2013 Registration

Sketch is Back!!!

I am so excited to announce that art classes will begin again in January 2013.  I truly am looking forward to sharing another year with you.

We will be meeting from 6:30 - 8:00 PM on the 3rd Friday of each month.  During this session of SKETCH we will be exploring the works of Kandinsky, Escher, Seurat, and Michelangelo, and we will have a lot of fun helping others at the same time.

The registration process is simple. Just e-mail me to let me know to reserve your spot, then right click on the images below and print the registration forms.  Bring the form along with a one time fee of $15 (per family, not per student) to New Hope Christian Fellowship at the time of your first class. Registration is accepted on a 1st come, 1st served basis and remains open until our space is filled.  Returning students will be have 1 week advance notice of registration before I advertise the class to others.

*NOTE* it is very important that you e-mail me as soon as possible.  This is the only way that I will know to expect you.

Hmm... I just noticed that the form says $25 per family - know that that is wrong.  The fee is $15 per family this year.  I will try to get back and change it as soon as possible.

(If you are interested in joining mid-year, just e-mail me and I can let you know if space is available).

Please be aware that students are responsible for providing their own art supplies for class. Many of these are supplies are probably already in your home. Click here to view the full list for this year's class.

See you soon!

2012 Wrap up Party

*** Our next session of SKETCH is open to guests. ***

This is a great time to invite family and friends 

to see what your child has accomplished this past year!

It is time to celebrate and we have a special guest to help us. Chalk artist Katty Avedisian will be joining us this Tuesday to share her storytelling and art. There is a special surprise in her work ... I can't wait for you to see it!

We will also be quickly reviewing all of the artists that we have studied this past year and taking a look at each of the completed community service projects. You will be amazed to see just how much we have been able to do.

In addition, the children will be given time to casually present their favorite piece of work to the group, so please allow them time at home to go through their creations and choose JUST ONE to share. (I understand that being in front of the group may be very intimidating to some children - presenting is not a requirement, but please have your child bring their art with them even if they do not plan to speak)

For this session you will need to bring:

• One completed piece of ARTWORK for each child
• Optional: A SNACK to share (no need to stress - Oreos or apples count!) 

This is going to be a fun night.  See you Tuesday, May 8th at 6:30PM!

Earl Legacy Park - flower planting

What a fun time we had working together!

I was amazed at the diligence of the kids, and at the beauty of their efforts.  The rock border for the flower bed was a great addition.   Fabulous job!

Andrew Wyeth Extension Activities

Don't forget to join us to plant flowers this Tuesday evening!

Here are the details:

Tuesday 4-17-12 6:30PM

Earl Legacy Park in Bedford

200 New Boston Road

Corner of Wallace and New Boston by Riddlebrook School

directions available here

Bring your own shovel/trowel if you have one!

Did you know:

Andrew Wyeth was a homeschool student from the age of 8 until he turned 18. He tells about his education history in this short interview with the Center for Talent Development.

Meet the Artist:

The great thing about 20th century artists is that we have many records of their lives as well as their work. Take a look at this short video of Andrew Wyeth at work.

Try it yourself:

Andrew Wyeth is known for his ability to create intense emotion through his choice of interesting backgrounds. Try cutting out a small portrait from either a photograph or magazine and placing it on different backgrounds. Plain white, a jungle scene from a magazine, or a photograph of your own backyard will offer drastically different results.

See it in Person:

Andrew Wyeth spent many summers only a few hours from here. If you are traveling to Maine soon, swing by the Farnsworth Art Museum Wyeth Center in Rockland. In addition to seeing quite a few paintings by Andrew Wyeth and his famous family, you will also have the opportunity to tour the Olson house, setting for Wyeth's famous painting Christina's World.

April - Andrew Wyeth

Are you ready to study a realistic painter again? After the abstract shapes of Matisse and the surreal qualities of Kahlo's work, this artist is going to be a big change.

Andrew Wyeth comes from a long line of famous artists, and his work is easy to find. Take some time this week to study the painting below. There is a story that goes along with this painting, and I'll share it with you on Tuesday. See if your family can make up their own stories. You might even be right!

Christina's World

1948

The Museum of Modern Art

New York, NY

We are going to be making pins this week. I hope you will all be able to join us to plant some flowers at 6:30 Tuesday April 17th. I will have directions available on Tuesday. There is plenty of room to play, so bring some comfortable shoes and join the fun!

To make your pin you will need:

• One 9x12" sheet of white construction paper
• One 9x12" sheet of construction paper (any color) to cut for a stencil
• Colored pencils
• Crayons
• Scissors
• Pencil (any kind)
• optional - masking tape to hold your stencil in place

See you this Tuesday, April 10th at 6:30 for class!

Animal Rescue League towel donations

The artwork that the children created this month was used to benefit the Animal Rescue League.  We placed several posters and boxes around town to collect towels for the pets, and the response by the community was fabulous.  There are going to be some warm, clean, and comfy animals in town.

If you have time, stop by their Bedford location (just down the street from the church).  They love visitors, and you might just find your next best friend.

Kahlo Extension Activities

Frida Kahlo's life was far from easy, yet she took as her motto "Viva-La-Vida" (Live Life). This isn't an easy thing to do. We all have struggles, and many of us become absorbed in those problems. How wonderful it is to know that we can give those troubles over to God. He is the great comforter and he has promised us life without pain forevermore.

Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Here are some activities to add to your study of Frida Kahlo.

Read:

Frida Kahlo: The Artist who Painted Herself. Written from the viewpoint of a young girl writing a report about their favorite artist, this book is fun and approachable.

Watch:

BrainPop did a great 5 minute short biography on Frida this past week. You can view it here, just sign up for the free trial if you don't already subscribe.

Color:

The youngest artists might like to color a simple version of Kahlo's self portrait with birds. And those who enjoy Ms. Kahlo's more surreal side can color a copy of her Roots painting.

Try it youself:

The obvious project when studying Frida Kahlo is to create your own self portrait, but to be honest, I really like the fun beaded necklaces that Eclectic Chica made during their Frida party.

March - Kahlo

Frida Kahlo is the subject of this month's study. Her art is well known for its Mexican influence and its sad reflection of the artist's tragic health struggles.

Frida Kahlo

(pronounced: KAH-loe)

Mexican

1907-1954

In preparation for class, please print the image below and hang it in a place where your children will be able to view it often.

Still Life With Parrot

1951

For a printable image click here

This month's project will require the following supplies:

• One 12"x12" piece of red, green, or blue construction paper
• One piece of white(blank) copy paper
• Oil pastels
• One toothpick
• Pencil (any kind will do, a drawing pencil is not necessary)
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Black fine tipped marker or colored pencil
• Paper towels
• OPTIONAL - old towels to be donated to the Animal Rescue League

This is the perfect class for animal lovers. After we complete our projects, the children's artwork will be turned into a poster and used to collect supplies for the pets at the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire.

See you Tuesday, March 13th at 6:30!

Gifts for Soldiers

Everyone loves cookies!  Our soldiers are going to be thrilled to receive yummy treats wrapped in the beautiful artwork that was created this month.

O'Keeffe Extension Activities

Learning to see beauty everywhere is something that many of us could use practice in. Even bones are beautiful if you can see them through the eyes of Georgia O'Keeffe.

Here are a few activities that can help:

Watch:

The great thing about studying modern masters is that we have wonderful records of their life. Take a look at this short clip of Georgia O'Keeffe describing her life, art, and work in her beloved desert home.

Read:

I found two children's books that I really adore. Georgia's Bones examines the artist's fascination with the shapes found in nature, and My Name is Georgia offers a brief biography focused on the artist's uniqueness.

Create:

Georgia O'Keeffe drew most of her inspiration from the plants, rocks, bones, and landscapes found in nature. Invite your family outside in our unseasonably warm weather for a nature walk, and don't forget your camera. Even the youngest students can hunt for interesting shapes and press the shutter button (just make sure to use your safety strap). Zoom in close to capture images similar to those that O'Keeffe painted.

Consider:

In class we discussed the verse in Job which reminds us that God created all of the beauty that artists like Georgia O'Keeffe see in nature. Take a few minutes to discuss this, and then head over to Nature Crafts where you can pick from many different nature craft projects to complete.

Pillowcases for ConKerr Cancer

The thought of children dealing with life threatening illnesses is tragic.  This month the children's artwork was used to create pillowcases for kids who are suffering from cancer.  Take a look at the ConKerr website to learn more about how the pillowcases will be distributed.

A special thanks to the Tiger Cub Scouts of pack 5 who helped with assembling the fabric.   

February - O'Keeffe

Our artist for the month of February is Georgia O'Keeffe. Her beautiful abstract studies of flowers and other natural items captivate our imaginations by drawing us into minute details.

Georgia O'Keeffe

(pronounced oh-KEEF)

American

1887-1986

Red Canna, 1924

University of Arizona Museum of Art

for a printable version click here

The materials you will need for this months lesson are:

• One 12"x12" piece of white construction paper
• Paper towels - usually these are optional, but they are essential this week.
• A box of Payons or other watercolor crayons (watercolor colored pencils would be an okay substitute if absolutely necessary)
• Watercolor brush - If possible, avoid the plastic brushes that come in boxes of watercolors. Instead children will have more control using a round brush approx. size 6
• Small baby-food jar or tuna-fish can to hold water (choose something shallow please)
• A Black crayon - regular wax version, not a watercolor crayon
• Pencil (any writing pencil will do, you do not need drawing pencils)
• Glue stick

See you Tuesday, February 7th at 6:30!

Matisse Extension Activities

We sure created a lot of tiny paper scraps! Thanks for all the help cleaning up.

Take a look at your beautiful work:

The Cub Scouts of Troop 5 have agreed to assist us with the assembly of our pillowcases for cancer patients, and I can't wait to share the results with you. The kids of ConKerr are really going to enjoy their gifts.

Here are a few activities to keep you busy until we meet again.

Read:

You might enjoy Henri Matisse: Drawing with Scissors, a fun collection of notes between a teacher and student studying Matisse. I also really liked Matisse the King of Color, a picture book with excellent biographical information.

Play Online:

Matisse for Kids is a fun interactive website. Matisse's dog, Raoudi, is your guide as you learn about the artist, his techniques, and his works. Collect items for your portfolio and create your own work of art.

Create:

Try making your own your own Matisse inspired wearable collage using the instructions from Plastr Craft. Note: you do not need to have this specific product in order to make the pins. Painted cardboard or bits of colored clay could easily be used instead.

Consider:

Remember the funny story about Matisse bringing his artwork to the bedrooms of his sick friends? Well, many (many, many) studies have been done to determine whether he was right. Does art does help us to heal? Some researchers believe so. You can read a bit more here about the pain reducing effects of art.

There is another kind of healing to consider too:

Psalm 103:2-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits--who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Blessings,

January - Matisse

Sometimes it is difficult to think about the fact that kids get sick. Our project this month is to help some kids with cancer by making pillowcases for them. It is a tangible way to reach out and try to make their day (and night) a tiny bit better. If you know of any specific child in need who would appreciate one of our pillowcases, please let me know.

To prepare for this month's class please print out the picture below and place it in a location where you child will see it often.

Henri Matisse

(pronounced Mah-TEECE)

French

1869-1954

Beasts of the Sea

1951

National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

For a printable image click here

Each child will be creating a collage, so the measurements on the "small brightly colored paper" pieces do not need to be precise. This a great opportunity to clean out your scrap paper stash.

Supplies to bring to class:

• Large brightly colored paper - 1 sheet 12 x 18 in bright pink, turquoise, white or black
• Small brightly colored paper - 2 or more sheets approximately 4 x 6 in bright yellow, orange, red or violet, or a combination of these colors - use what you have
• Green paper - 1 sheet, 9 x 12
• Blue paper - 1 sheet, 9 x 12
• Scissors - 1 pair for each student
• Pencil - any pencil will do, this does not need to be a fancy drawing pencil
• Glue Stick - 1 for each student

See you Tuesday, January 10th at 6:30!