Showing posts with label schoolarts magazine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label schoolarts magazine. Show all posts

Sunday, December 22, 2013

What the Art Teacher Wore #84

Light Up Monday: There were many a chat about my light up dress and Santa shoes. I overheard one new boy ask a veteran kid: "Why is she always looking so crazy?"  As if exasperated, he threw his hands in the air, turned to the new dude and said, "Duh! She's the art teacher!" This inspired a short convo on how different artists enjoy creating in different media (mine being clothing) and how the only person who gets to day Duh! in the art room is me. Duh. light up dress: DIY here; fishnets and red tights combo: Target; Santa shoes: DIY here
What I'm about to present to you are 13 of the very best Artsy Pick-Up Lines in the Universe. Never again will you approach that paint-splattered artist of your dreams unarmed with the right thing to say. Read over these lines carefully, friends, and simply click to vote for your fave in the poll on the right. The winner and their mystery prize will be announced by the end of next week. 

Here you go:

Hey girl, your use of tints and shades color my wheels. (Miss French Fry)

Hey girl, are you related to van Gogh? Because I see stars when I'm near you. (Miss FF)

I'm Degas-ga for you! (Katie)

Hey girl, you must be a ballerina because De-GAS! You look good! (Emily)

Hey there, come to this easel often...? (Julie)

Have I told you lately I Lourve you? (Laureen)

Hey baby, you're a piece of fine a...rt! (Abby)

Baby, you are so fine, you would make an Impression on Monet. (Troutgirl)

At first I thought you were sketchy but now I am drawn to you. (Mary)

Is that a tube of Golden in your pocket or are ya just lad to see me? (Laureen)

I'm an artist but...for you, baby, I'll get a JOB! (Laureen)

You put the art in heart, baby. (Laureen)

Are you a Picasso? Because I'm going to pieces over you! (Faigie)
I've learned my lesson with these shoes: I gotta put them on when I'm outside. Otherwise, the cat confuses the feathery white boa I glued around the shoes for some sorta animal that she must claw, chase after and bite. My bleeding ankles are not a fan of the cat.
Since this week was nutz, what with the full moon and the upcoming break, I've decided to keep this here What I Wore post just as scattered. So pick-up lines and rando photos from my week it 'tis!
Tacky Christmas Day! Tuesday: But, let's be honest, I'd wear this no matter what the day. When the faculty posed for our annual Tacky Christmas Sweater photo this fact was pointed out to me numerous times. Okay, I get it, I'm totes tacky, ya'll! blouse: vintage; headband: clearance somewhere last year; table cloth to skirt: upcoming DIY!; tights: Target; leg warmers folded over as boot socks: Target; gilded gold dot boots: upcoming DIY; giant bow belt: thrifted

Instead of just tacky sweaters, the girls in my sewing group and I decided to wear our latest creations! Not only are these two ladies incredible educators, but look at those fab fashions! Heather (lovely in the middle) created a skirt from a tree skirt while Bethany (beauty on the right) sewed up that super Santa skirt. Not gonna lie, the sewing group at my school is totally rad. P.S. Is that chicken photo-bombing us or what?!
Felted Sweater Wednesday: Have any of you ever attempted felting with children? I've had a lot of kids ask about my felting adventures and express an interest...but it seems more of a small group/art club kind of thing. Any thoughts, ya'll? necklace: vintage, gift from a friend; dotted blouse: Old Navy; felted dog sweater: DIY here; skirt and tights: Target; shoes: Dolls by Nina
I was so excited to come home and find this in my mailbox! It's a lesson I wrote for SchoolArts featuring the work of my (former) fourth grade students. Blog details on that lesson here and digital SchoolArts issue here.

Mrs. Claus Thursday: This has gotta be one of my all-time fave vintage etsy finds. I freakin' love this Christmas dress. It's always a good day when I get to wear it...to bad that day usually only comes once a year! hair clip: DIY here; dress: vintage, etsy; tights: Target; shoes: thrifted, Crocs

Since I can't send all ya'll a Christmas card (although I'd love to!), I thought I'd share them with you here. This year, I uprooted four different photos from Christmas past had them made into our cards. These two were my faves simply because they are horrifying. What you see here is me, full headgear and '80's glasses receiving an OFFICE CHAIR for Christmas while my baby bro Kris looks on. I kinda look like I'm about to back hand him with a "Don't be touchin' my sweet office chair, fool!"
Of course, I can't be the only one in our household I humiliate. Here's a photo of hubs who is not at all enjoying his Santa experience. Although, to be fair, it doesn't look like Santa's having much of a good time either.
Two-Hour Friday!: I love our last day before break. A teacher buddy and I read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas on our school's televised announcements, our music teacher leads a sing-a-long of Christmas tunes during a school-wide assembly, parties are held in the classrooms (were I like to drop by and sample the goods) and then we all go home! And when I got home, I promptly took my long winter's nap. It was divine. tacky Christmas sweater: DIY here; tulle skirt: DIY here; gold leafed shoes: DIY here
Now before heading off to school Friday morning, I decided to treat myself to some Starbucks. While I was waiting in line, I noticed a guy who I thought was taking a picture of me. I brushed it off, thinking I was being paranoid until he did it again. Now. When you dress like I do, you get kinda used to odd stares and comments. And I've even had people ask if they could take my picture before for which I'm always flattered and gladly oblige. After a little bit of sleuthing, I found that not only was my picture snapped but it was also shared on Facebook. Thankfully the comments were harmless and funny but I honestly would have liked it better if the photographer had asked. Because, let's be honest, this is not my best side.
Everyday is Saturday for the Next Two Weeks! Enjoy your holiday time with all of the F's: Food, Fam and Fruitcake (the last two being interchangeable if you are in my family). sweater: vintage, thrifted; dotted top: thrifted; skirt:  Gap Kids, found at Buffalo Exchange; boots: Hunter

Don't forget to vote for the best pick-up line, ya'll! I'll be back soon with a coupla DIY's. Until then, have a great week's end!



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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

In the Art Room: Winter Wonderland

A grouping of kindergarten landscapes.
For the last three years, when my kindergarteners painted these snowy scenes, the following day was a snow day. I kid you not. This year was no different. Despite the fact that snow wasn't even in the forecast, it fell steadily from midnight on to the following day. The kindergarteners are convinced they made this happen. I'm beginning to believe them and I'm plotting more snowy projects for the very near future.
I love that this tree has outgrown the frame.
I don't usually repeat projects from year to year cuz I get bored easily. But I often struggle with kindergarten project ideas. This is one of my ole standbys because it's got it all: a little painting, a little collaging and a whole lotta landscaping all in one.
After looking at several landscapes (with a big focus on Grandma Moses because she's awesome and so kid-friendly), we began our own paintings. During our first half an hour together, the students were given the following directions:
  • Paint any kind of line that would be good for a hill. Paint that in blue from one side of your paper to another.
  • Blend white paint into the blue line to create light blue or a tint of blue. 
  • Repeat the first two steps with a hilly line below the first.
  • Put that masterpiece on the drying rack, paint brush in the sink, clean that table and you're done for the day!
  • The following day we chatted all about shades. We were creating an evening sky so we used black and blue this time. Some students chose to use the back of their paint brush to draw wind and stars into the sky (Vincent van Gogh much?) while other dabbed on snow or just left it black.
  • On this day we looked at Grandma Moses' landscapes again and chatted about the three parts to a landscape: fore, middle and background. After eyeing her work, we noticed she showed space my painting her trees, houses, people, everything smaller in the background. 
  • Each artist chose their own house from a stash of die cuts. Snow and icicles were added with white oil pastels. We learned how to cut out triangles and rectangles for our trees. 
  • As you can see above, most of the wee ones understood that to create space in their landscape, their trees needed to decrease in size. Just don't ask them what "decrease" means. We're not there yet.
  • Students were given metallic gold and silver oil pastels to add wind and stars to their evening skies. Looks like this artist opted to just stick with white snow and asteroids.
  • Finally, we chatted snowflakes, added them in white oil pastel to our frames along with our signatures.
In all, I'd say these turned out pretty stinkin' cute. Even if some of us still refer to them as our "landscrapes." Call it what you wanna, if it brings us a Snow Day, I'll take it!
On a super happy side note, I came home from school today to find my art room in the back of SchoolArts magazine! I'm so excited. I hardly recognize that super clean room as it currently looks like someone turned it upside down, gave it a couple hard shakes, squirted same paint and threw some glitter inside before slamming it back down again. Small correction: my school is Johnson Elementary. Gotta give the best school to work at props!

Until we chitty-chat again, enjoy the rest of your week!
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