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". 

What is out your window?

Being stuck inside, we get a lot of time to look out....


We spent time talking with our friends in other countries about what they are seeing out their windows.

Kids are posting rainbows, People are waving to friends, Spring is coming and trees are starting to bud.

Some are just seeing other buildings and maybe just concrete or graffiti or trash.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to change what we could see out our windows?

Yay for Art! you can! You can change what you see! You can create the world outside your window!

And make it 3D!


Have Fun, Stay Safe, Be well!

If I Plant a Seed....

So we read one of my favorite books. Actually I was lucky enough to have someone read it to me!

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

If you plant a seed of frustration, anger, grief.... that's what will grow!

We all need to plant seeds of hope, love, faith, kindness and let them bloom!

We did a drawing of what our seeds would look like and grow into.

Now create yours! Be Kind... Grow kindness while you are in the soli of the dark place called COVID-19.


Be Safe!
Have Fun!
Stay Well!

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Somedays this feels like a dark tunnel we are in and it is hard to see where the end is...

I want to see the light at the end!

So we drew tunnels! And we made our light!

Give yourself the light....
Get creative. It doesn't actually have to be a light... it could be whatever your light would be.
A star of hope...
A school bus pick-up...
A smile....
A loved one...
Freedom.

Have fun!
Stay Safe!
Be well!

Navigating Life

Before all of this COVID-19 changes started, I started a series of drawings which I titled : Navigating. My plan was to draw and paint tools that are used in navigation. I started with tools used to navigate the seas merely because I live near the sea and the sextant has played a significant part in my life thus far. I have done a dozen images of the sextant at this point! It is as if I am drawing hands and feet again!

But I was not planning on doing just this tool. I started looking at the compass, the astrolabe, talking with my brother about tools used to navigate the skies as a pilot, etc. I wanted to dive into all tools we have used through time to navigate our experience of life.

This series started to take on a new meaning for me as I was applying it to all those around me. I realized we are all simply navigating all the time. Unsure when there will be a storm, unaware of new situations that lie ahead, unclear exactly how to deal with things we never dreamt we would have to deal with. So many friends and family describing life situations that they were struggling with and trying to figure out how to go forward, how to reach our goals, how to get around this obstacle, which way to go when there is fork in the road.

I will continue with my series. But thought you might like to see some.

So I would like you to think about what you would use to navigate life. What navigation tools from the past might call to you? Or what you feel helps you to "navigate" this present situation.

Real, imaginary, historical, present day....

I would love to hear or see you ideas. Create away!

Be well!
Stay Safe!
Have Fun!

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!

Message in a Bottle

At times like this you may feel the need to reach out to others.

Please do!

Video, text, call, etc! 

Stay connected. 

Don't feel isolation, 

just physical distance not a social disconnect.

 To think, not so long ago, to reach out to others when you were in isolation, like being on an island by yourself, you would write a message put it in a bottle and send it out to sea. Hope guiding it. With luck someone.... would find your message in a bottle.

You can take this project as a literal project and make a 3D object, sculpture - if you will, and find a special bottle, cork and paper and make a message. What would you say? What would you ask for? Who would you want to say something to? Or what do you think it is important for people to understand?

Or create a sketchbook image of a message in a bottle. The challenge of drawing apiece of paper inside of a bottle, will test your skills. However, the bigger challenge is letting us know what that note might say.

Have fun!
Stay Safe!
Be well!

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!

When life hands you lemon....

We all know the saying!

 Here's your lemon. COVID-19

What are you going to make out of it?

Talking with my son, I said, "When you look back at this time in your life, you will ask what did I do? How did I take this time to make something more from something that felt like less."


Take time today to do a drawing of what you would do with a lemon....

And yes, this another HS sketchbook assignment that I dug up. :)

Be well! Stay safe! And have fun!

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!