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!

Summer Yoga Inspirations!

I had a wonderful Yoga class tonight and was able to visualize my next painting. I saw a spiraling tree -- colors coming from the ground were Red - then Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet (chakras) and spirals and swirls all around. Then in front of it - another trasnparent painting of me in a meditation - in front of the tree.

I can never believe the inspiration I get from going to a yoga class.


I am working at playing right now (did that make sense?) I have finally started painting and am getting into my groove and just realized I think I have 3 weeks left of chillin' and the whole school marathon starts again. Well, I am ready - excited to see the kids and all of my friends at Sunset Ridge. If things go well, I'll be able to teach 1st - 8th graders this year! Cannot WAIT!

I will post the masterpiece when it is born... Now I have to get to bed -- my big beautiful poodle is laying on the floor waiting for me to snuggle up with him.

Shared Lesson Plans - April 2011

An art teacher professional development was held on Friday, April 8th, 2011 at Sunset Ridge. It was a small crowd - only three of us were able to attend: Dede Daus, Mary Soule and me...Ms. G. "Staff development" is always a tough situation in our district because not every art teacher gets to come to our meetings. This has been a challenging issue since most of the time, the "development" hasn't pertained to us art teachers. For the past 6 years I have worked in our school district we have had various opportunities to gather and every meeting has allowed me to learn many things as well as share issues that pertain specifically to art teachers. My Principle has been so supportive of these opportunities and it makes life a lot easier! In order to make our meeting more beneficial to all art teachers, I have decided to blog about what we discussed. Please feel free to share your input!

Part One: Lessons shared by Dede Daus

Blue Dog art project

Dede brought a step by step drawing tutorial sheet along and explained some teaching strategies for describing each step. She has better results when having the students draw the nose by saying that it is "like a parenthesis". The bridge of the nose is "reverse parenthesis". Make the nose like a rectangle with rounded sides. Ears to at 10:00 and 2:00. The body is one head length long and the legs an additional head length. The last tip - to draw the leg, draw a bubble letter "L".

She has the students make their "Blue Dogs" in their choice of environment and says that she has amazing results! You can recommend the dog be colored in cool colors only and warm for the background if you are integrating a color concept into the lesson.

1st - 3rd Grade art books -

Dede used cardstock and pipecleaners to create mini bound books for grades 1-3. She said they are mini masterpieces and that each child is VERY enthusiastic to take them home. Some of the things that are in the books include:

Color Bursts (see image on right)- Fantastic and easy idea for teaching color theory. There can be "color bursts" created in warm, cool, primary, secondary, analagous, complementary, monochromatic color schemes.

Summertime Fun! - Glue resist with construction paper crayons. Dede had the students draw a border with pencil then sketch a "Summertime" design including items like a flower, surf board, sailboat, sun...you get the idea...

Once the drawing is complete, outline with glue. Once that's dry, the students color with construction paper crayons. She said that special emphasis should be paid to creating a fun border.

More posts to come.

What did I do in 2010 artistically?

It's coming to the end of 2010 and what have I accomplished artistically? Well....hmmm..... dammit, it seems like I have been repeating the same comments to myself for 20 years - seriously. I look back on journals and I haven't evolved much. This year...what did I do?
...........................................................
OK -- I'm very proud of the cute little reindeer picture I put together which I ended up putting on holiday cards which I haven't mailed out....
Goal 1: Mail 5 cards - your work doesn't exist of someone doesn't see it.
............................................................
Cup o' cocoa is a really cute lesson -- I'm proud of that and I will work on posting the lesson online.
Goal 2: Write and publish lesson plan
...........................................................
I have gotten SSR to be rated #1 in AZ and up to #6 in the flippin' NATION on artsonia -- that's WAY cool!!!
Goal 3: find more helpers for artsonia

I have also realized that I don't like the "art studio" and have created a good space for myself int he loft -- Go Me!
Next time I log into this blog to create a posting, I will be so proud of myself! :)

San Francisco Anaphylaxis Adventure

I hadn't been to San Francisco for almost 20 years. I didn't realize I had become such a stranger to a town that I feel so close. I have been "near"....San Jose, officially in 2008 but I don't count that trip - it was rather uneventful.

My sweet husband decided it would be a great Holiday gift to go to the deYoung museum and see the VanGogh, Gaugin, Cezanne exhibit. He handled the details, I just came along for the ride. It was an overall very great experience to see the artwork, go back to the city and eat a Ghiradelli hot fudge sundae.

Walter and I always seem to have a great time traveling together. This trip was no exception - except for the breif visit to the ER on Wednesday, I think it went well. I worry so much abuot my hubs. He's been struggling for the past year and a half with PMR and I think that's why he ended up in the ER. We knew something was wrong the day after we arrived. We woke up Monday morning and Wally had hives all over his body. We had gotten in to San Fran, checked into our hotel, and gone out to eat at this great restraunt. Walter had Cioppino at a restraunt called "Cioppino's". It was excellent -- really....until the next morning. I ran to our local Walgreens after texting the two nurses I know to ask for assistance on what to get Walter. I decided that the Benedryl was the answer - got him a little hydrocortisol cream and he was ready to go.

Monday was a good day - we got on our cable car, ended up walking from Chinatown to Union Square. We went shopping...actually.... "I" went shopping. The Macy's had a great women's department and OMG sales!!! We then ventured up Market street to the Ferry Building. I wish we could have spent more time at the Ferry Building -- that's next trip. Then we walked to Fisherman's Wharf...where, by that time we were wet and starving and willing to grab anything. We came upon the Crab House -- and Walter, being Walter, refused to believe that he couldn't have crab so we ahead and ingested 3 lbs of crab - he even did a demo for me on how to eat it out of the shell since I'm unfamiliar to this ritual (I've been a landlocked indivual my whole live...)

Next morning, hives again....more benedryl, cream...we're on our way to the art museum. I guess he was a bit more itchy that day but he put on a good show for me. He seemed fine and that night, we opted out of the seafood feast and went for a regular turkey club at the Buene Vista.

Wednesday morning - 6 a.m. Walter woke me up and said "Camille, I'm worse". I looked at him and he looked sorta like Homer Simpson (at least his lips did - not the top of his head)... OMG -- OK -- think. Make-up -- really??? just put your damn clothes on and go. We ended up in the car, turned on GPS and found the nearest hospital. He was pretty frantic by the time we got there. They treated him quickly - it was not busy at all. He got an IV, more steroids, benedryl and pepsid and after a few hours, we were checked out of there and on our way to Walgreens (again) to get his meds. We spent the day in bed. I think I slept more than he did. We did get up and go out that evening to dinner - this time it was steak only - I don't even dare order seafood and get it near him at this point....

We finally came to our last day of our vacation. I felt a little relieved to be going home. I know Walter was tired and wanted some comfort and security. We decided since the sun was beaming that day, we'd head out to Golden Gate Park and see the Legion on Honor. We stopped at the Conservatory first, saw the choo choo train setup (very cute), then went to see the exhibit at the Legion of Honor. It was a sunny, beautiful day! I wish we had been able to experience San Fran with that weather the entire trip.

So - aside from the anaphylaxis adventures, I would say it was a great trip. I feel like I belong in San Francisco. Next trip - no seafood.

Scrapbooking as a Personal Discovery

Why?
OK – I have a creative thing. I love to create and yet I do it so infrequently. My main reason I don’t create – I think – is that I don’t have a deadline. I don’t “Have” to. I procrastinate a lot. I also like to collect ideas and tend to get overwhelmed. I was lucky to find an online creative community in January and it was just what I needed. I felt a little like a rip off artists. Not an artist at all – just a copy cat. I followed the projects that milliande created and followed her directions just to get myself going. I have heard that sometimes writers will take someone else’s writing and use them to just get a jumpstart so I though I’d try that. I’ve take pictures from other artists and copied them just to get painting. When I’m finished I am always amazed at how good I am at painting. I am a good artist – or am i? Am I goo d if I copy someone else’s art? Maybe I’m good at technique but not a good artists… but I am getting off track.
So – I followed these prompts like a trooper. It was the most discipline I’d had in a long time – then she had to stop. Hey, the woman has a life ya know. Once I had that happen I realized that I could do this. I could create my own prompts. Inspiration is out there I just have to go and get it.

The first steps I am going to go through is to dig up what I already have. I have a ton of materials, lots of books and a lot of ideas of my own just waiting to happen. I am going to write like I am now…then I am going to put together a few plans. I think I will sketch out a few layouts for what I can do. I may create a painting or a scrapbook page. I am finding that the scrapbook idea is scaring me.I get a little ADHD with the scrapbook because I start looking at pictures and then get overhwhelemed with how may I have. I want to do too much. If I could just select one I suppose that would be good – OK – I will select ONE picture and make a page around that.

To DO:Select ONE picture
Meditate on it. Maybe find a way to write up a script for a creative meditation on it…..put together a podcast???
Create a page around it…..
If it’s good maybe you can make a youtube video.
OK – that’s a start…it’s easy – it’s just one thing… I can do this…

Writing

I am going to commit myself to writing. I was listening to a podcast on journaling last night and decided that it is going to be the thing that helps me get out of this block. Just my short blog I did yesterday helped me flow into an idea.

I am thinking of starting out with some prompts that I already had worked on - then from there I am going to take some journals I've already started and start working on them. The only way I can get this project rolling is to just do it!

I think I am going to create audio meditations as well - and videos of me creating some pages...this works together. I can't wait....so I better get started. SO -- today I start with my first page - what is important to me..... what sustains me.

Addicted to House

I am watching House - thanks to DirectTV I get to fly by commercials. I find myself just wandering through days wasting time. I procrastinate. I don't know why. I don't know what to do. I don't know where to begin all of the brilliant projects that are just awaiting me. So I watch House.
I have pain in my left shoulder. I feel dull, like nothing will be great or inspiring again then sometimes something flies by me like a hummingbird in my garden. SO... I sit and ponder thoughts of what is importannt to me.
I have started thinking about doing a scrapbook. I thought that a new book called "Scrapbooking as personal discovery" could be cool. Each page would be an inspired page - or based on a meditation. Whenever I would leave a session with my friend Cliff I would be so inspired to create. I want to find a way to access that flow. That's what I want to capture. That's what I want...to write that book - to create that book - to create those inspiring pages...

Artist Block...no blog.... block...

I am blocked - and I think this will help. I just read something very funny. It had something to do with art cars. I decided, "Hey, I should write that down. That's amusing." By the time I remembered how to get to my blog site and log in I forgot.

SO...

Tonight was very nice. I hosted the PTA Reflections art show. The kids I saw today were great. I felt so happy to be around them. I also appreciate all the help I get whenever PTA mom's are around.

Oh..funny... My dog, Daisy, is in the other bedroom (I am in the guest suite) and I can hear her biting her nails. Yes, she really does bit her nails...like a nervous kid. She's so cute and sweet but neurotic. She's a lot like me. She's also got issues with facial hair (haha) and snores big time.

I do feel happy. I am happy to be going back to work next year. I am happy I still live in this great house. I am happy that I have started drawing a lot more and I am happy that I am still a great artist - although I'm sorta a blocked one... blogged too.

I have an aspiration to stay involved with my own art.

I hear a coyote howling right now - it's a new moon - very dark outside. That damn coyote probably ate my Ms. Precious Perfect last week. God, that put me into a depression.

Anyway, aspiration - I will continue to draw on my journal. It feels less threatening to draw in a journal. I enjoy being able to rip out a page - now I just have to learn how to get rid of it once it's gone.

I think that is what I will practice the next few days, getting rid of old art that doesn't work for me anymore.

I am still looking at the big black canvas but there are at least a few more ideas on how to fill it coming into my head. More will come.

Quit looking at that black canvas....

I am a night person - really... a very very good one too. If I didn't have to go to bed, I wouldn't. I'd reverse my days. The worst part of this habit is the inability to get anything done. So, as I blog here, I should be going to bed.

I've spent the day working in my art studio. Trying to FIND it... I have just enough space to paint a few things, journal and go from there.

I am working on a new painting. It's huge! I don't know why I chose to use the largest canvas I owned to start my first painting in years... Last year I created this enormous purple tree. I like working on it but I hated the end result. It just always felt undone to me. SO, I decided to get rid of the annoyance and just paint over everything in black. Now I have this huge (well, not THAT huge - it's 3'x3') black canvas. The big bugger of it all...what to put on this big black canvas, then it hit me. My Daisy dog just came into the studio one day and looked at me with her big smile - that's what going onto the canvas. I just have to find the right smile from her to work from.

That's what I'm doin'. Life is getting better. I look forward to finishing this new painting. If it scares me too much, I just might do a small version and let that big black canvas stare at me for another month.