Elephants, elephants, elephants

One of my all time favorite art lessons this year has been these Indian elephants.

In Jaipur, India there is a tradition of painting elephants as part of celebrations.  The elephant is considered a divine animal and in the Hindu belief there is an elephant head deity named Ganesha.  Elephants are worshiped and showered with color, paint, fabric, jewels, anklets, scarves and even toe nail polish during celebrations...yikes.

Using guided drawing, the basic shapes of the elephants were sketch by students on to 9x12 construction paper with pencil.   Lines were then traced with sharpies and color added with pastels. Borders added then mounted on 9x12 construction paper.

The project was done at two separate schools by kindergartens, first, second and third graders. Yup you can believe it!

 At the other school students created an background environment on separate paper using water color or any medium of their choice.  Elephants were cut out and glued onto the environments.  At the other school students drew their borders. 

Some students preferred to draw directly onto the grey construction paper  and color with oil pastels. (shown below)

Tags:  elephants, India, children art, art, paintings of elephants, pastels, watercolor

You can see a wonderful and similar project at the following link:  http://paintedpaperintheartroom.blogspot.com/2010/10/festival-elephants-of-india.html

Aboriginal Zany

We studied the indigenous art of Australia.  After looking at and discussing samples of indigenous art from Australia, how to draw books and materials were passed out.  The how to draw books gave students the opportunity to choose the subjects for their illustrations and help those who needed assistance drawing images.  Basic ideas were quickly practiced on scratch paper; then re-sketched on black construction paper with white pastel.  The other instructions given were to draw large; draw in background sections and avoid small details.  Students proceeded to color with oil pastels and add more designs elements to complete the assignment.  This assignment was done with 4th graders and their work is wonderful.


 Tags:  aboriginal, aboriginal art, art, children's art, dinosaurs, insects, dogs, penguins, dolphins, fish, snake, pastel.

Red Spring Watercolor Flowers

Spring is in the air and summer just around the corner.  With just a few months before summer vacation, students energy is changing.  They are energetic; would rather be outside playing and ready for summer.  They can feel it coming.  Recently we worked on some soothing watercolor flowers.  I kept this project small and focused on learning Chinese brush strokes. The paper was cut to 4.5 inches by 6 inches; painters tape applied to back and after a brief demonstration on how to make flowers using brush strokes, student began. I also supplied a large color reference from a calender of Chinese paintings.  Students painted the flowers using a watercolor pallets the first week. The background was painted with a liquid watercolor the following  week.  We mounted them on a blue construction paper.  These were completed by 3 grade students.  They turned out quite nice, don't you agree?

Tags: red, green, blue, turquoise, flowers, spring, paint, florals, children, summer, school, vacation, art, paintings, garden

Brazilian Carnival Time

Carnival may be over in Brazil but here it's still happening.   

 Spent last Saturday night painting the band Bloco Nove as they prepared to perform at Brazilian carnival. 

                                   Had a great time and met some really kool people.

                        Photo Credit: Antonio Thronn Passos Jr.

           Will be painting again this Friday night at another carnival.  I'll post photos.

When your Hearts feels like it will burst.

You do not know how quickly your life or loved ones can change....February 24, 2012.

One year ago, my son suffered a life-changing, trial by fire event in his life.  On this day I felt my heart would burst as I waited for news after he was hit by a car.  I remember the my son crying, learning both his legs were broken.  I remember my friends Leticia and Audrey who sat with me while he was in surgery and the numerous surgeries that followed.  The pain; the emotional highs and lows; fear; sadness the array of emotions he experienced. From February to June he was recuperating in hospitals.

My heart leaps to my throat again,when I get a call from his father. In the middle of all this, his sister has an incredible auto accident;  flipping numerous times after the car she was driving filled friends is side swiped by a big rig.   Blessedly, everyone survives and she walks away emotionally shaken but without injuries; and her friends walk away also. The car did not make it. Seeing the photo was too much.

During this time, we received much support from friends and family in so many ways: physical, verbal, monetary, spiritual, psychological, emotional, nutritional, too numerous to count.  I remember the prayers we received. Those who held bedside vigils with us:  Alexis, Rihanna, John, Ryan, Jamie, Linda, Molly; the Swedish girls, the skaters and all the other friends young and old who visited and showed so much love; ones whose names I can quickly draw to mind and others of whom I can only see your smiles:  the mothers from Brazil bringing food and massages; Jermaine, Sandra, Zandra, Sandra Z., Sandra R. and Xochi; Shelley, Raphael, Nina and hubby, Leila, the mothers; Daphina, fathers, neighbors; the doctors, hospital staff, nursing home staff; truly a "rainbow coalition" of friends and family.

Throughout it all.  My son visualized and fought to stay positive....more so than I could at times.  "Mom don't worry so much. Everything will be fine."

Setting strong intentions and visualizing his positive outcome.  He manifested it.

Today my son called to thank me for being there and going through the fire with him.  My heart feels like it might burst again; this time with so much love, joy and thankfulness and a big smile.

Thank you God! Thank you family. Thank you friends.
We thank you all.

Gallery Hopping Westside

Did some gallery hopping with friends last night.  Wow!  I have seen some amazing exhibitions!

Check out the show at Avenue 50 Studio http://avenue50studio.org/pages/dreamsandvisions.shtml "Googie Style", the art of Armando Arreola, will take some of ya back.  Great idea for a student art project.  And everyone loves love as explored by various artists in "The Love Show."

A stop at Blum and Poe gallery. http://www.blumandpoe.com/current for an exhibition of Los Angeles based artist Henry Taylor.  Wonderful.   The gallery was packed.  It was kool to see him sitting on the floor taking photos with kids.

Want to see his again when the gallery is less crowded.

Met the artist Danny Scheible of Tapigami at a gallery nearby after noticing and asking about his interesting glasses and the elaborate form on his wrist. http://tapigami.com/mission/   He also had a roll of tape in hand and scissors.  Another wow!

Finally off to 825 Gallery.  http://www.laaa.org/
The art of J.T. Burke  "The Paradise Circus" pulled me into its kaleidoscopic landscapes;

Flora Ka's "Cocoon" installation was fun to hang out in. You'll have to go see for yourself.

Karen Sikie's "Paper Dolls" inspired me to not throw out my horde of scrap booking papers and other ephemera.

I managed to get audio interactive and bliss-ed out by the Bliss-O-Matic, of the Zen Vending Co. of artist, Gary Raymond. http://www.audiomobiles.com/inter_04bliss.html  Drop a quarter and get bliss in the palm of your hand. Here's what I was enlighten to:  "It's all a choice."  Um-m-m!  No jawbreaker!  Gary has a warm smile.

A fun evening.

More Masks

A few more student masks and watercolor paintings of students.

Dino Faire

Few weeks back students students created dinosaur artwork for a local Dino Faire.  Each student drew their own dinosaur with the aid of a how to book, colored;  cut them out and made a collage landscape background to adhere to.  Love the interesting way each student colored their project.  These are kindergarten through 4th grade examples.