Metro Nashville Online Student Art Show

Metro Nashville Public Schools usually has their annual Mayor's Art Show at the Frist Museum Every Spring.  Because of being out due to COVID-19, the did not happen event did not happen this year.  Our coordinator for visual art wanted to have "something".  She put out the call for student art work...either created during the school year or through online learning.  I brought home my entire K-4th art show to prepare before finding out that we'd not be returning.  I thought I'd share the images I submitted for the digital show.  If we are given a link to all the submissions I'll share it on here.  Our show was dinosaur themed (I'm so sad it won't be happening...art show is my craziest time of the year, but also my favorite!!).

KINDERGARTEN

1ST GRADE

2ND GRADE

3RD GRADE

4TH GRADE

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: OPEN

(FOR THOSE OF YOU NEW HERE...

EACH SUNDAY I WRITE A POST THAT CONNECTS ART AND FAITH.

 IF THAT IS NOT YOUR THING...MONDAY - FRIDAY I POST ON ART, ART ED, AND OTHER ECLECTIC INFORMATION.)

DRAMATIZATION 

PERSON A  "I don't get abstract art? Abstract art is stupid!"

PERSON B      "YOU’RE STUPID!"

People have strong opinions about art.  They will often draw a line in the sand concerning what they feel is art or what they may consider to be good art.  Though I do enjoy a good debate every once and awhile, I do not believe it is my place to "defend" my perspective on art/good art.  I do feel it is my place to "educate" others when the opportunity arises (in a non-condescending manner).  I come from a place of exposure, in depth study, and diverse training from a multitude of instructors from multiple perspectives.  This is not to say that my thoughts on art are"better", but it is informed differently than most.  When others express their opinions, they are sharing out of their experience, understanding, and perspective.  There is great value in this.  As an "art person", I should listen, ask questions, and encourage others to think about/process/unpack their opinions/beliefs about art.  If I remain open to what others are saying...they may remain open to learning, growing, and experiencing art.  If I am closed off  or try to shut them down, they will be less likely to open themselves up again.

Being open does not mean compromising your beliefs. Being grace filled does not mean you are allowing others to walk all over you.  In Colossians 4:5-6,  we see an admonition to believers in their actions and interactions towards others.  We are not called to be confrontational and demeaning.  We are not called to be finger pointing zealots.  We are not called to be callous spewers of religiosity.  NO!  We are called to be wise, grace filled, and conscientious to the individual.  This means we must be open to share our own story.  We must be open to hearing their story (without judgement or condemnation).  We must be open to give and speak the grace that has been given to us.  Our actions, attitudes, and words need to reflect that life and love. God is all about relationships.  We should be about relationships.  We need to listen more.  Ask questions without expectations.  Encourage others to think, process, and unpack their own journeys. If we live life this way...it will be amazing to see how God might use us when we're open.   

Throw Back Thursday: Chihuly

In 2010, Chihuly was on display at The Frist Museum & Cheekwood here in Nashville.  Our school district had a huge push to share the work of Chihuly with our students.  I was on the team that developed lessons, lead professional development, and created web resources for our teachers to use during this time.  I loved this display of work created by my students.  It was located at the front of our school where everyone entered the building.  What a "WOW" factor!  His work is suppose to be returning to Cheekwood this summer (though I'm not sure what will happen with COVID-19 and such?!?).  Might have to bring back some of these projects.  

Sewing With Mr.E: How to Make a Yo-Yo

I've had a lot of you ask how I make the "yo's" for the yo-yo wall hanging I've been working on.  So here is a video to give you the details.  Please remember...I'm not a "professional" seamster/clothier/tailor! So there may be things I do that are cringe worthy for those of you who have more experience with a needle and thread. 

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: WATCH

It is easy to allow outside sources to influence our inner creative dialog.  Sometimes we are seeking constructive criticism.  Sometimes we are seeking affirmation. Sometimes people offer unsolicited opinions. Whatever the case might be, if we are not careful we can allow such things to begin seeping into our heart, our mind, and our art.  We begin to think that our work isn't good enough, our ideas are not strong enough, or that we lack social media star power (a seeming prerequisite for any type of success in today's world). Half truths and whole lies cause us to doubt ourselves or compromise our artist integrity.   Our work begins morphing into what is trendy and acceptable to the masses. We need to watch what we allow to take root in our artistic lives. We need to watch our own thoughts, words, and actions so we do not feed into the destructive patterns that can crush our creative pursuits.

What does it mean to "watch over your heart"? Some translations use the word "guard" instead of watch.  When one watches or guards something.....they are attentive.  They know who or what SHOULD be going in or out.  They know who or what IS going in and out.  They are also empowered(given the tools and training) to do what is necessary to insure these expectations are accomplished. Do we truly "watch" or "guard" our heart?  Do we allow things to enter in that should not?  Right now we are faced with information and opinions as diverse as the fish in the sea.  We can easily allow the confusion, contempt, and consternation of this world to impact our lives.  We can allow pride and stress to have a place in our hearts.  Is that what the Lord desires for us? NO!  We need to be living the life God has given us.  That life is rooted in love.  What are you letting into your heart...your mind...your life?  What actions do you need to take to truly watch/guard your heart?  

Art At Home: Spring Drawing With A Twist

Here is a fun drawing you can do at home...with an outdoors twist!!! 

E-Kids Weaving

As most of you know...I have three children (6, 8, & 11). My kids are pretty "artsy", and love to try the projects I've been creating videos for.  My older two are TOTALLY into the circle weaving.  My 11 yr old already has plans for her "next" circle weaving and the colors she wants to use! ha ha 

 If you aren't sure about circle weaving...check out this post ( https://www.artwithmre.com/2020/03/art-with-mre-starting-circle-weaving.html ).

 I think 2nd grade and up can find success with circle weaving.  

What are you making?

During this time of "social distancing" and "safer at home".....there is a bit more time & opportunity to create.  I've had an idea for a fabric piece, and finally started working on it.  I've posted on social media...and have gotten the question, "HOW DO YOU MAKE THOSE?"  I'll try to make a video this week showing how to create the yo-yo's.
This is "in progress", and will have more yo-yo's.  I also plan on adding beads to many of them (I've never beaded before!?!?!)

I'll post the progress & when it's completed.

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: Facing Trials

(For those of you who are new here...I do a faith based post on Sunday. 

The rest of the week is art, art ed, and occasionally a proud dad post! 

As artists, we are opening ourselves up to criticism, unwanted opinions, and attacks. That is part of putting your work out in the open for others to see.  Though constructive criticism is an important part of growing as artists...how do we handle the not-so-constructive criticism?  It goes beyond just developing a "thick skin".  Thick skin can still be damaged beyond repair. If we do not have a clear understanding of ourselves as artists, innovators, or visual story tellers we will face trials that will shake us to our core. Knowing who we are and being confident in our vision will allow us to anchor deep.  Though the waves will come against us...we will not be moved.  We will receive positive and negative reactions to our work throughout our lives, but we do not have to blown about.  Knowing who you are will allow you to anchor deep.

This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. 

 It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.

Hebrews 6:19 

It is fair to say that we are all facing trials at this point in time. We have all been impacted by what is going on in our world & may be for the foreseeable future. The level at which we've been impacted is not the same.  Though this pandemic has equalized us in many ways, I can not claim to completely understand what others are experiencing.  I do know that those who have a personal relationship with God....have an anchor in this storm.  However, it is alright to wrestle with what is going on.  It is fine if you find yourself  struggling emotionally.  Just because we know God doesn't mean that we are spared from facing the same storms everyone else is experiencing. When we look at Hebrews 6:19 we see that we have a hope that is a strong and trustworthy anchor.  It doesn't say we have a problem free life.  It doesn't say that we are going to be free of trials.  If that were the case.....would we need an anchor?    Our anchor is in knowing the one who knows us...and loves us...and has a purpose & a plan for us! If we are anchored in this truth....we can face any storm, any trial, and any struggle. 

Cat In A Box Challenge

I saw this idea on Facebook last week, and thought it would be fun to do with my cat! It seemed simple enough, and I had fun coming up with an idea for my box. Never did I imagine how hard it would be to get my cat to stick her head through the whole in the box!?!?!  My wife finally came to the rescue with a spoon full of ice cream (the cat is obsessed with ice cream).   We laughed so much trying to accomplish this picture!?! Haha 

Art With Mr.E: Incised Plate Printing

Simple, accessible, and fun!!  You can do an incised plate print at home with just a few supplies! Check out my video!!  I'd love to see what you make..so post your work on my social media!!!  

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: Plans

Plans are a good thing, right?  We are constantly making plans in our lives.  As artists, we plan out our ideas for our creative pursuits through talking with trusted peers, sketching, or even writing.  Planning ahead can help us work out issues before they happen.  This saves us time, money(wasted supplies equals money), and frustration.  However, making changes or going in a new direction can be scary even when we plan.  Sometimes we would rather just keep on doing what we've always done because it is safe and comfortable. The risk of failure, looking foolish, not being able to actualize your ideas, or exposing ourselves as a hack can paralyze us from working on and implementing our plans.  The risk is worth it.  Even when plans do not unfold as we had hoped, we can learn so much from the experience....and yes....even the failures.  If we make plans and follow through with them in hopes to grow...we will always find success.

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  In those days when you pray, I will listen.  You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13

There are times we make plans based on others.  We make plans based on our own wants/desires.  We make plans based on partial information.  We make plans based on complete information.  We make so many plans.  Some of those plans are great.  Some of those plans.....well....not so much.
How often do we make plans based on what the Lord has for us?  There was a time that I thought following God's plan for my life would have me some far away land (and part of my story has been in far away lands). There are times that I thought if I followed God's plan I'd have to give everything I had to the poor, and then I too would be poor too.  These misconceptions of God's plan for my life happened because I was not living out Jeremiah 29:11-13.  Whatever God's plans for our lives are...they are good...they give us a future....they give us hope!  When we live out God's plan for our lives....we will grow.  It might not always be easy, but it will grow us and glorify the Lord.  You might be wondering how you can know God's plan for your life?!?  We also read in these scriptures..."when you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest.".  God desires us to come to him, talk to him, and listen to him.  He is not silent.  When we seek him in earnest...we will find him & hear from him.  Do your plans line up with the God's?  

Artist Trading Cards 2020

I usually create a display outside my classroom of all the artist trading cards we receive. However, with the schools being closed, I thought I’d share my cards here and on social media. Please let me know if you see your students work! Thank you Nic Hahn for doing this amazing event for so many years. It has connected art teachers and young artists from across the world. 

Cumberland University 3-D Foundation Plaster Project

This semester I've been an adjunct instructor at Cumberland University in Lebanon,TN (half hour east of Nashville).  It has been an interesting transition to teaching a 3-D class online!! Right as we were moving to online...I met with my class one last time to take pictures of their soft sculpture class & to pass out their plaster blocks to carve(subtraction method). They were due this past week, and I had some I wanted to share with you!

Art With Mr.E: Make a Cardboard Tube Creature With Me

Supplies: Cardboard Tube, Construction paper, Scissors, Glue...and you might also what to use crayons, markers, or other supplies you might have at home.

Be the Art

  

Picasso, Self Portrait 1901

MAKE SOMETHING

HEY EVERYONE!! What are you making right now?? I know many art teachers are out there working on content to share with their students. However, you must take some time for yourself too (Practice What You Preach!). It doesn't have to be huge and grandiose!?!?! It can be something small, manageable, and in a sketchbook. Just take time to make. It is good for you!!!!!

I started last night with the sketch...and think I’m pretty much finished(but ya never know!?). It isn’t big...just 6 in x 9 in. I’ve not created anything in this style for awhile...this is how I worked in grad school(but much larger). The “style” pulls from quilts & stained glass. I thought you might like to see the progression. Every artist works differently.

Color Blending Demonstration

Here is a demo to show you how to improve your coloring skills! 

Try it in your drawings or in a coloring book. 

Art Supplies: Crayons & Paper

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: What's Happening?

(If you are new to my blog, I do a faith based post on Sundays. 

 If this is not your thing...Monday-Sat you can find art, art ed, & other eclectic information!)

Do you know what a "Happening" is?  They are art events that have some aspects planned, but with room for improvisation & audience participation.  They also usually involve multiple art forms.  For some, Happenings sound like an amazing experience.  However, I'm a bit of a control freak, and would struggle to give up control and embrace the moment which could yield unprecedented artistic expression & creativity.  There are so many factors that go into a Happening..location, other artists, audience participation, and the strength of the original idea.  One or more of these factors could throw the whole plan off it's original track.  That is what makes a Happening exciting.....they may not turn out how you planned, but could be even better than you imagined.

Not being "flexible" can keep me from experiencing the blessings of faith as well.  I have an idea of what God wants to do...and how I think He wants accomplish it.  However, when it doesn't work out how I thought it should...I'm ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Some men took a man who was not able to move his body to Jesus.  He was carried on a bed.  They looked for a way to take the man into the house where Jesus was. But they could not find a way to take him in because of so many people.  They made a hole in the roof over where Jesus stood.  Then they let the bed with the sick man down before Jesus.  When Jesus saw their faith,  He said to the man, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."   

 Luke 5:18-20

The full story can be found at Luke 5:17-26.  The men who carried the man on the bed were on a mission.  They knew if they could just get to Jesus...that He would be able to help.  Their plan was derailed a bit by the crowd that surrounded the Lord...which made it "impossible" to reach Him.  I wonder what went through their minds when they were so close..yet unable to reach Jesus.  I know I would have been the first one to say..."WELL, WE TRIED GUYS!  GUESS WE NEED TO TURN BACK & GO HOME.  OUR PLAN JUST WON'T WORK.  IT WAS A GOOD TRY THOUGH."  Somehow they were able to see past the conventional way of reaching the Lord, and put their faith into action.  They knew their mission...and they were going to see it through till the end...even if it didn't look like what they originally thought it would.  I really would have loved to have seen/heard the reaction of the men who carried the man, the man on the bed, the people who surrounded Jesus, and Jesus...as they lowered him down through the hole in the roof! ha ha  

They embraced the moment.......even though things didn't happen like they thought they would.  We are in a position right now to embrace the moment.  It is a moment like we never imagined.  Things are not ideal.  We are faced with challenges like we've never seen before. At times we feel helpless, isolated, and insecure. We are struggling.  However, it is an opportunity to trust God.  We can see his faithfulness if we look to him in the midst of our struggle. In doing so...we might find ourselves growing deeper in our relationship with God.   If things always happen as we plan/expect do we ever develop the faith needed to live the life God has planned for us?!  What's happening in your life?  Do you see the opportunity of the roof....or are you too focused on the crowd that you feel is preventing you from reaching your goal?  

Art With Mr.E: Cartoon(ish) Eyes

Just a quick video to encourage students to be creating!

This is a how to on creating cartoon(ish) faces while showing mood/emotion! 

Enjoy!!

Tulip Grove Elementary Video To Our Students

Can We Talk About Wayne Thiebaud??

I'm so inspired by Wayne Thiebaud!!! 

 I usually see people using his early work. It is lovely & so accessible for young artists as inspiration.  However, that is not the work to which I'm referring.  I love his landscapes. They have such amazing color and atmospheric perspective.  I feel like I'm flying over his world as I view the paintings. If you are not familiar with the "newer" work of Thiebaud...hop on-line and do a search!
You will have a "new/old" artist to add to your landscape units!

Did you know I interviewed Wayne Thiebaud? YEP YEP!! Here is the link to that post from 2014.

https://www.artwithmre.com/2014/05/mr-e-asks-3-wayne-thiebaud.html

Call to Art: Day One

Today the Online Unconference, Call to Art, began! 

I hope you registered.  The sessions were wonderful, and I know I’ll take so much of what was shared into my classroom! I cannot wait for the next set to be shared tomorrow morning! 

Call to Art: An UN-Conference for Art Educators

I’m not foolin’....my session is going to be April 1st! 

If you haven’t signed up...it’s not too late....but it is close! The online conference starts tomorrow.  Great speakers. Relevant content. Attend in your pj’s! 

LINK

CALL TO ART: Online Unconference

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: Woven Together

I love teaching weaving.  There is an almost magical quality about it. The art room becomes quiet. Students are amazed just how quickly an hour passes. I have many ask to come in before class, during lunch & recess, and after class so they can continue.  Some students that struggle in other areas of art (drawing, painting..etc) find great success with weaving. However, it is important to continually monitor student progress even when everything seems to be going so well. It is easy for students to become distracted, lax, or careless when they think they've "got it". I must be diligent in monitoring my students' work.  As I walk around the room, I try to encourage the good that I see, redirect any issues they might be having, and challenge them to be "present" in their creating.  As I do this, students begin modeling the same behavior to those around them.  I hear words of encouragement. I hear offers to help those struggling. I see students reminding their neighbors to focus on their work.  It is a beautiful thing when a class that is weaving seems to be woven together in their own special way.

How are you doing? 

YOU....YOU WHO ARE READING THIS RIGHT NOW...

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

  I pray you are healthy...physically...mentally...and spiritually.

COVID-19 has changed our world.  We find ourselves in the midst of "social distancing" & "shelter in place".  This can lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection. As believers, we know that we are called to be One Body.  It doesn't feel right to be away from those we consider our family. 

We are woven together through a shared belief. We are woven together through a shared heart.

As we find ourselves unable to gather together in our churches, Bible studies,and Sunday school classes....we must be purposeful & creative in how we can spur one another on, meet together, and encourage one another in other ways.  We live in an amazing time where we have cell phones, emails, websites, YouTube, social media, Zoom, Face Time, Marco Polo...and a host of other technology. Hopefully you have been able to watch your church service online (if they have that available), listen to Christian music(online or on the radio) and podcasts.  However...those are more consumer based.  How about reaching out to others? 

Take a moment and pray about those in your faith community 

that might need you to reach out to them.

5 People to Call

5 People to Text

5 People to E-Mail

5 People to Contact on Social Media

How can you use each of these opportunities to encourage the person you are contacting? You might just want to let them know that you were thinking about them.  Do you have a scripture you feel God has been putting on your heart that you might share with them?  Do you want to ask them if they have any prayer requests?  Maybe you could ask them to share how they came to faith?  

  Some people might not realize how disconnected they feel because they have gone into "survival mode".   Reaching out could have a ripple effect in your community.  It might encourage the person you contacted.....to reach out to others! 

We are woven together in faith. We are connected & need one another.

BE THE THE CONNECTION

BE THE ENCOURAGER

BE THE BODY!

Art With Mr.E: Circle Weaving Part 2

Here is Part 2 of our circle weaving videos!  This video will have tips & trouble shooting ideas as you progress in your circle weaving.  I hope that you find this helpful.  If you are having trouble...please leave a comment & I will try to respond. 

 HAPPY WEAVING