World's Longest Update!

I kept trying to get a post in for July.  And then August.  And then what's happened to September?!  It's nearly over!  This will be my attempt to bring us all up to speed.  Brace yourselves!

Art Class: Book Binding (Part 1 of 2)

Our newest student, Lady S

Classes have resumed from the Spring Break for the kids.  So we're back!  And I decided to introduce book binding.  

Art Class: 3D Hands

Lady A...she was being camera shy

For Art Class on Monday we did 3D hands.  Sort of 3D anyway.  I'm not sure I knew the assignment well enough to 'teach' it, but we had fun anyway.

Art Class: Rub Transfer Drawing Thingy's

We had class yesterday!  We drew butterfly's (or a ladybug) on one side of a paper with an oil pastel and then folded the paper and rubbed it for a 'mirrored' transfer.  

Art Class: Straw Draw

It's been a super busy week, I can't believe I did Art Class on Monday.  I kind of threw this one together (sh, don't tell).  It ended up being a fun little drawing activity.  With some interesting results.

Art Class: Creepy Castles

I started up art class again after a few months hiatus.  Actually we started last week (Monday's again) but I forgot to take pictures.

Art Class: Klimt's Tree of Life

Again, I had to steal some ideas from this blog.  Last week we didn't have class.  I'm never sure if we're having class sometimes so I had to come up with something quick.  I don't like doing that, I don't feel prepared!

Art Class: Les Poisson

Here we are again.  Art Class Monday.  The more we do these the more I'm thinking I really don't know what I'm doing.  But as long as I'm the only one that thinks that then we're doing good.

Art Class: Learning from the Masters (cont'd)

Art Class Monday.  I only had one student yesterday, so this is her finished project.  I'm actually quite proud of Lady J.  She did a great job mixing her colors and even her proportions were done well.  Considering they weren't allowed to trace everything.  It all had to be done by eye.

Art Class: Learning from the Masters

There's something about mixed paints that I just find really yummy.  Had to share.  

Monday was a more in-depth exploration into the wonderful world of color-mixing.  The girls were only allowed to use Red, Yellow, Blue, Black and White for their assignment.  Which was to pick an image from an old book I had and use it to re-create it.  Here are the (unfinished) results.

Art Class: Color Wheels

Yes.  I'm still doing art classes.  Sort of.  There was a two month-ish hiatus.  Summer holidays for the kids so things are a little relaxed.  

Art Class

Finally!  Another art class.  It's been awhile.  Longer than I would've liked.  Oh well.  Such is life.  And trying to work out 5 different peoples schedules.  Above is Lady S's handy-work.  And a bonus cartoon just for kicks.  

Art Class

Art Class Monday!!  Which was held on Tuesday...again.  Whatever.  I only had two students yesterday.

We worked on Triangulation.  I think it went over their heads.  But the more sketches they made the better they got so there's hope!

I had them start with just sketching their hands.  Then had them try sketching portraits of their class-mate.    This they find VERY funny.  I'm glad they're having fun though.

We also sketched our dear Rooster.  Which Lady E declared needed a name since we draw him so much.  Lady J christened him Roger, so there we are.  Roger it is.  He gets a lot of face time in our class.  

Having this class has been an adventure for us all.  I hope we can continue until we all get the hang of what we're doing.  Me for materials and technique and them for drawing, etc.

Until Next!

Art School Confidential

I was approached about a month ago by a woman from church who asked me if I'd give her daughter some art lessons.  I thought she was kidding AND I wasn't sure how she knew I had studied art.  Certainly didn't hear it from me.

People have this weird habit of asking if I'm an 'artist' once they find out I've studied art.  I just can't get that word to come out of my mouth.  Getting a BFA for me was really just an expensive hobby.  I can hear 'artist's' rolling their eyes at this.  Deal.

So it's official.  I am now teaching art classes.  To 4 very energetic 10 year old girls.  Kind of feels a little daunting but, we're still in the beginning stages so we'll see how this plays out.

Our first class was on the 12th and I completely forgot about taking pictures.  I snapped a few yesterday so I've got a few to show.

Every teachers dream...student in focus-mode

Lady E is admiring her squiggle work

Ladies S and J also in focus-mode

Lady C is trying not to be distracted by my snapping pictures

Lady J's handy-work

...and some more...

 I think the Ladies are having fun.  Which is wonderful.  Sometimes a little too much fun, I have to reign them in at times to get them to pay attention.  The first class I'm still not too sure how much they got out of it.  And I'm sure their parents see what they're bringing home and wondering if they made the right choice.  Hey, Rome wasn't built in a day!

I'm teaching them some pretty technical stuff.  I'm using stuff from old college text-books so it's interesting.  But I want them to learn something real and not just from a coloring book.

The first class we had I taught them about gestural.  (And there's 5 kinds of gestural but I only showed them two.  And I still think it all went over their heads).

This class I taught them contour, focusing on 'blind contour' drawing.  Which is why their sketches look so funky.  I thought they did great.  It's kind of a challenging concept trying to draw what's in front of you while not looking down at your paper.  I'm hoping that all these exercises will get them geared up for doing some more detailed artful drawings.  Once they've learned the basics.  AND if they do their homework!!

There's one girl in particular whom I think has some promise.  At least she has really good focus.  The others do too...when they're taking it seriously.

Overall I'm glad to be doing it.  It's something else for me to think about other than laundry, dinner and diapers.  Yay for me!