Pointillism Art Lesson

Today our homeschool group got together and we learned about George Seurat.

I saw a very cute art project for the kids using Q-tips.

George Seurat painted all of his pictures in tiny dots.

The idea was that the kids would recreate some artwork in tiny dots.

That was the idea. It was only an idea.

The kids had different ideas.

Like this artwork by Seurat. Aren't they beautiful?

Seurat used a technique called pointillism.
Pointillism=painting pictures with tiny dots.

http://www.kinderart.com/arthistory/qtippointillism.shtml

Okay, well I tried to teach the kids about pointillism. Most of them did their own painting technique and we didn't have Q-tips so we used the eraser end of a number 2 pencil.
The kids were very confused by this and most of them used the eraser to paint their picture.
Some of them asked for paintbrushes.
The nerve! Painting with paintbrushes. Who ever heard of such a thing.
Yup-successful art lesson.
But they had fun and could really care less what technique we were using
as long as they could paint a picture.

To make life easier, I searched the internet and printed out coloring pages.

It would have been too much for the kids to sketch their picture in the short amount of time that we have together. And the little ones like the recognizable characters.

Blues Clues was a favorite.

Tae decided to use the eraser like a paint brush.

Morgan made some pretty dotted fall leaves.

Tempera paints.

Do you remember that smell of tempera paints from elementary school?

Paint and paste. That's the smell I remember.

And greenbeans from the cafeteria.

But I digress.

Pretty Tempera paints.

Clover painted a fairy and told me her name was Princess.

And there were butterflies too.

And fall leaves with caterpillars.

Blue got a makeover.
Rather becoming don't ya think?

Rainbow Blue.

And fairies of ........darkness?

Are those blood splatters around her?

And little girls in sparkly red dresses.

Is this sun angry? It makes me happy. It's intense.

Like a hot summer day.

And summer flowers blooming in my garden.

Is it summer yet?

But in the end they all looked gorgeous hanging on the wall.

Happy Creating!

The Budding Chef and Artist

Today was history day. Morgan learned all about President Thomas Jefferson and how his home was called Monticello which means, "Little Mountain." She drew this awesome picture.

The kids also had Art Class Homework from last Monday. They had to search the house and find 5 things that they thought were art.

Tae drew the bookshelves and his African drumming stick.

Morgan is going to be a budding photographer like her mom. She decided to take pictures of the things she thought were art and then draw the pictures. She found the pattern in my prayer shawl facinating.

And she thought this picture of the colored pencils was really cool. I do too.

She even printed the pictures and then cut them out.

And then pasted them into her sketch book. She labeled and drew the pictures next to the photographs. She also chose my fall patterned quilt that my sister-in-law made for me and the loved the patterning on the bottom of an egg carton. She also picked out a wood emblem from her dresser.

Tae had a special day out with his Nanny today. She's not really the kids Grandmother but is a very close friend of the family. We've known Nanny since Patrick was first born. Tae went out to lunch with Nanny for his Birthday treat and then he got to go to Barnes and Noble and pick out his own book with the gift card that Nanny gave him. Of all the books he could have chosen, he picked out a Williams and Sonoma Kids Cookbook. He was so proud bringing it home and has already picked out many recipes to cook. He must have tapped into my brain because while he was gone today I was flipping through my Williams and Sonoma cookbook.

Morgan has a 7:30 am soccer game tomorrow and I'll be out grocery shopping. I'll post how I do with my whittling of the grocery bill. I'm off to cut coupons!

Starting My Day and Art Class

Here's how I start each day...sitting at my desk with a cup of coffee checking emails before the kids get up. Dixie thinks she is keeper of the pencils. This morning I started to work with the kids...I was still in my fuzzy pink robe...it was 8:15 and I was off to a late start with showering. Don't you think the doorbell rang. It was our oil man here to do our annual furnace cleaning. Did this get marked on the calendar-nope. Did I remember he was coming? Nope again. I quickly ran into the other room and pulled some grungy clothes out of the hamper from yesterday and threw them on. Meanwhile, the dog was plastered against the front door and the guy kept ringing the doorbell. I finally let him in (with me looking just lovely). What happened to courtesy calls before coming?

My favorite mug that the kids bought for me one Mother's Day.

The new bookshelf that is just for my books. Mine, mine, mine all mine. Did I mention it was mine? I had to move all of our posters to this wall on the right. I also refined our homeschooling schedule. Monday is Math and Art Class, Tuesday is Literature and Language Arts,

Wednesday is Science, Thursday is Sign Language and our Homeschool Coop meeting and Friday will be for History, Geography and Civics. We can change it around as we need to depending on what is going on for the week.

Tae decided to do some tracing and coloring today in one of his workbooks.

My neighbor Jen called this morning to let me know that she had a friend who was an art major. She was going to be teaching an art class at Jen's house only 6 doors down from me. The class started this afternoon. Sure-we're free and can do that. Anything to get out of the house on a Monday afternoon. Mrs. Perrin spoke to the kids about what art was and made some posters to help them out. There were 20 kids from age 4-12 so it was a nice diverse class. The little ones were so happy to have their very own sketch pads.

Mrs. Perrin talks to Ben about the Memory game. The game had homemade cards and the kids talked about shapes and colors.

Tae following directions in his sketch pad. Mrs. Perrin told them to draw a circle in their favorite color. Then on the same paper draw a square...draw lines in the square, draw a pink triangle. It was amazing to see how different each of their drawings were. Some of the kids had houses, some had faces and some were just abstract. Next week is painting and Tae is so excited as it's his very favorite thing to do.

Morgan, Tyler and Patrick sort through some cards trying to decide about textiles, shapes, photography, sculptures and ceramics. There were some really beautiful pictures from all over the world.

Morgan hiding behind her homework paper. For this week the kids have to take their sketch books and search the house for art and draw a picture of it. Morgan really has an eye for it. She noticed the shape of the stones in my fountain and a piece of pottery. She also liked the pencils on my desk. I'm excited to see what happens next week.

The House of the Lord, Mu-shu Pork and How to Know if Your Kids Are Happy

Patrick spent the afternoon with his church school class on a field trip. They attended the AME church today as part of their Neighboring Faiths curriculum. In our UU faith, the seventh graders are required to attend churches of different faiths and so far they have been to a Buddhist Temple, a Catholic Church and today the American Methodist Evangelical. Our very own Church, Westminster Unitarian, started out in this very building so the kids got to see the full history of the church. Sadly, the building will be closing as it is in such disrepair and over 100 years old.

Patrick had an interesting time there. He listened to the sermon intently this time and told us about the stained glass. On the ride home, as he was riding thru the city he noticed another church with a sign in an old store front. There was a handmade sign in the window that said, "The House of the Lord." Underneath that there was an old no-longer working neon sign, I'm guessing from the last owners, that said, "Chinese Food." Hmmmm. Novel concept. I'd like my church to serve Chinese Food. That would really be nice and would solve a lot of Sunday meal planning dilemmas. Sermon and an egg-roll. A hymn and some Won-ton? Prayer and Mu-shu pork? Yup-works for me. Patrick is 12 and also thinks burping and farting are hysterical too.

Seriously, you find this a lot in Rhode Island-odd combinations of stores. For instance, Bowling and Jewelry, Laundra-mat (don't contact me about the spelling-it's really spelled that way) and ice-cream parlor. Or my favorite....Weiners and tax returns. Ahhh Rhode Island.

As parents, we always question whether we are doing the right thing for our children. Is my screaming at them to stop Ninja fighting the dog going to damage their little psyche's for years to come? Will they hate me in their old age and put me in the crappy nursing home or will I get to go to the good place where the diapers don't leak? Will they let the grandkids visit me or keep them away because Grandma's house smells like eggs and mothballs?

So my proof came today. Just look at their artwork-it is always reassuring to me. No black paint, no guns, bloodshed, axes or dead people. See, all happy, happy. Rainbows and geometric shapes and flowers. Hmmm-I'm looking forward to group Bingo at the Nursing Home...and maybe they'll even walk me to the bathroom instead of diapers. I'm doing ok as a mom.

See, these two are Morgan's. Happy colors and lines. Nothing off kilter with this child.

See...more Morgan...rainbows, flowers and clouds. Self assured written name, puffy clouds.

And here's Tae's. Muted, pastelly colors. Got a few letters to his name. Happy.

More Tae, also rainbows and flowers and sun and stars this time.
And a happy face from Tae. He wanted me to be sure to mention the pimple he put on the chin and the two different colored eyes and the cross...for... the...nose. And the green...shaped...foot ear...and the "yellling mommy with the big mouth" as he put it. Where are my teeth? And I think my roots need to be dyed.

Now this is my favorite. First glance looks happy enough...I see the sun and blue sky but ask my 4 year old what it is. His explanation..."That's mommy with her hair standing straight up after she yells at us. She has 3 eyes cause she always knowed when I'm in trouble and the check mark is for her list of chores." Yes, I also know it says "eat". Tae likes to spell his name backward and sometimes "tea". It cracks him up. Sigh. Nursing home diapers....here I come.

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