roosters for chinese new year

The drawing class last week focused on roosters since Chinese New Year was being celebrated the next day.

Each student chose a reference picture of their choice. They also made their own decisions on how they would compose their image on the paper.

8 year old

After a couple of warm up exercises using their reference material as a guide, we got started on the final drawings.

First using a water-soluble pencil, each student found the outside line shape that made up their image and put it on paper. They then went over the lines with a bit of water to start to create value.

6 year old

My goal this class was to focus on line and how it can be used to create texture and interest in an artwork. So after they went over their first lines with water, each artist could then choose to either use the water-soluble pencil again over the damp paper (creating some very ink like lines) or change to graphite to start adding detail lines.

10 year old

Once they had added a bit more detail to their first drawing, we stopped and looked for pattern of lines in the reference image and then each student interpreted their observations how they saw fit into their drawings.

11 year old

And finally because one student asked if we would only ever do drawings in black and white last week, I put out some chalk pastel so each child could add a little color.

By the end of class, each student had a lovely complex drawing focused on line and pattern.

Happy New Year!!!

emotion jugs

I have been mulling around clay project ideas for the after school elementary class since the fall.

I am an Art Docent at the Vancouver Art Gallery and while there one week found I had some extra time, so myself and another docent walked through one of the exhibits.  The Juxtapoz x Superflat  exhibit is not one we are touring school groups through, so thought it would be fun to have a look around. I came across the works of artist Rebecca Morgan and immediately thought her artwork could inspire a great project to share with the kids in the studio.

Rebecca Morgan at Vancouver Art Gallery

I have been wanting to create a clay project that would allow the kids to explore creating a pot either using a coil or pinch pot method. The idea of also having them explore creating faces on the pots seemed perfect. Then I remembered how fascinated I was with Rembrandt's tronies, practice renderings of facial expressions, while visiting Amsterdam. It also has been on my "to do" list of projects for quite some time and seemed like a great addition to this project idea.

So after introducing artist Rebecca Morgan to the students and looking at several of her pottery sculptures ( I first wrote, "looking at her jugs" which somehow seemed off when talking about kids....), the students shouted out all the different emotions that came to mind.

I loved how Rebecca Morgan's work boosted the confidence of the children. Her work inspired a sense of silliness that the kids were eager to explore. Her work was also a great introduction on how to use texture to create interest in artwork.

goofy, 8 year old

One day I will have a kiln, but for now all clay work in the studio is done with air dry or oven baked clay. This project was done with air dry clay. The students created their sculptures the first week and then the following week painted the dried clay with acrylic paints which were then sealed with a high gloss varnish.

happy, 6 year old

Before the students began painting, we talked about how color can also be used to define emotion. The students brainstormed for several minutes about what colors might define certain emotions. Then they got to work painting their pots.

crazy, 7 year old

Of course it did not take very long in the creative process before several of the children asked if they could create animals. 

happy cat, 8 year old

awed mouse, 8 year old

bewildered bear, 8 year old

As always, working with clay was a great lesson for getting the students to think about all angles of an artwork. No surprise that they were also thrilled to be working in 3-D. There was a lot of discussion on what they would be using their finished pieces for at home and torrents of giggles while they figured out how to create their emotions in clay. Rebecca Morgan's work was great inspiration as a jumping off point for the children, just like I knew it would be the minute I laid eyes on her artwork at the gallery.

pensive pencil holder, 9 year old

Both myself and the kids are now big fans.

swan drawings

Using graphite, the drawing class worked on creating value while drawing swans.

Using a reference photo of a swan, each artist made their own artistic choices on how much of the bird they showed and what features of the bird they emphasized.

Then using a gradation scale of grey that they first worked out before drawing, they began to add value.

The class is an hour and after warm ups and discovery exercises, they spend the last half hour on their final drawing. Just by focusing on darks and lights, they were able to complete some stunning pieces.