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!)

first class at Carriage House Arts and Crafts

I finally hung my business license on the wall and opened the Carriage House for classes. The first class, on Thursdays, is with some great 7-year olds who I have taught before. Their enthusiasm was terrific, both for the new studio space, and for the project that we made. Inspired by the mixed-media bird cards by UK artist Mark Hearld, we cut out birds from heavy white paper, then used paint, pastels, and collage to transform them into colorful creatures. The addition of a bit of purple ribbon allows them to hang, as if in flight. This pics here show the kids at work, Mark Hearld's bird cards, the kids' completed birds, and one of my own (because they're so fun to make and I had the excuse of making an example ... or four!).

I'm teaching a Wednesday after school class this Spring at the Arlington Arts Center, and the theme of the class this time is Thrilling 3D. I love mixing things up and having the kids use non-traditional materials. After seeing a great project somewhere in the wilds of Pinterest, I had the kids make robots using mainly found materials. They painted a canvas board for the support, then used pieces of cardboard to make the parts of their robots. They were told to make sure that each robot had a way to see, speak, move, and hold or grasp, in addition to a power source or place to plug in. They painted the pieces of cardboard using metallic paint and -- once glued down -- they could choose "up to 5" objects from my "treasure cans" (huge cans filled with the delightful detritus of daily life: container lids, old keys, tiny lightbulbs, bits of Mardi Gras bead and snipped segments of spiral bindings and SO much more. Here are some of the delightful results.

This Spring, in the first Tuesday of my new Creative Collage class for adults at the Arlington Arts Center, students made some really wonderful painted paper collages. Half the fun was in quickly and messily painting the paper, I think.

I spent a little downtime this evening working on how to turn one of Mark Hearld's wonderful mixed media birds into a project for kids. I have a feeling that it will be a hit with kids and parents alike. I love how by folding back side of the wings, crest and tail, the paper turns into a a 3D hangable bird. And by decorating the reverse of the wings and tail, the color and drama are increased when it's assembled.