Community Art Project : Do It at Cotuit

It felt great to work on this life sized mural that connects artist while we are apart. Literally intertwines humans on the canvas and sparks art making in a time when it is easy to feel a loss for the arts.

https://artsonthecape.org/explore/community-art-project-the-connected-together-apart-mural

Yourself in a Mask

Masks mean so many different things for us.

Make a list of all the ways people use masks. Some positive some negative

• Halloween
• For ceremonies... I was thinking of cool African masks I have seen. 
• To protect yourself against the cold in the winter when you ski
• For surgery or at the dentist office
• When you see a sketch of a bank robber or that scary person in the movies

I am sure you can come up with more. We know the references to "That person" wears a mask, when they don't want us to see their true colors or to present themselves a certain way. We know that part of the disconcerting feelings of masks is that we aren't able to read expressions that people have under the mask. 

So this new state of being in society is very loaded and hard to get comfortable with. Some of our basic instincts are being taken from us in our interactions with others. Not only are we being challenged by distance in our socializing we are being thrown off by not being able to see people's whole face. It feels eire. 

I thought doing some sketches of ourselves wearing masks might helps us get more comfortable with the necessary situation. I feel strongly about the positive role portrait have on people. It gives you time to reflect, time for you to see how you change from one time to the next when you do a portrait. So this is an important moment in time and it will help us to see how we feel about ourselves in a mask and to get time to "sit with it". 

Go to your happy place....

When all you want to do is be somewhere else...

Go there in your art!

Find an image. Of a place that would feel really good to be right now! And focus on it. Then create it!
Really spend time working on your image. Make it feel good.  Play the perfect music while you create, think happy thoughts of being there.

Imagine being there!


And when you are done, you can stare at your picture and go there!

Drawing with Both Hands: Final Images Day 6

So I decided to send along the rest of my drawings so you can see the progression. My left hand is not perfect, but is hard to believe it is the same hand that produced those scratchy drawings the first day. And it is interesting to see how my right hand improved merely by working so hard with my left. You can see how the way I was thinking changed and allowed me to become a better artist in such a short time.

Super Heroes to the Rescue!

We all love super heroes!

Who are our super heroes right now?

I could list a ton... not just the medical professionals ( huge round of applause here), but everyone that is stepping up, performing selfless acts and helping the whole.

Talk with your kids about what they imagine a super hero would look like today. What would their super powers be? How would they help? Go into detail... what would they be scared of ( kryptonite), etc.

Then let them create!
Draw,
Paint,
Marker,


Maybe this is a time for them to talk to you about what they are really afraid of, or maybe this is a time that they can feel some power when they might actually being feeling powerless. Maybe they make themselves the super hero because they wish they could help. Listen to their super hero stories. Maybe even take it a step further and let them dress up as a super hero and act out fighting off COVID-19 :).

Corona Virus Attacker  (6yr. old)

Give them some "power" so they don't feel powerless.

Finding things kids can do to help... will help them... will empower them!

Drawing with Both Your Hands Day 5

Drawing with Both Hands: Day 4

It is starting to happen...

you can't tell which hand I am using.

Not completely, but it is happening.

I am hoping it is happening for you too!  eep it up. 

Try using different materials. Try using different colors. 

Be well! Have Fun!

Stay Safe!

Mandalas

What is a Mandala?

Here is a great definition or what they are and where they come from.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/mandala-diagram


We are going to focus on the fact that they are a circle. And that they are used as a "collection point"or "receptacle".

So you are going to ask how we are going to create a circle that can hold something?
Simple... get a pie plate. Trace it. You have a circle. A "place to put what you need to express."

Whatever you put on the inside is being contained, held, kept safe or kept away from the rest of the page. You can put all the good on the inside that you want to care for or you can put all the anxiety, fear, frustration, etc. that you feel on the inside.

This is great for anyone. Give the kid a pie plate when they feel out of control. Trace it. And let them create!

For older students you may want to learn more. You can bring meaning to the colors, designs, etc.
https://indimode.com/blogs/news/designing-the-mandala-and-its-meaning

Here are some great books to take you in other directions rather than just using 2D materials.

Drawing with Both Your Hands Day 4

So, You get to skip a few days ahead. This is fast forward four days.

My sixteen year old self is becoming a little more free with my drawing. Loosing up one hand because I can only be loose with the other.


Take the time to look at sketches by famous artists. DaVinci for example. How does he catch the essence of a figure or a face. https://www.leonardodavinci.net/drawings.jsp

I am definitely not Da Vinci.

Aspiration is good! And the reality is he did a lot of sketching... and so can you!


And here is a shout out to a sketch sent in! Nice work on their Day 1 sketch!