1st Week K-4th Collaborative Project

Every year I try to kick the first week off with a large collaborative project......something that will get the kids excited about art...and something that will have great visual impact in the school!

  Some years I paint....some years not.  This year I decided to use marker. I pre-cut the circles in different colors.  Each child created a "face" (Person, Animal, Monster, Alien) and were limited to two colors and black for outlining.  I had some students help re-outline some that were not very solid or those that were not finished by class end.  I also had students help arrange and glue the circles together for display.  I was thrilled with the results....however....there was a problem!!!

My inspiration for this project came from fabric I saw at IKEA in Memphis,TN.  I snapped a picture of it, but did not have the name of the design or artist.  I thought...no problem!  GOOGLE!!!  Well, much to my surprise...Google doesn't know everything.  I also tried uploading it to Pinterest to see if it would populate other images of the fabric/design.  NOPE!  Finally, this week I Tweeted IKEA USA, IKEA Canada, and IKEA UK and asked if they could help me out.  IKEA Canada was the only ones who responded(THANK YOU!!!).  They were able to give me the name of the art work (ALIEN CROWD) and that it came from Graham & Brown. I then Googled that information and came to a design firm website.....AND I FOUND THE ORIGINAL ARTIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

His name is Kev Munday...and his work is AMAZING!!  You have got to check him out!

https://www.kevmunday.co.uk/

So armed with that information...I found his Twitter account and Tweeted him a message & picture of the kids artwork.  AND HE RESPONDED!!!!!!!!!!!!  My students were beside themselves!!! 

CHECK OUT MORE PICTURES OF THEIR WORK BELOW!!!!!  

Art Room Tour 2019-2020

Welcome to my art room!! 

Stay as long as you like, and feel free to ask questions. 

Art Standards Display

So I wanted to do something like this last year, but was still working out my idea!  I've put up our state standards in child friendly language. To the left I've attached a tap light. My plan is to go over the standards with my students in this format so they become familiar with the language and the concepts. We will use them to help review what we learned during that day's lessons. I'll have students come up and hit the tap light for the standard(s) we've covered based on what the class agrees upon. My hope is for good vocabulary rich discussion and a deeper understanding of what we are learning. It will take time. It will take patience. It will take reworking.

I'M UP FOR IT!

    STAY TUNED!      

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: Share

Blog, YouTube, social media, telephone, text, email, word of mouth, and skywriting (well..maybe not skywriting).....when I find art products, prices, places, and people I love,  I just have to share them with others!  It is natural to share those things I'm excited or passionate about. I know I've sang the praises of Dollar Tree, non-woven fabric, construction paper crayons, and a host of other things to all who will listen to me! They have made a major difference for me & my students!  It isn't something that is forced or done because I feel some obligation.  It comes from a place of genuine excitement & desire for others to know about these "thing" I've found.  

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;

I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.  

I will be glad and rejoice in you;

I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2

 A person newly in love tends to talk a lot about their significant other.  A song, musician, or band that has had an impact on you becomes who play for everyone when given the opportunity. A book that captured your attention & ignited your imagination becomes what you recommend or the gift you give to other book lovers.  

It is natural for us to share with others about the things we love.  However, when it comes to our faith we often feel awkward or embarrassed.  We don't want to offend or make others feel we are forcing our beliefs on them.  I have found that sharing what God has done, giving God credit, or praising him is a natural response for where I'm at in my relationship with him.  My non-Christian friends realize that is part of my life and that it is not forced, faked, or put on. They may not agree, but they know it is as much a part of who I am as being a dad, husband, artist, nerd, or extremely friendly. It comes from a heart that has been changed by LOVE.  

Back....but I've not posted!!

Old age, 3 kids, super busy.....

I'm not exactly sure my excuse, but I've not posted my room tour/bulletin boards, K-4th collaborative project...all that great start of the school year stuff?!

I'M SORRY!!

My goal is to post early this week with all the fun pics and such!!
Until then..here is one bulletin board! ha ha

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Glitter

Glitter is a very polarizing material in the art education world.  Love it or hate it....this shiny little annoyance has been around forever, and will continue to plague us for years to come ("Oh wait...did I just let my opinion slip?" ha ha).  I do understand its appeal.  Students (and some adults) love sparkle.  For many, glitter helps take something form ordinary to extraordinary.  It can be used effectively in some projects. I do worry that glitter can become a visual crutch used to distract from mistakes, dull content, poor composition, or lack of skill. I know that may seem a bit harsh for something as fun & innocent of glitter.  However, as an art educator I want my students to be able to create beautiful, meaningful, and engaging work, and if necessary....use sparkle!

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.  1 Corinthians 13: 1-3

I love this section of scripture!  So many times people confuse those who have gifts that are easily seen as being more important to the kingdom of God & his work.  We see the pastor preaching, singers singing, teachers teaching....and some how think they are more important.  God's greatest concern in our heart.  When we have a heart that reflects the love, grace, and compassion of God all that we do is important to God's kingdom & his work.  No matter our gifting, those on the stage, or those behind the scenes...it is all about living a life of love.  Picking up trash, raking leaves for the elderly, caring for a baby so a mother can rest, folding bulletins, visiting with the sick....are beautiful, meaningful, and tangible ways to share God's love with our world!  They will see his light in your actions...and the world will be a better place! What ever he has called you to do...do it in love. 

INFO ON DOING LOCAL/DISTRICT ATC SWAPS

Artist Trading Cards (ATC).....WHAT ARE THEY?!?

  ATC are baseball card sized works of art that can be trades/swapped within your school, district, state, or beyond!  They can be created independently, collaboratively, as a skill check (shading, perspective, color...etc), as a one day project, part of a printing lesson...and on and on and on!! They are a fun and versatile addition to your regular lessons.

Though their media/subject matter can be just about anything...there are some norms that you need to set to make trades/swaps run smoothly.  

• STICK WITH STANDARD BASEBALL CARD SIZE - 2 1/2 X 3 1/2
• USE A THICK PAPER OR BACK IT ON A TAGBOARD TYPE MATERIAL
• CREATE A TEMPLATE FOR STUDENTS TO FILL OUT ON THE BACK OF THEIR WORK THAT INCLUDES THEIR NAME, GRADE, MEDIA, TITLE FOR THE ART WORK, AND SCHOOL NAME.  
• GROUP CARDS IN 10'S & RUBBER BANDED WHEN TRADING/SWAPPING
• IF YOU ARE TRADING/SWAPPING WITH MULTIPLE SCHOOLS IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A POINT PERSON WHO WILL BE WILLING TO RECEIVE & SEND THE CARDS BACK OUT.  THIS IS NOT TO SAY IT IS A ONE PERSON SHOW....YOU NEED TO COORDINATE A GROUP THAT WILL HELP SWAP & SEND THE WORK BACK OUT.  THE LARGER THE GROUP(MORE SCHOOLS INVOLVED) THE MORE HELP YOU WILL NEED!!!  

HERE ARE EXAMPLES I'VE DONE 

WITH MY STUDENTS IN THE PAST

I KEEP THE ARTIST TRADING CARDS (IN BASEBALL CARD SLEEVES) IN MY ROOM FOR STUDENTS TO LOOK AT IF THEY ARE DONE WITH THEIR WORK EARLY OR IF THEY NEED INSPIRATION/HAVE ARTIST BLOCK

 I CREATE A DISPLAY OF THE WORK WE RECEIVE & HAVE AN EXPLANATION WITH THE DISPLAY SO TEACHERS/PARENTS/STUDENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROJECT IS ALL ABOUT!  

Instagram vs. Reality in the Art Room

I love for my classroom to be a refuge, a place like no other, well organized, and clean.  However, that doesn't just happen!!  It takes a lot of work & planning....oh....AND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME!!  I took these pictures and chuckled to myself at the Instagram "worthy" classroom picture verses the reality of the situation picture!  How many of you worry about not measuring up when you look at all the picture perfect classes on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook?!
 RELAX! YOU DO YOU! 
You need to be the best version of yourself.  You do not need to be a copy of your favorite Instagrammer, YouTuber, Facebooker, or Twittererererer(help me..I can't end this word!! ha ha).  You have a unique skill set, a unique teaching situation, unique students....and they need YOU!!! No one else.....just you!! You are enough!!!

The PBS Cinematic Universe?

I saw someone post a meme of some sorts about this the other day on Facebook,  and it got me thinking about how cool it would actually be if it happened (I don't think it actually does! ha ha). I redesigned the meme "ish" picture to fit more my aesthetic (plus I added a few more extras!!).

Who do you think should play Bob Ross if they do make a movie about his life?

Nasco Catalog

I'm one of  many Art Teachers on the cover of Nasco's supply catalog!! The art work of Frida is done by a high school student(I believe), and then they did an overlay of it on top of the grid of art teacher!  It is set up in a grid..how many times can you find me?!?  I can't wait to get the actual catalog, because I will be able to see it so much better (cause I'm not sure how many times I'm repeated on there!!).  

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: REST

I have a habit of burning the candle at both ends.  I do like to be busy, but I also have difficulty balancing all the "good" things that come my way. I just don't want to miss out!  This can get you in trouble if you are not careful.  In college I took many semesters of 18 credit hours, worked at least 20 hrs a week as a supervisor of a food court, was very involved in a campus ministry,  and was plugged into & serving at a local church.   At the end of one of my craziest semesters, I found myself awake for almost three days straight.  I had so many projects to complete, so many activities demanding my attention, and so many extra shifts as people often called off work at semester's end (so they can study or finish projects).  I had no time to sleep.  Even if I did, I could not truly find rest knowing all the work I had to do.  At one point I crawled up on the table in the fiber studio and tried to take a nap. I laid their unable to quite my mind or close my eyes.  All of the work, all of the obligations, all of the expectations...were all on me.  However, the time & work load were not as consuming as the pressure I was placing on myself. I was too stressed to find rest.  

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress,

I will never be shaken.  Psalm 62: 1-2

When we look around our world today....we find people that are under constant stress.  Some of which is self made (lets be honest...most of which is self made).  The stress steals joy, prevents people from giving more of themselves (mentally, physically, emotionally, relationally, or financially), and keeps people from being the person they were truly created to be.  God has not called us to a stressed life.  Not that there won't be stresses in our life ("In this world you will have trouble!"), but that we know where we find our rest! When we can see God as our rock, our salvation, our fortress....how can we shaken/stressed.  We can close our eyes and rest knowing that God has us in his hands.  We can find peace in this truth, and not by the power of our own making (which will always eventually fail us!).  

SmART! Teacher Sale

Nashville area teachers!! 🍎SmART! is having a teacher sale July 23!! If you mention me..Mr.E..they will give you an additional 10% off your purchase! They are a great organization/cause & I value their presence in Middle Tn!

10% off with me...MR.E

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: What's On Your Mind

I have a hard time shutting off my art brain.  I see the world through artist's eyes, and everything can connect back to art.  I'm constantly thinking about the art I want to create, lessons I want to do with my students, materials I want to use, techniques I'd like to try, themes I'd like to explore, and on and on and on! I've gone to bed with an idea for a work of art on my mind, but been unable to sleep till I sketched out my idea on a piece of paper.  I've fallen asleep with a paintbrush in my hand, and woken up and continued on with my painting.  When you are passionate about something...it is almost always on your mind (or not far removed!). 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

Have you ever met a person that never seems to be happy?  They always have something negative to say, a complaint to be made, an ailment to share, or a person to degrade.  Their minds are focused on the "bad" things in their life or the world around them.  They can't seem to find the positive in anything.  When you allow your mind to fixate on the negative....that is what you will see, feel, and experience.  They have become passionate for negativity.  There are times in all of our lives that we might feed into negativity.  We may go through a season.  However, we can not allow ourselves to go down this path. As believers, we have been called to think on those things that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.  Our hearts & minds should be on the things above.  Shouldn't we be the most positive, encouraging, and joyful people if we truly believe in those things we profess?  It is the filter we see the world through.  All that we think, all that we do, all that we experience should be in light of the truth we claim.  It is how we see the world.  It is how we live in the world.  It is how we interact with the world. 

Art With Mr. E Summer Workshop: DAY ONE

At the end of June we had the 4th Annual Art With Mr. E Summer Workshop. I had no idea what to expect when we first began this adventure, but it has been such a wonderful experience & I truly look forward to it each year.  We had 16 teachers this summer Pre-K - 12th grade.  Two of the teachers were not art educators, and it was a joy to have their unique perspectives.  I'll have three posts that will break down the days.  You'll see some overlap because certain projects were began on one day and completed on another.  Maybe next summer you can join us.  We have had people from 8 states & a number of counties in Tennessee join us in past years. 
We have such an amazing time!

We started our day with doing the silk screen project using nylons & embroidery hoops.  This is one of those projects that needed dry time.  The Mod-Podge needs adequate time dry & opportunity to go over it once it has dried to make sure it has good coverage.  It was fun to see the variety of ideas teachers came up with for their screen designs. (You will see finished images in the other posts.)

The next projects we created were masks two ways.  We did paper mache using liquid starch & plaster wrap strips.  I talked to the teachers about creating a main character from a story & then a scene from that story.  I wasn't sure what to expect after this part of the project, but was amazed by the end products (I can't wait for you to see!).

I asked teachers to create a poster that would be motivation/encouragement for themselves or their students.  Sometimes we don't make the time to create such things for our classrooms, and I wanted to give the teachers the time & materials to make something that was meaningful to them.

Stay tuned for the next post from the Art With Mr. E Summer Workshop.....

Dollar General Arts & Crafts Section

I've noticed over the past year or so that Dollar General has been stepping up the arts & crafts section! The products might not be professional artist quality, but they are affordable & accessible.  

They had watercolor sets, tubes of watercolor, acrylic, watercolor pencils, drawing pencils, oil pastels, and a host of other materials! I really am amazed at the variety.  Some have voiced their concern about where the products are made and what they may (or may not) contain.  We all have to make our own choices about where we spend our money...so be true to yourself in your purchasing prerogative!

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: In Time

Art has a way of capturing time.  It may depict a specific moment in history, or display the culture & customs of certain place & time.  Even when art is non-objective/non-representational it often has a connection to a movement or style that resides within a given time frame.  No matter how hard an artist may try to be timeless in their work, art is IN time.  This is something that should be celebrated.  Not a desire to be "dated", but that you left your mark in time.  

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends:

 With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

2 Peter 3:8

 Usually when I read this scripture it makes me consider all the omni(s) of God.  He is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient...etc. Though I may entertain these thoughts, they go beyond what I can truly grasp.  The idea that a day is like a thousand years is mind blowing. Our concept of time does not have the constraints on God that it does on us.  We are IN time.  Our days are numbered from birth to death while we are on this earth.  There may be times when we cry out to God about his quickness to answer our prayers.  We may shake our fist at the amount of time our suffering or the suffering of the ones we love continues.  The disbelief of a life taken too soon or the pain of someone lingering much longer than their mind and body could truly sustain. Time.  We can not control it.  We can only be in it. So what will we do with the time we are in?  

Each day we must seek the Lord.  Each day we must ask him to establish the work of our hands.  The author of Psalm 90 (often called the prayer/song of Moses) was not just praising the Lord, but crying out to him concerning the days a person is given...that they might be lived in a way that glorifies God.  It does not speak of only sunshine & rainbows.  We are to seek the Lord in all situations and give him glory.  He does not call us to only praise him & glorify him in the good times.  We are not promised to see the other side of the storms of life, but he is worthy in the midst of the storm to receive our praise.  We must make the most of the time we are given.  

So often we make excuses.  Tomorrow I'll read my Bible.  I'll serve at church after I get through this busy time in my life.  I'll share this joy I know when this rough spot passes.  I'll find time to pray later.  We allow excuses to rob us of the precious little time we have this side of Heaven.  We find reasons not to be living the life God intended us to live.  Our days are numbers.  We do not have time to wait or waste. We have today.  If we are blessed with tomorrow, amen & amen.  

What will you do with today to know God & make him known?

Where Are All the Bob Ross Paintings?

Ya'll...this is so interesting!! If you enjoy Bob Ross...this is a must see video!!

Summer Rest?!?

I know I've not been blogging as much lately, but don't mistake that's for Mr.E taking it easy!!  I have led a professional development in Cumberland County, had my three day workshop, and created decorations for two different VBS(s) where my wife was teaching! I think I'll have about a week before I need to start working on my room! We go back at the end of July! 

The first one VBS was called ROAR.

 The second one (starting tonight) is called Power Up.

Rainbow Find

For those of you who love rainbow everything...

I found these at Walmart!
Could be fun for decorating your room!