Beth Krommes inspired scratchboard

I fell in love with the scratchboard illustrations created by Beth Krommes while researching children illustrators for the Storybook Wonders camp.

What I really loved about her technique was the fact that she creates copies of the scratchboard that she then goes in and hand colors.

This was my plan for the project I created with the kids during the camp. Each would create a scratchboard and then I would make copies of them overnight on card stock for them to hand color the next day.

Well, so much for plans.

We ran out of time on the last day of camp, but each child did create a stunning scratchboard.

5 year old

I'll retry this project again in full for a Halloween inspired project with the October after school elementary class, only three spots left if you want your child to join in the fun!!

If you want to know how I created the scratchboards, check out this post from the Ben Lim inspired art camp at Seymour Art Gallery The only thing I did differently this time was use three layers of spray gesso in white instead of painting it onto the boards. It saved significant time when it came to sanding.

7 year old

Each child created an illustration of their choice inspired by Beth Krommes artwork. We had spent time looking at "The House in the Night", each child observing the line work in her pictures. It is a beautifully illustrated book!

They created some lovely works of art and I would of loved to have seen how they introduced color if we had not run out of time.

They really enjoyed working on the boards and I think they found it extremely relaxing just to etch into the ink and gesso.

5 year old

Even the youngest of students created stunning works of art.

7 year old

These two birds were created by sisters. Wouldn't they look cute displayed together on a wall?

10 year old

The line work this 10 year old did is quite amazing. She actually took her enlarged copy home to hand color. I'm sure it looks amazing.

8 year old

I love all the personality each of these pieces contain. Like I said, the kids seemed to really take to scratchboard and got lost in the relaxing technique.

9 year old

Such a great way to emphasize the importance of line in a fun way to children. What marvelous works of art each of them created. 

And I can say I know Beth Krommes felt the same way because she sent a comment when posted on the studio's instagram account mentioning how impressed she was with the work. 

A fact I'm sure would make each and every child very proud.

silk painting on canvas board

This is one of my all time favorite projects to do with children, silk painting.

It is a medium that absolutely every age group is successful at, all ages are fascinated by the process, and is enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

For the "Creatures Big and Small" camp, I decided to have the kids create a silk painting and then applied it to a canvas board for display.

I tacked each piece of silk onto some old embroidery stretcher boards that I have collected from the needle arts guild where I'm a member.  Every now and then a member will bring in old stretchers they no longer want and I quickly gather them for just this purpose.

4 year old

Each artist created a simple sketch on copy paper. I showed them how to use a window as a lightbox (along with a lightbox that I have in the studio) in order to keep finessing their sketch without having to erase and redraw everything. 

10 year old

When each child was happy with their sketch, they traced it lightly onto the silk with a water-soluble pencil. Then that evening after camp ended, I added the resist over their lines. This is a part I usually let them do, but given the very young age of a couple of the campers, I decided that it might be a bit frustrating for them. Since I literally just trace over the lines they drew on the silk, the integrity of their artwork isn't compromised with me taking charge of this step.

7 year old

The next day, I showed them on a scrap piece of silk some of the interesting things they could do with the dyes and then let them get to work.

6 year old

They had so much fun watching different colors run together and were fascinated as the dyes moved across the silk and then were stopped by the resist.

5 year old

The loved adding water drops and salt to create different effects and even when the silk was completely covered in color, they still wanted to add more just because they didn't want the project to end.

9 year old

When they were finished, I set the dyes and washed out the resist. Then when the silks were dried used matte medium to apply them to the canvas board. Then the next day, I gave each child the opportunity to add black line with a permanent marker since the resist left just white lines. In some cases where the resist just left a big while "hole", (like the eye of the flamingo above), I encouraged the artist to go ahead and draw in an eye and such. Then they signed their works and were done.

5 year old

They were so proud of their finished pieces and it was a joy to watch them get so excited as they watched the dyes move and the salts do their magic right before their eyes. Silk paintings are always one of the hardest projects to watch leave the studio as I so enjoy having them on display but I hope, no I know, the artists will enjoy them for many years to come.

adult mixed media workshop

I did my first adult workshop in the studio!

Five women registered for the workshop over two evening sessions.

It was so much fun to share some interesting techniques I have picked up along the way with like minded women.

And who can argue with students who show up with wine instead of juice boxes?

The first two hour session, I helped them build up a multi-media background.

They used vintage papers, acrylics, stamping, oil and chalk pastel, plus inks.  By the end of the night, they were works of art just by themselves.

The second two hour session, the women worked on their main subject matter. Some used image transfer and then painted and drew over the top and others used a variety of acrylic paint, including soft, fluid, and high flow, and water based pencils.

By the end of the night, they all had stunning results.

I had a great time getting to know them all and hopefully they had some fun too. A couple of the women's children were in the morning camps that week and they were so proud of their mothers!  It was so sweet to see them so excited that their moms were also going to art class and sharing their love of creating.

This Thursday evening I will be hosting another adult workshop in the studio on Watercolor. This time it is only one two hour session, from 7-9pm, but I am sure it will be just as much fun.  I am so looking forward to the night.

There are two spots left in the workshop and you can get in touch with me through Kudzustudio.com to register.