Abstract

I'm trying a new approach to Abstract art in my Drawing 1 classes. I came up with a more structured way of having the students complete their Abstract designs because the way I've done it in the past was so open-ended that a lot of kids really struggled and constantly second-guessed themselves.  Here are the two examples I came up with:

Non-representational

Abstract landscape

Pinch Pots with Kids

I had today off, so I decided to teach a pottery lesson in Aven's preschool class. I practiced the lesson on Aven last weekend since I had never taught a group of three-year-old kids and wasn't sure what to expect with their fine motor skill abilities. Some kids were naturals and got it right away, other kids just pinched way too hard and ended up with less of a pot and more of a plate with holes in it.

It was SO much fun. I'll have to think of another art project I could do with her class in the future. My favorite kid quote of the day: "So, we can eat soup out of here?!" Me, looking at his rather flat pot with a couple holes in it: " . . . maybe not soup, but you could probably put some kind of food in it".

The results, drying on my fireplace mantle.

We Belong

"We belong to each other." A painting to serve as the centerpiece of my family photo wall. It perfectly describes how I feel about my family.

Stick Horse

Aven has been really interested in dressing up and role play lately. She's been having a lot of fun with the cowgirl shirt and hat my dad got her for her birthday along with other dress up clothes. Recently, while playing cowgirl, she's been "riding" a stuffed horse from Build-a-Bear which is hilarious but looks terribly awkward and not very fun, so I decided to make her a stick horse with some leftover fabric and a wooden dowel I bought at Home Depot. Here are the results: 

Birds

As part of this whole nesting phenomenon, that I did not experience while pregnant with Aven, I have been compelled to do all sorts of creative projects. I have been making teddy bears and blankets and was even inspired enough to make a painting for the room that Aven and baby sister will share. It's watercolor over an acrylic gel base- my favorite way to paint. My mom was jealous that I wasn't painting it for her. Hope you enjoy:

Seung Mo Park

Seung Mo Park is a pretty cool artist. He creates portraits using wire mesh- much like the kind that your window screens are made of. The process is pretty meticulous and it's really different from anything I've seen. There is an example below, but it's definitely worth your time to follow this link to read and see more.

Innuendo

The assignment: to create a concept for a movie and then design a movie poster to advertise it. The result: Thinly veiled innuendo. Gotta love 7th graders.