Summer School?

We homeschooled our kids this past year. (reason: covid & the way their school district handled things...we live in a different district than I work) I felt like I did not do a great job providing art opportunities for my kids during this time (I was overwhelmed teaching virtual & then teaching in person & virtual). I wanted to cover some standards & skills over the summer. I told them they had to do 1 for me then they could do whatever they wanted. Lucky for me...my kids LOVE creating!!!

HA HA! Quietest it has been all summer! HA HA!

 

Fun Find!

I went to Bargain Hunt (not sure if they have them in your area?) and found they had 50% off their craft section.  Now, if you have been to Bargain Hunt you know that the "craft" section is very hit & miss.  You never know what they'll have.  There wasn't much that I'd have a need for personally or for school.  

I have never worked on an easel, and haven't really felt a need to own one in the past.  This sale made me reconsider.  The tag said $12, but with the sale...$6!!!  I decided that I could use it to create art, display work, or for presentations/workshops.  Surely I can get my $6 worth out of it.  

DEALS ARE OUT THERE....YOU JUST NEED TO KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN! 

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: To Be In Awe

I can only imagine the feeling of seeing the Sistine Chapel for the first time (or really...any time!).  Even if you had no background in art whatsoever, you couldn't help but to be in awe.  Art has a way of inspiring us, transporting us, and leaving us in a state of awe.  I think the Sistine Chapel might just about blow my mind.  So often it is an almost "religious" experience.  I remember the first time I saw a work by Van Gogh in person.  It took me to church!  I sat down on a bench across from it, and sat in its presence. That might sound dramatic, but Van Gogh's work had always been a favorite of mine.  I studied it, thought of his life, watched others view it, and just tried to imprint the moment in my heart and mind forever.    I think another part of the equation is knowing the artist.  You don't have to have an art history background to appreciate it, but knowing the master's hand that painted such an awe inspiring work adds a layer of depth, understanding, and appreciation you might not have otherwise.  

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:  

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, 

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

Do you ever find yourself in awe of God?  I think many speak of God being "awesome" or doing "awesome" things, but I'm referring to a deeper recognition of who God is & what He has done or is doing in your life.  Does our Lord bring you to a place where you just want to linger in His presence?  The writer of Psalms 27 asks God if he could dwell in the house of the Lord & gaze at His beauty.  When was the last time you wanted to "dwell & gaze" in relation to God?  In our fast paced world we don't often dwell anywhere well.  We are so rushed & divided that dwelling & gazing sounds like a foreign concept.  Nobody has time for that.  But you should!  If art can bring us to a state of awe & makes us want to linger a little longer...why can't God do the same for us?  What do we need to do, change, or incorporate that would bring this about?  Maybe we need to begin recognizing God at work in our life.  Maybe we need to get back into His word so we can have a clearer understanding of why He is so AWEsome.  

If art can bring us to a state of "awe"...shouldn't God?  

6th Annual Art With Mr. E Summer PD

 6th Annual Art With Mr. E Summer Workshop starts tomorrow!!!(Wed-Friday) So excited! I have 10 teachers coming (Smaller than usual..Covid & Summer School having an impact)...2 from Davidson, 2 from Smith, 2 from Wilson, 2 from Rutherford, and 2 from KY!!!! Going to be a BLAST! Stay tuned for pictures of crazy teachers & their art!!!!

So Many Bobs!!!

 I found so many Bobs at Target today! So for all you Bob Ross lovers out there... go to Target and check out what they have in stock! They were at the back of the electronics department. None of them came home with me today, but I'm thinking about it! I have three Funko Pops and two other bobblehead bobs at school.

 

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: OVERFLOWING

During my student teaching, I asked my co-operating teacher what she was working on currently.  She said, "You mean art?  Honey, you will see that once you start teaching that you just won't have the time or desire to create any more!  The last thing you'll want to do is pick up a paint brush at home after teaching art all day long."  WHAT?  That seemed absurd to me at the time.  I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that would not happen to me! 

As artists, there is an urge/longing/desire to create. It is at the core of who we are.  If we are not creating, something out of balance in our lives.  We all go through "seasons".  There are seasons where we are creating up a storm, but at other times we find ourselves walking through an artistic wasteland struggling to have even a creative thought. 

 At first, I was able to maintain that balance of teaching & creating.  I was sure that my co-operating teacher just didn't know how to organize her life in such a way that would allow for her to easily continue artistic pursuits. However, once I got married & we began having children, I realized how easy it was to "lose" that aspect of my life.  

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

Colossians 2:6-7

I feel this same thing can happen in our faith as well.  We can get so busy with living life that we forget who we are in Him, the training we received, who He made us to be, and what He wanted our lives to look like.  But how can we combat this?  I feel if we embrace the last part of verse 7...we may have our answer.  OVERFLOWING WITH GRATITUDE!  Gratitude comes when we are aware of our position before Christ, and the true gift He gave us through His life, death, resurrection, and opportunity for reconciliation in & through Him!  If our lives are grounded in the attitude of gratitude for all the things He has done....how could we ever lose site of Him & who He made us to be in our day to day?  Others will see Christ in us & it will impact every area of our life because of the OVERFLOWING!

With my art, I've learned to keep an art journal or sketch pad handy.  I know that I might not have time to do large scale works of art, but I can still create small sketches/designs in my journal.  This helps to feed my creative soul. Through this I've been inspired to create larger pieces or develop ideas for larger pieces. That would not be possible if I allowed the artist I was created to be to flounder in unrealized potential.   My spiritual soul needs to be feed as well.  Not only do I need to realize who He is & who I am in Him, but I need to continually grow my relationship with the Lord.  It might be times of prayer, fellowship with other believers, reading a Christian book on my iPad, or reading the Word on an app (or the old fashion way..an actual paper Bible!).  Whatever it is...for something to be OVERFLOWING continually...the source needs to be pouring into it!  

Art Humor 😁

 There were six parking spaces open, and this is what I witnessed today! Y'all need to start getting those kiddos to color inside the lines! 😂 (It's a joke.. don't come for me!! Haha) 

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Experience

If I told you to teach someone how to do a collagraph, but you knew nothing about it....how successful would you be?  If I told you how to do a collagraph, and asked you to teach someone how to do it...would you be more successful?  If I showed you how to do a collagraph, and asked you to teach someone how to do it....you might do ok.   If I showed you how to do a collagraph, let you do a collagraph while I watched and advised, and then asked you to teach someone else how to do one...you'd probably do a pretty good job. Experience makes a difference.  As an art educator, I seek out others who know and have more experience with media and processes that I feel unsure about.  In turn, I love to share the things I've learned along the way.  I know if I would not have had others take the time to build into me....I would not be the teacher I am now.   

What good is experience if we do not share it?  

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

2 Corinthians 1: 3-6

 Emmanuel. God is with us. We often hear this at Christmas, but this truth is not seasonal. We serve a God who knows the struggles we face spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.  He is with us.  God has also given us a family of believers who have experienced, are experiencing, or will experience the very things we are going through.  This provides for us those who can advise us, those who can cry with us, and those who we can come along side when the time comes.  The experiences we face are not in vain.  They allow us to trust God in new ways.  They provide an opportunity for God to work in and through us. Being open with our experiences & being willing to share with others what we have learned through them....is a beautiful gift that can provide comfort and connectedness. 

Sargent Paint Sticks

I have talked about the Sargent Paint Sticks in the past, but someone was recently asking me about them...so I thought I'd share again.  There are several brands out there that work "relatively" the same.  However, I have found the quality and price of the Sargent version to be better.  Now the neon and metallic paint sticks do not produce as solid/vibrant color (None of the other brands that have neon/metallic paint sticks are any better!).  They are wonderful for young artists & abstract art work.  

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Support

There are so many things within art that I'd love to do. I've been fortunate enough to try my hand at a large variety of media and skills over the years. However, it would be unrealistic for me to do ALL THE THINGS!  If I investing all my time and attention into attempting everything...I'd hardly develop anything.  Finding my passion and investing myself into that is going to provide better yield.  I can admire, value, and benefit from other artists' work.  I can encourage and support those creating in different ways than myself.  We have the ability to cheer on others in the arts as they create, fail, succeed, and pursue our heart's passion.  As we support one another, the art community grows stronger.....and we are all better for it. 

If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Romans 12:7-8

We were never meant to do "ALL THE THINGS" on our own. God has given us unique talents, skills, and callings that will fulfill his plans and purposes.  We must not only do our part, but support those around us so they can do theirs.  We often rank such things in levels of importance.  However, this is wrong thinking.  Introvert/Extrovert, on stage/behind the scenes, preachers/cleaning crew....God's unique design for each of us displays an amazing puzzle where each piece has its place in creating the whole picture.  If one piece were missing the picture would be incomplete. 

Are you living out who you are?

Are their things that you need to lay aside so you can invest yourself into those things that are most important?

How can you support those around you to be the best they can be?  

Still time to sign up...

The 6th Annual Art With Mr.E Summer Workshop is coming in just a few weeks, but there is still time to sign up. Please let me know ASAP. Small group (Under 20) meeting up at Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN for 3 days of arty art teacher goodness!!!