THE SMART ART CLASH!

COME & WATCH THE ART CLASH!!
By doing so...you help the amazing
work that SMART is doing in our community!

PLUS...MR. E IS ONE OF THE JUDGES FOR THE EVENT!!
GET YOUR TICKETS AT THE LINK BELOW!!!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-art-clash-tickets-54634575486

WHAT IS SMART?

Nashville’s creative community and finest thrifters shop our shelves for new and gently used art and craft supplies. SmART! is proud to provide the community such supplies for a fraction of their retail price. 100% of SmART! profits benefit Progress Inc programs to promote the health, happiness, and safety of adults living with intellectual disabilities in our community.

Mod Podge Professional Development

Last week I led a PD for K-12 art educators in our district.  There were 20 in attendance....and it was a whole lot of fun!  We are blessed here in Nashville to have a ton of art teachers (close to 150...I think!?!?), and that allows us to have district professional development for those art teachers.  

I had posted awhile back on my blog about the nylons/embroidery hoop silk screening at tried out.  Some of the teachers in my district saw it...and asked if I'd lead a PD on it.  That was not enough to build a whole PD on...so I decided to use Mod Podge as my theme....I find a bunch of different uses for it in the art room.  Some "normal"...some not.  Here are the pictures from our day!! 

(Feel free to ask questions if you have any!)

It was an amazingly packed day!!  I was trying to provide a variety of projects that utilized Mod Podge in different ways! One of our teachers was like...."WHAT...ANOTHER PROJECT!!!"  ha ha
I like to give teachers a lot to work with!!!!!

Mod Podge can make a great resist....and you can select from gloss or mat for just the right look you want/need for your work! 

HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF THE SCREEN PRINTS!! SO COOL!!!

We used clear plastic plates for a "self portrait" collage/painting project.  Mod Podge makes a dishwasher safe version of its

Did you know Mod Podge painted around the edges of burlap prevent it from fraying!!

Here are some beautiful odds & ends that Mod Podge was applied to in some way! 

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Today

Today is a great day to create. When you are happy you can share your joy through your art. Life's celebrations can be commemorated through creative endeavors.  Dreams can be captured. Memories can be recorded. When you are sad you can process your feelings through your work.  If you are confused you can use your art to help sort out what you are going through. If you are angry you can deal with your emotions in a more constructive manner. Art as a part of one's daily life can be incredibly beneficial in a vast array of ways.  

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

So often believers think that they should have a "blessed" life because of their faith.  "Blessed" in the minds of many means free of trials, tribulations, burdens, and bereavement.  However, this is not the case! John 16:33 lets us know "In this world you will have trouble." We see in Psalm118:24 that "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  What day? THIS DAY! It might be your best day, or it might be your worst day. Life might be going great, or your world might feel like it is crashing in around you. No matter your situations & circumstances....today is a gift from the Lord.  It is in Him, through Him, and because of Him that we can rejoice no matter what life is "blessing" us with.  He is enough for today...and everyday.

Mayor's Art Show 2019

Here are this year's picks for the Mayor's Art Show!  I'm super proud of my TGE artists!!

(The Mayor's Art Show is a district art show held at the Frist Museum in downtown Nashville.  We are allowed to select 2 works per grade level. The Mayor attends opening night, and walks around and has pictures with the students!  It is a really awesome event!!)
ps...my mats & art aren't crooked...my picture taking is!! ha ha

Kindergarten

1st Grade,

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: Excellence

Excellence doesn't mean perfection. That is unachievable. Excellence is the pursuit & implementation  of one's personal best.  This will look different at different stages of your artistic development. Shouldn't this be the goal of every artist. Who wouldn't want their work to be of great quality, merit, value, and distinction. I can't imagine someone striving for mediocrity. As an artist, isn't one of your goals for others to see, experience, ponder, and discuss your creative pursuits? Excellence in your field can open up more opportunities for others to see the work you are creating. 

But since you excel in everything -in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you - see that you also excel in this grace of giving.  2 Corinthians 8:7

I've met many people who aren't striving for excellence in their faith walk. The reasons are varied.  The results are similar.  An unfulfilling faith experience. We all go through seasons where this can be said of us.  However, we can not live our whole life in this season. Not only is it detrimental to our  spiritual development, but it limits our impact on the world around us. In our growing...we have the ability to give. We don't have to be spiritual gaints to make a difference in the life of another, but it is difficult to give when we are running on empty. Striving for excellence in our faith is not an attempt to earn God's favor/blessing, but a reaction to the love & grace that has been given to us. As we know this & live this truth out...we can give freely what has been given us. 

K-4th Art Show: Powered by....

THIS ART SHOW IS POWERED BY....

SPEEDWAY UNSWEET TEA!! 

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I love unsweet tea!!  That is my caffeine of choice.
(I was so busy the whole day of the art show...I never finished the second one!!) 

Aliens Love Underpants: Kindergarten

I promised my kindergarten a painting day.....and they were SO EXCITED!  

We started the lesson by reading Aliens Love Underpants.  If you don't know this series of books...there is Pirates Love Underpants, and Dinos Love Underpants as well!!! They are a kindergarten favorite.  I mean...who won't chuckle when hearing the word UNDERPANTS said again and again!! ha ha  Plus, when you are creating aliens...students can really let their imagination run wild!