Pinterest Board - Shiny Happy Art Teacher Ideas!

I love the visual format of this tool! Pinterest is my friend :)  Check it out:
http://pinterest.com/camillego/shiny-happy-art-teacher-ideas/

Technology and Art Education

I just went to my first evening of classes for a cool class using technology in the classroom. I cannot wait to see what it has in store -- it looks like I have found something to engage me and motivate me to do some things that I've been putting on the back burner (this blog being one of them).

So far, the biggest accomplishment I've has this year has been to create a huge bundle of boards on my pinterest site. Visit me there at:
http://pinterest.com/camillego/

This semester's art lessons are all going to be tied into Arizona's 100th birthday coming up in February. I have had a great time discussing how Arizona must have been 100 years ago with the kids. The one big surprise for me was to discuss photography with 3rd graders. I hadn't put much thought into the fact that most of them didn't even know what film was. When I was in 3rd grade, I remember my mom hooking me up with this really groovy orange, yellow and white 110 film Kodak camera. The funny stories come out when I tell them that I had 24 pictures I could take on a roll and that I didn't know what the pictures looked like until I had them developed. It's days like that when you interact with kids and realize #1 How old you are.... #2 How much I really DO have to teach them.

I am having a really great time embracing Arizona and what we have to offer culturally, socially and economically. The projects I'm looking at right now deal with the wildlife of AZ, cactus, sports teams...ya know. What I didn't expect was having the feedback from the kids to see what interested them and to hear what they think about Arizona. This should turn out to be a very inspiring quarter.

I think we're going to make it afterall...

It's Thursday - just before Holiday Break and I hope I get through the day without having to do a classroom meditation session (funny - I almost typed medication session).... 

I have been working on a very cute project with the kids grades 2-6 who are done with their work. The goal is to teach space, overlapping, collage and recycling (by using old holiday wrapping paper) to create a cityscape.  I found myself getting really engaged and now have to share what I did. I asked the kids to make the city pertain to their life -- make it all about them....so we have a lot of fun and creativity going around. The downside - the mess -- lots of little bits of paper all over the place. But hey, it's easier than painting!
So - enjoy my little Ms. G village....It's still a work in progress but you get the idea. I've had this gold wrapping paper lying around my front closet for a couple of years.

Silkscreen Made Easy from AzAEA conference.

I attended the AzAEA conference in October and snapped a quick photo of this process. I like the poster as a very cool way to present step-by-step instructions -- but the project is also really cool. They used inks from the YouDo line (don't know if i spelled that correctly).

Only bummer on this is that I don't know who to give the credit to....art teachers are so giving it's nice to give credit where it's due.

They used a embroidery hoop with tule as a screen. Modge podge was used to create the image. Once dry, you can use it to print -- cool and cost effective for the classroom.

Here comes the season...

I am looking forward to the upcoming holiday season but a bit of excitement and a little bit of OMG -- The worst part of this season is trying to get kids focused when they're excited about Santa. I have a few kids who don't celebrate ANY holidays so I am trying to find lessons to help keep it all about winter - not holidays so I am resigned to snowflakes, snowmen and snowwomen, cups of cocoa, ice skates, hmmmm....trite? maybe. Cute - definately.
I have a great link to my pinterest board for "Winter Art Fun". I also love looking on artsonia at some of the exhibits from this time of year to find some really cute projects.

The 3rd graders just started doing a holiday mug art project. We draw a 3D cylinder (or allow some creativity for shape of the mug) then add a "winter" design. Make sure to add the horizon line (to establish space). Outline the work with sharpie - then color details using white crayon to create a wax resist. Paint over picture with colors of choice and HAPPY. Last year I had the kids glue marshmallows on the top of the cup but it isn't necessary. These turn out really cute. Great sub plan - transitional plan or just fun project.
Check out this exhibit for more samples of this cute project:
http://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=344119`

Pinterest Board - Shiny Happy Art Teacher Ideas!

I love the visual format of this tool! Pinterest is my friend :)  Check it out:
http://pinterest.com/camillego/shiny-happy-art-teacher-ideas/

AZAEA conference, Pinetop, AZ October, 2011

I had the greatest of intentions to start blogging all of my fantastic ideas -- cool inspirations -- all that... Needless to say, it hasn't quite gone that way for me SO FAR this year. I don't know what is going on in the cosmos out there, but I think teachers are feeling a bit o' pressure. I sincerely couldn't get myself really grounded into the school year until the last few weeks.  What helped me??? Well, staying really really late in the classroom for a few nights and just cleaning up and attending my first art teacher conference. I went to the AZAEA conference in Pinetop, AZ a few weeks ago. It was amazing to be around other art teachers and artists and remember why I do this.

So here's a quick list of the classes I attended:

• Yoga in the art room!
• Finding my artistic voice: I was able to sit with other art teachers and be a student. We had instruction by our guest artist - who is AMAZING!!! The lesson she taught us I call "taking a walk through the elements". I will be uploading artwork and a lesson soon.
• Altered books - last time I worked on an altered book I cut my finger and got stitches...that was about 7 years ago.
• 3 in one class - made my first altered cigar box a styrofoam print and a grid painting.

The conference was relaxing - it was fun to room with one of my good friends - Lisa. I think both of us needed to regroup a bit and get some fire back. Creating does that...

The main thing I learned is that I'm over complicating the creative process for myself. Just DO - and the art will come. I think I've been afraid of taking risks with my own artwork.

One a good note - the Sunset Ridge artsonia gallery is booming! We are #1 for the state of AZ and #13 in the nation. I have had a lot of amazing help from some art room parents that make it possible.
Check out our site:
www.artsonia.com/schools/ridge1

Look for some activity now - the next few weeks I'm going to get to work on this blog. I spoke to an art teacher who said she had a blog too - she just didn't write much. She said that at the end of a day of teaching, it's difficult to get your thoughts in order -- at least anything worth writing. I TOTALLY agree. I'm just going to put myself out here tonight - and hope that I can continue with this blog with zeal and confidence.

Pinterest has gotten my attention lately - and I think I need to share my boards - good thing about Pinterest - you can just click a button "repin" and capture something. Not a ton of thought required :)

Check out my boards:  http://pinterest.com/camillego/

For now - happy teaching - happy art doing!