First Day Project: PAINTING

Yep!  I'm officially crazy!!!! ha ha

A few years ago I went to my first NAEA conference(Fort Worth).  I met amazing educators that were passionate about teaching visual arts.  I loved talking "shop" with people that loved their job as much as me!!  One of the topics we talked about was first day practices.  I had always started the school year with seats, rules, and a self portrait.  It seemed "SAFE" & a way to "EASE" back into things.  There is total validity to that practice..and no one should feel otherwise if it works for them!!!  You spend time with other passionate art educators & you will quickly realize that there are a million "GOOD" ways to do things.  There is not a one size fits all...and no one should feel bad about doing things differently.  However, I feel it is our obligation to consider what we do and see if it is the "BEST" way of doing things.  This allows us to grow.  

ANYWAYS...LET ME GET TO THE FIRST DAY PROJECT!!!

So this year I decided I was going to paint with my students on the first day.  I knew I had to get students seats assigned, go over some key rules....and then try to fit in the painting.  This means I had to have things ready to go.  Paint already served up(limited color palette...varying it a little each class so I can get the super cool gradation) & brushes ready to go.   I gave the students a 9x12 piece of 90lbs paper.  They were required to draw as big of a circle as possible.  They then had to draw a design based on circles/dots on the inside of their larger circle.  1st grade mostly looked like chocolate chip cookies,  but they had a blast creating.  2nd - 4th really seemed to "get it" and do a great job. I discussed Principles of Design with them(quickly) & showed them some examples. Now Monday I'll have Kindergarten for the first time(they go half days the first week...and do not come to special areas).  I will precut their circles and probably use BIGGIE WATERCOLOR sets with them(covering two of the four colors to limit their palette).  I cut them out after they dried and had older students help me with the black outlines(using tempera).  The whole process is very busy...very fast...furious..... AND A WHOLE LOT OF FUN!!!!!!!!!!

If you are wondering...yes...I'm going to connect this to THE DOT.  My plan is to switch the colors each day till I have a rainbow of awesomeness!!!  I'll display this in the hall...connecting the sections on the wall...each section being a day's worth of circles(I'm afraid it will be too heavy if I connect all 550 circles together before hand).  

I'll review & reinforce classroom rules and procedures when they return to art(I know some of you really want to make sure your kids get it...and I do too!!  I just loved the idea of capturing their attention in a new way on the very first day of art!!!)

Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions...hope this helped for those of you who were asking on Facebook!!  

Spring Break Project

So during our spring break(2 weeks long this year)...I've been working on this painting.
My friend Janet ( http://msmalonesartroom.blogspot.com/ ) just bought a home, and asked me to create a work of art for her.  The photograph doesn't capture all the color & brush work, but it is bright, bold, and basically just a fun piece (oh..and very large 30in x 40in ) I've not done much personal art work...so it was fun to have this project!!  

Yo Yo Yo for the Ho Ho Ho

I've been sharing my yo-yo making( never ending )with my Facebook friends...but many of them don't know what a yo-yo is ...other than a toy that goes up and down.   

You start with a circle of fabric.  The size depends on how big you want your end product.  I used a CD to trace my circles.  Personally I feel the tracing & cutting out of the circles was the most time consuming part of the process.  Oh...did I mention that I had never done this before....my wife decided it would be "fun" to have a hand made yo-yo garland for our Christmas tree this year.  She was busy making applique Thanksgiving, dance, Christmas shirts for our children & some friends...so the yo-yoin' was left up to me.

You then go around the edge of your yo-yo...making a drawstring of sorts.  After you go all the way around the circle...pull & knot.  

I probably don't do it complete right....but I do tack down the center through the back with a couple stitches.  Some fabric artist is probably rolling over in their grave...or screaming in their craft room as we speak.  Oh well...I taught myself..and it worked for me.  

Then I stitched/linked them together.

This was only half way through...I'm still not done, but I have most of it up on the tree.  At last count...it was 28 feet +.  OH MY GOSH!  AM I DONE YO-YOIN' YET?!?!?!!?

UPDATE:  32 FT LONG!!!