mama's boy

*photography courtesy of Bri-guy*

(Joining with SouleMama)

Art Room Diaries: Mood Monsters

One of my favorite ways to introduce kids to the emotional power of line and color is through this "Mood Monster" project.  


First we have a lively discussion about whether or not you can show emotion through lines or colors.  Some kids seem to just naturally know this and some are totally blown away by it. During  this discussion, I have students come up to the board and draw a "happy" line or a "confused" line, etc. If they haven't got the idea by then, this is when it clicks. They also have fun guessing what kinds of lines I'm drawing. 


Next, I show them different colors (I use pieces of construction paper) and ask them what emotion that color could portray.  Often kids will say that the blues and grays are sad colors while the reds and oranges are happy or energetic colors. I also mention that different tones and shades of the same colors might show different emotions, too. 


When you're ready to begin the project, each kid starts by choosing an emotion or mood. Then they create their monster out of lines and colors that they think would portray that emotion. I try to stress that every single line and color should be chosen with this goal in mind. I usually use oil pastels and either watercolors or tempera. 


This always ends up being a really successful lesson and my students often remember this concept and apply it to their work later on.  

So can you guess what emotion these monsters are trying to portray?

these days

These days, I'm ...

- going on oodles of spring walks
- yawning after long nights with a teething baby
- loving how much Levi loves other kids, especially his buddy, Evan
- working on syllabi and new projects for middle and high school art classes next year
- collecting the lines and shapes of Salem, planning a large painting
- hand sewing some cute Easter accessories
- getting ready for a crawling baby and lots of baby-proofing
- living in a house of busy creativity - spending afternoons painting while my husband works on a novel and brother-in-law records an album 
- dreaming about and with the Creative Arts Ministry at Highrock Northshore
- watching Brian read about a million versions of King Arthur
- excited for Katie and Matt, their new house and upcoming wedding
- looking forward to a week-long visit of a Yemen girl
- doing a little spring cleaning
- missing Rwandering Kimmie
- reminding myself that our bout of warm weather does not in fact mean that summer is here
- thanking God for a full and busy and blessed life

Sea Kettle Baby

Levi finally fits into this cute little onesie given to Levi by my friend (and cousin-in-law-once-removed or something), Brenna. :) It was perfect for those summery spring days we had last week. Isn't it darling? Just right for my darling little Sea Kettle baby.   

Unfortunately, now we're back in our winter coats. Darn it.

Thankful

Thankful for

- the forsythia in bloom and filling many vases in the kettle
- those summery spring days
- a new tooth, washcloths filled with ice
- hot showers at the end of long days
- Brian's fancy words
- Gabriel and Marie
- my handy brother's help in the basement, an afternoon with Sarah
- Levi's bashful cuddles and smacking lips
- truly restful sundays
- the Highrock Northshore Creative Arts ministry team...and an exciting first meeting
- my boys playing catch and Levi doing a bit of crawling!

my impressionists

(Joining with SouleMama)

Sea Kettle Studios: Of late

Just some quick abstract studies I've been working on this past week...they are all around 8x10 and acrylic on bristol. Please excuse the glare on the last two.

I'm not usually this productive. 
I guess it helped that I was computer-less for much of the week. :) 

(Interesting side note: I actually dreamed the first two paintings on two different nights and then woke up and painted them just as I had seen them in my dream. That certainly has never happened to me before..I wonder if it will continue?)