art

From st graton art day

I’ve been excited about this class ever since I came up with the idea.  My inspiration was from a kids’ art blog, Laugh, Paint, Create.   I’ve made several trips to the Graton Art Gallery, had several telephone conversations with Pam Lewis, one of the resident artists.  To make this a fun outing for the kids and adults I put together an “I Spy” which directed everyone through the current exhibit.  Each adult/child had a mini clip board and a list of things to find ie angry red dog, spiral strawberry,  white house etc.  I encouraged everyone to talk about the art, look for familiar shapes, favorite colors, texture; we talked about stills life’s and abstracts.  It was great seeing every comfortably exploring the art gallery.  We talked about being respectful of the art and all the kids were welcome to touch all the art that was in the sculpture garden.  Before we left the gallery Pam generously offered one of her art print cards to each of the children.

From the gallery we came to Smiling Tree.  We had a snack, a story and created a still life and abstract painting.  I love when parents and kids work side by side.  Each had their own canvas and their own interpretation of the art.  Aren’t the side by side photos adorable!  I loved this workshop and hope to do it again!!!

Sometimes the kids’ art gets left here.  I love these two pieces so much I ”hung” them on the wall under our oil painting of Howard’s Cafe in Occidental.  My photography doesn’t do any of these pieces justice.  The kids’ art has a lot of texture and movement.  These pieces have inspired me to offer some “real art” classes in the future.  I’ve changed the way I set up the paints for class.  Lately I’ve been giving each child a pallete (pie pan) with three colors.  They get to mix their colors and see cause and effect right in their pallete.

From Cassidy & Jackson w/Gail

From Collages

We started camp with a quick run around and a few songs then off to explore and create.  Our project this week was our take on Tibetan Prayer flags.  I’m sure you’ve seen these flags flying in different places around town or maybe seen pictures of them flying on mountain tops in Tibet…one of our moms has been to Tibet and has seen the flags there first hand.  The colors of the flags represent different things:  yellow-earth, blue-space (spirit), green-air (wind) etc.  Each flag has a prayer or good wish for healing, happiness in the world.  The idea is to hang the flags where the wind will catch them and blow the good wishes ’round the world……..wonderful!  Our flags were made on unbleach muslin, decorated with permanent markers then dyed by dipping in a solution of koolaide, vinegar and salt.  This “dye” is not permanent on cotton but was fun to work with and safe.  The kids hung their flags on the clothesline to dry then we strung them together so they could take them home and find a place to hang them so the wind will catch them.

As you can see in the slide show a couple grown ups found a moment to themselves to create.  I love when parents have a moment to themselves.  When you have small children that is often hard to come by.  Most parents don’t have a chance to create and play with art so when they can do it here at camp I think it’s a special treat.  While I set the projects up for the kids and ask parents to let the kids do their own thing I love the bonding that occurs when parent and child work side by side; parent available to help if needed, child free to explore as they choose.

Our neighbor horses came for a visit at the fence and all the kids who wanted to fed them watermelon.  I usually instruct the parents on how to help their child feed the horses but today I helped the kids.  I learned this from a “horsey mom”….hold the food by the end with plenty sticking out for the horse to get…carrots, long pieces of watermelon etc.   The child holds the food and the grownup covers the child’s entire hand with their own (protecting the child’s fingers).  I’m not comfortable with the method of holding the food on my out stretched palm….too many little fingers to get in the way!

After feeding the horses we buried the rest of the watermelon rinds in the compost pile.  This was another object of fascination.  The kids love looking at all the wiggly worms.  We’ll be making a worm farm in the next couple weeks…..the kids will love that!

From st thanksgiving turkey handprints etc wild turkey

Is there such a thing as too much handprint “art”?  Of course not!!!!   Aren’t these cute.  The trick here is to paint the kids’ hand then have them open wide then help them press down to make the print.  You can get two or three prints from one painting.  Don’t forget to have your child dip their pointer finger in the red paint so they can add a waddle.

From st thanksgiving turkey handprints etc wild turkey

From misc st replace photos

Leaves, twigs, acorns + glue and just a touch of paint…………..art!