Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Anti-anti coloring books

Growing up, I remember my mom getting us the Anti Coloring Books -- they're still around -- and even have a web page. From said page, Anti Coloring Books:
Allow children to be creative, not just robots coloring inside the lines.

These books let children use their imaginations:

  • exciting motivation is provided
  • a scene is set
  • children get to put on their thinking caps
  • exercise their imaginations
  • and turn on their critical thinking

Most of all they have fun!

I haven't gotten any of them for Sabine or Vivian yet, but Bret often brings home (non-confidential) recycle paper from the office...which we sometimes use for printing, but occasionally Sabine turns them into coloring pages...


Have you ever seen a prettier MANHOLE COVER?


And I think the Portland lady looks just lovely...
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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

It's back...


Actually, it's a new one. We gave the old "peace wheel" to our good friends (and fantastic musicians) Anne and Pete Sibley before leaving Wyoming, so Bret made a new one. It was easier this time 'round! And in Bikeville, USA (aka Portland) it's been well received.
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Sunday, January 20, 2008

It's been a while...


And as you can see, we've been busy!




This was a photo technique Sabine called "Falling Sky" -- Bret and I called it "Paint all Over" -- but the results were interesting. Afterwards, we found a cool site: jacksonpollock.org where you can make "splatter" paintings on your desktop. Sabine spent a fair bit time there, too.


This is an old one (Sabine still has both her front teeth!), I think it was from Vivian's birthday.
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Saturday, September 29, 2007

A Whole New Mind

My friend (and Jackson High School art teacher) Meggan told me about this book...I'm only 80 pages into it, but am finding it very interesting and thought provoking. Click on the title of this post to visit Mr. Pink's webpage.

Publishers Weekly says of it: "Just as information workers surpassed physical laborers in economic importance, Pink claims, the workplace terrain is changing yet again, and power will inevitably shift to people who possess strong right brain qualities."

I especially like the story he shares of one of Hallmark's premiere artists visiting elementary schools and commenting on the art he saw in classrooms. When he asked kids in kindergarten how many of artists there were in the classroom, almost all of them raised their hands. When he asked the same question in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. grades, fewer and fewer kids raised their hands, up until 6th grade when not a single hand went up. How sad! But not surprising...

I recall recently a little girl at the library coloring table telling Sabine (who was coloring in a pre-printed sheet with an apple tree on it) that the apples in the tree had to be red, and the leaves had to be green...(I was glad to see that Sabine didn't necessarily follow this advice). I mentioned that sometimes apples are green or yellow, and that leaves on trees change color...but it didn't seem to impress the girl, who I assume has been told in no uncertain terms that apples are red, leaves are green, etc. YIKES!

Friday, September 14, 2007

Thrift Store Goodies

I found the following items (all for $5) at Forget Me Not today:

A 1968 dictionary which I plan on cutting up to make Artist Trading Cards.

A BUDDHA BOARD water painting slate (mainly for Sabine and Vivian, but it does have a message on it to "live in the moment" so maybe it's meant for me, too).

Giant pickup sticks (played several times today with Sabine, and she and Vivian made up their own game with them, surprised we still have 4 eyes between them).

Also, (not pictured) a groovy set of retro-colored measuring spoons. We do a lot of baking, and often the 2 sets we own are in the dishwasher when we need them.

Lest you worry that my house will fill up with such bargains, I also dropped off several bags to said thrift store earlier in the week. I figure it's like renting some cheap homeschooling fun.
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My first ATC

I did it! I finally created an ATC (Artist Trading Card), with the help of Sabine and Vivian, of course. So fun to get out my stamps again. I used the 1968 dictionary and cut out the definition of genius...now I want to make more, More, MORE! (insert wicked laugh here).

A special thank you to all the folks at Imagination Tribe for the encouragement.

Sabine was looking through all of my stamping supplies (yes, I was an addict!) and asked why I hadn't shown her them before. "I just haven't been stamping much lately, babe...guess I've been busy." To which she replies, "If you have another baby mama, I'll look after the baby so you can do more stamping." Very sweet, but don't hold your breath, anyone!

Now I want to put all of my stamps into the sewing room, where all my other creative supplies are...honey, pass the drill...
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