What do we do when we're done?

"Ms Melanie, I'm done."

Those are quite possibly my second-least favorite words in the universe; second-least only because they are always followed, immediately, by my very least favorites:

"What do I do now?"

I don't think I'm alone in this. I expect art teachers the world over agree. "But, I can't draw a _________." doesn't even come close.

So what do we do when we're done? Nobody ever seems to finish their art at the same time. Every kid has a different pace and kids in general do not like to wait. 

Thus, the I'm Done Center!

Ta da!

I created this center for the older kids. Here they can find plenty of artistic things to do to fill time. Their sketchbooks are available along with lots of ideas of things to draw and how to draw them. Art related puzzles and creative activities are there too.

Pumpkin Sketch  - Age 11

The I'm Done Center has been a BIG hit with the older crowd since it was introduced last month.  Before it was added, the cool kids congregated around the Chalk Table. 

The ever popular, often dusty Chalk Table.

If you're not a fan of chalk dust, there are always dry erase boards and plenty of paper and crayons for free drawing.

Tandem drawing in pink and purple with Crocs.

The younger kids have favorite "I'm done" activities too. These are more often social endeavors. Sharing and turn-taking are skills we use in the art studio daily. 

Wiki Stix are a fun way to "draw" or create 3-D art.

Wiki-Stix "Drawing"

Gifts of fabulous jewelry are appreciated.

Cardboard "blocks" can be used to create anything from Star Wars T.I.E. Fighters to abstract sculptures. (More often, the former. *sigh*)

This sculpture was a group effort,

Art-related puzzles are available for all age levels

We have a selection of artist finger puppets. You have to know the puppet's name before you can play with him/her.

You never know when a puppet show will break out in the middle of art class.

And since the puppets have magnets in their heads,
we sometimes mix a little science with our art.

You can make art from anything.

Playdough is a go-to activity, but creative minds don't even need the play dough. The tools are enough.

And finally, here is Ms Melanie's favorite answer to "What do I do now?": 

"Read a book."

 

Time to Register for Camp!

Here we go again! Summer camp info is available below (for snazzy, jazzy flyer) and 

in the Art Camps tab to the right.  Registration is OPEN!

FEBRUARY in the Studio

ICE CREAM with Wayne Thiebaud: We started off the month by finishing our yummy, pop art treats. Oil pastel details were added to the painted cones.

Art Words: Pop Art

Hungry yet?

HATS AND EYES with Rene Magritte: I found a marvelous book at the VMFA called Magritte's Marvelous Hat, in which the famous Surrealist painter finds that his bowler hat is the key to his painting success. With his hat he paints like a master. When he looses it, his ability to paint is lost too. The PreK/K classes tried on lots of art hats to see if the same would be true for them. Sure enough, they felt their art was better when created while wearing a hat. The Elementary classes used Magritte's famous painting The False Mirror as inspiration for their own surrealist takes on what can be seen in the mind's eye.

Art Words: Surrealism

Everything is better in a hat.

OP ART HEARTS: Around the middle of the month our thoughts turned to love and we created various heart artwork. We made hearts that seem to pop out at you, hearts that seem to move, heart-shaped valentines and used hearts as stencils for fingerpainting. It was a lovely week!

Art Words: Op Art, Stencil

Valentines for our valentines.

COLLAGES after Reggie Laurent: Atlanta artist Reggie Laurent uses layer upon layer of paint to create his colorful, abstract shape paintings. We didn't have quite that much time, so we used colorful paper shapes and oil pastels for a similar effect.

Art Words: Amorphous/Organic/Free Form Shape

Hearts make another appearance,

ABSTRACTS after Sarah Morris: The last week of classes was catch up time for the older kids, but the PreK/K classes continued their focus on shape with Sarah Morris. Tape was used to block off rectilinear shapes which were then filled with bright oil pastels.

Art Words: Resist

Busy.

AND... the Art Explorers were busy as usual! So... very...busy. We created an extensive project using yarn relief then earth tone paint, then sponged on gold and silver accents. The aforementioned finger paint hearts were joined by finger paint trees and we also started a work based on Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night. And we did some of it in hats!