E is for Elders

I wrote this post about teaching my "senior class" several years ago. It says it all ... so I am reposting the text. The art is new though. It is a simple street scene in Caran D'ache neocolor crayons and sharpie. This combination (see below)- always results in success for young and old.  I could not resist decorating this little scene with lines and whimsy. I love it when I am trying for a simple project - and allow myself to play. I also love the student wonderful results - see the piece by Holly (RIP) below.

T is for Triptych Three Times

Mine

7 years old

I stumbled upon (or rather Pinterested) a wonderful idea for a simple lesson that would work with my seniors. Divide a long narrow sheet of watercolor paper into three six inch squares. Triangles in one, squares, then circles. Use lines to create background shapes. Then color with Caran D'ache. The instructions were open-ended and the results were fabulous. Everyone 'got' the idea and worked well. Best of all, everyone loved the results. Aren't they beautiful?!?

Almost 13

eleven

So I decided to try with both of my kid classes today. It was a slam dunk with the young kids and a really great project for my sophisticated and skilled older kids. Oh, and I loved it too. I have done several of these now myself.

Senior Student

Q is for Quantity or is it Quality?

I have written about encouraging my students to play with the same ingredients to create many images. This is actually a variation on a creative thinking technique - brainstorming - generating MANY ideas - some which will be good, and others which we may discard and move on. All of which are worthy of consideration.

In my classes, I believe that I am teaching more than art lessons - more than techniques and fun projects. I am teaching creative thinking and problem solving skills. And I am teaching kids to learn to trust their ability to find  solutions.

I believe that creativity is as much about attitude and confidence in yourself as it is about talent. I want my students to learn that when we make art, we are not looking for one right answer, or one image that is the same as everyone else's. I want them to be able to look around them and see many solutions to the fun challenges I present - and understand that art (that any creative work) is highly personal. We are all different - why should our art all look the same? And, to be comfortable with the knowledge that it takes practice to learn, to improve and to discover your own strengths and particular interests.

Working in a group - drawing or painting and producing things that everyone can see is a risk. Yet in every class we share what we have created, evaluate what has worked, what could improve, and praise what we like. I want my kids to feel proud of themselves for  being brave enough to jump in and use the ideas they find in their own imagination. And to appreciate effort and originality in others.

To help them feel safe and confident and relaxed, I remind them that it is good  to generate MANY ideas; to test many solutions, to experiment with techniques or materials in different ways, to produce different results, and most of all, to accept that sometimes the results are not what you hoped.

I believe and I teach that mistakes are teachers too. We learn what we might do better. We discover that even work we do not like can include one square inch that is just right. And, sometimes, we put the trash bin to use. (Or, we recycle unsuccessful work into something new.) And we recognize that by doing things many times, by practicing and building skills, the quality of our work and our ideas improves.

The image on this page is from my vast series of sea and sky pics. Taking large quantities of photos absolutely results in several of good quality. Also, the wide open sky and sea speak to me of endless possibilities, and I like it.

G is for Great Big Markers

I have a group of adventurous artists in my 9 - 11 year old class. They are willing and eager to try anything I suggest.

This means I try to introduce new ideas, new techniques, new colors, new rules, and especially new materials whenever I can.

So, how cool was it when somebody donated a big of box of neon color great big markers?

We all looked at the box filled with heavy round markers, trying to figure out what to do with them. The neon colors seemed to call to the stash of black construction paper I'd been saving for something. I had an idea.

The students pushed the tables together, everyone got a 12x18 sheet of black paper, and some testing sheets to try out the markers to see what they could do, and we began to play.

The project I suggested was to follow my set of instructions to create a cool abstract - draw a straight line, a vertical from one edge to the other, add some circles, a curving line. Then see how the shapes and lines could be filled by the broad tipped markers, each of which, we soon discovered, created a slightly different texture, line quality and even depth of color. 

With the limited and somewhat unusual neon colors, and the black paper, the results were very free and loose, and fun.  The one on the right is my original, created as I worked alongside the kids, experiencing these markers for the first time as well.

The one on the top is an example of how I can't leave well enough alone. I had to play with this is in Photoshop. I thought about layering the images as I am learning to do in my monotype printing class. Here's the result.
 .

E is for Educator

I am an educator. I love to teach (art, writing, photography, image editing .....)

 I love to inspire students to be creative, and most of all, I love the moment when they create something that makes them feel successful. This is when I know I am succeeding as their teacher.

My students are 5 years old, or 12 or 87, or 94. With such a wide range of ages and abilities (and disabilities) in my various classes, a constant concern for me is coming up with interesting, challenging (but not too) lesson ideas to meet the array of needs I see, teach techniques and skills in an unthreatening way, and result in beautiful images that bring joy and satisfaction to the artist.

To find ideas, I take classes, search library shelves, websites and Pinterest. Also, and primarily, I do what I tell any student of art to do, I keep my eyes open for possibilities. And I keep my camera handy at all times.

Wikiup Reservoir

This summer, I arrived at a campsite on the edge of Wikiup Reservoir in Oregon - a stretch of blue and gold, light, sky and water.

Instantly, I saw a landscape project - simple lines, gorgeous colors and strong lights and darks. This scene would be perfect for both my youngest and oldest students. I photographed it over and over - at different times in different light, and from different angles, seeking the simplest image to use as an example.

When I brought the photos home, I did several sketches until I found the best medium to draw in - dry pastels were the clear winner. The effort was worth it. Students young and old were all successful in creating vibrant scapes of sky and water and light.

G is for Georgia on My Mind

Dahlia ala Georgia O'Keeffe

One of the most effective tools I use to inspire and teach my senior students is a PowerPoint presentation. I regularly gather information and images to introduce and talk about an artist or a style of art.

My students all enjoy seeing the presentation displayed on a large screen TV, and for me, its a great way to show, not tell, what we are going to be working on in class.

Last week our presentation was on Grandma Moses. She, like many of my seniors, lived and worked in a farm community. Her work is simple and accessible, and very appealing. They totally "got" her. I loved sharing facts of her life, including that she came to painting in her 70's, and lived to be 101. In my research I learned that before arthritis made holding a needle too difficult,  she created paintings in needlepoint, embroidering in thread on cloth. Lots of my older students are or were very handy with a needle, so this small fact made painting landscapes is her style seem a little more possible.

Lillian Pakos

Today, my presentation is about Georgia O'Keeffe (lived to be 98). I have found, whether teaching kids or adults, whether aiming for realistic images or abstraction, drawing and painting flowers yields great results. So, the lesson today will be to draw just one large flower to fill the space of our page, and design and color it as we like. I will provide a wide selection of single flower photos from my own collection, and see what appears.

My dahlia above is an exercise in limited palette, 8x10, acrylic on canvas. The other drawing, by Lillian Pakos is a beautiful example of the kinds of work I see in my classes.

Upcoming Young Artists Studio

Young Artist’s Studio: Elements of Design

by Ellie

Come discover how the elements of design (color, texture, shape, size, value and line) unite to create works of art. Young artists (Grades 1 – 5) will experiment with different tools, techniques and materials as they create their own work, develop skills and explore the work of famous artists. The studio atmosphere will encourage creative expression and offer opportunities for students to see and think about the visual world in new ways. 

When:   Eight classes, 3:45 – 5 pm
              Tuesdays, September 25 – November 13, 2012                 

Where:  Van Raden Community Center – Art Room
               8535 SW Tualatin Rd., Tualatin

Cost:     $86 for residents
              $105 for non-residents

All materials provided. Students are encouraged to bring an art shirt

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!

To register, contact the Community Services Department
8515 SW Tualatin Rd. (inside Tualatin Community Park)
503.691.3062

   https://www.tualatinoregon.gov/recreation/webforms/young-artists-studio

Upcoming Art Class for Adults

Adult Artist’s Studio: A Palette of Possibilities

Abstract Floral

This class is an opportunity to develop and build your drawing and painting skills and learn the design techniques to bring creative ideas to life. A variety of tools and media including paint, pastels, markers and color pencils will be used to create a variety of unique and beautiful projects. All materials are supplied

Adults 18+

Instructor Tobi Kibel Piatek is a lifelong artist and designer with a degree in Fine Arts. Her lively classes stimulate ideas and creativity.

For more information, please call 503.691.3062.

When:   Five classes, 10 am to noon
              Tuesdays, September 25, October 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2012               

Where:  Van Raden Community Center – Art Room
              8535 SW Tualatin Rd., Tualatin

Cost:     $88 for residents       $110 for non-residents

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!

To register, contact the Community Services Department
8515 SW Tualatin Rd. (inside Tualatin Community Park)
503.691.3062

   http://www.tualatinoregon.gov/recreation/recreation-programs-adults