Vol. 2, No. 334, November 30, 2017

2334 - Backing Up.

Yesterday, I made my first foil ornament. Then today I realized that I need to do a demonstration for each of my classes, which means 6 more ornaments. To prepare, I drew out the sketches that are used as the embossing template. I drew a few extra so I can pick and choose as I go. I used the Christmas lights hung on the lamp posts as inspiration.

Vol. 2, No. 333, November 29, 2017

2333 - Ornamental.

I am getting ready for my second observation at school, which means preparing my lesson plan more than a night ahead. As I looked at the next lesson plan, I was slightly confused and decided that I need to make an example right away to help myself better understand.  The lesson that I am working on is embossed foil ornaments for my third graders.

They choose a winter object, sketch it out and then transfer their design to a sheet of foil. After taking all of the steps to emboss their ornament, they add color with Sharpies. A hook is added and the ornament is ready to hang.

Vol. 2, No. 332, November 28, 2017

2332 - Perfect Proportion.

My fourth grade students are working on self-portrait projects. I have spent every day for the last 2 weeks walking students through the steps to create an in-proportion (everything is the right size) face. Let me tell you, it is hard! I hadn’t made my own example yet, so I decided to tackle it today. The coloring is decent, especially the hair, but the proportions are atrocious! Oh and in case you couldn’t tell, she is smiling.

The background of the self-portraits show illustrations of things that the artist enjoys. I really like stargazing, so I used constellations to make the other things I like including art, photography, avocados, ice cream, butterflies, theater, and math.

Seriously, those eyes...it’s so creepy!

Vol. 2, No. 331, November 27, 2017

2331 - Holiday Cheer.

I was feeling a little lazy creatively today, so instead of making something, I did a little bit of interior design. I set up my Christmas tree and Nativity. Due to my laziness, I opted for a small table-top tree, aka the top section of my full, pre-lit tree. I may add a few more ornaments as we progress through the Christmas season, but I really like the look of just a tree and lights, so I might leave it be.

Vol. 2, No. 330, November 26, 2017

2330 - Giving Thanks.

For school, I have been keeping a gratitude journal and this week we were asked to thank someone and reflect on how that made us feel. I have a lot to be thankful for, a house, my jobs, food to eat, friends, and most importantly, my family. I was fortunate to get to see most of my immediate family and some extended family over the weekend. It was a weekend full of laughter, reminiscing, sharing, and of course great food.

I said thank you many times over the weekend, but sometimes just saying it is so mundane that it looses some so it’s meaning. So, today, when I got home from my Great-Aunt’s house, I pulled out my calligraphy markers and made a small thank you note. My thanks is not just for those who made my weekend enjoyable, but for everyone who has ever gone out of there way to help me; everyone who has welcomed me, educated me, and supported me; everyone who has helped me to grow into the person I am today.

Vol. 2, No. 329, November 25, 2017

2329 - Shop Small.

Today is Small Business Saturday. As a small business owner myself, I knew I wanted to get out and support other small business in my community. As my mom and I walked up and down downtown Litchfield, we found many great deals. One thing we picked up on our walk were some stickers advertising Shop Small. When I got home, I used these stickers to create a small dragonfly. I encourage everyone to get out there and shop small, shop local, not just today, but everyday.

Vol. 2, No. 328, November 24, 2017

2328 - Cookie Monster.

Today, after a little Black Friday shopping, my mom, sister and I, along with some help from a handful of friends and other family members, began our Christmas baking. Every year, we make an assortment of goodies chosen from a long list of favorites. Today we tackled molasses cookies, pressed sugar cookies and monster cookies.  After the monster cookie dough was mixed up and we were snacking on it waiting for the oven to open up, I decided it was time for my project. I carefully formed a very small portion of the dough into balls and made a snowman. I used toothpicks for arms and used carefully placed M&Ms and chocolate chips for the details.

Vol. 2, No. 327, November 23, 2017

3227 - Thanksgiving.

Today I celebrated Thanksgiving with my extended family and some friends. I gave thanks for many things, the food, the fellowship, and the help on my project. The night was winding down, It was about 10 pm and we were just finishing up playing dominoes. I hadn’t done my project yet and I asked for ideas. Multiple gave suggestions and then many of us started building domino turkeys. My sister’s friend Amanda was the most successful and I featured her’s here. Creativity and daily projects aren’t always about what you can do yourself, but sometimes about what you can inspire.

Vol. 2, No. 326, November 22, 2017

2326 - Stumped.

I was stumped and could not come up with a good project for today, so I went to my sister for help. Unfortunatedly, I didn’t like any of her ideas either. So I thought a little more. That’s when I noticed the box of Jiffy corn mix sitting on the counter; I was supposed to be making corn bread for supper. I dumped the corn mix into a pan and spread it out. I thought I would just draw in it, but then I discovered that the corn mix stuck to get her sort of like moon sand, so I decided to sculpt. I made yet another snowman. But this time, the corn mix was to unstable to add details, so after one round of pictures, I decided to add the next ingredient, an egg. I dumped the egg right over the snowman, when it was finished, it resembled Rapunzel. When I was done playing, I mixed everything up, added the missing ingredients and stuck it in the oven.

Vol. 2, No. 325, November 21, 2017

2325 - I’m Done.

One thing I’ve been wanting in my classroom since the beginning of the year is an ‘I’m Done’ chart, giving students a list of options that they can do if they finish early with their art. I had some free time this afternoon, so I decided today was the day to finally get it done. I made 3 posters, one for each school. The ‘Turn in your work’ spot has changeable options so I notify students where their art should go when they are finished. I can’t wait to get them hung!

Vol. 2, No. 324, November 20, 2017

2324 - Hope Floats.

Surface Rubbings

We use and encounter different materials every day, each with their own colours, textures and creative potential. This week, the team at HICA is challenging you to create: Create your own surface rubbing using materials from around your environment. Place a piece of paper over your chosen material and rub the paper with pencils, charcoal, crayon or ink to see what images you can create.

Today is National Children’s Day, so I was thinking about my childhood and things I liked do. One memory that popped into my head was making surface rubbings at my grandparent’s house. As I currently live in their house, with the same furniture, many of the same textures were available. Since the 64 Million Artists Weekely Challenge is to make surface rubbings I thought this worked out great. I found a scrap of tissue paper and some crayons and went in search of different surfaces. When the paper started to rip, I decided it was time to stop. I took the colored tissue paper and folded it into an origami boat, another childhood toy, and set it to float. The tissue paper was thin and quickly soaked up water, making it collapse, but it held up for a couple pictures.

Vol. 2, No. 323, November 19, 2017

2323 - Spruce It Up.

When I went to the cemetery on Halloween, I noticed that my grandparent's Merry Christmas owl was looking run down. I decided to bring it home and give it a fresh coat of paint. I finally found the time do get it done to day. I didn't have the right paint colors, so I ended up mixing my own. I finished it off with a clear coat, which will hopefully protect it from the elements for a while. This picture shows before and after. After looking at the picture, I realized I forgot the beak. I guess I will add it in later, or maybe the next time it needs to be repainted.

Vol. 2, No. 322, November 18, 2017

2323 - Orange You Glad.

I got called in for an emergency babysitting session this afternoon, since I had evening plans, I decided to do my project on the job. I found some really cute clementines. There were a couple that were regular size and a whole bag of mini clementines. 

With the different sizes I thought the clementines would make a good snowman. After multiple attempts to get the fruit balanced, I added a hat made from a peel, toothpick arms and a tissue scarf.

Vol. 2, No. 321, November 17, 2017

2321 - Happy Birthday Grandma.

Today is my Grandma's 83rd birthday. So for my project I decided to make her a card. It was a quick project, but with classes all day and limited materials at my second school, it was the best that I could do.

Vol. 2, No. 320, November 16, 2017

2320 - Destruction.

Today was a sad as I had to take down the wing mural at Annandale Elementary School. I had decided that I would keep it up until it started to come down on it's own, and that day was today. So as I pulled everything down, I balled up the paper. When I was finished I stacked the paper balls to make a snowman. It is a dirty snowman as the background paper was black. After the snowman was complete and I had taken pictures, I laid him to rest in the recycling bin.

Vol. 2, No. 319, November 15, 2017

2319 - Improvements.

As an art teacher, students often ask me for help when drawing in class. I don't like to draw on student art work especially if it is their final draft, so I usually carry around a pad of post-its so I can quickly show them how to draw something and then leave the example with them. The downside to this is that the notepad gets pretty beat up ridding around in my apron pocket all the time. Today I decided to do something about it.

I made a folder for my notepad, complete with a magnetic clasp. Unfortunately the magnet isn't very strong, so after I "laminated" the folder with tape, it wouldn't stay closed. Once I find a stronger magnet I think it will be a great addition to my art "wardrobe".

Vol. 2, No. 318, November 14, 2017

2318 - Territorial.

I really enjoyed the Black and White Challenge. It kept me constantly looking around me for the next great picture. Some days I even took multiple pictures and then just posted my favorite. I actually liked this project so much that I think that I am going to do a photography challenge for 2018.

Enough reflecting with the challenge over it was time to get back to creating and I decided to start small. At school, my mailbox is on the top shelf of a center column. To make it easier for me to locate my shelf, I had marked it with a scrap of paper. Well over the weekend, someone threw away that scrap, so I needed a new marker. I decided to get more creative; while I waited for some copies to print, I grabbed a piece of paper from the recycle bin and quickly sketched out a paint brush. I found some spare crayons in the cabinet to add some color and then I cut it out. I slipped the paint brush into the name tag holder of my box. The last scrap lasted 2.5 months, with any luck, this one will last the rest of the year.

Vol. 2, No. 317, November 13, 2017

2317 - Black and White 7.

Seven days, seven black and white photos of your life. No people, no explanation.

Vol. 2, No. 316, November 12, 2017

2316 - Black and White 6.

Seven days, seven black and white photos of your life. No people, no explanation.

Vol. 2, No. 315, November 11, 2017

2315 - Black and White 5.

Seven days, seven black and white photos of your life. No people, no explanation.