Model Magic Faces

 We were gifted A LOT of Model Magic.  I wanted to work on expression with my 4th graders, and thought they could do a fun expressive face using Model Magic.  The students loved it, and I felt like they turned out pretty good.  I prefer "real clay", but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth!!! Each student received one pack, and were instructed to set aside 1/4 of the Model Magic for additions to their face (hair, ears, jewelry..etc).  We used clay tools & pencils to help in their creating.  I also gave each table a styrofoam tray with a wet shammy square. If you have any questions, please ask in the comment section! 

Sunday Devo With Mr. E: Something Different

 Artists have an amazing ability to create what originally was only a thought/idea. In the process of bringing something to life, the artist may need to make minor and/or necessary changes. This is part of creating.  We are use to seeing our vision carried out to fruition, and we will do what is needed to make that happen.  This is often how we approach the rest of our life as well.  We feel if we can imagine it than we can make it happen. However, it doesn't always work out that way. There are times what we imagined just doesn't occur.  This can be frustrating, depressing, and even "soul" crushing.  We get caught up in things going our way, and when they turn out different than expected we struggle to see the good in the unplanned outcome.  The thing is...even great ideas fail or don't turn out like we thought they would from time to time no matter the effort & tenacity of the individual. We will not ALWAYS get our way or be able to make our plans happen.  A different outcome can be the very thing we needed to grow as artists & people!  It may allow us to see our original plan was not actually the best, or what we learned from the struggle proved to be a vital in creating something better than imagined. 

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, 

but later you will understand."  John 13:7 

I am often baffled by the disciples. They walked with Jesus. They ate with him. They heard him teach. They saw Jesus heal. All of these things were not enough for them to grasp what the Lord was doing.  I'd like to think I would have been different.  I would have gotten what God was up to!  Truth is...I wouldn't.  They were imagining Jesus being a different type of Savior.  They imagined him leading as a king. They wanted something different. What they received was exactly what they needed (even if they didn't see it at the time).  What Jesus provided was an example of a servant. He showed them how to meet the needs of others.  What he gifted them with was the love of a friend. He taught them how to walk with God.  He showed them how to use all of these things to reach their world.  They did not understand....until after things turned out different than they expected. They were at the point of being crushed by the weight of their disappointment & their struggles to comprehend.....and then the Lord shows up...again. Then they begin to realize that what they thought should happen....was not a part of THE plan.  God's way is always better than our own. Something different is ok. This is often God's way, we just need to learn to listen & rest in Him! 

Celebrate Art!

I grew up in a rural Appalachian area in south eastern Ohio (son of a coal miner). We did not have art until high school. The arts (all the arts) were not celebrated or emphasized. It is kind of amazing I went into art education having very little exposure to it as a young person.

 I often watch the news online from back home, and was excited to see a segment featuring a high school artist!  I WAS SO EXCITED!!!  They were actually celebrating art!  I just had to share.  I don't know the student or his family.  I did not attend this high school.  I don't know this art teacher.  

It doesn't matter.  I want to #elevateart / #elevatearted ! We need to support and encourage the arts, and allow people to see the importance for students to have access to art education! 

 

Overlapping Snake Paintings

We are working on possible art show pictures. This years theme is PETS! I know that snakes aren’t everyone’s favorite pet, but I thought my second graders would enjoy creating one. Plus, it gives me a chance to reinforce overlapping. I had theme make their snake look like

 

Sunday Devo With Mr. E: Say It With Art

One of the definitions for language is a system of communication used by a particular country or community. Art has always been a way for the maker to communicate to/with the world around them. It may be a commentary on the everyday, a recording of history, an expression of thoughts/feelings/dreams, or a way to give a voice to that which seemed inexpressible by any other means. I have met artists that were gifted orators, and those that struggled to effectively communicate through speech. Looking at their work, you might never know who was who.  There is amazing value in the visual. The language of art can whisper thoughts, shout dreams, sing sorrows, and chat about truths. 

 If your words struggle to express....say it with art! 

Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 150

I have always loved this Psalm! First and foremost....GOD IS WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE. How do we praise him?  WITH EVERYTHING WE GOT!  The Psalmist lists instruments, dancing, and singing.  I can totally get behind this.  I love seeing faith being expressed through the arts. However, I feel that the visual arts can be added to this list in our churches and gatherings of believers, as well as individual expressions of faith. The visual artist can praise through paint, cry out through charcoal, question through woodworking, and share through mixed media. They are not images to be idolized, but much like the Psalms...to be read by the viewer as a record of the artists faith journey and encourage others along the way.  There are times that we struggle to communicate though, even in our artistic tongue.  Romans 8:26 says "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."  I believe the Christian artist resides in this place at times. The marks of our paintbrush becomes our wordless groans moved by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. This honors the Lord as well.  Your art (in whatever form it takes) is part of who God created you to be. Therefore, it is how you can express Psalm 150 in your life. 

....say it with art...

#heartaday23: DAY 1-3

WELCOME TO HEART A DAY 2023!!  I won't be posting every day on here, but you can check out my social media if you want to follow along! I would also love if you would join in creating your own hearts. If you do...post to your social media with the hashtags #heartaday & #heartaday23!

 

1/2 Hour Class...Painting K-5th

This is what I did during our 2 hr delay day that changed my classes from an hour to a half hour! 

Crazy or Genius....YOU BE THE JUDGE! ! ha ha