art of the self portrait - week 3

   This week we returned to blind contour or partial blind (students' choice) in a larger format, working with pen on mixed media paper which is smooth like Bristol board. We painted the resulting compositions with gouache, and abstract coloring was encouraged as well as consideration of background treatment. Very interesting and unique results!

  

mixed media stories - week 3

   This week, the kids' assignment was to illustrate a story or a scene with one image. I asked them to include at least one Person (or Animal, if they preferred), Place, showing some type of setting (are they indoor, outdoor, are there buildings, trees?) and Thing (the thing could be an object, an idea, or a situation).
   We also talked about perspective, how things look when they are far away vs. close up (smaller/bigger), and drawing the things closest to you first, then filling in behind that. I asked them to visualize their composition before they drew it out, challenging them to draw straight away with pen rather than sketching it out with pencil first. Then, the kids began adding color using gouache.
   Most of these are still in progress, and I only got a few of the kids' fabulous work. I love seeing what they come up with and witnessing their process!

words & moves

What I'm trying to get across is that these are not your typical dance & music classes.  Hermione brings some fun games to the mix and the kids enjoy every minute with her.

Just to share a few more snippets of class:

Here they are playing a version of improv freeze dance (no, they are not too old for it, as you can see) where when the music stops they have to jump on a letter.  Then she asks each of them for an adjective that begins with that sound, which she writes down on a list on the wall.  They get really excited and help each other when needed. 

 

Then they have a list of words to play with, and they take turns putting them together in sentences to create a whimsical collaborative story which they each then perform for one another.

      

 

 They also worked to come up with a short rhyming poem about themselves - realistic or fictitious - and performed it on video, dramatizing it with their bodies.  Then they got to watch each of the videos afterwards.  They loved this and were really cracking up and giving each other performance feedback.

 

They finished up with more improv, playing something kinda like musical chairs, except with scattered letters where each round, there was one less letter than the number of people, and they were eliminated one by one.  They were supposed to play fair and not 'hover'...

Words & Moves, Numbers & Grooves

   Our homeschool performing arts intensive at Joe's Movement Emporium in Mt. Rainier began this past Monday, which I am really psyched about. Hermione & I both incorporate a lot of improv into these classes so that's a big part of what you see here. I love the contact improv pics.
   Working with the fabulous Hermione Rhones, we are weaving poetry, dance/movement/gesture, ballet technique, choreography collaboration, hand percussion, foot percussion, aka hoofin', aka tap dance, and experiential math - and having fun to boot.
   Did not get any pics of Moves & Numbers / Contemporary Ballet this time... Next week.  These are phone pics (not my professional photo work! ;)
   I really enjoy having all ages in my classes, breaking down generational barriers and seeing mommas learning alongside their kids.
   If you are reading this & know anyone who might be interested, please help spread the word! We are not yet at our minimum to cover costs for a full session, but hoping to build enough momentum to see this program flourish!
   For full details, see the class page at boundlessworkshops.com .
   Oh, and my sweet big girl was feeling under the weather and wound up needing a nap part way through the day so she laid down with her little brother .  ;)

Mixed Media Stories

   Gesture drawings! We began the first of our 12-week session with gesture drawings, to loosen up and help train the hand and eye to work together.  You try to capture the energy in a person's gesture - drawing them while they are frozen mid-movement, looking for mass, tension, weight placement - using a scribbling style of drawing rather than a sketching style, moving quickly, completing each gesture in a minute our two.
   Then we will make up a story or poem to go with the series of gestures and finish these pieces off next week.
   I love inspiring others via the arts!

Art of the Self Portrait

   Fun fun!
   Today was the first of a 12-week session I'm teaching for a cool, large, well-organized homeschool co-op.  This is the teens class, joined by Cathy who has graciously offered to assist me for my two Friday classes.

   We began with blind contours, partial blind contours, and then a more illustrative style which we are then painting (to be finished next week).

healing foods

I wanted to share this article on healing foods. These are just a few of course. A healthy diet should be comprised of 75% alkalizing foods and only 25% acidic (which means things like meat or fish, and most grains are also acidifying). Eat as many fresh, organic fruits and vegetables as you can every day. To your health!

www.finerminds.com/health-fitness/self-healing-foods/

exploding sidewalk art?!

This looks awesome! Came across it on Facebook and thought I'd share. Corn starch and baking soda are good for all kinds of projects huh?

Exploding sidewalk art on Growing a Jeweled Rose.

speak from your heart

A tender moment, nursing Diin.

When babies are having their milk, they usually want to work their hands with something, whether it's twiddling (which drives me nuts, and I redirect), pulling at a necklace, grabbing clothes, or, in my case, play with mommy's moles. I have a lot of raised moles, and all the kids, especially the boys, have been pretty interested in them.  'Mole' was Phoenix's first real intentional word.  Pushing on them like a button, running them over and over, trying to pull them off... drives me a little nuts too sometimes.

Sometimes though Diin starts pinching me, grabbing me, and sometimes kinda grabbing my throat, which can make me feel a little uncomfortable.  Tonight though, as soon as he did it, something in me relaxed, and the idea came that he was trying to tell me something. I relaxed and felt an energy exchange between us, felt my throat relax, my throat chakra open, and then he put his hand on my heart chakra. Then he did it again, grabbed my throat then touched the heart.

And the message came to me, use your voice to speak truth, speak from your heart.