Zany Scientists! Exploding Beakers and Floating Chalk Prints!

Yesterday we did one of my favorite art projects so far: Exploding Beakers! We followed that up with a fun science experiment of making floating chalk prints. In case you missed the fun, no worries, here's the video:

In case you need a list of supplies, here you go:

 If you want to join the fun today, you can do so here on Facebook or here on Instagram. Be sure and subscribe here on YouTube so you can keep up with all of our Zany Scientist happenings! You can also catch all of the Robot Week videos there too! 

Zany Scientists! Scientist Selfie and Bubble Prints!

 What a fun turnout we had yesterday for Zany Scientists Week! In case you missed it, I'm doing a LIVE art and science class every day this week! You can join the live class two ways: my Facebook or my Instagram. And, if you miss any of the live art classes, not to worry as they all get posted to my YouTube channel! I have a ton of art makin' videos there and upload new ones often so you might want to subscribe. If you missed any of Robot Week, you can find all of the videos there!  

Watch here!

Here is the short list of supplies needed to follow along with this art and science activity. And if you'd like to join the fun today, here's what you'll need: 

Hope to see you there! 

Zany Scientist Week! A Combination of Art AND Science Class!

 Well, hello, y'all! I had so much fun creating robots with you during Robot Week (all videos from last week are now up and able for you to view on my YouTube channel!) that I'm excited to share the theme for this week: Zany Scientists!

If you notice, I even decided to step it up a notch by combining art AND science. That's right, every day, I'll go LIVE on my Facebook and my Instagram and share with you both an art project and a science experiment! Because I know we are all trying to conserve the materials we have, you can either join in on the experiment or simply watch. Because the videos will be archived on my YouTube channel, you can always travel back in time and rewatch the fun. 

 Again, I'm using simple supplies that I hope you can find around the home. But, if not, know that you can swap out supplies with whatever you have on hand. No paper? How about newspaper or old magazines? No glue? What about a glue stick? Art making is all about thinking outside the box which is exactly what we'll be doing this week!

 Because some of our experiments are a little messy, look around your house for a cookie sheet or some sort of tray with a lip to it. This will help to contain any mess you make. Also, consider doing this portion of the art making outside! It's good to get a little fresh air and keep them mess at bay.

 The best part about creating is having fun. All of these projects were created with fun in mind. Don't worry about being perfect because there is no such thing! Just focus on the fun, y'all!

 We'll end our week with some clay that you can use over and again! This should keep you busy and creating until next the following week. 

Mark your calendars, y'all! And I hope to see you there. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this FREE coloring sheet! 

Robot Week: Let's Make Collagraph Robots and Pull Prints!

Hi, friends! In this blog post, I'll be sharing two projects from Robot Week because one leads right into the other! On Wednesday, we used cereal boxes, scissors and glue to create a collagraph that we used to create a rubbing. In case you don't know what a collagraph is or how to make one, you should pull up a chair, grab your supplies and join me here: 

Yesterday we did something super cool with our collagraphs and that was print with them! It was pure magic and so fun to do it live on Facebook and Instagram just to hear everyone's reaction! 

I hope you'll join us today! Here's what you'll need:

See you real soon!

Robot Week! Let's Draw 3-D Robots!

Robot Week continues! In case you missed out on our LIVE art class (which happens every weekday at 11am CT right here and here), all robot videos are archived on my YouTube channel! You should totally subscribe because new videos drop at random times because yours truly is mighty random. Here's our video from Tuesday: Drawing 3-D Robots!

I hope you enjoy! Today's robot supplies are listed right below. I hope to see you real soon.

For Monday's video, be sure and check out this post. And for how to draw sheets, coloring sheets, writing prompts and more, go here! 

Robot Week! Let's Draw Robots with Shapes and Markers!

In case you missed the news...it's Robot Week! All week I am going LIVE at 11am CST drawing, creating, printing and making robots with YOU. You can watch me LIVE here or here! However, if you miss the video or want to create with me all over again, I've got the videos on my YouTube channel. Here you go: 

You might want to subscribe so you can keep up with the weekly videos! 

Initially, I was only going to go LIVE a couple of days but I've had such an overwhelming response from artists all over the world, I decided to keep it going! Here's the line up for the rest of the week:

 Simple supplies for tomorrow's LIVE!

 Then keep that creation handy for Thursday! We'll be using it for marker printing!

And on Friday, we'll create a collage! No paper? No problem! Let's recycle some old envelopes with fun patterns and designs!

Parents and teachers, looking for an extension? Here you go! Some writing prompts for when the robots are complete! 

Also, for free PDFs with a coloring sheet, how to draw robots and an idea sheet, go here! 

Robot Week! Home-Based Art Making

Knowing that so many of us are teaching and creating remotely, I thought it would be fun to do a little art teacherin' online. I shared yesterday all of the resources of mine that are free and able for you to use if you need to prepare art lessons for at home artists. However, I wanted to create something fresh and new and do a little LIVE art teaching as well. So...here's what I came up with: Robot Week!

What's Robot Week? Well, it will be a daily dose of creating centered around the theme of Robots. I'll kick it off on Monday this this lesson that I'll be doing LIVE but I will also attempt to archive to my YouTube channel. 

 For this first LIVE, I'll probably go for about 30-45 minutes. We'll just play it by ear. If you and your young artists can make it, great! 
You can join me on my Facebook page here or on my Instagram here!

Big thanks to our sponsor Dixon Ticonderoga for joining the fun!

Free How to draw Robots resource for you! To practice, inspire or color! 

 In my art room, we call these Idea Sheets. This one is yours here!

Mitch said I should make y'all a coloring sheet...so here you go! 

On Tuesday, I won't be live but I will be posting a video on how to create robots that look more three-dimensional on my YouTube channel! Again, simple supplies can be used or swapped out for whatever you have on hand. 

I am super stoked about this one, stay tuned!

I know we probably all have a couple of cereal or snack boxes laying around. For that reason, why not try your hand at a collagraph rubbing? It's when you cut and glue shapes to a surface, lay a piece of paper on top and then, using a "sleeping" crayon (one on its side), rub over your design. I then added a watercolor wash to some of mine! 

It's a Build-Your-Own-Bot kind of Wednesday!

What to do with that cereal box collage? Well, on Thursday, I'll show you how to cover it in foil and make a print with just markers and water!

Oh yeah, this one's magical!

On the final day of Robot Week, we'll make a collage with one of my favorite papers to collage with: business envelopes! They have the coolest patterns and designs. 

I do hope you'll join the fun! If you do, I would love to see what you and your awesome artists create. You can email me your images at artteacherin101@gmail.com and I'll try to feature them right here!

DIY: Selling on Etsy, An Art Teacher's How To (bonus: giveaway!)

Moon Shadow Rings, here.

I believe that just about every artist, art teacher, crafter and maker-of-many-a-thing has toyed with the idea of selling on Etsy. I mean, it's every creator's dream to share their work, have people take note and, best of all, make some spare coin (you know, for buying even more craft suppliezzz). But, if you've been down Etsy Avenue, you know it's not so simple as listing your stuff and raking in the dough. It's serious (and sometimes no-sales-for-weeks/soul-crushing) work. Which is why you find so many abandoned shops on the site (including my very own belt shop, ahem). All that aside, it can be done. Today I'd like to introduce you to one art teacher who is also a super successful Etsy seller. Meet Mary Beth Heishman!

Just who are you and where do you teach art?  

My name is Mary Beth Heishman and I teach elementary school art in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tell us a little bit about how you got started creating jewelry. Have you always done it or is this a kinda new thing for you?

I was always in awe of my Grandmother's collection of gems and this really fueled my passion. I have been creating jewelry since I was a child.  I used to make friendship bracelets in grade school and in high school I made hemp jewelry.  I was always selling and trading my creations with friends.  Later in college I even worked at a local bead shop.  I would balance painting with jewelry making.  Right now jewelry making is all I do after I teach during the day.  

Personalized Plane Necklace, here.

What lead you to open an etsy shop? 

At an art inservice, haha, I was talking to a pal about starting an online website. She mentioned etsy and the rest is history.  I was afraid to go solo as how would I generate my own traffic to my site, so etsy was perfect. 

Life Cuff Bracelet, here. 

How long have you been an etsy shop opener? 

I have had my etsy shop since 2007.  In its infancy it was a hodgepodge mess.  I sold art, prints, hand painted vintage records, purses and jewelry.  It wasn't until 2010 when I had started fine tuning my shop and just making jewelry.  That is when I started selling more and had great buyer feedback which fueled my desire to want to make more.

 My personal fave, The Amazonite Bronze Block Necklace influenced by mid-century cinder blocks, here. 

Your shop is very well stocked full of beautiful pieces. And you've had a ton of successful sales! Tell us your secret: How do you find the time to teach, create AND sell on etsy (which entails photographing the piece, writing a description, shipping and costumer-service dilemmas)? 

Haha, I sometimes question myself on this. I do not know the secret, maybe it is having a loving and supportive husband.  My husband and I work together this year (I teach art, he teaches 5th grade math). We take turns making healthy meals (BIG meals) so we have plenty of left overs for lunch and an additional dinner. Food is very important to us, I may not have time to workout but we eat very well (healthy overall).

Personalized Banjo Bracelet, here. 

We have loving and supportive friends too that have always encouraged and supported my art and jewelry!

Hexagon Statement Necklace, here. 

As for product photos, I have a little mini light set up and white plastic backdrop that I shoot pics on.    My favorite is to take model photos with friend's in the nearby desert canyon.  I usually do this all after school.  Although I am behind on 8 new pieces that I need to photograph and post.

As far as customer service, I check my emails when I wake up in the morning and after I get off of work, so far I keep up that way.  My customers are always so sweet and lovely (I feel they too have a love for the handmade and crafted), dilemmas are few.

Whale Tie Bar, here. 

Are you actually a robot? 

 I wish, I need to upgrade my operating system, I am getting old.  haha, jk.

Can you tell us what a (totally ideal) teaching/creating/selling on etsy day looks like?  

I have taught for 14 years and it wasn't until 2011 that my shop has picked up consistent sales. I am always working during the work week, I wake up, walk our awesome dog, go to school, teach all day, come home and work on making jewelry until 7:30/8 pm every week night. I usually work a full day over the weekend on custom orders. During the holidays I start evening jewelry work until 9/10pm.  I am very thankful for the winter holiday as this is still order time but a few days before December 25th it slows down and I can unplug and relax. I love it though. I love teaching my little artists and then making my own works in the evening. So far I feel balanced.  

If you could give advice to someone who was considering opening an etsy shop, what would that be? (I know, where to start, right?!)

Really it was all trial and error for me. I had a hodgepodge shop and when I had feedback on jewelry that was the direction I went and stayed. I do not know if that is the way to do it but it worked for me. Ask yourself, what is your goal? Have a consistent product that you can replicate if the demand is there. Have fun with your etsy and try to stand out from the rest, be one of a kind.

Thank you so much, Mary Beth, for the fun and informative interview! It's always inspiring to hear from working artists, dontcha you think?

Especially generous ones. Check out this giveaway, y'all!

Mary Beth is GIVING AWAY this ring! Here's all you have to do to enter to win (it's worth $40, kids! How awesomely nice is Mary Beth?!):

1. Leave a comment below telling us your favorite piece in Mary Beth's shop IadornU. 

2. Follow Mary Beth on Instagram @iadornu. This way you can keep up with all of her creations AND more giveaways!

AND THAT'S IT! Winner will be announced one week from today!

***

Speaking of Giveaways...

In honor of Thanksgiving and all that I'm grateful for (that'd be you guys, thanks always for popping in and reading/commenting), I've decided to draw TWO names for the Crayola Giveaway! Congrats to...

Morgan Garcia!

Cowpoke Paintbrush!

If you lovely ladies would email me your home address (cassieart75@gmail.com) I'll have these goodies shipped your way soon!

Thanks for participating, y'all!