cubist christmas trees

There are so many beautiful things being created in the studio right now, things I cannot share since they are getting wrapped up and placed under the Christmas tree for the artist's loved ones. So I thought I would share a project I did with a group of children a couple of years ago, cubist inspired Christmas trees with chalk pastels.

10 year old

Each artist first drew a Christmas tree on the paper lightly in pencil. They were asked to draw the tree using angles and to fill the page.

7 year old

Next each artist drew four circles of different sizes anywhere on the page.

6 year old

Then using a ruler, they drew four lines from one side of the paper to the other in any direction they wanted.  I encouraged them to draw at least one on an angle. 

10 year old

They then chose one cool and one warm pastel chalk. I also gave each artist a white and black chalk pastel to add to the two color pastel choices they had made. You will notice a couple of artist went off the beaten path a bit on their color choices from the directions given, which is fine by me if they really don't like the warm/cool color palette.

10 year old

I asked them to pick one of the two color pastels to use for the tree and the other for the background. Then the project became a bit of a puzzle. They created three different colors from the one chalk by adding white and black. Each shape they created by dissecting the lines was colored differently and they were to try to make sure the same color never touched each other.

8 year old

They then did the same thing with the second color for the background. I suggested they differentiate the lines by adding a bit of white or black for contrast.

Aren't the results amazing? The kids loved them.

birdhouse ornament

When I asked the Wednesday class what they would like to do during the holiday season in regards to art, the response I received loud and clear was ornaments.

We have created mini ornaments on canvas and small wood burning and acrylic ornaments.

This past week, we created these sweet birdhouse ornaments.

8 year old

These are created from, you'll never guess, empty toilet paper rolls.

Now some of you might be saying, "Oh Jeri that's craft, not art." And I'm OK with craft in the studio from time to time, however I would argue that the minute the craft is so open-ended it allows for each child to interpret in their own original and unique way, it becomes art too.

No matter what you want to call it, this project took on a life of it's own.  I thought we would finish this last night within the first thirty minutes of class and would have an hour to create some reindeer drawings in graphite or charcoal. (kid choice)

The kids were having such a good time and got so involved in these little birdhouse from the most humble of beginnings that we worked right up until the end of class.

We almost didn't have time to enjoy a treat together before breaking for the holidays!

At the end of class the prior week, each child took a toilet paper roll and cut some type of design across the top by pinching it together to create two sides. They then folded this over and glued it together to create the roof.

I have a large hole puncher that we used to create the door, however it would be easy to just cut a circle with a pair of scissors.

They then created a house design with a permanent black marker and used acrylic paint. We ended the night with a bit of modeling paste for snow.

(you could just put on white paint thickly to create a similar effect if you don't have modeling paste)

They completed this part of the project within 15-20 minutes.

(that's a humming bird in front of his humble adobe)

10 year old

When the kids arrived last night for class, they each had the option to dry brush some white paint over their modeling paste.  Using a blow dryer, they made sure the paint was good and dry before adding mixture of glue and water all over the house prior to dumping glitter over the entire thing.

Can their really be such a thing as too much glitter during the holidays?

Once again, they used the blowdryer to harden everything up. Because the glue is watered down, this takes no time at all.

So all of this happened in about ten minutes, tops.

I was actually thinking we might finish this project in less than thirty minutes as I brought out a big ol' jar of bits and pieces I have collected over many, many years of holiday crafts.

Oh.my.word. did the kids ever have fun going through this jar and adding things to their birdhouses.

And adding

and adding

and adding.

Lots of comradely discussions and sharing of ideas. 

Lots of laughter.

Lots of fun.

At one point, I was honestly wondering if they would even complete the project before class ended they were so involved with adding and designing what to put where on their houses.

They had so much fun, way more fun that I even anticipated decorating the top, bottom, front and back of the homes.

frontside, 10 year old

backside, 10 year old

7 year old

As they finished, I had some small squares of watercolor paper out. I thought it would be fun for them to create the bird that was lucky enough to call these creations home.  The kids had to think about drawing on both sides and they cut the wings out separately to glue on for dimension.

Some did the birds

8 year old

some did not. Some even created their birds completely separate to hang on the tree.

We barely had enough time left to sit around and talk about our wishes and the importance of staying off the "naughty list" while icing a sugar cookie to eat before the parents arrived.

I can honestly say that when I put this project together, I had no idea of the power of a measly empty toilet paper roll. As your children break for the holidays, I cannot recommend enough keeping this idea in your arsenal for those days they are bored and driving you bonkers.

Enjoy the holidays everyone!

still room in the silk painting workshop this sunday

When my youngest child, who is now in University, was in grade 4, her teacher asked if I would create silk painted scarves with the class for Mother's Day. Thankfully the woman I chaired the Art Docent program with was a silk painter and shared with me her extensive knowledge.

The project was not only breathtaking, but the kids LOVED it and in the end, had something that would be cherished by their mothers forever more.

I still get messages from some of those moms who I am friends with on Facebook telling me they still wear their scarves.  Mine is one of my most prized possessions.

I have been hooked on this medium ever since and it is by far one of the most popular things I introduce to children.

Over the past couple of years, there have been some very amazing works.

For some of the projects the silk has been put on canvas.

And others have been done as scarves, especially around holidays.

Like this special scarf created for Mother's Day. The artist created a self portrait and then a portrait of both her sisters. She also drew her mother's favorite mug including a hot cup of coffee with steam billowing up in the shape of a heart. 

These are the things her mother loves most in the world.  

Her mother loved the gift and hopefully dad didn't feel like chopped liver for too long since he wasn't included in the "most loved" scarf items....

Last Christmas several scarves were created for special people in each artist's life.

Like this budgie scarf for a grandmother how loves her pet birds.

When she opened the gift, she did not even realize her granddaughter had made it at first.  She assumed it was store bought! If that isn't a compliment to the artist!

Another artist created a scarf for her grandmother too.  

This  beautiful scarf was done all in purple because it is her grandmother's favorite color. It was quite amusing to listen to her describe her grandmother's love of purple, right down to wearing purple eyeshadow.

This artist created a scarf for her mother last Christmas of her childhood cat. A cat the mother loved dearly and has shared stories with to her daughter. It is painted in her mom's favorite colors, purple and pink.

And then this boy who created the most amazing abstract scarf for his mom.

Sounds like she was the envy of her friends when she wore it. 

This Sunday from 2-5pm, I will be running a workshop in the studio where each child will have the opportunity to create a stunning scarf for someone they love. A scarf that without doubt will become a cherished possession of the owner.

More importantly, there is a pride I see in the kids who create these wearable artworks. Last year Christmas morning could not come quick enough for the artist, not because of what they were going to get but because they could not wait to see the reaction of what they were going to give.

Yes. The true spirit of the season.

So I hope you will be able to have your child take advantage of the opportunity to create a silk scarf on Sunday. Like those kids who have done this before them, they will fall in love with painting silk.

(evident by how many students signed up already have done one or more before!)

But more importantly they will be excited this holiday season for all the right reasons, the gift of giving. 

Register at KudzuStudio.com

Sunday, December 13.  2-5pm. $100.00 including all supplies and appropriate for ages 5 and up.