecracked.blogspot.com) I have decided come up with an ever growing list of things i want to do…I wouldn’t call it a bucket list, b.c they aren’t all things I want to do before i die; they are all things I want to do to live a happier and fulfilling life. This is what i was up working on all night since I cant sleep (due to those depressing and drastic circumstances mentioned earlier): the first page of my little “life list”:
(although I am trying to think of a better name for it) I thought my artist friends might enjoy this…Does anyone else have a “bucket list” or a life list of things they want to do soon? I would love to hear them! (and not only b.c. I can add them to my list).
If I was more organized (That day will never come) I would love to do artistic journaling- but my life and my (lack of) organization skills tends to make my most recent journal entries scribbled words and to do lists. Not so inspiring.
So, I’ve started my after-school art class at the elementary school where I teach. At first, I was nervously checking the office for completed registration forms and worried I wouldn’t have enough students BUT lo, and behold, I reached my limit of 20 students and went past it, ending up with 24 students in 2nd-4th grade!
In our first class, students created their own art journals using the “colorfield” technique of abstract painting and canvas. I found this lesson on Dick Blick’s website. Here is the link: http://www.dickblick.com/lesson-plans/color-field-sketchbook/
The finished art journals should end up looking something like this:
The kids LOVED making their journals but it was a little messy. I spent a good two hours after they left scrubbing the paint from the tables, stools, and floor. So, just wanted to CAUTION you if you plan on doing this with kids (or even if you do it for yourself) you will need LOTS of old newspaper, or trash bags, and paper towels.
So, how to make these lovely journals you ask? All you need are various colors of acrylic paints, unprimed canvas, plastic cups, an empty spray bottle and some paint brushes.
* For each color you want to use, squirt about tablespoon of paint into a disposable cup and then put about a tablespoon of water in the cup (less water for darker colors) and mix with a paintbrush until smooth. Choose 3 or 4 colors you want to use (remember that mixing more than 3 colors together in one place will create a brownish blah color)
* Fill the spray bottle with water and spray sections of your canvas (this will help create the swirly patterns when the colors mix together with the water and the dry canvas).
* Pour onto the canvas!
Experiment with different colors and different “pouring techniques.” Try pouring from far away, to create a splash pattern. Use a paintbrush to flick a spatter pattern, or pour colors, then tip the canvas up, so that the colors create a “raindrop” or “drip” pattern.
* Be careful of using too much water, or pouring too much, because it will pool on the canvas and mix with all the other colors to create an unpleasant brownish color.
I spent way to much time on mine…I used a lot of white paint, because I found that it brightened the colors and kept it from becoming to dark. Here’s how mine turned out….I am sure if I was to make another one, it would be completely different.
I think next time, I want to try a more simple approach; using only 2 or 3 colors and not worrying so much if there was blank canvas.
These are just a few of the outcomes from my students..I love how unique and colorful they all turned out. I can see their individual personalities in the colors they used and how they mixed them:
*
Binding these guys is a whollllle other story!
This is my take on a recycled magazine pages wall decor project that I saw the other day when passing by the window display at J. Crew. These are my favorite projects to do because they are CHEAP (well, basically free!) colorful AND green! A big BANG for a little bitty price.
Here is J. Crew’s current window display that inspired me:
Of course, they have done about a MILLION, so I have a LOOONG way to go until mine looks like that…and let’s just be honest…I probably will get bored of doing these, or find something else I want to do before I get enough to make a wall decoration!
All you need are some old magazines, rip out the colorful pages and accordian fold them. I used a glue gun to insure they would stay glued and to give it some rigidness.
I would love to see any pics of any diy art projects you have done lately around your house!
I have always liked doing art projects and diy decor projects with sticks. They are free, abundant, and come in all different shapes and sizes. I tend to do a lot with branches in the winter because there are dead branches all over the neighborhood.
This super simple hanging branch diy project is my take on a similar project i found on pinterest.
I lurrrv t-shirt necklaces! These are two that I’ve made. They are super easy to do and make a big impact. I also use them as scarves in the winter. Here is a tutorial. Just need old t-shirts and scissors.
I was so touched by this 2nd grader’s drawing that I scanned it into my computer and want to get a professional copy of it framed….
At the beginning of the year, the students wrote about their “Ideal Tree houses” for a creative writing lesson. They all really loved writing about their dream tree houses and included some pretty cool stuff (lots of slides, elevators, swimming pools, hidden rooms, ect) and one student took it a step further and drew a tree house that had a room for every student and teacher in it!
When I saw it, I almost teared up (I’m a big softie), because I figured, being a teacher, my room would be extra small and tucked away in a corner, far from all the fun stuff. BUT, lo and behold, ole’ Mrs. Sheffy had not one but TWO of her own rooms….one was for living in and the second (the one that really got me) was my own art studio!
My living room is the first room to the right of the ladder, as you are climbing from the bottom up..titled “Mrs. S.” (I love it, I’m Mrs. S!) and then my art gallery is on the same level but all the way to the right..titled “Mrs. S art gallery” in smooshed letters…its kind of small, but thats okay, art galleries don’t have to be big! Here is a close up shot…
I love working with this age of kids because they are such big dreamers and (most) see the best in each other still and I thought it was so wonderful, I wanted to get a group hug and stand in a circle holding hands singing the Barney song or something… (okay, no not really, but still)….just wanted to share.
Also, I am thinking of adapting her artwork into an art lesson, I think it would be really cool. So creative and sweet.
jessbobess 