Collage blocks

3D collage blocks with the big kids (adults) tonight at the Carriage House. One Sicily-themed and one abstract collages. So cool! 

Jose di Gregorio inspires kids geometric canvas paintings

The little ones hit another homerun: very loosely inspired by the complex geometric and often rainbow-hued art of Jose DiGregorio, we masked out geometric patterns before painting, and then the kids were delighted to remove the tape and reveal their final works on canvas. 

Printmaking landscapes by the little ones

I can't stand how cute these painted and printmaking landscapes are! Four and five-year-olds in my spring break art camp at the Arlington Arts Center used a combination of bubble wrap, cardboard, and found objects to create a multilayered tree scene inspired by the fabric of artist Eloise Renouf. They also used sponges, brayers, scissors, glue sticks, and oil pastels. This was a seriously mixed media project done over two days and the kids loved seeing it all come together!

Rubber block carving next Tuesday at the Arlington Arts Center

Rubber block printing isn't very difficult, but sometimes choosing a really good image is. In my workshop at the Arlington Arts Center next Tuesday evening, I will help participants choose or adapt an image that has the right balance of size, detail, and contrast to create a big,bold, sharp-looking handcarved stamp. Supplies are provided, and you can register online at: https://arlingtonartscenter.org/education/adult/

Inspired by Gordon Hopkins

I'm back with the very little ones at the Arlington Arts Center. The mood as always is in between exhausting and exhilarating. And then they produce these wonderfully free abstract mixed media works very liberally inspired by some pieces by Gordon Hopkins and I just smile.

Cherry blossom project

With the time remaining in class a couple of weeks ago, the kids did a quick no-need-to-wait-for-anything-to-dry cherry blossom project.

Mixed media winter trees

The little ones had fun with this two-part "winter trees" project. They made the trees with lines drawn in black glue and then painted all white areas with their choice of warm and cool watercolors.

Dog collage portraits

On March 20th we had a super fun collage workshop in my Georgetown studio. We were inspired by the art of Simon Hart and by Denise Fiedler as we made dog collages, using the subtle tones of vintage book paper. 

Mothers and daughters workshop

Two women, two girls, two techniques, two hours = a whole lot of gorgeous printed papers were made in my sunny Sunday mother-daughter art class earlier this month.

Altered Books workshop

On March 6th, in my Altered Books workshop at the Arlington Arts Center, participants made some terrific books using pages from old books, adding collage elements and then finishing them with a simple bookbinding stitch.

Shop Made in DC Collage Event

Shop Made in DC made an awesome collage classroom this evening. It was hands-down the largest collage event that I have led!

Greek geometric pottery project

When the kids finish a project early, rather than having them do "free draw," I like to give them a quick project. Today three of them finished quick and simple mixed media Greek vases. Inspired by ancient Greek geometric pottery, they cut vase shapes from brown grocery bags, added geometric patterns with black sharpies, and then added a painted background. I keep them busy.

Found Object Robots

I've done it before and I'll do it again, but the robot project--using painted pieces of cardboard and found objects from my exciting wicker basket of "junk"--is always a hit with the kids and always makes me smile.

Valentine Wreaths

Back in February, the kids in both of my weekly Georgetown classes patiently made flowers and leaves out of egg cartons, empty toilet paper, paper towel rolls, and those sheets of cardboard that you find inside folded sets of new sheets (the thin cardboard allows little hands with little scissors to cut it). Then they used them (and some glitter and paint) to decorate recycled cardboard valentine wreaths which I think looked terrific. Special thanks to the women in my book group who collected all of these recycled materials for our project.