Forget the Snow... Think SUMMER!!

It's not too early to sign up for Summer Art Camps! This year there is a new Summer Programs Blog that gives details about all the camps and you can also download the 2010 Application and 2010 Health Form directly from the site. This year I will be offering three weeks of camp as follows:

JEWELRY CAMP

for incoming and current MS students

June 9-12, 2010

9:00am-12:00pm

Cost: $120

Snack included

We'll work with wire, clay, glass, plastic and other materials to make unique beads and jewelry pieces!

ART CAMP

for incoming 7th-10th Age students

June 14-18 AND June 21-15

(I will offer different projects in each week, so students could sign up for both)

9:00am-3:00pm

Cost: $300/week

Snack, lunch and camp shirt included

We'll make paper mache creations, paint pottery, tie-dye T-shirts and more!

Click here to see pictures from last summer's Art and Jewelry Camps!!

Snow Sculptures and Other Creative Ideas

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am getting a little bit of cabin fever during this whole "Blizzard of 2010" debacle! I was walking down my street this Sunday and encountered two "snow Buddhas" that a neighbor made:

Here's an impressive snow sculpture of a car... oh wait! That is actually my car!

The big 'ol Buddha gave me the idea to challenge my students to go out and make a snow sculpture of their own! (If you actually make one, send me some pictures to post!)

Here's an idea- Rather than a traditional snowman, you could make a "snow snake." Make a dozen or more basketball sized balls of snow and line them up in a curvy line!

Here are some other inspirational snow sculptures I found online that might inspire you- we definitely have a enough snow to make these! Good Luck!:

Click here to get some printable paper snowflake patterns to cut out!

Click here to see a cool outdoor/snow art project using birdseed, fruits and veggies and dyed water!

Click here for a guide on building your own igloo! And, even if you don't want to make one, this site will explain how igloos keep people warm in extreme weather conditions.

Portrait Critique

Critiques are a wonderful way to get the kids to take a step back and look at their work from a new perspective, as well as get feedback from classmates about their artwork. They often get ideas from looking at the other pieces as well as from comments made by their peers. The critique involves much more than the relatively simple act of judging--of determining whether one "likes" or "dislikes" a piece or whether it's "good" or "bad". Evaluating the work is a difficult task and it's necessary for students to explain why they feel the way they do. "Thumbs up" or "thumbs down" won't cut it!

When talking about a piece, students are encouraged to describe, analyze and interpret it... They should make comments about what they see, why it makes an impression, what it might mean or how it makes the viewer feel. They are given a list of questions they should ask themselves: 1)What stands out the most when I first see the work? Why? 2) As I keep looking, what else seems important? 3) In what aspect or area is the work the most successful? Why? 4) How has contrast and value been used? 5) What leads my eye from place to place? 6) What could the artist do to improve the work overall? Specifically? Here are some pics from today's critique:

8th Grade Art Show!!!

I am so excited to announce an upcoming art show of the eighth graders' work at The Evergreen, a nearby coffee Shop located at 501 West Cold Spring Lane. The coffee cup paintings done by first semester students, in addition to those that are currently being painted by my second semester students, will be on display from February 27 through March 26, 2010! I am trying to organize a reception for the artists and their families and will post with details as they are available.

Fresco Painting in Art History

We painted frescoes today in Art History again. Read about the process of making the paint using egg yolks and powdered tempera in my previous post (by clicking on this sentence)! Here are some pics from today: