ATC 2020 SNEAK PEEK

Here is a look at some of the Artist Trading Cards from my awesome artists created for Mini Matisse 's #ATCSwap!

Incised Plate Printing With Paint Sticks

I will often use marker for incised plate printing with my younger students....with mixed results.

After trying the Sargent Solid Tempera Paint Sticks, I don't think I'll ever use markers for this again!

There are different brands out there (DO NOT USE THE DOLLAR GENERAL VERSION..TERRIBLE!)  of the paint sticks, but I'm a huge fan of Sargent! 

(I did switch to blue from the original purple above!)

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Afraid to Try

How many times have I had students "freeze" in fear of making a mistake?!  Usually this happens in the older grades as students become more self aware or become more influenced by peer pressure (Kindergarten students are never afraid to try anything...because they know they are amazing!!)  They become afraid to try new things...challenging things.  They do not want to mess up or be made fun of (not that such behavior is ever tolerated in my classroom).  I've found that if I work one on one with the students, praise their attempts, and reinforce the idea that mistakes are part of the learning process....they usually are willing to try.  Not that they are completely without fear, but they are able to work through their fear knowing I'm there to guide them and cheer them on.   

Do you know that "fear not" is found in the Bible over 100 times?  Fear is a common human emotion/reaction. However, just because something is common doesn't mean it should become commonplace in our daily lives. Now...there is "good" fear that is healthy, helpful, and can provide us proper perspective!  I'm not talking about that.  I'm talking about the fear that negatively impacts our lives.  The kind of fear that has a way of limiting our effectiveness for what God has called us to do.  The fear that can keep us from reaching out to people around us that are in need.  Fear that can convince us that we won't have enough if we give to others. Fear that leaves us frozen & too afraid to try anything that God desires for us.  We can push through such fear!  In Joshua 1:9 we see "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged...."  Why?  Because God knows we can become afraid & discouraged.  When this happens...we become ineffective.  The verse goes on to say "...for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  What amazing reassurance!  I know that when I travel/explore new places...I like to have someone with me that has been there before.  It gives me confidence and comfort.  We have that in God...he is with us & goes before us.  This truth helps to alleviate my fear.  We are loved, looked after...and not alone.   

Don't Forget... #aheartaday2020

 If you haven't joined in yet...it's still not too late!!!  I've loved the ones I've seen on Instagram & Twitter.  If you've been thinking about it...but haven't done it yet......WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!  This is a fun & easy challenge to get yourself creating every day!

Here are the ones I've created so far.

Dino School Pictures: 2nd Grade

In our ongoing dinosaur unit (in preparation for our dinosaur themed all school art show), second grade created dino school pictures. I may have them go back into them to add a bit more detail, but they're pretty cute after the first class time working on them! 

Cumberland University: 3-D Design

Here are the pieces created in my 3-D Design class at Cumberland University. It was a cardboard 3-D Relief project.  The students were to focus on PEOPLE, PLACE, THING, EVENT that was meaningful in their life. The variety of subject & style makes my heart incredibly happy.  My students come from extremely different "art" backgrounds...and two of them are actually English majors.  I am really looking forward to our future projects!!

Collage Dinosaurs: 2nd Grade

After reviewing "all the things" in regard to collage & landscapes....my 2nd graders began creating their dinosaurs "on location".  We did the BIG STUFF on the first day of this project, and then made sure all the details were AMAZING on day two.  

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: Healing

Art has a way of helping us process our pain, struggles, and emotional issues. You do not need a vast knowledge of art or consider yourself to be an "artist" to benefit from the therapeutic effects.  

Viewing art as a means of healing is very much like listening to music.  There is something that resonates within you.  It could be that a work brings calm and order to your chaotic world.  You might see a piece that somehow transports you to pleasant memories and happier times.  Others might connect more with work that meets them right where they are.  The art might reflect the chaos and struggles they are experiencing, and somehow.....they feel less alone because of it.  

The act of creating art also provides an opportunity to begin the healing process.  You might use a sketchbook to create a visual journal of what you're feeling and experiencing.  Painting might allow you to express your emotions more effectively through its tactile nature, gestural brush strokes, and emoting color. Sculptural/3-D art might allow you to "work out" the feelings, anxieties, and frustrations that are pent up inside of you.  

It doesn't matter if art is your profession, hobby, or something you've never really done before.  Art has the power to help anyone in the healing process

As long as we're here on this Earth, there will be pain, struggles, and emotional issues.  No one is exempt from these ever present parts of life.  If we try to lie to ourselves and others about them....we are denying a very real part of our human experience. We live in a world where "fine" is the norm response for "How are you?" 

I have to ask though...."Are you really fine?"  

It is ok not to be ok.  So often we see those in the church wearing the mask of "fine".  This answer is the denial of reality, and is the denial of God's ability and desire to meet us where we are.  In Psalm 147:3 (and all over scripture) we see that God desires to heal the brokenhearted & to bind up their wounds.  He is not surprised that you are less than perfect.  He is not surprised that you are struggling.  You do not have to figure it all out or "fix" yourself before you come to God.  He wants you to come AS. YOU. ARE.  Seeking help, finding ways to manage stress, and developing tools for being a more healthy you (mentally, physically, and spiritually) are important.  If we do these things as we seek after God ...we will find ourselves in a healthier place. Real healing is possible.  You will see it in the scars.

#aheartaday2020

It's that time again!  The #aheartaday2020 challenge kicks off tomorrow, February 1st!  Create a heart each day ( or as many as you are able), and post them to social media with the hashtag #aheartaday2020.  You can use any media, do them any size, create a theme for the whole month...or change it up!  It is just a simple, no fear, quick art challenge so you can get back in the habit of creating! I can't wait to see what you'll make!

Check out #aheartaday18 #aheartaday19 #aheartadaychallenge  

to see what I've created in past years! 

Hatching Dino Eggs: 1st Grade

How cute are these hatching dinosaur eggs my first graders are creating?!?! We are using construction paper crayons...which are always a hit! I have both Crayola & Sargent brand construction paper crayons.  I prefer Sargent because the colors are "truer"...and Crayola is more pastel "ish" in color.  The concept/vocabulary I'm focusing on for this

 project is overlapping/layering. This was both in what they drew & how they colored(overlapping color makes it brighter!) They turned out super cute!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST....
TWINS!!!!

This was totally this students idea!!! So amazing! 

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: STRENGTH

As a young artist, I attempted to find my artistic voice.  I tried on styles, colors, and media like clothing.  As I learned about artists & movements, I implemented those concepts into my work to see if they were me.  I applied different themes & motifs to see if they "sounded" like my voice or not...because I didn't know who I was as an artist.  I do feel this is part of the growing process for most of us..  However, there comes a time where you have to stand up for who you are, do what you feel is right, and speak out with your own voice.  That boldness does not always come easily, and can come and go depending on how secure/insecure we are feeling.  As I began to find out who I was artistically..my security was shaken a couple times along the way by professors that questioned the validity of what I had to say as an artist.    I'd eventually shake that off, and move forward with my work being truer to me and the strength I had in vision, purpose, and skill.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.  If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;  if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.  

Romans 12:6-9

We all have different gifts, talents, and skills.  As we grow in our faith, there are times we have to try out different things to see if they are truly us or not.  I've known many people that thought they were teachers.....UNTIL THEY TAUGHT!  ha ha  That doesn't mean they failed at being a teacher.  It just means they need to find that place that best suits their God given gifts and talents.  Sometimes we need those experiences in order to find where we truly need to be.   God did not give you the natural ability to connect with people & make them feel at ease...just to stick you in a tiny room somewhere with a computer.  God didn't give you a servant's heart that likes to stay out of the spot light...just to shove you on a stage!  God wants you to use those gifts & talents for his glory & honor...to know him & make him known!  When we operate in those God given situations as we were designed to do...I feel we experience a joy like no other & are the most effective for the kingdom.  People may come and tell you what they think you should be....or you may see others who seem to have it all together so you try to be like them....but the truth is...YOU NEED TO BE YOU!  You need to know the strengths God has given you....and do that...be that!!!  Now, that doesn't mean the outgoing/up front type person shouldn't clean up or do things behind the scenes....or that the servant's heart behind the scenes person doesn't need to step to the forefront at times....it just means the majority of our time we should operate in the strengths God has given us.  

(This was a devotional I wrote 4 yrs ago...which has been edited/changed from the original post)

Dinosaur Tracks: Kindergarten

My kindergarten was busy tracking dinosaurs today in art class!! I started by reading Mine-o-Saur in the reading area(great book if you have not read it!!). Once they returned to their seats I provided handouts with a variety of dinosaur footprints. After making their selection they drew the dino prints across their paper. They then used two colors of fluorescent oil pastels to color the prints. Finally they did a wash over the whole page using two colors of fluorescent watercolors.  I think they turned out dino-tastic!!