by the way...I am already planning NEXT summer!
Thursday, August 05, 2010
looking back on the past 12 weeks
by the way...I am already planning NEXT summer!
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Miss Happiness and Miss Flower and the Ultimate tree House
The summer after 4th grade my mother brought home a library book for me. She thought I should expand my horizons a bit and read something other than horse stories. The book she gave me was by Rumer Godden and it was called "Miss Happiness and Miss Flower" England is the last place Nona Fells wants to be. No one asked her if she wanted to leave sunny India to live in a chilly English village with her aunt's family - and her cousin, Belinda, just hates her! But when two dainty Japanese dolls arrive at Nona's doorstep, everything begins to change. Like Nona, Miss Happiness and Miss Flower are lonely and homesick, so Nona decides to build them their own traditional Japanese house. Over time, not only does Nona create a home for the dolls, but one for herself as well.
I fell in love with the Japanese culture through this book. I was fascinated with the dolls but most of all I was envious of the Japanese doll house they build. In the back of the book are the plans for the doll house that Tom builds for Nona. How I wished I had a clever older brother who could build such a house for me.Sadly-my father nor my brothers were handy . I did not own Japanese dolls but that didn't matter. I would make dolls for my house- if I ever got a house.
I compromised- I created a Japanese garden. I used a pop flat and lined it with plastic. Then I filled it with sand from the sandbox. I pried the mirror out of the hand mirror and brush set I got for my birthday and used it to create a pond. For trees I cut branches off the evergreen by the alley. I used pebbles to make a path. I couldn't make a clay lantern to put a candle in like Nona did in the book but I was pretty pleased with my garden...
Fast forward 40 years later- I am thumbing through a magazine waiting at the salon. There is an article about a math teacher who has his students build a tree house and it's all part of a math unit in his class. Can you see the light bulb go off in my head? What an awesome idea! What a cool class!
This summer I offered "The Ultimate Tree House" as a 5 week class. I provide the kids with a base with 3-4 branches drilled and glued into it. They get a supply of balsa wood, craft sticks, wire, walnut shells, slices of wood logs with the bark on them and other assorted items, a hot glue gun, coping saw, x-acto knife and a pencil. The only requirement for the class is they have to have more than one level, at least one level must have a structure on it with walls and a roof and every level needs some way to access it. Rope ladder, regular ladder, stairs, slide- there's no magic jumping from one level to the next.
What a fun project! Sessions 1 and 2 were half full. Sessions 3 and 4 are filled. I had people stopping in to see the progress the kids made on their houses over the first 5 week sessions. It wasn't until we got to the part where the kids started furnishing their tree houses that I thought about Miss Happiness and Miss Flower and how hard they wished for a house of their own...
I still have not built my Japanese doll house but I have my own copy of "Miss Happiness and Miss Flower" with the house plans in the back. I am going to try my hand at building my own doll house some day and then I am going to find a set of Japanese dolls to go inside. But in the meantime I am having so much fun watching this forest of doll sized tree houses under construction in the studio. This class is a keeper and I will offer it each summer until there aren't any children with imaginations left to take it!
I fell in love with the Japanese culture through this book. I was fascinated with the dolls but most of all I was envious of the Japanese doll house they build. In the back of the book are the plans for the doll house that Tom builds for Nona. How I wished I had a clever older brother who could build such a house for me.Sadly-my father nor my brothers were handy . I did not own Japanese dolls but that didn't matter. I would make dolls for my house- if I ever got a house.
I compromised- I created a Japanese garden. I used a pop flat and lined it with plastic. Then I filled it with sand from the sandbox. I pried the mirror out of the hand mirror and brush set I got for my birthday and used it to create a pond. For trees I cut branches off the evergreen by the alley. I used pebbles to make a path. I couldn't make a clay lantern to put a candle in like Nona did in the book but I was pretty pleased with my garden...
Fast forward 40 years later- I am thumbing through a magazine waiting at the salon. There is an article about a math teacher who has his students build a tree house and it's all part of a math unit in his class. Can you see the light bulb go off in my head? What an awesome idea! What a cool class!
This summer I offered "The Ultimate Tree House" as a 5 week class. I provide the kids with a base with 3-4 branches drilled and glued into it. They get a supply of balsa wood, craft sticks, wire, walnut shells, slices of wood logs with the bark on them and other assorted items, a hot glue gun, coping saw, x-acto knife and a pencil. The only requirement for the class is they have to have more than one level, at least one level must have a structure on it with walls and a roof and every level needs some way to access it. Rope ladder, regular ladder, stairs, slide- there's no magic jumping from one level to the next.
What a fun project! Sessions 1 and 2 were half full. Sessions 3 and 4 are filled. I had people stopping in to see the progress the kids made on their houses over the first 5 week sessions. It wasn't until we got to the part where the kids started furnishing their tree houses that I thought about Miss Happiness and Miss Flower and how hard they wished for a house of their own...
I still have not built my Japanese doll house but I have my own copy of "Miss Happiness and Miss Flower" with the house plans in the back. I am going to try my hand at building my own doll house some day and then I am going to find a set of Japanese dolls to go inside. But in the meantime I am having so much fun watching this forest of doll sized tree houses under construction in the studio. This class is a keeper and I will offer it each summer until there aren't any children with imaginations left to take it!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Those crazy mannequins are back!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
summer time! I love Summer time!
OK, in spite of the crummy weather summer will be here sooner than you know. Today the seniors had their last day of school. Then graduation. Then last day for the common students! Then it's SUMMER!
....and I am doing my happy dance!
I love teaching in summer. The kids are more relaxed and focused. I am more relaxed and I can do some pretty in depth projects.
Look at this list of classes I am offering!
Cartoons and Comics (Drawing)
Do you love to doodle and create your own characters? In this class we will look at different cartoon and comic styles for inspiration and then create some of our own. Students will learn how to develop cartoon characters, write a story line and create a cartoon strip and comic book.
Friday Afternoon Club (Crafts)
Friday afternoon and it’s time to get crafty in June. Come join the fun as we make prints using nature’s bounty, paint a ceramic piggy bank, knot some hemp bracelets and emboss a picture frame using metal foil.
Bubble Fun! (crafts)
Summer time is bubble time! Kids will create their own unique bubble wands using wire and beads. We will also make our own bubble solution and each participant will get a booklet of winning bubble recipes.
Kinder Artists
Young artists get to explore paint, glue, paper, markers and COLOR! It’s messy and it’s fun. Join Miss Morgan Gehling and explore the wonderful world of art.
Ultimate Tree House (Architecture)
You have been dreaming of building your own tree house for a long time but don’t have the time, space or resources to build one. This new class is where you think small –really small- as in dollhouse sized staircases and rope swings fit for a fairy. The only requirement for this class is a creative imagination, balsa wood, craft sticks and of course trees.
Altered Books (collage)
Altered book art combines several types of artistic techniques into one unique art form. Starting with a book base, the artist tears away pages and then adds their own creative expressions through rubber stamping, scrapping, image transfer, collage, photo montage, and writing.
Mosaic Art (collage)
Mosaic art goes as far back as 400 B.C. to ancient Greece where geometric patterns and scenes of people and animals were depicted by placing small pieces of different colour materials to create a picture. . You will learn how to create a wall mosaic using a variety of materials including glass gems, pre-cut ceramic tiles, and glass tiles.
Adventures in Art (mixed media/cultures)
One of my favorite activities is learning about other people and cultures. What better way than through art and craft projects. Come travel around the world with me! Each week we will visit places like Mexico, Poland, Japan and France.
Tropical Fish Fun! (Paper mache/painting)
Come under the sea with us as we make paper mache tropical fish. These three dimensional colorful fish will brighten up your summer!
Introduction to Drawing
This is a basic drawing class where students will learn to draw what they see using methods like blind contour and basic shapes. This is also a good class to take to improve drawing skills. It’s all about drawing with art pencils, charcoal, colored pencils and chalk pastel.
Photo Words! (Photography and computers)
Back by popular demand! Students will learn top look at everyday objects with new eyes as we walk around downtown and look for letters of the alphabet to spell out their name. Using digital photos and Photoshop –images will be transformed and put together into a unique wall piece.
Glass Bead Making (Grades 7 and older) Single session class
Participants will learn to make their own glass beads using a glass torch head with an open flame and special glass rods. You can get as creative as you want making your beads.
Paper Dolls! (Single session class)
Paper dolls are making a huge comeback and they are much better than ever before. Using templates, fine art papers, gems, jewels and patterned papers we will create the most wonderful paper dolls complete from hairstyle to foot wear.
Back to School Fashion Plan! (Fiber arts/surface design)
It is time to start thinking about what statement you want to make this year in school. In this class we will make jewelry, transform a pair of Capri’s or jeans into a fashion statement and create a one of a kind t-shirt all for your first day back to school!
....and I am doing my happy dance!
I love teaching in summer. The kids are more relaxed and focused. I am more relaxed and I can do some pretty in depth projects.
Look at this list of classes I am offering!
Cartoons and Comics (Drawing)
Do you love to doodle and create your own characters? In this class we will look at different cartoon and comic styles for inspiration and then create some of our own. Students will learn how to develop cartoon characters, write a story line and create a cartoon strip and comic book.
Friday Afternoon Club (Crafts)
Friday afternoon and it’s time to get crafty in June. Come join the fun as we make prints using nature’s bounty, paint a ceramic piggy bank, knot some hemp bracelets and emboss a picture frame using metal foil.
Bubble Fun! (crafts)
Summer time is bubble time! Kids will create their own unique bubble wands using wire and beads. We will also make our own bubble solution and each participant will get a booklet of winning bubble recipes.
Kinder Artists
Young artists get to explore paint, glue, paper, markers and COLOR! It’s messy and it’s fun. Join Miss Morgan Gehling and explore the wonderful world of art.
Ultimate Tree House (Architecture)
You have been dreaming of building your own tree house for a long time but don’t have the time, space or resources to build one. This new class is where you think small –really small- as in dollhouse sized staircases and rope swings fit for a fairy. The only requirement for this class is a creative imagination, balsa wood, craft sticks and of course trees.
Altered Books (collage)
Altered book art combines several types of artistic techniques into one unique art form. Starting with a book base, the artist tears away pages and then adds their own creative expressions through rubber stamping, scrapping, image transfer, collage, photo montage, and writing.
Mosaic Art (collage)
Mosaic art goes as far back as 400 B.C. to ancient Greece where geometric patterns and scenes of people and animals were depicted by placing small pieces of different colour materials to create a picture. . You will learn how to create a wall mosaic using a variety of materials including glass gems, pre-cut ceramic tiles, and glass tiles.
Adventures in Art (mixed media/cultures)
One of my favorite activities is learning about other people and cultures. What better way than through art and craft projects. Come travel around the world with me! Each week we will visit places like Mexico, Poland, Japan and France.
Tropical Fish Fun! (Paper mache/painting)
Come under the sea with us as we make paper mache tropical fish. These three dimensional colorful fish will brighten up your summer!
Introduction to Drawing
This is a basic drawing class where students will learn to draw what they see using methods like blind contour and basic shapes. This is also a good class to take to improve drawing skills. It’s all about drawing with art pencils, charcoal, colored pencils and chalk pastel.
Photo Words! (Photography and computers)
Back by popular demand! Students will learn top look at everyday objects with new eyes as we walk around downtown and look for letters of the alphabet to spell out their name. Using digital photos and Photoshop –images will be transformed and put together into a unique wall piece.
Glass Bead Making (Grades 7 and older) Single session class
Participants will learn to make their own glass beads using a glass torch head with an open flame and special glass rods. You can get as creative as you want making your beads.
Paper Dolls! (Single session class)
Paper dolls are making a huge comeback and they are much better than ever before. Using templates, fine art papers, gems, jewels and patterned papers we will create the most wonderful paper dolls complete from hairstyle to foot wear.
Back to School Fashion Plan! (Fiber arts/surface design)
It is time to start thinking about what statement you want to make this year in school. In this class we will make jewelry, transform a pair of Capri’s or jeans into a fashion statement and create a one of a kind t-shirt all for your first day back to school!
Friday, May 07, 2010
Global Art Project for Peace
On May 21st from 4:00 to 6:30 PM Artworks Studio will host our Annual Art Show. This show is OPEN to anyone in the community. The art work we received from Waldorf School will be on display along with my students work.
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