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". 

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!

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!

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.

The Metaphor of an Obstacle Course

Looking at a rainy week and need to keep kids active! Phew, adds to the challenge of this situation.
Well here is a fun activity!

Get a roll of masking tape. Make an obstacle course. Anywhere in the house.
Then try to get through it!

Laugh, giggle, work through the time you "get stuck by the tape", talk about how that might be challenging.



Then apply it to life! 

We just got handed an obstacle course. And lief will continue to hand us all obstacle course, this is life!

But how we respond to the course: if we laugh when we get stuck, rather than cry.
If we play and have fun, and work together, talk it through (careful you are about to get stuck bend down lower, reach higher, etc.), we will make it through this.

Help your kids learn life lessons. We have the opportunity to all come out of this stronger!

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

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!

Homemade Sketchbook/Journal

If you are looking for a way to document this unique situation we are all in, make a journal or sketchbook of your own. No need to buy one off Amazon or run out to a store (that won't help). Make it special, make it unique, up-cycle, personalize, have fun!

Here is one way to make a cool journal.

Find an old book that you already read, never liked, you were going to donate, even an old textbook, outdated catalog, trip guide, etc. Glossy pages are less ideal.

Rip out any pages you don't think you need or to decrease the number of pages because the next step will expand the book and may make it difficult to close.

Next get some paint. Ideally gesso. But you could use cheap white acrylic, even interior wall paint if you have some you are done with. Paint the pages! You don't have to paint all of them. You may need more than one coat depending on the paint you chose.

You can: leave pages empty, pages with some words, parts of pictures, etc. You can even cut out half a page, fold a page over. You are creating your canvas. And as my students know, the background doesn't have to start with white. Blue, red, pink, gray, brown...

And if you don't have any paint.... you could glue in scrap paper. Brown paper bags, wrapping paper, etc.

Make sure your pages are completely dry before you turn the page to paint the next page or they will seal together. Even though sometime I do that on purpose to create thicker pages. I like to make it an all day project. Paint two pages, fold laundry, paint two pages, read a book, page two pages, make a cake, paint two pages, write a story, page two pages solve world peace....etc.

Journals and sketchbooks are a fabulous way to capture time. Not just for drawing, painting, etc. but for scrapbooking, collaging, really saving a moment in time.

Feel free to comment on any other ideas you have!

Have fun and create away!

This one I created with my 5 year old.... share a journal and work side by side at home! :)