Painting On Fabric

This exercise was really fun for my students because they were able to experiment with painting in a new and unique way. I gathered many different tools and materials for the students to use to paint on muslin fabric. Their tools consisted of burlap, forks, empty toilet paper cylinders, rope, plastic mesh, paper cup cardboard holders (each one has a different pattern inside), and the bottoms of egg crates... to name a few. Students were given different color paints and a sampling of tools and materials. These are some of their paintings... interesting and beautiful.... each one unique.

Abstract Emotions & Color

This lesson combined learning about the primary and secondary colors and how different colors and emotions are closely linked. Students were encouraged to experiment with mixing their own colors and then painting their feelings. This was also the first time students worked with acrylic paints. As you can see from these paintings, my students really got into this lesson.

Batik - A Modified Process

One of the first projects the students were taught was a form of batik using a modified version of the standard batik process. Instead of using wax and dyes, the "paintings" were created using clear, washable glue (which acts as a resist, like wax) and tempera paints. Check these creations out done by some of my students.

A New Endeavor - Teaching Art

Well... I have been very busy over the last 9 months with a new job and career change. In June 2009, I took the MTEL, passed (phew!) and became a MA certified teacher of visual arts. I am writing this in March 2010 and am back dating some of these postings to show the artwork created by my students over the course of many months since becoming an art teacher.

I started work at a private elementary school in Boston during June 2009. The school, over the past five years, developed a full and enriching day habilitation program for young adults aged 18 - 22 years old with moderate to severe disabilities. Since I began teaching art to these wonderful young adults, I have learned a great deal about myself, about art, and the process of teaching. The outcome of their hard work I am showing here. You can see more of what the students have been up to at the Access All blog, which I created and keep up-to-date.

My personal art has taken a back seat over the months, but I am starting to work on personal projects again.

So... check back over the coming months to see my new creations.

Organic Prints (final)

Organic Prints (yes, more)

Organic Prints (still, more)

Organic Prints (more)

Organic Prints

It's been such a long time since I have worked on my art and posted anything. I'm happy to be at it again and this time I'm working within a whole new medium and process for me - printmaking. The prints shown here were created during a 4 hour workshop I took today in printmaking. It was fantastic! I will definitely be creating more art using this method, though I will be experimenting with the "plate" material. In the workshop the plate was made from gelatin and being a vegan I had some real issues with using it.... but since I wanted to learn a new technique, and knew that I could replicate the plate and process using agar agar instead of animal based gelatin, I forged ahead. I highly recommend going to this workshop if you're close to Cambridge, MA. The instructor, Tamar, is wonderful. Post a comment if you'd like me to email you her contact information. Her next workshop is July 26.

Grace & Strength

The model that sat was a joy to sketch. It was the first time I felt I truly enjoyed drawing from a live model. Her skin was amazing, her hair wonderfully textured and her features so perfect for a model. I used pencil for this ~ it was a warm up, a very quick sketch.