March 31, 2015

New Kiln!

                                                                                                                                                                                         
   

March 30, 2015

ONE MORE SESSION YOU MUST ATTEND!


I have one more session for you all to attend...MINE!!! :) ha ha  
I followed Twitter & Facebook closely during the NAEA NOLA...and truly enjoyed seeing all the joy & excitement of being together...learning from one another...and experiencing a fun city like New Orleans!!!  However, I thought about the reality of MONDAY!  The day after conference is over...and you find yourself back home..back at work...back to the same ol' same ol'!!  The situation is the same....BUT YOU HAVE CHANGED!!!  You have a fire/spark & are full of ideas!!  How do you keep the momentum going?  Hope my little video will encourage you to carry on with your renewed passion...and fresh ideas!  


March 29, 2015

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Impressionist

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,
 even as I am fully known. 
1 Corinthians 13:2



I enjoy impressionist art.  I think most people do.  
It is palatable to the masses. 
 Beautiful colors, relate-able subject matter, easily turned into umbrellas & calenders...

Impressionists give us the impression of a moment.  They create in a specific time & place.  Their work focuses on the color & light created by that specific moment.  What we see is a glimpse of something.  It is not complete, but it is a perspective that invites us to know more.

In this moment...we have a perception of who we are & who God is.  That perception is not the same as it was yesterday...and hopefully will not be the same tomorrow.  It is not because God is changing(because He is unchanging), but as our knowledge & experiences grow our perception changes.  As believers our hope/goal should be that we grow closer to the Lord each & every day. We do this through time with God in His Word, time in prayer, time with His people, and time doing those things He has for us! As we grow, our perception changes.  This knowledge creates an "impression".You have probably met people that you instantly know are different from most...and seem to have something special about them.   The "impression" of Christ will hopefully be seen by those we encounter, and will invite them to know more.  And as we grow in Christ...the "impression" of Him will only become clearer.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, Thank You for knowing me completely!
Thank You Lord for allowing me a way to know You!
As I grow in my knowledge & experience of You...may those around me see the impression of You in my life!May they see in that moment...the impact You have made in EVERY area of my life.

AMEN


March 27, 2015

PreHistoric PLN

              

We started this journey together in 1997!  Two have moved to technology, one moved to another state(and still teaching art!), and three of us are still elementary art teachers in MNPS!  We were/are always there for each other.  We grew up together...personally and professionally!  Thankful for a group of people that I have been able to share with, learn from, and grow old(er) together!! 


March 25, 2015

Spring Break in Nashville


Spring break here in Nashville....and I must say it is LOVELY!!! 60's/70's...sunny...perfect weather for time with family...cleaning out the garage..and weeding(not that I enjoy weeding all that much).  I also am at school today....working on the art show!!  My former student teacher...the amazing Ms. Emily is coming to help out for a couple hours!!!  Don't be too proud to ask for help....give up control and let other people join the "fun" of putting together your art show!!!

March 22, 2015

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: "Cut-Out" The Excuses

This is week two for Sunday Devotional With Mr. E! It is a new weekly feature(at least my plan is weekly) combining my faith as a Christian...and my passion for art!!  If this is not something you are interested in....just move on to the posts about art/arted.  If you ever have questions about faith...feel free to e-mail me.  I may not know all the answers...but I can try to answer your questions...or find someone that can!!! As always...thanks for reading!!!

"His master replied,'Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!'  

Matthew 25:21
2nd Grade Matisse Inspired Collage

Henri Matisse is my favorite artist.  I probably shouldn't have a favorite, but his color palette & patterns speak deeply to my artistic soul.  He was a person who was born to create!  It was at the very fiber of his being.  Life could not keep him from it. During his last ten years or so, he suffered from many physical issues.  These issues kept him from continuing his art as a painter. I'm sure many would have given up/quit.  He had numerous "excuses" available to him, but he did not choose to use them.  He found a different way to continue what he knew he was meant to do using paper cut-outs and the help of assistants. Some would say that this work created out of his adversity was his best! 



In Matthew 25:14-30 we read about the parable of the talents. It is a little long for me to repost here, but please take a moment & go read it ( LINK TO SCRIPTURE ).  A master is leaving town for a time, and he places three servants in charge of his talents(money).  One servant is given five talents, another two, and to the last only one talent. It doesn't give a reason why the money was given as it was, but you don't really argue with the master when he's handing out such things.  The first two were wise with what was given them, and doubled the money for their master.  

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things;  I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!'

Matthew 25:21(NIV)


 The servant that was given only one talent had hid his talent while the master was gone.  When he returned the talent, the master was not pleased.  He had done nothing to profit the master with what was given him.  His excuses got him no where with the master.

The Lord gives gifts to His children and desires for us to use them for His glory & honor. We need to ask God to reveal to us what these gifts are & how they are to be used.  We can not fall into the trap of comparing our gifts to others, or wishing we had gifts that God just hasn't given us.  Each gift is given for a reason, and God has a plan for it (and YOU!).  We need to find that "THING" that is at the very fiber of our being...our heart beat.  What is it that brings you true JOY & God glory & honor?  Do you love to clean, organize, work with children, sing, speak to others, teach, fix things......WHATEVER!?!?!?  God uses all things!!!  Your gift may not look like mine, but it is important to the body of Christ.  It is needed. YOU ARE NEEDED!  Not because God can't do it without you & your "talent".....but because he chooses to use you and desires your relationship with Him to grow.  

Matisse had no time for excuses in his life.  He had to be about the business he knew he was meant to do.  What about you? Are you making excuses?  Are you about the business God has given you to do?  Are you living a life free of excuses in regards to using the "talents" God has given you?

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, please help us be a people of purpose....Your purpose. 
May we leave behind the excuses that are born out of fear/doubt.  
Allow us to use the "talents" you have given us to bring glory & honor to You & You alone!!
In Your Name Lord Jesus
AMEN  

March 20, 2015

BEFORE/AFTER AFTER/BEFORE

BEFORE                AFTER
Some days you wonder...."ARE THEY EVEN PAYING ATTENTION?!?!?"  
Then  you have days where you know...."THEY WERE PAYING ATTENTION!!!!!!!"  
Love to see growth in my kiddos!!!

AFTER                 BEFORE


Crazy Times At TGE!


Any other teachers out there find themselves in this same situation!?!?!?  I usually plan my art show in March, but was asked by the PTO this year to do it during the first part of April.  They wanted to try a silent auction in conjunction with the art show.....which is usually with our Fall Festival.  We shall see how it goes?!!?  I have the right to say NEVER AGAIN if I feel it doesn't go well. :) ha ha  
In moving the art show...it puts it at the end of the nine weeks(so I'm grading)...and at the same time as the submissions for the Mayor's Art Show....AND....a week before I have to have my portfolio turned in for my evaluation.  Yep...good times at The Grove!!!!!

March 19, 2015

One of those days..


Yesterday was one of those days!?!?!!?  ha ha  Spring gets like that....I do understand.  Everyone has a million things to do before the end of the year...testing...STUFF?!?!  How are you all doing out there??  Stressed?  It will be ok!  RELAX!(talking to myself here)

March 18, 2015

Self Portraits: 3rd Grade

        
I have a theory about self portraits...you can appreciate them if you do not know the person represented, but you are not impacted by them unless you do!  I hope you appreciate my 3rd graders self portraits. I can't begin to tell you how these truly reflect the artist...and how some of the quirky ways they drew actually are dead on representations/characteristics!!!!  Oh these make me smile!!!!  I love my job...and I love kid artists!!!!!

        


        

March 15, 2015

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Frida's Focus

(This is a new feature on Art With Mr. E!  I am a Christian, and have often seen illustrations of my faith through art.  So I thought I'd share some of these thoughts with you.  If you are not a Christian & don't care to read about such things...then just skip my posts that are titled "Sunday Devotional".  If you are not a Christian & curious about faith...feel free to e-mail me.  I'm not here to convert or preach at ya...just sharing this aspect of my life with you!  No need to be offended.)  

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

Frida Kahlo had a difficult life.  The pain & suffering from a horrible accident, the resulting inability to have children, a tumultuous marriage....all reflected in her art for the world to see.  As artists, we have the opportunity to channel our life experiences, emotions, joys, sorrows, beliefs, and questions into our work.  This connection to the human condition often draws people to art.  Frida truly focused much of her work on the pain she experienced physically & emotionally.  I applaud the beauty & skill of her work.  However, my heart hurts for the life she lived.

What could Frida's work have looked like if she had been able to ascertain the truth of John 16:33.  

In this section of scripture, Jesus is speaking to the disciples.  I love the disciples.  They truly represent all of us...our lack of skill, knowledge, and understanding.  Yet God still chose to use them!!  They don't get what Jesus is about to go through...or what they themselves will soon experience/endure.  The Lord is giving them a "pep talk" of sorts. He knows the trials they will face, the suffering in His name they will go through, and for most of them....the death they will share in because of their faith.  He knows this life they have chosen will not be an easy one.  He reminds them..."In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!  I have overcome the world"

None of us has been promised an easy life.  Pain is a part of living.  Hardships are a fact of life.  But the Lord has reminded us to TAKE HEART!  Why?  Does it make it all go away?  No.  Because HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD!  The One who we put our faith in knows our pain.  He knows our suffering.  He wants us to look to Him to find our peace in the midst of trials. In our pain, He wants us to call out to Him for our hope.  When this world doesn't make sense & we are struggling to find our way...HE IS THERE!!!

Frida's focus on the pain & struggles of her life yielded amazing and moving work, but the absence of hope within many of her pieces painted a bleak existence.  I want my life & my art to reflect truth!  In the joy & rejoicing and in the sorrow & pain....there is a peace that passes all understanding.  It is what grounds me.  It is what allows me to carry on when I feel I can not.  When this world tries to steal that peace...I must remember, "HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD!"



PRAYER
Dear Lord, You are worthy of all praise.  No matter what I am going through, may my life reflect the peace & hope You have given.  May my life paint a picture of Your love that is real/true. Amen

March 13, 2015

Chirpin': 1st Grade

         

As you may have read...I'M SO READY FOR SPRING!  Nashville is warming up...so my projects are taking on a much springier feel!!!! ha ha  I LOVE THESE 1st GRADE BIRDS!!!  I told the students we were going to create fun, colorful, springy birds.......and man did they deliver!! After drawing their picture with pencils...I had the students trace their pictures with black crayon to form a bit of a resist. We used markers to outline/color their picture next.  Lastly, I sprayed their work with water.  I love the look...and the kids were so excited when the colors started moving.  The resist does create a small wall between colors so they don't get totally mixed up.  

CHIRP ON FRIENDS...CHIRP ON!!!






March 11, 2015

Monet's Bridge: 4th Grade


So here are the mostly finished works that I posted about a week or so ago.  Over all I am happy with them, but part of me wonders if I should have let the students switch over to tempera paint for the second day details.  Over all successful lesson....and I know when I teach it again...I'll tweak a few things next time to hopefully allow for more individuality.


March 10, 2015

TAEA TUESDAY: Summer Conference/Workshop


SUMMER WORKSHOP!!!!!
HEY TnAEA FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!  The summer workshop information has been released!  Now the workshop is in Middle TN...but if anyone else wants to come...we're not going to turn you away.  (KY peeps...easy drive to Nashville!!)  It will be held at beautiful CHEEKWOOD.  How fun is that?!?!!!!!!!!!!  I'm going to be leading a workshop on Mixed Media Collage, called LAYERS OF MEANING!!  I'd love for you to come.  It will be a great day of creating our own work...thinking of how it could apply to our students...and just enjoying each other's company!!(how fun to hang out with art teachers makin' art!!!)  If you want to attend...the information is below!!!



March 07, 2015

Emotion Monsters: Kindergarten


I was teaching my kindergarten students about "expression" in art.  We talked about this in relation to mood/emotion.  The students enjoyed making faces at each other...attempting to show MAD/HAPPY/SAD/ANGRY/SCARED.  We discussed what the face "did" to express emotion.  We also discussed colors and how they related to mood/emotion.  

Each student was given a 12x12 piece of white paper & a diffuser circle.  They were instructed to trace the circle onto the white paper.  They then placed the circle out of the way & created an emotion monster.  Students then took their circle and drew lines of color on the diffuser circle using water based markers.  I then sprayed their papers with water.  The following week they got both the paper and the circle back.  We created a second monster with the diffuser circle itself on black paper.  Students used construction paper crayons to finish the monster from the previous week....and they used construction paper crayons & collage to finish the new one.  








March 06, 2015

DENIAL PROJECT



So I've been in denial....denial that winter is going to rob me of time with my students.   I've missed 10 days of class time over the past 3 weeks.  BOOOO!!!!  I hate missing school...I really do.  So this past week I started doing these rain collages (because I want it to be spring...NOW!!!).  Well..it didn't work...because we missed Thurs. & Friday.  However...I'm loving these pieces.  We talked about composition, contrast, and reviewed the elements & principles.  I also tried out a class set of "glue sponges".  The kids loved the glue sponges...I'm a bit mixed on my feelings toward them.  Maybe I'll do a post on that later.



March 04, 2015

WKU Art Ed PD Continued



Ok, I'm a hot mess or something....
I never posted the rest of the pictures from the Professional Development I did up at 
Western Kentucky University?!?!?!  

Here is the short of it...

I assigned the groups an artist.  They had to use that artist as inspiration to create a unit.  The unit had to be made of several projects...using several different media.  They also had to create one RAZZLE DAZZLE project that was using multiple sources to create(more than one grade level...whole school..parents...teachers...etc).

This is "kind of" the process we use when we're creating our ARTOBER lessons...or other district art projects.  I think planning with other teachers is such a beautiful way to create deep & meaningful units/lessons!!!  They are able to encourage, challenge, and bring their experiences to the table. That keeps things fresh.








March 02, 2015

Hands Across Time & Place: 3rd Grade



My third graders have been looking at cultural connections world wide.  We've tried to find themes, similarities, and shared experiences.  We've really enjoyed looking at "HANDS" through out history...and through out the world! Here is a great website if you are interesting in doing a project such as this ....... CLICK!!! -WEBSITE ON HANDS-CLICK!!!

::QUESTIONS::

"WHY WOULD HANDS BE A COMMON/SHARED THEME AROUND THE WORLD & THROUGHOUT TIME?"

"WHY ARE HANDS STILL IMPORTANT TO US TODAY?"

"HOW CAN WE MAKE HANDS PERSONAL?"

Students started by tracing & cutting out their hand.  On their first day they selected their color palette & used color pencils to go around their hands. On the second day they used oil pastels, watercolor, construction paper, and construction paper crayons.  The oil pastels & watercolor had to be within the color palette the selected before...and the construction paper had to be a contrasting color.  I loved the results, but do think we could spend another class time adding a bit more to them.