Matisse Masterpiece....

I absolutely love this student's version of a Matisse Cut Paper Collage...they were asked to draw their self portraits over the cut paper but this student decided she felt a little silly today ...hence the clownlike portrait...I like this world she lives in :D

A little Matisse...a little Warhol...

Finishing up "Imagine That" art classes with Henri Matisse's Red Fish...then on to Pint Size Picasso's with a little pop art ala Andy Warhol...

Done!!!

Finished my custom orders for Christmas ornaments this afternoon...from Angry Birds to Lego man to ATV's and skateboards..a mixed bag of merriment...hope all these kiddos like this year's crop.

I can dream..can't I?

Oh the weather outside is frightful....what with 60 degree heat waves and pouring rain...but today when a student shook her little snow globe and perched it on her desk, I watched as the snow swirled and dreamed of a white Christmas..at least an inch or two, please.

A Tale of Two Cities....

I have spent the last few days running back and forth between New York City with the girls and St. Johnsbury, Vermont with Dave...two totally different places with completely unique vibes...but both wonderful in their own "Christmasy" ways...now I think I must rest up for next weekend's adventure!

A Petite Fleur creating....

One of my favorite little artists hard at work on her version of Picasso's Petite Fleurs...she is such a little dynamo..with a unique style...from her artowrk to her pink feather in her hair...love this little one!

I love twinkling lights...

Thanksgiving weekend has drawn to a close...and the lights and decorations of Christmas have replaced the pumpkins on the front step...is there anything more soothing that the glow of tiny twinkling Christmas lights?

Mass Production....

Christmas cards almost done....someday Hallmark is going to get my business but while I can I will always try to make my own cards...I do enjoy the process.

Blessings X 22....

...this is what I am most Thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day, 2011....

because without the love and support from my entire family where would I be on this earth...My wish is that all of you can have what I have and continue to be blessed with it for many years to come...Happy Thanksgiving.

Who Doesn't Love a Blue Dog??

Whether he's sitting under the hot sun or perched on a fiery planet out in space...a blue dog is always a charmer. We worked on these precious pups in our opening session of another Pint Size Picasso program, based on George Rodrigue's Pop Art.

Going for the Gold...

Who doesn't like metallic gold paint with all it's sparkle and shimmer? The Imagine That Art Camp finally resumed today after all the storm nonsense...and the kids got down to business...Gustav Klimt's Tree of Life...always an awesome result!

Waiting for the storm to pass....

....but always...always learning how to dance in the rain! Even a freakish Halloween rain/snow storm couldn't dampen our weekend on Martha's Vineyard.

Making Strides.....

...and taking steps to find a cure for diabetes...Today our school held it's yearly Walk for Diabetes...the kids made posters, collected donations and hung up their supportive sneakers throughout the hallways...nicely done!

More Colorful Skulls...

The Imagine That Art Camp started up again today...these students are 5th and 6th graders...so although we did the same skulls for "Day of the Dead" we let them add a little extra pizazz with sequins and the ever popular GLITTER...fun times to the max although this glitter could be the "death of me!!"

On a Misty Morning....

"I don't ask for the meaning of the song of a bird, or the rising of the sun on a misty morning...there they are and they are beautiful." (As I drove to work this morning I couldn't help but notice the mist rising over this valley..so I had to stop and take it in.)

Frida Kahlo and Dia de los Muertos....

For our last class in this session of Pint Size Picassos we focused on the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)...seemed the perfect combination for the week before Halloween. Their skull art was a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and chaos...not too scary but certainly beautiful results.

Rest Your Weary Head...

This field of sunflowers skirt along the cornfields on Meadow Road in Farmington...alas their colors are fading and their faces have turned away from the sun...their season is coming to a graceful end.

Peeps for my peeps.....

Last night I made a couple dozen ghostly peeps for our school bake sale to help support the Holiday Bear Project. Each class sponsors 2 to 4 needy children that would go without presents at Christmas time. We raised alot of money to help defray some of the costs and the peeps were a big hit with the kids...not a bad job for a "non-baker".

A piece of the puzzle...

Mr. Chapman's class is doing an enormous mural based on the Signature Project presentation we had come visit us last week. The little piece of lettering in the top corner is blown up into an 8 x 8 inch block...and doodled using your name in black ink...filling in the background in grey ink....once all the pieces are blocked out together they will complete a phrase for creative expression...cool stuff! (This is my piece of the puzzle)

Messy Hands are....

....happy hands...because you gots to get messy to produce some creative results!

On a Clear Day.....

....You can see forever....especially from the top of Heublein Tower. Today Maureen invited Linda and myself along with some other friends to hike from her home up to the Tower to celebrate "Tower Toot" day....music, bbq and festivities...a great way to spend a Saturday in Autumn.

Where are the Wild Things???

...well today...I think they were running about all around me!

A Glimpse into their Eyes....

"Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much larger and better in every way."-John Muir (A few of the animals I met along the way at Sturbridge Village today)

Matisse is such an inspiration....

Today we worked on cut paper collages inspired by Henri Matisse....the kids filled out their backgrounds first, then layered the letters of their names over background...loved the results!

Birthday Celebrations x Two...

When you have two wonderful daughters who are born four days apart (be it three years in between), it's hard to keep up with all the cupcakes and birthday cakes over the last 23 years...so now we do both girls together on one big birthday blowout night...Happy Birthday to our doubly wonderous blessing....two terrific daughters!

and we're off and creating again...

The new session of Pint Size Picassos started up this afternoon after school...a huge turnout but a very dedicated group of creative kids...couldn't wait to get messy with their sparkling metallic paints!