Vol. 4, No. 304, October 31, 2019

4304 - Reflections.

I like the Creative Sprint and having a prompt that often challenges my creativity in some way. However, today I was excited that I did not have a promotion to follow as it meant that I could do whatever I felt like doing. I was inspired by a curl of hot glue that dripped down onto my desk. It reminded me if a lizard tail, so I used more hot glue to create the rest of the lizard. I decorated the lizard using melted crayon and sharpie.

Vol. 4, No. 303, October 30, 2019

4303 - Celebrate.

I celebrated not only the completion of the Creative Sprint, but also the last day of finger painting! For my trophy, I stacked all of the cups of finger paint and squished them together, causing the paint to ooze out. It looked kind of cool, so rather than throwing it out like I had planned, I left it on a shelf to dry.

Vol. 4, No. 302, October 29, 2019

4302 - Do Over.

I asked Becca which project I should revise. She was so quick to respond that I don't think she even had to look at my work before choosing paint pouring. The day I did the paint pour was Day 10, combine two things you wouldn't normally put together. For that project, I accidentally split a gallon of paint on the floor and used sawdust to soak it up. When it happened, Becca thought that I should have put the paint of a canvas. I was too focused on cleaning up the mess to do that. So today I split more paint, this time on purpose, which makes it more of revision of Day 8, spill something and create something from the mess. Either way, I had some fun with my paint pouring.  I plan to use them to make greeting cards. The smaller paintings were poured. The larger paintings were prints made from the paint pour mess in the sink.

Vol. 4, No. 301, October 28, 2019

4301 - Gift of Gratitude.

This thank you goes out to anyone who has ever taken time to enjoy a sunset with me. I love sunsets, especially when the skies are partly cloudy, as that is when sunsets are the most beautiful. Sunsets are even more special when you have someone to share it with, so whether we were inside or outside, together or apart, know that any sunset we’ve shared is held close to my heart.

This photo collage was made using a picture I snapped of the sunset on my way home from work tonight.

Vol. 4, No. 300, October 27, 2019

4300 - Rainbow.

Today was the final show and set strike for Mary Poppins. As I was cleaning up the paint room, I found some stir sticks and arranged them to make a rainbow.

Vol. 4, No. 299, October 26, 2019

4299 - Looks Yellow To Me.

Today I collaborated with friends and family on a yellow scavenger hunt. One friend chose the color, everyone else sent me pictures of things around them that were yellow. There was a large range in yellow hues, everywhere from green to orange. I recieved about 40 pictures, 36 made it into the photo collage that I created from the images.

Vol. 4, No. 298, October 25, 2019

4298 - Exit Through The Gift Shop.

I had a long day at school and knew I’d be facing at least 5 hours at the theater, so I did a Google search to come up with a relatively easy piece of art to replicate. As I was looking, I remembered Banksy and decided to use Balloon Girl as inspiration. I used a granola bar and the wax wrapper of a piece of cheese to create my rendition.

Vol. 4, No. 297, October 24, 2019

4297 - Dance Fever.

Today and the previous three days, I've done the Dance of the Elementary Art Teacher. My Kinders and first graders were color mixing with finger paint. This was the first time Kinders painted in art so my week was a little crazy. This painting, done with finger paint as I was cleaning up paint cups at the end, depicts what I felt like I was doing. Fortunately,  for those who observed this crazy including my principal, it appeared to be a much calmer and organized dance.

Vol. 4, No. 296 October 23, 2019

4296 - Masked.

I could have done this project while I was at school, surrounded by a ton of supplies, however, I did not. Instead, I put it off and all of a sudden it was 9 pm. So I decided to get creative with my mask and treat myself to a facial. I found a recipe for a Face Mask using yogurt, honey and cocoa powder. Not only did it smell great, it tasted pretty good as well. It doesn’t look fancy, but it was a good solution as it ended up being good for relaxation on my only night off this week.

Vol. 4, No. 295, October 22, 2019

4295 - Make Some Noise.

My project today isn't a traditional instrument, however it does make noise when it is dropped on the ground like it is in the play I am working on. We started the show with a ceramic like vase that seemed sturdy. However every time it was dropped, it broke in a new way and is now unusable
 We were frantically trying to come up with an alternative as our first show with an audience is tonight. During my prep time, it hit me, i could connect plastic containers with hot glue and tape to create a new vase. After assembly, I rushed to the theater to start painting. After 4 hours I had built a vase, applied 2 base coats of spray paint and added details. Fortunately the vase had another 2 hours to dry completely before it was actually touched and dropped.

Vol. 4, No. 294, October 21, 2019

4294 - Let Go Of Perfection.

I decided to get help this one and asked friends for suggestions on what to draw. What it boiled down to was the weather/season. Today it was raining, so I drew a big umbrella with a large puddle. It is harvest season, so I included some cornstalks and a tractor. For a little fun there is bowling and beer. The drawing may have taken slightly longer than 5 minutes, but it is one continuous line.

Vol. 4, No. 293, October 20, 2019

4293 - It’s Your Story.

I wasn’t excited about today’s prompt, so I put it off. Ultimately, I chose a picture I had taken during my Miller Time hike yesterday. The peaceful nature picture seemed like the perfect background for a stressful title: Putting Off Till Tomorrow What I Should Have Done Last Week. Working on a lesson plan for an observation that I have this week inspired the title.

Vol. 4, No. 292, October 19, 2019

4292 - Peak-A-Boo.

I was thinking that I wouldn’t be able to complete this challenge due to the fact that I am on vacation and I have limited resources. However, as I lay with Baby R during his morning nap, I noticed a travel magazine sitting on the end table. It was the August/September issue so I figured it would be okay if I cut it up. The next challenge was locating something to do the cutting. Fortunately, my nail kit that I carry in my purse had a mini scissor; it worked perfectly.I flipped through the the magazine and found the perfect spot to start cutting. In the end, my picture had eight layers.

Vol. 4, No. 291, October 18, 2019

4291 - Mind Map.

My brain was in a state of relaxation today. I was very much enjoying my vacation. We began with a short hike to a the Pine River Dam. It was beautiful weather to be outside. At the dam park, there was a playground and a small sculpture garden. The Miller Littles enjoyed both. To unwind, I also spent lots of time in the hot tub.

Vol. 4, No. 290, October 17, 2019

4290 - My Tiny House.

I am enjoying some Miller Time this weekend. After a splash in the pool we wound down with a bedtime snack of Sweedish fish each person got to eat 2, but before we ate, we sculpted. My tiny house resembled an igloo, Oldest Miller borrowed fish from others to build a hut and Littlest Miller made a cave like house. Middle Miller tried to build a house one his tablet, but it died before his was finished and he didn't have the charger.

Vol. 4, No. 289, October 16, 2019

4289 - Expand Your Defaults.

As  teacher, I teach others how to do something new frequently, however I don't often get the chance to be taught new things. I know if I had tried harder, I probably could have found someone to teach me something. Today was an extremely long day at school, almost 14 hours. Then I had to head home, grab a bite to eat, work on some theatre paperwork and pack for my long weekend vacation. So I opted for a project that I taught for the first time today.

My co-worker had to leave school early to catch a plane for her vacation, so she asked me to take her last class. This meant that I got to teach second grade art. The students were drawing leaves with oil pastels to learn about warm and paint a watercolor sky to learn about cool colors. I made a quick example to demonstrate the Watercolor portion of the lesson. I made my leaf on the corner of the paper I had used for my gluing demonstration in my first grade class, thus the colored paper in the corner.

Vol. 4, No. 288 October 15, 2019

4288 - Transformation Tuesday.

As an art teacher during clay week, I wash my hands a lot. This means that I use a lot of paper towels, which usually go right into the trash. Today I saved one and during rehearsal tonight I fashioned a poppy using only the paper towel and one of those little rubber hair bands that always get caught in your hair and can only be used once. I laid the flower out on the stage to take the picture, as I was trying to get the best angle and lighting, the light masters changed the light color making my white flower appear this beautiful combination of purple and orange.

Vol. 4, No. 287, October 14, 2019

4287 - It's A Funny Thing.

I had an extremely long, busy day and I didn't have any down time to even think about my project. So tonight I decided to take the easy way out, prolonging going to bed a little bit longer, by making a Venn Diagram circle. I made a Venn Diagram on the computer, then rotated it to create the cool circle shape. It reminded me of doing Spirograph's, only not as fun. I realize this isn't humorous in anyway, but exhaustion has won and the humor is all gone for the day.

Vol. 4, No. 286, October 13, 2019

4286 - Food Face.

I attended a potluck at church this morning. All I had for leftovers was a partial piece of cake and some muffin crumbs, plus the wrapper. I fashioned everything into a smiley face, because you should always smile!

Vol. 4, No. 285, October 12, 2019

2485 - Propper Topper.

That's right y'all, today was Set Work Saturday. I spent nearly 8 hours in the theater, painting, mixing paint, and giving directions. By the end of the day,  I had crossed everything off of my list, so I used said list to fold an origami had. I posed with it in front of one of the set pieces I worked on today.

Vol. 4, No. 284, October 11, 2019

4284 - Embrace Your Limitations.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. I took one word from each subject line (2 from the 6th email) , keeping them in the order as they were recieved, I wrote a poem. I used Canva to create a cute layout with a picture of my spilt paint from yesterday.

Vol. 4, No. 283, October 10, 2019

4283 - Bridging The Gap.

I had a long day and didn’t even have time to think about my project at work. From work I went to theater, again, no time to think. Fortunately for me a project literally fell at my feet. I was moving a box of old paint when one can tipped over and broke open, spilling at least 1/2 a gallon of paint at my feet. I started to panic, trying to figure out how to clean up the mess. With some quick thinking, I headed to the saw table to collect sawdust that had been accumulating. Dustpan full by dustpan full, I began pouring sawdust over the wet paint; my intention was to solidify the paint enough to scoop it up of the floor. I realized that the paint sawdust combination fit perfectly for my project. At the theater, I spend a lot of time sweeping sawdust off of set pieces so that I can paint them without the paint clumping up. Today I went for the opposite effect. As I was scooping the paint mixture off the floor, I sculpted it into a chicken foot.

The project went into the trash, but there is a large gray paint stain on the floor to remember it.

Vol. 4, No. 282, October 9, 2019

4282 - Beastly Beauty.

I make ugly art a lot, but to make some intentionally ugly is hard. My brother grilled steak for supper, so I used the fat scraps to make my art. It was deemed a lobster tail by my mom. I didn’t have my phone on me, so I left the art on my plate while I put the leftover food away with the intent of taking a picture when I was finished. Next thing I knew, my plate was gone along with the art. Apparently fat scrap art is so ugly it doesn’t even look like art.
I found one more plate of scraps that hadn’t made it to the garbage yet and quickly fashioned an ugly sun. It’s not as cool as the lobster tail, but it is definitely ugly. The fruity plate on the floral tablecloth adds to the ugly as well.

Vol. 4, No. 281, October 8, 2019

4281 - Cultivate The Unexpected.

Today I had to fill paint cups for my 6th graders, but the white pump was clogged. So to speed the process, I took the pump out and just poured the paint. I laid the pump on the counter while I was pouring and it left a mess behind. About an hour later I remembered my project and decided to press a paper into the spilt paint and make a print. I used that print as the base for this butterfly drawing.I laid the butterfly on top of a Northern Lights example for the picture.

Vol. 4, No. 280, October 7, 2019

4280 - Monday Motivation.

I decided to make a card for Monday. I sent it to a friend.

Vol. 4, No. 279, October 6, 2019

4279 - Great Outdoors.

Today my family gathered to celebrate my sister and brother-in-law’s first year in Minnesota. After a perfect fall dinner of chili and cornbread, we headed outdoors for a walk and some time at the park. I solicited help with today’s project. While I held the baby, Becca picked some day lily leaves. The leaves were given to Dad who braided them like palms. I added the day lily and displayed the finished product on a rock for the picture. When we were finished, we left it behind for others to enjoy.