The Busy Time of Year...

...is usually at the beginning of the school year and at the end of the school year.  That is the case this year, as well, but it never really seemed to slow down all year long!  It has been a very busy school year, so it has gone by very quickly!  Only a few more weeks until summer break and I plan to spend many days in the studio! I do plan to relax and recuperate from the school year too. But I have several projects already lined up for this summer and want to try out some new ideas as well.

We just had the district wide 'All That Jazz' art show, so I have been busy working to get student artwork ready for that.  I haven't had the time or the energy to work on anything except that.

For a class demonstration, I created this 3D Owl out of newspaper and plaster strips earlier in this semester, as an example for my students, who were creating their own sculptures.

For more information about this art class project, click here:
Working with Plastercraft on my Art Class Blog

This was the first owl that I created. After I did this one, I decided to start painting some owls on canvas that I have shown here in previous posts.  I've also made a couple of little clay owls that are not complete yet.

So, I'll be pretty busy with the end of school activities over the next few weeks.  I'll post something if I have time. But if not, you'll know I'm overwhelmed with end of the year paperwork!

Beth ♥

Collage Mixed Media Project

Ideas for Summer Projects
Summer break is almost here! I will have more time to create! If you are looking for a summer project to work on, a collage with mixed media is a fun project!

Mixed Media Collage

Today I thought I would share a mixed media project that I created for fun and as an example for a student project at school.  We often use old donated magazines in the classroom. This project is a mixed media collage, using magazines and acrylic paints.

Arkansas Home Theme
Since I create my little clay houses and clay house tiles, I decided to go with a Home theme and Arkansas theme to create a house with a fence and tree.  I used a stack of one of my favorite Arkansas magazines (At Home in Arkansas) to cut out Arkansas details, words, maps, and colors to put together to create my image.

Supplies I used:
Canvas Board
Old Magazines
Acrylic Paint and Brushes
Drawing Paper
Glue sticks
ModPodge

After cutting out words, patterns, colors and shapes out of the magazines, I began arranging the pieces that I had. I went back to the magazines when I needed additional colors and images.
I created a house shape with strips of magazine cuttings adding some details with paint.  For example, I decided to create a tree and needed some leaves but I did not have enough so I cut leaf shapes out of green paper to create the rest of the leaves. I wanted an owl in the tree so I drew and painted a little owl on drawing paper, cut it out and glued it into the tree.

The sidewalk on the bottom edge of this piece was made up of map pieces and words pieced together. Cutouts of flowers were also added to create flower beds.

ModPodge was brushed on top of the entire piece after I was finished adding pieces. This helps to seal the pieces of paper to the surface.

Becoming a night owl...

'Night Owl...almost finished'
Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
11x14
SOLD

Well, actually I've been a Night Owl all my life. I enjoy staying up late and I used to be able to sleep in late, but now I just can't seem to sleep in anymore.  But I was referring to all of the owls that I've been enjoying painting lately. I recently painted a picture for my niece for her new baby's nursery which included a woodland theme. So looking for ideas for woodland animals, I came across many owls. So I put some owls in her painting and have done several additional owls, because they are so fun to do!  I do love whimsical style art, so naturally I love doing the whimsical owls.  I have plans to do more whimsical animals.

Beth ♥

Spring Time and Clay Time

A few colorful clay houses to go along with the Spring Bloom photos from last week.  Spring came early this year. The weather has been warm for awhile so the azaleas and dogwoods already started blooming. I took a drive around some neighborhoods with pretty blooms.  I just wish some of these were in my yard!

Beth ♥