Need a fast and fun lesson for Valentine's Day (or anytime, really) inspired by the artist Jen Stark? I created this one for my students and they started it last week. Some are working BIG on 12" X 18" paper while others are using it as an early finisher project and worked on paper half the size. I am also giving my students the option of using black and white, all warm or all cool colors (as seen on the left).
ONE CHANGE I'M MAKING: for my students using black and white, I'm going to have them paint the entire background white and then add the black paint stripes once that dries.
Since my art classes are 30 minutes long, we've been doing the drips in one art class, painting in the next and wrapping it up and adding the puffy paint on the last class.
I love embroidered earrings! They are lightweight to wear, simple to make and a fast craft. So I made some for Valentines and I thought I'd show you how! Here are the supplies you'll need:
* Felt
* Embroidery floss
* A Chenille needle or an embroidery needle (big eye, sharp point)
* Jump rings
* French hooks
* Scissors
Here you go!
And here are some other tutorials I've made for earrings. Just tap the link to view the blog post and video!
Check out to make these rainbow and color wheel earrings right here.
I need a project that is big, energetic, colorful and fun for my students right now. They have the wiggles big time and I think that lack of recess due to the weather is playing a big part. So I thought we'd use up some of our paint in our trays, use some of this large yellow construction paper I had in my closet and go crazy with some printing and painting. Here's the video lesson, if you are interested!
Here lately I've been in a bit of a creative funk and I've not felt excited or interested in pursuing my usual creative outlets. I love to sew funky clothing to wear and have an endless amount of projects in various stages in my sewing room but each time I go in there, I just look around and feel...exhausted. Is it that time of the year? Although, if I'm being honest, this feeling of disinterest has been going on for a while (gee, I wonder why) and it's starting to affect my teaching as well. Yep, I just said that out loud.
I know it's not a good place to be so I'm trying to do something about it. I learned a long time ago that beating myself up and shaming myself about things just doesn't work. It only makes me feel worse. So instead of feeling badly about not sewing, I decided to dry something totally different: painting.
I got out an old round frame found at the thrift store from my stash as well as some blank cards. I painted a dotted and flowery design on the frame just for fun...but then I had a lot of paint left over on my palette. So I kinda went nuts and started painting and printing on the cards. I got really excited about all of the colors and textures I created. Then I set up a little still life and drew and painted it on one of the cards.
I thought I'd just start creating one painting an evening before bed. I've been keeping them quick so I enjoy the process but...some of them I've slowed down and taken my time on.
I've been sharing the process on both TikTok and Instagram but got some requests for a longer video of the process. I also had someone mention wanting to share a video with her high school students. So I hope the one I created helps. For me, the key has been just enjoying the process, keeping the paintings small so I can do them in one sitting, using colors I like and creating a simple still life.
I have a lot of random things from the thrift store that have been fun to paint.
I'm not gonna say I feel so much better now or that I'm cured of my funk...I'm not. But at least I can say that I did at least one thing I'm proud of at the end of the day. Taking the time to create is something we creative types must do. Sharing my quick videos seems to have gotten some other folks creating too and that makes me so happy.
Last fall, my instructional space was relocated. The area you see above was my teaching space for many years as that's where maintenance decided to place my television which I use with my document cam. I never understood the location: it was close to my entranceway; it was a small space and it was far away from the view of my students if there were at their desks.
Because that space was too small for children to sit with one another due to social distancing, I requested my TV be relocated to a more centralized spot in the art room. It feels SO MUCH better to have it there (like, it makes so much sense, you can see it here). However, this once-beloved area soon became forgotten and, well, sad. So, over the summer I asked my dad, who was visiting from out of town, to help me hang some pegboard.
It was easy! We had to purchase concrete drill bits and screws and I say it was easy cuz he did it all. We only bought three pegboards but I decided I wanted the whole space covered. So I bought more and my custodial friend Mr. Joe hung the rest.
And then it sat blank and unused for the start of the school year.
In October, I finally figured out what I wanted to do with it: make it a black and white doodle drawing! I have A LOT of rainbow action in my art room but I like to balance it with black and white. So I used my handy dandy bingo dauber and went to town. Here's the video:
I work on things VERY SLOWLY meaning that I'll do a little here, there, take a massive month-long break...and then finish it off. That's kinda my thing.
On Amazon you can create your own neon signs, did you know that? It was a splurge but I spend more time in my art room than I do my actual home...so I figured, why not? I love it. Yellow is my fave color and it really seemed to pop. The photos do not do it justice!
So...what's gonna go on the pegboard? Aprons for sure. Dustpans for messes. And everyday supplies that my "store" (the large table where kids go to collect supplies) can't hold like Sharpies, pencils, etc. Not sure! I'll be certain to keep you posted. Thanks for letting me share!
