Mother's Day creature sculptures

My Carriage House class made great animal sculptures last week, and wanted them to be Mother's Day presents. I bet that their mothers really appreciated them. They insisted on taking them home in brown paper bags so that the gifts would be a surprise today. I think that they're super creative and fun.

3D Creature Sculptures

Well, I think that I have a new favorite 3D project. My 7- to 10-year-olds, in the Arlington Arts Center class called "Thrilling 3-D," made these wonderful animal sculptures out of cardboard and wood. They were inspired by the wonderfully colorful and creative animal sculptures of self-taught artist Terrell Powell.

Summer Art Camps in Georgetown

I am scheduling some week-long Mixed Media Art Camps at Carriage House Arts and Crafts this summer. Classes will be small (limit 5 kids) for ages 6 to 10. Class starts at 9:30AM and pick up time is 1:00PM (includes time for snack and lunch). Art instruction will involve a wide variety of techniques and materials -- large and small projects, 3D and drawing/painting, collage and much more. We'll be inspired by important artists of the past, by ancient art, and by contemporary artists, too. Bring a snack, drink and lunch. Weather permitting we will take a break around the corner at Volta Park. The cost of one week-long session is $200. All supplies included. Payment is due in full at the time of registration. There are no make-ups or refunds for absences. Studio Location: 1519 35th St NW in Georgetown. 7 weeks are currently available: June 19-23 June 26-30 July 3-7 July 10-14 July 24-28 July 31-Aug. 4 Aug. 7-11 Please let me know if you'd like to sign your kid(s) up for any weeks. Jennifer Email: jenn.wilkin@gmail.com

DC monuments printmaking project

It was really hard for these girls to concentrate on their art projects today when there was a puppy under the table. Enzo fell asleep and then spent some time in the main house, so the girls did finish their works -- and they look terrific. They drew a D.C. city scene, onto "scratch foam", creating their own printing plates. They then printed them with block printing ink, over previously watercolored backgrounds. Although the D.C. buildings and monuments (all cut out as one piece for ease of printing) don't reflect symmetrically in the water, the overall effect is of a cityscape reflected in water. Making them really BIG gave the finished works extra punch.

Studio pup

What could be better than having a newly renovated art studio with room to do all your projects? Having a new puppy to keep you company. This is Enzo, studio pup.

printmaking the Imperial Chinese terra-cotta army

Today at Carlin Springs Elementary school, we did another favorite project. After talking a bit about the ancient terra-cotta Imperial Chinese army, the kids made their own "warrior stamps" and then printed them on black paper. It's a great project and has an element of surprise in it. No matter how I explain it, the kids can never picture how theirs will come out ... and the usually look terrific.

Finnish folk art birds

Last week I posted a pic of a kid working on this project ... and here are just a few of the finished works. These Finnish folk art-inspired birds make for a great first project when working with a new group of kids. Because they are so stylized, the kids don't ever feel frustration over making something that doesn't look realistic enough. It builds confidence, allows me to get to know their artistic strengths and personalities, and also allows them to focus on observing details and producing elaborate patterns. (And I always love the results!)