Making Hard Decisions

I've taught art in the same district for 29 years.  The last 25 of those have been in the same classroom at the high school level.  I guess I must not like to change things up very much.  So, for me to make this important decision, was very difficult.  I made the decision to retire from teaching.  I have been thinking about it off and on for a year or so.  Although I have, for the most part, enjoyed my little home away from home.  I have spent more time in that classroom than I have been home.  I really enjoyed getting to know my students who loved to come to the art room to create and explore and enjoy the process of learning.  It was a blessing to see so many students enjoy my class.  But, it was time for a change. Change is good.  I retired from this job, but I plan to continue to be an artist, hopefully sell some things along the way...hopefully a lot of things!  But I know that I will probably continue to teach art in some way.  I don't know what or how yet, but creating art and teaching art seems to be my purpose...and I cannot give up that part of me.  It will just be in a different place. I have some ideas rolling around in my head.  For now, I will continue to create in my home studio that is bursting at the seams with supplies that are begging to be used.

Beth ♥

Summer break is almost here!

Clay Owl Sculpture
by me...

I call it summer break, but I really don't just sit back and do nothing! Actually it is not really a break from work, just from the rushed schedule of having to be at work at a certain time and meeting school deadlines.  After school is out, I start on my "To Do" list.  It starts out very long. Most important items at the top of the list and the least at the bottom.  I never get through the entire list, but I usually get the most important things done.  Among some of the things that I do are cleaning and de-cluttering around the house.  I do some deep cleaning that does not get done as much during the school year because of lack of time and energy.  But most important is the time that I have to work on extra art projects of my own or commissions for other people.  That list is growing as I write this! And that is a good thing!  One of my goals is to replace my dead laptop!  So hopefully those art commissions will help me reach that goal!  My need for a new laptop seems to get pushed down on the priority list quite often.  But that is just the reality of having a family and having a kid in college!

I recently created a clay sculpture of an owl (to go with my owl painting series), but it looks a little crazy. But that is how I feel this time of year trying to get everything done for the end of the school year.  Everything happens so fast at school, and so much is going on that it just boggles my brain. So I thought I would share this photo of my owl sculpture, just so you would understand!  I'm looking forward to time to paint and work with clay, just to clear my mind!

Beth ♥

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 ♥

Whimsical Owl Trend...

"Night Owl"
Just Listed on Etsy

Lately, I have been so busy at school, when I do have time to create, I just want to have fun and enjoy the process.  I go back and forth between painting with acrylics and working with clay, creating my whimsical houses.  Both tend to be more whimsical when I am just creating for the fun of it.  My niece recently had a baby and the nursery theme is woodland animals with owls, so that got me started on the owls.  I sketched some out and ended up painting several in different media. One in watercolor and the others in acrylic.  I'm sure there will be some owls in clay at some point!  I just listed the 'Night Owl' in my Etsy shop. The other owl on canvas is on the easel now.  I will be finishing it soon.  Beth♥