My Portrait

During his free drawing time today, one of my first grade students drew this:

He handed it to me before leaving art class and said it was for me.... which is fairly common. After the class left and I looked closer, I began to notice MY multicolored shoe strings, (black and orange for school pride,) jeans, black sweatshirt with a tiger, glasses, and apparently MY hair.

MY PORTRAIT, I presumed!

Template

What are your comments, concerns, or suggestions on the blog color changes?

Handmade Book 1

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I was reintroduced to handmade books in a workshop last year with Martha Depp. Check out Martha's work at MarthaDeppArt. Martha is a colleague who also teaches elementary art.

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Title: "Surprise"

Medium: Mixed Media

Materials:

matte board, watercolor paper, watercolor paint, brushes, scissors, glue stick

Date: November 2007

Note: I made a few handmade books in college, from digitally designed books with handmade covers in Graphic Design classes, (yes Beth and Natalie, I used a Mac,) to completely handmade books and covers in craft classes.

Just Having Fun: An Interview

The following is a series of interview questions given to me by Beth at The Cat in the Adage.

Rules: If you'd like to join in:

1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” (And your e-mail address if I don't already have it, please.)

2. I will email you five questions.

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

(Original Graphic Design by AAGordon)

The Interview:

1. What was your favorite toy, or type of toy, when you were a child?

I did not have a toy that I carried around with me. I also went through “stages” of favorite toys, depending on my age and interests. In random order during childhood, I had: about 3 different dolls that I named, (2 were generic, 1 was Cabbage Patch,) a collection of Matchbox Cars, (particularly a Corvette and 57 Chevy,) outside toys, (a skateboard, bicycle, scooter, and Big Wheel,) Fisherprice Pool Table, board games, (Outburst Jr, Connect Four, Guess Who,)...


2. What art form/medium is your least favorite and why?

DIFFICULT QUESTION… While oil paintings are traditional and usually very good work, I have not worked with oil very much, if at all. Traditional oils dry very slowly. While I don’t mind taking a while to finish a painting, I like to layer paint and colors and correct mistakes or paint over the paint quickly, without having to wait for the medium to dry, which is impossible with oils.


3. What is/was your favorite Christmas ornament?

When I think of Christmas ornaments, I immediately think of a small, wooden house ornament with some details, including a clock. I have had this ornament since I was a child, (and convinced my mom to let me bring it with me when I got married.) My great grandfather, my dad’s mother’s father, (my dad’s maternal grandfather,) gave it to me. He lived near us, practically next door, for several years.


4. You have written your autobiography and it is ready to be published, what will the cover look like?

Option 1: My portrait in a room or other setting, decorated with objects reflecting my interests: a Bible, art supplies, musical instruments, books, a camera, photos, teaching supplies…
Option 2: An Original Photo, possibly a landscape, with colors and setting, reflective of contemplation, nature, peace, variety…
Option 3: An Original Photo with a graphically designed border, containing objects that represent me, as mentioned in option 1


5. What is your favorite dessert?

Candy Bar: Three Musketeers
Pie: Pecan Pie
Birthday Cake: White Confetti Cake
Ice Cream: Strawberry and Mint Chocolate Chip
Cookie: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Chocolate Chip

(I’m sure I could continue this list further…)

Draw...

Title: "Prints"

Medium: Ink

Style: Abstract

Materials: Bic Mark.it Permanent Markers, White Drawing Paper

Date: December 2008



I worked on this drawing over time for the last few months. The subject matter reflects the shape of a tiger paw as a tiger is the mascot of the elementary school where I teach.

Drawing Fun

Title: "Light Show"

Medium: Ink

Style: Abstract

Materials: Bic Mark.it Permanent Markers, White Drawing Paper

Date: December 23, 2008

This composition continues with my non-objective, pen and ink style and moves toward abstraction with reflections and inspirations from Christmas lights...

A Drawing

Title: "Full of Life"

Medium: Ink

Style: Abstract

Materials: Bic Mark.it Permanent Markers, White Drawing Paper

Date: December 22, 2008



This drawing continues in my abstract series exploring patterns and textures created from patterns of lines and shapes. I am beginning to explore color more, rather than continuing with all black and white compositions. Recently, I have observed trees, from roots to twigs and leaves on the branches, and have used elements of a tree's form in much of my work... Inspired by the Great Creation!