Symmetry in Snow

So, this is the last week before we take our Christmas Break.  I wanted the lesson to be relaxing, fun, and winter related, however I still wanted to teach them a specific lesson.

I chose this Snowman lesson that incorporates bright colors, glitter, and vibrance.  If you look deeper than that, there is actually something to be learned in it, don't know if the kids caught on!

I incorporated the use of a ruler, which, believe it or not, most kids, even my oldest students who are 11, had problems following along.  I showed them how to place it right in front of them and to move the paper, not the ruler.  I explained how to line the paper up to the edge of the ruler, and to put a point on each side of the paper where the number 4 is.  This created a square grid for us to work on.

The next step of the lesson was to teach them about symmetry.  I had them draw their snowman where the dots they made were. Half of the snowman was on one side of the dot, and the other half was on the other side of the dot. 

Next, they traced it in with a black sharpie, added their colors for the nose, scarf, and hat.  they then were asked to color in each of the 4 quadrants with a different color.  The paper we used was a marker paper which really helped make the markers appear smooth. 

The final step was adding the snow and we mounted it on black cardstock. 

Like usual, we got some really great results!

Thank you!

I just wanted to take the time and thank all of you who came out to the Santas Workshop, as well as thank you for your generous donations to Duke Childrens Hospital.  I will be sending out a check first thing Monday morning for $540.00!  I am so happy and feel so grateful to be able to do this for the children.  thanks again, and Happy Holidays!

Santas Workshop Art

I am looking forward to Saturday for the Santas Workshop.  For those who don't know what it is, let me explain.  I am having a free class for past, present, and future students.  We are having some yummy holiday food and I will be teaching a lesson in honor of the holiday season.  I am asking for monetary donations and in turn, I will make a donation and I hope to give Duke Childrens Hospital a generous check this Christmas.  I feel so blessed to have 4 healthy children and so I just wanted to give back to an organization that helps out so many kids. 

This project is what I will be teaching them.  We will be using canvas boards and acrylic paints and painting these cute holiday owls.

Chalk Pastels and Colored Pencil Ornament Drawings

This week is not over yet, still have to teach a few more classes for this lesson, but wanted to post what I had.  I think the results are phenomenal and I am so impressed, especially with my little ones in the class. 

Chalk pastels can be very tricky and hard to work with.  LIttle hands seem to smudge it all over their hands which then smudge it all over their work and it becomes a big dusty mess. 

I already pre-traced their circles for them only because I really wanted them to concentrate on coloring in their ormanents and adding the detail.  I showed them a demonstration and a step by step as to how to properly color them in. 

Alot of it has to do with layering, chalk pastels, colored pencils, go back in with chalk pastels, and then the final step, adding a dark colored pencil to the outside and inside of the ball. 

I also showed them how to add a light source, as if the lights of the tree are shining on the balls.  I showed them how to blend and shade their colors and how to make them pop. 

It was a fantastic lesson for the students.  These would be great if you took a picture of their work and then printed it out, it would make awesome Christmas cards!  Enjoy the pics.

New Session-Lesson of the week!

What a great day and start to the new session.  Lots of my original students are still continuing on, which is so awesome that they love coming to class, and I also had a bunch of new students as well which is always fun to introduce them to what I do and the whole art experience.

I did a lesson last year that was similar to this weeks, but I added a twist.  Last years lesson we sketched out christmas ornaments and colored them in with oil pastels.  We created shadows and added spots where the light would hit it, and they came out amazing.  Oil pastels can be a little thick, and so I thought to do something different this year. 

I decided to pre-draw the circles on the mixed media paper.  I thought by having them do it themselves it would take up more time, and I really wanted them to concentrate on neatness and detail.  I used a circle template that I had with all different sized circles, but if you are doing this at home, you can use anything round like a yogurt container lid, plastic cup, or even a small dish. 

I demonstrated to the students how to fill it in and use your magic tool - your finger!- to blend the chalk pastels around.  I had them imagine a light source shining on their ball and had them create a sense of light hitting the ornament. 

Once the colors were blended in, they then went over it with colored pencil to add some shading and depth. 

The final step included tracing the ornament with a darker color like black or brown and it really made it pop and come to life. 

Working with chalk pastels can be tricky, especially with the younger students.  It smudges so easily and the little ones do not get that concept sometimes.  However, I was so extremely happy with the results of todays class.  I will upload the pics tomorrow, however, here is my picture of the ornaments.

PIck and Draw

I am excited to introduce to you a new product that I have found.  I surf the net all day long, whether its for inspiration or to visit other artists blogs, either way, I am always looking.....the other day I discovered someone by the name of Rich Davis.  He created a game called Pick and Draw.  It consists of a deck of cards that contain pictures of cartoon facial parts, like eyes, nose, and mouth.  Its a great game that gets kids drawing and allowing them to use their imagination. 

Please visit my website and there is a link on my site to this game or click this link Pick and Draw to purchase your copy.  It makes a great stocking stuffer and its inexpensive and unique!

Wrapping up the session

Its been a great session.  Looking forward to the next one and last one of the year!  Wow, it went by so fast.  As of now, all the classes for session 5 are completely full.  Its hard to believe but I am taking names for Session 1 of the new session which starts in March.  What is even harder to believe is that the Session 1 schedule is already half full of names of new students.  Thanks everyone for allowing me to share my passion of art with your children.  It is truly a blessing.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and joyous Holiday Season from Time For Art Kids.

NEW Artwork I have been working on

Been in the mood for painting, hopefully hit Jerrys Artarama for their Black Friday special on canvas's tomorrow!  Hopefully I dont get pushed around too much fighting for them, but its an amazing deal.  Anyway, here are a few pieces I have been working on.  Enjoy.

Moo Moo Cow Acrylic Paint Project

I just started this project this week with the kids.  It incorporates a simple drawing lesson and painting.  I seem to be doing alot more painting projects lately, I just feel that the kids have such a hard time even holding a paintbrush or using it properly, so until I get this problem fixed, we are going to keep on painting and some day they will get it right!

We talked about mixing the colors to create the gray and I just love how their cows are so mystical and all one of a kind.  The first one is mine, the others are from students.  Lots more pictures to take, but this is what I have so far. 

Mommy and Me Tot Art Class Pictures

I am really enjoying the Mommy and Me class I hold twice a month.  I get to test the lessons out on my own kids and tweak them.  They are cute, simple, but yet have alot of elements to it where it keeps the children entertained. 

As you may already know, I LOVE experimenting with different types of mediums, paper, and special effects.  I took a basic paper plate project and used my creativity juices to whip up something really cool.  I bought this color diffusing paper that I cant get enough of.  It is sort of like a coffee filter texture, but the one I buy is in sheets.  There is no rhyme or reason to applying the markers and color, so thats always a plus during a preschool lesson!  Once they add all the colors, we spritz it with water and the colors bleed into eachother and make really cool effects. 

I incorporated this paper into the birds nest paper plate project and this is what we came up with!

Santas Workshop Event-December 10th

This is a special Time For Art Kids event.  I want to do something special this year for my little friends who are in need.  There are so many sick children in this world, I am so grateful my children are healthy, but in a blink of an eye, it could all change.  That is why I want to be able to do something that can make a difference in a childs life.

The Santas Workshop event is for children ages 6-11 and is on December 10th from 3-5pm.  We will be having lots of holiday goodies for the kids as well as a fabulous art project that they will work on and bring home. 

The price is FREE.  All I ask is that you bring a donation so I can write a generous check to Duke Childrens Hospital. 

I have been so blessed with my health, family, my art business, and i want to be able to give something back.  Please help me out by making a difference in a sick childs life.

Please RSVP by December 3rd.

Happy Thanksgiving

I would just like to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving.  I wanted to take the time to say what I am thankful for. 

I am thankful for my beautiful family, my gorgeous children, and wonderful husband.

I am thankful for my sisters, grandparents, and very close friends.

I am thankful for my life, my health, and my well-being.

I am thankful for the roof over my head, the food on my plate, and the clothes on my back.

I am thankful for the air I breathe, the sun, the moon and the stars.

I am thankful for the chance to do what I love.

I am thankful for the world in which I am able to be me!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Time For Art Kids BLACK FRIDAY EVENT! 9am to 3pm

Time For Art Kids BLACK FRIDAY EVENT!!!! starting Friday morning from 9am till 3pm, all the artwork in the studio will be 30% off! This is a great time to purchase a one of a kind piece of art to hang on your wall or give as an awesome christmas present! Please contact us at the studio to reserve your painting. Pricing WITHOUT discount range from $20.00-150.00.  Discount will be calculated at time of purchase.