A word about my art club and why I am celebrating it. Well, it's on my mind, for one thing, because yesterday we had our last class until January 7th. And it's just a wonderful group of kids. They make my week!
I volunteer at a local community center one day a week and teach fine art to kids ages 7-14 after school. This year. though, a couple of 6-year-olds got in, and they are wonderful little artist--focused, attentive, and passionate about art. The class goes for an hour and a half, and all of the students use the time well.
During the course (November through mid-April, we use acrylics, watercolors, soft pastels, oil pastels, drawing pencils, colored pencils, and charcoal. We cover landscape, portraiture, and still life, work with Native American themes, use bamboo brushes during Asian New Year, and we study artists like Turner, Van Gogh, Monet, Georgia O'Keefe, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and William H. Johnson (a Harlem Renaissance artist). Here are some samples of their work so far this year:
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| El Día de los Muertos |
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| More El Día de los Muertos |
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| Plains Indian Themes |
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| Landscapes Inspired by Monet and Van Gogh |
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| Landscapes Inspired by Turner. |
I took pictures of yesterday's work in colored pencils (baby animals), but those are still in the camera.
Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this little "gallery."
I won't be posting until after New Year's Day. Until then, Best Wishes from our house to your house for a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year ahead.
21 comments:
What a talented bunch of kids!
I'm so glad that you're able to teach art! So few children have the opportunity to experience learning about and creating art.
I hope you and yours have a blessed Christmas!
What a wonderful collection of artwork! Enjoy your holidays.
How wonderful!!!! You're doing a great job, the painting are awesome, Elizabeth!!! Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
I'm so impressed with how much you're teaching them about tools/technique and art history. I loved art history in college. Maybe you're inspiring future artists and art critics! Have a lovely weekend! :)
Children are original naturally.
What a lovely thing to celebrate.
Merry Christmas :)
Kate, they really are. The kids that enroll already love art and their parents love art, so they are able to blossom, if you know what I mean.
Connie, that is one reason I teach this class. I'm a former classroom teacher, and I've seen what a difference art can make in a student's development, and now all the arts programs (including music) are being diminished in schools for the sake of test-taking skills. It's such a loss.
thanks, T. It is a nice collection for me in my online photo albums. But the kids keep portfolios of their work, and then on the last class day, they take them home.
Hi Cathrina, best wishes for great holidays to you, too. Glad you like the art.
Richard, I so agree. These wonderful students bring this ability with them. They already have their own slant on things.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Suzanne.
You do manage to get a very talented group each year. Lovely work. Have a wonderful holiday season.
Hi, Rosi,
Yes, I feel so lucky. They give me such a lift of heart each week. Just wonderful little artists and such sweet students.
That's great that you volunteer, Elizabeth. I know it means a lot to the kids. Your room and tree are beautiful.
Hope your holiday is the best ever.
Thanks, Sandra. Best wishes for a great Christmas and a good year ahead.
I loved seeing the kid art! Really beautiful.
Thanks, Lee. They always amaze me with how far they can go with a lesson.
What amazing art! So inspiring!
Thanks, Doreen. I have to say, these kids are inspiring. They are so focused.
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