Back to Work

View of Moloka'i from Napili

Well, after a few wonderful weeks in Maui it's back to work..........









...........I'll miss the amazing views. (this is a future painting for sure)

.........the sand in my toes

......and amazing sunsets. (can't believe we snapped this photo!)




I thought I'd show you a few of my paintings.  I've painted this point many times.......(here are a few thru the years)

2008

2010

2012

Here are a few more paintings from this trip......

I

 

But now it's back to work and continuing to post more art projects to fill out the inventory....for those of you who don't know every complete tutorial is listed in the pull down pages at the top of this blog for easy access.

See you very soon with a new bookmaking tutorial....

Happy Easter From Maui

Happy Easter everyone!  I've been in Maui for a few days but wanted to wish everyone the best.

As I sit here typing the sun is coming up and it looks like a gorgeous day!

This is the view from my patio or Lanai.

It's where I often sit to paint....as I have in the last few days as we have had a bit of rain.






So I worked on some of my London paintings.

and then sometimes when you are stuck you just paint things like the cover of the driving guide......

Here are the eggs I did this year.  Hope everyone has a good Easter break and I'll see you soon.

How to Make Paper Easter Lilies

So Easter is fast approaching and you need a quick and easy art project for the bulletin board............give these paper lilies a try.


The lily is made from the traced hand of the student.

These were made by Grade 1.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- white paper

- green paper

- large piece of pastel colored paper

- scissors

- pencil

- glue

- yellow tissue paper, (optional)

PROCEDURE:

Take your large piece of colored paper and trace out an egg shape.  With Grade 1 we had templates.  Cut out the egg shape.  This design is actually inspired by some Pysanky eggs we were admiring.

On the white paper trace around your hand 3 separate times.

Cut the hand shapes out.

Roll each hand shape into a cone and tack with glue.

With the pencil curl the edges of each finger or petal.

Cut leaves and stems out of the green paper.  Glue into place on the egg and then glue the lilies on.

If you want you can add yellow centers or stamens to your lily.  Cut the tissue paper into strips and twist.

Add a dab of glue........

and stick into the center of the lily.

That's it.

Only one more week of school till Easter vacation!

See you next time.

Easy Easter Art Project

I had honestly thought I posted this project years ago....oh well this one's for you Kim!  (you'll notice a theme here with the last post)



I have been immersed in Pysanky classes for about 2 weeks now.  Usually not all students will finish at the same time.  You have your ones who race to the finish, those who try to take as much time as they can, and then everyone in between.

As the kids finish their Pysanky egg they then can complete this pastel resist paper egg.

You then have a nice display for your bulletin board.


This is Grade 1.















MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- white paper, use heavy sketch or wc
- pencil and eraser
- oil pastels
- disk tempera paint
- scissors

PROCEDURE:

Draw a large egg shape on your paper.  For the younger grades you can provide them with a template.

Sketch out your own Pysanky design in pencil.  You want fairly large shapes.

Use the oil pastels to add some color to your egg.  Bright colors show up best including white.


Keep some areas of the egg uncolored.



You can also outline the egg shape.

Using watery disk tempera (a wash) paint over the entire egg.  The pastel areas will resist the paint.

When dry cut the egg out.

That's it.  Before you know it you'll have dozens of decorated eggs.

Here are some pictures of our Pysanky in process.


This is Grade 2.

Here are the Grade 3 eggs waiting for the wax to be taken off.

And even though I'm teaching Pysanky all day long I come home and work on my own eggs with my kids as well.

I'll have some completed Pysanky pictures for you Friday.  In the meantime why not do a large pastel resist paper egg!

See you soon.

Carved Emu Eggs: Using Pastel Resist

In Australia "Kalti Paarti", or carved emu eggs became popular with both aboriginal and non aboriginal artists in the mid 19th century.


This is an egg from the Australian Museum depicting a moth.  The yolk has been blown out and the surface carved away to reveal the artist's design.

Easter time is a good time to introduce this art form to kids (lots of egg dye available) but we will be using pastel resist.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- eggs
- Easter egg dye
- oil pastels,and/or twistable crayons
- reference photos and material of aboriginal designs
- pencil
- paper towel

PROCEDURE:

To start you can pencil in your design on your egg.  I always leave the egg raw.  The inside will slowly evaporate over time.  Blown eggs are too fragile for the kids and hard boiled ones will rot.  We will not be eating these eggs.  You will be applying pastel or crayon to the areas you want to resist the egg dye.

Bright colors work best and although it's hard to see on the white egg, white pastel makes for a very striking design.

Dip egg into Easter egg dye.  I'm using the egg dye I use for Pysanky.  I choose black for a traditional look. 





Leave in the dye until the egg turns to the color you desire.  Lift out and blot with a paper towel.

Pastel resist eggs always turn out very striking.

Here is a set by Kindergarten.

Another activity you may want to try is doing a pastel resist on paper.  You will be able to add more detail on a larger egg shape.  A display of both art projects together (real egg and paper egg) would make for a very comprehensive display.

Draw egg shapes on heavy or wc paper.  Draw and color in design using pastels and /or twistable crayons.  Paint over egg shape with a wash (diluted disk tempera or watercolor).
Cut egg shapes out.


STUDENT WORK:

As promised I want to show you some of the student work from my recent "artist in residence".


These are tunnel books by Grade 6, based on selected stories they are currently reading.  I will be posting a "how to" on tunnel books shortly.

Grade 6 also did a mixed media canvas based on the title character of their selected novel.

Rainbow Fish by Kindergarten.

I'll have more student work for you next time, but why not try an egg......

See you soon.