the class moves outdoors

On the second day of the plein air painting class we got our sunshine. When we pulled up to the trail we felt raindrops, but decided to press on and be brave hikers. I'm so glad we we did, because fifteen minutes in the sun broke through the clouds full force.

The big rock was a great place to paint and lots of fun was found on the little hidden beach below us.

Looking out at the river (which happened to resemble chocolate milk after all the rain)forced us to tackle perspective and the children made some interesting observations as they laid out their composition.

approaching the landscape in a new way (plein air class moves indoors)

Today's plein air painting class had to be adjusted because of a couple hours of heavy rains this morning. Instead of painting in the Wissahickon, we worked indoors creating mixed media landscapes. First we made patterned paper, added it to a collection of interesting scraps, and then assembled a landscape using stitching into the paper as a final detail. We even took a break to float paper boats in the giant puddles.

Ripping and cutting shapes from the landscape will help the students tomorrow when they look out at the landscape and need to make initial decisions about composition. Working with pattern and color very freely opened up possibilities about how they see color in nature.

U selected a piece of paper for her sun and when she cut it out she saw it was blue on the reverse - making an excellent moon. U said she wanted a way to keep it reversible, so J brain stormed with me about how we could make it happen. We came up with hole punching it and letting it dangle by a piece of string. It's these moments that remind you why it's important to get them working as a group; the energy is buzzing and they're excited about what they're doing.

Can't wait to get in the woods!

the pass around journal project

Above is the email received by those invited to join in a children's journaling project. Initially it went out to children who live in the neighborhood, so that they could easily pass it around. If you have interest in participating, send me an email and let me know. I've been thinking about putting something like this in motion since I posted, the Sketchbook in May. Keeping a journal or sketchbook is a great idea, and definitely not just for artists. It acts as one of the greatest tools in developing our ability to see instead of just look at the world around us.

After reading about some great Journal starter ideas at Diana Trout's blog - Hub Bub, I decided to adapt and combine some of them into this project.

The children will pass the journal around completing a page and then leaving a prompt for the next in line.

I will post entries on the blog every Monday.

finished double portrait

Here's the finished portrait.

I was kept away from it for a while since the last step and as I eyeballed it in passing I got rather fond of its looseness. When I went back to wrap it up, I wasn't feeling the detail I was adding - I stopped myself and will let it be.

When I'm working I'm fed by the magic moment, not necessarily the moments of absolute control. I enjoy the amazement of how one loose gesture can create the wrinkle around a lip that gives away the secret of a concealed smile more than a couple days of glazing would. At the same time I greatly enjoy the work of those who feel fulfilled by a different process, which illustrates a wonderful thing about art - art is witnessing someone's understanding -- how wonderful is that??

Now - Dinner/dishes, a walk to get water ice with the kids, reading, tucking in and then back to the easel. Deadlines approaching for three new pieces.

You can read more here, here, and here,

children's papier mache class - day two

Although the day was sprinkled with intermittent chicken and chihuahua adoration, we still had plenty of time to paint and make some accessories for our little paper dogs. One has an ottoman and the others have food dishes or bones.

They are all adorable and I'm thrilled with the fantastic colors.

The group worked so well together; I loved to see them offering each other a hand when they could, sharing ideas, and encouraging each other.

The next group of classes will be the plein air session in the Wissahickon, July 20th and 21st.

New papier mache classes will be listed next week.

children's papier mache class

We're back from the mountains - greeting the city in the grips of a heatwave. 103 degrees feels very different bouncing off asphalt. My garden is hanging in there and the chickens are panting and digging deep into the dirt to keep cool.

My first children's papier mache class was moved indoors today due to the heat. We did venture outside for a little bit to visit the chickens as we toured the menagerie looking for inspiration. We also visited the finches, the turtles, the cat, and the dog. Frida Paloma(the chihuahua) stole the spot light and everyone ended up making dogs.

These pictures are from step one. Tomorrow we detail, reinforce, and paint.

I love how different each dog's personality is - we even have a flying dog! More pictures tomorrow.

the scented geranium

The scent of geranium is still on my hands as I type this - a bright and invigorating symphony from the various scent geraniums I was just handling.

I have always loved the smell of my standard geraniums; the ones I'm sure we're all familiar with from the flats at the nursery, but I recently started collecting heirloom scent geraniums and I've fallen in love. These plants have been collected by gardeners for centuries, and the hunt to find new varieties is part of the fun.

The fragrances include rose, peppermint, pineapple, nutmeg, and lime. They all have a base of something decidedly "geranium" - never too sweet or perfumey.

The scent geraniums will not produce the big blossom balls that you may be familiar with, they have very delicate, demure blossoms. These plants are also known as "crane's bill geraniums" because of the shape of the seed pod. The scent is found in the oils all over the plant.

Right now my small collection includes:

A couple Pelargonium Graveolens - large green leaves with a lemon/rose fragrance and small lavender flowers.

Robert's Lemon - irregular, green, lobed leaves with strong lemon/rose fragrance. Pale pink flowers on long stems.

Snowy Nutmeg - nutmeg fragrance. Leaves are round and frosty colored. Small white flowers.

I have my city dwelling/plant lover friends in mind as I post this. I think the scent geranium is a wonderful potted plant to collect and enjoy that won't take up too much space.