fall gourd artworks

The school year classes are now in full swing.

I figured we would kick off fall with our first project focused on gourds. I found some really beautiful ones at the garden store that I couldn't resist. I figured my husband couldn't whine about me spending money yet again on "useless" holiday decor if I told him they were for art class.

That's me, always thinking.

Since it was the first class back after a long summer break, I felt I would start with some warm up exercises. I used this project in all three classes, the Kindergarten through Grade 3, the Grade 4 through Grade 6, and the Tween/Teen class.

During the warm up the children used india ink with brushes on rice paper. These two artworks were a quick drawing focused on finding the lines in the gourd.

Aren't they amazing?! 3 minutes!! When I say quick draws, I do mean quick draws.

Another quick sketch was done in graphite and focused on finding darks and lights and different ideas on interpreting the textures.

Children also created a warm up using their non-dominate hand, using continuous line while not looking at their paper, and what I like to call "Haiku" drawing- getting the picture on the paper using only 5 or 7 brush strokes.

We did this for about 20 minutes. 

grade 2

The elementary class then created large ink paintings on watercolor paper for the rest of the class.

grade 1

grade 2

I gave no instruction on choices and decisions they made for their final work other than asking the kids to spend a few minutes going over their warm up pieces and looking at the things they liked and didn't like on the different works. We then discussed how they now had the ability to combine all the things they liked from the different papers into their final artwork.

Aren't the results great?!

After the Tween/Teen class finished their warm ups, I did give them a couple of minutes to add some colored ink to their rice paper drawings before starting their final artworks.

In my opinion, the warm ups are beautiful finished pieces of work.

I then challenged the tween/teen class to create a 4x4 acrylic painting with a limited color palette in just an hour. We discussed how artist are always working within certain parameters and having to make choices and decisions based on those parameters.

My goal with this first class was just to get the students to loosen up and having a time limit forced them to not get in their head too much and keep their paintings loose.

Because we were working with such a limited palette, Naples Yellow, Payne's Grey, and Titanium White, we used Golden Open Acrylic so they would have more time to play with blending before the paint dried.

I also gave them the opportunity to utilize palette knives along with the brushes.

The project was easy to alter so that it was age appropriate and fun for everyone and the results? Well they speak for themselves.

David Hockney inspired photo collage

This is probably my way of dealing with the disappointment of not being able to get to London to see Hockney's show last spring. This is also me remembering how much my own children enjoyed using a disposable camera to collect their own unique perspective on trips to keep for their memories.

Both of these things factored into my decision to create a photo collage project in the Contemporary Art camp inspired by David Hockney's artwork.

9 year old

Keeping my budget in mind two children shared each disposable camera.

I had not realized that this generation has not only never seen a disposable camera, they have no idea how to use a camera that is not digital! So after a lesson on the mechanics of how to use an "old fashion" camera, we took off for a walk in the studio neighborhood and woods.

When a child found something they wanted to shoot, we all stopped and let the child capture their image with a series of ten photographs.

Needless to say not being able to see what they had shot right away was a bit of shock for them.

What do you mean it has to go to the store and be developed?!

What do you mean it takes two days?!!!!!

I figured I wouldn't share with them how we also had to buy flashcubes when I was young and processing was over a week! That would be as mindboggling as when they learned I grew up with TV cartoons only on Saturday morning and no remote control.

I digress, back to David Hockney.

When the photos were developed they eagerly went through them. Some were disappointed with a few pictures that were out of focus and some were surprised that they didn't have the angles they had anticipated, but all but one child had useable photographs.

9 year old

For that one child however, all of her photographs were underexposed and did not develop. She had chosen to do facial close ups of one of the other campers and the camera just could not handle that kind of angle. We discussed that although disappointing what a great learning experience. We brainstormed what to do next and even though her project would be different, we agreed it would be equally as wonderful using my iPhone and black and white pictures off my computer printer.

10 year old

To be truthful, this was a great opportunity for everyone to learn some photography basics with their results as we discussed why some things had worked and others had not. I had not anticipated this project opportunity but it was a welcome bonus.

7 year old

I think when we first looked at Hockney's photo collages, the kids figured it was easy. They quickly learned putting together a photo collage artwork is difficult. It is a huge puzzle full of many choices.

6 year old

Two photos work together, but then how do you get the other to make sense?

How do you deal with creating a fluid image when you are missing a section of subject?

Or have too many of the same subject angle?

7 year old

In the end, they all figured it out.  They all got such great compositions. And like all children's photography, the works are a very interesting perspective for adult viewers who get a special look at the world through a child's eye.

gideon rubin inspired self portrait pillows

Have I mentioned what a huge fan I am of the work of Contemporary Artist Gideon Rubin?

This will be the second time I have introduced his work to children at the studio. The first time was with this printmaking project.

This time I had the young artist who were participating in the Contemporary Art themed camp focus on creating a self portrait inspired by Rubin. Also after hearing loud and clear from the campers in the Textile and Paint camp that they would love to do more work on pillows and such to put on their bed, I had the children create their inspired Rubin self portraits on canvas bags that I then turned into pillows.

I always find it interesting how children respond to his work. The idea that the facial features are left off the piece is difficult for some of them to accept, for others there is a great relief knowing they won't have to face the challenge of getting their eyes, nose and mouth correctly in the portrait.

Each child created a sketch on paper and once they were happy with their sketch, we transferred it onto the canvas bag using graphite paper. They then began adding acrylic paint that was watered down slightly, to help it move easier, onto the bag.

The results were lovely and caught the essence of each child perfectly.

9 year old

If you knew this young girl, you would be amazed at how accurately she captured the posture of how she holds her shoulders and the essence of her hair. There is no doubt who this portrait belongs to when you know the child.

7 year old

10 year old

The same can be said for these two young artist also.

7 year old

Of course some children needed to add their own twist to their portraits! Like these bunny ears added to this sweet portrait. And yes, her hair is that long and thick! 

9 year old

And then there were the two young artist who could not deal with not having facial features. I think he captured his feelings about my encouraging words to capture their portraits without facial features. 

He was not amused.

6 year old

The youngest artist did not want a pillow. She was quite excited to have a bag to carry to school. And no, I have not reversed the image. I am always impressed when children write their names so easily backwards! I don't know what possesses them to do it but she did that freehand and I think that is no easy task to do. She has this beautiful head of curly locks and I just smile at the way she decided to interpret this feature in paint.

I hope the kids enjoy these pillows for years to come. It was a lot of fun watching the kids create them.