Book Review and Giveaway

So in keeping with the last post, I want to introduce you to a new book by Cathy Johnson, "Artist's Journal Workshop".  

I had the pleasure of reviewing this book a couple of weeks ago.

Now I have a lot of books on art journalling that I have picked up over the last 5 years or so.  It's a little trendy right now.
  Many have been disappointing, they are either too basic, with a few step by step exercises and a large chapter on basic supplies or they are just a book showcasing a particular artist's work and little "how to" info.

I tend too be very practical....if I'm gonna spend money for a book I want to use it not have it just sit on my extremely full bookcase.

Cathy's book is different. Using examples from her own work and that of some talented colleagues (including the amazing Nina Johanssen, whose work I always love), she gives you lots of information on how to fill that journal.

Tips on techniques you might want to try, things that didn't work and how to fix them and strategies to get you into the routine.

 She walks you through the process with exercises (Try This:) and has a few extended demos to keep you on track.

   This book has a very relaxed writing style so the beginning artist does not feel intimidated and yet a more experienced artist will find lots of "new" practical advice. I found myself constantly spring boarding off ideas for curriculum projects. (Lookout kids)

The book also includes all the links to the contributor's websites so I know have lots more people to check in on!

Overall I was very impressed and I can see it's one of those books I would have taken out repeatedly from the library (many late fees I bet) until I realized how much I need my own copy.

As I sit here writing this and looking at the book again I'm itching grab the sketchbook and want to re read this book all over again!


So if you are interested check it out at F plus W Media Bookstore.

When I last looked it was already on sale but if not you can use this coupon code for 40% off:

                
                       JULY11AJW

or you can try your hand at winning a copy.  Just enter in a comment on this post or send me an email at:  thatartistwoman@shaw.ca
- must be a US or Canadian resident


Please enter by 11:59pm on Thursday June 30th and I'll make the draw on Friday.  Good Luck everyone!


New Ceramic lesson on Wednesday so stay tuned.

(Disclaimer: Review copy was graciously provided to me by FW Media)

Art Journals and a Easy Painting Exercise:

Now that we are days away from Summer Vacation (school ends Tuesday!), I thought I would talk about a tradition at our house.  ART JOURNALS

Now I personally always have several journals and sketchbooks on the go and I try to keep my kids in the habit as well. 

We sketch from life and sometimes from reference photos.....the important thing is to keep them engaged.

Find a journal that works for you.  I find book sized works best (6"x 8").

I also like coil bindings but a book bound sketch book allows you to do a 2 page spread.

Watercolor sketch books with good paper are hard to find and expensive!  So I often make my own.  I cut my large pieces of wc paper to size, I add sketch paper for every second page and a very thick cardboard back.  "Staples", an office supply company, coil binds them for me for about $3.50 a piece.

I then pack everything into a small field bag.

So what's in my field kit........

- a sketchbook (I'm trying out a moleskin, not impressed so far)

- a small clipboard (these are great for the kids)
- my cottman wc kit (I just keep adding tube watercolor to it when I run out, I then let it dry out and I'm set)

-brushes, pencil, eraser, white crayon (for resists), quarter(for lifting out circles), fine black sharpie.  I keep my brushes in a hard plastic case to protect the bristles, it's the only way, I have also used toothbrush travel cases for this.
- kleenex and paper towels tucked in the pockets
- for water I take an old water bottle and a small cup, the one here stays at the house

So now you're all set....how to get started?

Here is a really easy painting exercise that I do with the kids.  It will help loosen you up.




It's a water reflection painting and you can change up the scenery and make several of these.  Great for school too!

You can do reflections on a lake, river, ocean, pond, puddle, there are lots of possibilities.

If you want you can lightly pencil in a horizon line.

Start painting you sky in.  Be more intense at the top and then fade out into a squiggle at the bottom.  I have used the color to indicate my horizon line and I stay mostly down the center of my page.

I want this to be a city scene looking down a river.

I'm only going to use a few colors here (limited palette).

Start putting in some shapes on one side to indicate buildings.

When I reach that horizon line I dilute my color, my shapes are just smudges of color.

Do the same on the other side.

Add a few shadows and darker details.  I also smudge a little color into that horizon line just to define it a bit more.

You can then add a little detail in ink if you want and you're done.

Here is a cabin on a lake at sunrise.

Keep it loose and don't fuss.

So break out a journal or sketchbook this summer and stayed tuned for my next post with more on art journals.

See you soon.

Dandelion Poetry Project

The abundance of dandelions in Calgary this year has provided me with lots of inspiration.  You might remember this project.

Well.......in a similar vein I have been doing a collaborative project with my colleague Kim McCullough. ( a teacher who is a fantastic author).  She also collaborated with me on the Woven Nest.

We are trying to develop projects that combine creative writing and the visual arts.

The premise for this project is "dandelion wishes".  You can click on the picture to see larger.







MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- watercolor or heavywieght sketch paper
- disk tempera
- paintbrush
- fine and heavy sharpie
- white sharpie, white gel pen, or computer/hand written text
- glue if using computer/handwritten text

We did this project with Grade 4.  Kim spent a Language Arts class with the kids discussing dreams and wishes.  By the end of the class they had typed out a poem.

We started the art portion by sketching out a silhouette profile.  After seeing the results I would advise all future classes to sketch out  the hand and/or arm. It just ties it together better.  They also sketched in the seed head and some loose seeds blowing away.

I had a few reference photos to assist them.  Next time I think I will have them pose and have a fellow student sketch out their profile.

They then painted in their backgrounds using disk tempera.  Most opted for the twilight scene.

To get that spotted texture you can see in the first picture just sprinkle on some water drops while the background is only partially dry.

Let dry.

Using black tempera they painted in the larger portions of the silhouette and then used black sharpies for the finer detailing of the seeds.

Here you can really see that spotted texture.


Next you need to add the text of your poem.

You can use white pencil crayon, white gel pens, white sharpies, or cut out typed/handwritten text which you then glue into place.

Click on photos for a closer view.

Great work Grade 4! 

How to make a Dad Dish

One last Father's Day project to share.

Last year the Grade 5's made trays for their Dad's.  This year Grade 5 was pressed for time so I lucked out and found these terracotta  pot trays on a clearance sale at a local greenhouse.

With some paint and decoupage we have a quick easy Father's Day present.














MATERIALS REQUIRED:


- terracotta plant trays, I found mine at Sunnyside (if you're local) for 27 cents each
- acrylic craft paint
- paint brush
- paper
- pencil crayons, wax crayons, and/or sharpies,  Do not use WASHABLE MARKERS
- colored cardstock
- alphabet stencil, stamps or a cricut
- tacky glue
- mod podge or acrylic medium in gloss

Paint the inside of your tray with acrylic craft paint.  It might need 2 coats.  It dries very fast.

While it's drying make a Dad cartoon or drawing.

We made ours circular. Outline with sharpie, add color with pencil crayons.  Don't use washable markers as they will smear when you are sealing or decoupaging.

Glue your letters and cartoon in to place.  We used cricut letters but you could type some out on the computer, paint some, stencil some.........

Seal with Mod podge or acrylic medium.  I always choose glossy.


Now these aren't sealed yet, the sealed ones don't photograph so well. You can click on the picture to see these larger.

Hope I've given you a few ideas you can try for Father's Day.

Portraits of Dad

So the Grade 2 teachers had this tradition.  The students would make portraits of their Dads on a piece of wood, usually just in marker.

I asked if I could change it up a bit, you know me, the kids gotta paint!

And although I was a bit skeptical I must say they are coming together quite nicely.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- pieces of wood, we used 2 x 4
- white acrylic paint or gesso
- flesh toned paints
- acrylic paint in shirt colors
- paint brushes
- pencil crayons, fine sharpies
- small buttons
- colored paper
- tacky glue
- Mod podge, optional

So we just used 2 x 4's cut into 12 inch lengths.  I then primed them with gesso on both sides. Let dry.

I had the kids draw lightly with pencil a head, neck, and shoulders.  The shoulders go off the side and then continue on the back. 

We then painted the head and neck on the front, let it dry, then painted head and neck on the back.

 Paint in the shirt in the front and the sides, let that dry and then do the back.

You then take a very small brush and paint in the white of the eyes.  Let that dry.

Using pencil, fine sharpies, and pencil crayons continue with the details of the face.  If your markers are washable you'll have to skip the sealer(Mod Podge) at the end.

Don't forget to put in that chin line, that helps create that 3D illusion you can also add a little shading.

We do this step before the hair otherwise the kids will not leave enough room for the face.

Now we paint on the hair.

Cut a tie out of colored paper.  Now you could do a long tie as well you just wouldn't be able to add the buttons.

Glue into place.  Add buttons.

Now add the letters for "Dad".  I'm just using the cricut at school and gluing them on.  You could also have the kids draw them out on paper or type this out in computer class.

You can add a coat of sealer if you want.

Here is a shot of Grade 2 progress, just got to paint in the hair and add the tie and buttons.

That's it.

The kids are at the eye stage as of today so I'll post pictures of their work tomorrow. Should have the finished photos later today.

see ya!

Here are the results!

Great work Grade 2.