last day

the second week we began walking in halls in two lines and in pairs, holding hands.

they immediately become more respectfully of each other.

one day we turned around and walked backwards with hands on shoulders of person in front.

it was trust building. on the last day, some tried going solo.

the room is empty except for a few treats leftover from earlier.

Mr I, who is a wonderful teacher, is telling them whoever behaves

best today gets to choose first for the treats - their spellbound

we listened to beatles and caymen islands steel drum music,

they drew and colored a few more pictures and danced around,

then i gave a speech about what great students they are and

for them to work hard and listen to their teachers next year.

drawing dogs

our first day we did the exercise of drawing a dog using

circles and a human using triangles and trapezoids

(do them on opposite sides of a folded paper) unfold

it and connect with a line to see dog dragging human.

the last day we did it again, Sandra colors mine
and then makes her own.

Samantha wanted to draw perros, too, i drew one

then she drew one, and gave them to Ana to color.

then drew another and added herself - notice the food

in bowls with bones - she has become an incredible artist

steam project

measuring for the design of our portfolio,

decorating the front with the solar system

we had a visitor from the steam team -

 a blossoming project adding arts to stem.

not quite prepared for their adorableness,

went from professional videographer to
tu tia favorita in a matter of minutes.

group photo shoot

kinders going to 1st grade  

they have all become friends and some will go to schools together

fluid group shot - no one stands still for long

setting up for photo and a twin is crying while the other is comforting her

but hardly any tears with this close group and when they did
their buddies gave them hugs

the twins and everybody are finally in the photo

our 4 tables working in sync

creating their portfolios to take everything home

rainy skies over the city

they made 3 page accordion skylines with rainy skies

this was a big step by step project for them -
they recreated my cityscape and native american sky
drawings - so astoundingly - using their styles and adding color

colorful planets

their 3 dimensional solar systems

first - they worked in pairs coloring a 2 dimensional solar system -

they also worked in pairs picking colors and

measuring planets' distances from the sun

lost in space

these are their comic books about space

being an abstract painter - i love their composition

and decision making skills

they are working from a big comic book of mine - Zoe in Space

so intuitive what they chose to add or leave out

and they sometimes blaze their own trail

and all are unique and charming in their own way

i might have helped some of them get started on their covers -

but after that - they took off on their own paths

perpetual motion

one of our first challenges was to show movement - with arms raised

in the air we began swaying our bodies as if we were trees in the wind

no challenge for this energetic bunch -
except the wind blew so hard the trees became a blur 

using chalk on red builders paper - they were able to visually show

energy, motion, movement, friction, etc.

  - they get A++ for this day

only time these 4 were standing still - all at the same time -
the girl on the end has an identical twin - they are motion squared

art camp june 2013

love the simplicity of this one and the unique drawing technique

k - 2nd grade painting class

Cezanne influenced

each student takes a turn as model - draped

w/colorful cloth - students draw each other

love this - looks to be angels raising to the heavens - Giotti

they paint the drawings using glitter ink on the

fabric and earth toned watercolors for the figure

here again - love the simplicity and her unique drawing technique

a mountain range is made in the middle

of a table using the same fabric

Cezanne influenced as well

they draw, then paint the fabric mountain range

using acrylic and watercolor paints

Giotti again

they finish by collaging their friends

on to the mountain range -

the students made all creative decisions -

including leaving some things unpainted,

which makes for even more wonderful a

composition - and along with great brush

work makes these such charming paintings

art camp finale

a short bus ride...became a magical journey
they arrive @ camp... filled with creative energy...Camp Rock Star,
deep in the 'grove', Pleasant Grove, that i...the kids are awesome,
they learn, they invent, they make things, such wonderful talents...
shy ones are coming out of their shells...for 2 weeks 1 little girl never spoke,
then 1 day said, "I painted my star yellow."...i was surprised and elated...
another little kindergartener, began running the art studio,
directing others on set designing...making sure we got it right...
so cool !...they make sketch books, spirit sticks, rain sticks, masks,
t-shirts, and magic...and use math, science, physics...
and, of course, dance, music, and theatre...
...they find a treasure map and began their magical journey
deep into the 'grove'...where all things have living spirits...
...the trees move...and talk...and tell them
"that's not just any ol' rock... that is a piece of a powerful treasure..."
...they locate the 'feathered man' who tells them, "...the rock is a symbol of your family's solid foundation."...he then gives them magical powers, the powers of the universe...fire, earth, water, and wind...and says "...the power of the hidden treasure is inside of yourself."
Bigg huggs for the wonderful, hard-working and giving people that made this magical journey possible...Aztec dance Blanca Reyna, theatre and script writer Jenniffer Clemons, music wizard Bob Baraza, Armon Raphiel (who helped me soo much)...my sweeti Niloo Jalilvand for video and interviews.

art camp ends

the kids...

on stage...
with their sets...
the play was awesome...loved the moving/talking trees...video at 10.