Story Stones

I made up this set of story stones this weekend.  They were a lot of fun to make.  I envisioned a small set, but ended up with all of these.  I got a little carried away, because they were so much fun to make. I made them with Sharpie Marker.
The stones are supposed to be used as a story prompt, but I think I'll use them as a drawing prompt.
My plan is to tie up a few stones in a piece of colorful cloth.  Kids can choose a bundle, untie it, and make up a picture based on their stones.  I think there are enough for a whole class if the children partner-up. Could be a fun sub-plan, too.
What do you think?  How would you use them?

Lightning Bolt City

Sharing a piece of the third grade architecture mural this week.  Students really had fun designing buildings, bridges, cars, people, and other features for their imaginary city.  Each student designed  on a 12 X 18 sheet of paper, outlined with sharpie, and colored with colored pencils practicing really careful and complete coloring.  They cut out their pictures and arranged them on a long piece of craft paper.  Everything was quickly tacked down with a couple of dots of glue and then the whole thing was run through the laminating machine.  Fun and easy.

Calling All Snow Bunnies

We're expecting snow this weekend and if you're in the northeast encourage you to get out and explore the possibilities of the season.  Snowmen, snow forts, build, sculpt, or paint on it, or how 'bout a little snow graffiti?  Don't forget to snap a photo of all your wonderful creations before they melt away.  Share your photos at Free Art Friday Vermont.
Check out this link to a gallery of really adorable snowmen.  Really.  What's cuter than a snow bunny?

Unity in the Community: Free Art Friday Hits the Streets

Free Art Friday hits the streets tomorrow for our very first art drop.  I'm really excited about bring this grassroots international art initiative to our community for the purpose of supporting unity, and spreading joy through art. This has all come together so fast.  I initially committed to making 52 weeks of free art and was going it alone, but have been amazed at the support I have received locally, and from the International Free Art Community.  It seems I was on everyone's radar from the moment I opened the Facebook page.   It's really fun and inspiring to be part of this adventure.  Here are the works we'll be dropping on Friday...If you're in Bennington, Vermont keep your eyes open.  You never know what you'll find.  Check us out on Facebook for more details about the Free Art Movement.  Free Art Friday Vermont

"Lillie's Luau" By Lillie Wildman age 9

"Maine Coast"  Nathan Jeandell

"Shaftsbury, Vermont"  Barbara Childs (me)

Kindergarten Sweethearts

I broke out the dot markers today for this quick and cute lesson to help our littlest artists learn about Valentine's Day, symmetry, stencils, while they create a memento celebrating love and friendship.  The heart is lightly held in place by a piece of rolled tape on the back and removed after dabbing.  So the kids walked away with three heart papers...the little center heart, the medium sized heart that we used as a stencil, and the   page they dabbed.  I put out a tray of crayons and let them embellish them with words and colors and kindergarten went away happy today.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Strathmore Workshops

Looking for something to jump start your creativity?  Registration for the Strathmore free online workshop series has opened.  They are offering four workshops and they begin in March.  I love art and text and am about to register for Joanne Sharpe's Artful Lettering Techniques.  How about you?

Check our the workshops and register here. http://www.strathmoreartist.com/2013-online-workshop-series.html

Free Art Friday

Recent events in the news have really gotten to me lately.  The fiscal cliff, Sandy Hook, and last week the biggest drug bust in the Vermont happened in my town.  It's so discouraging, I want to live in a fun, vibrant, safe, and healthy community, but that is obviously not entirely the case.  Forty drug dealers were arrested in a town wide sweep through our snowy town.  Not users.  Dealers.  I'm not talking small amounts, for personal use, and I'm not talking about weed.  Forty people arrested for dealing in Heroin and Crack .  We know there is a problem is here, but the scope of the problem was amazing to most people.

  

Anyway.  It's caused me to really think about community, what it means to me, and the important role each person plays in creating that sense of community...for better or worse.  It's made me wonder about next steps.  These events have made me more determined to be a stronger positive influence in my town.  They have set me searching for a way to give something back to my town, to help it to regain it's esteem and to become the kind of place I want to live in.  And to support the many positive things that are happening here.  

After giving the matter some thought, I decided that I would like to initiate a community art project called Free Art Friday.  Have you heard of it?  It's an world wide art scavenger hunt that happens of Fridays.  Here’s how it works. 

Each week an artist (me) will make a piece of art.  On Friday I will leave it in the community for you to find.  I will place photo clues on http://www.facebook.com/FreeArtFridayVermont . Visit the site for clues that will help you help you determine the location.   If you find the art it’s yours to keep, I only ask that you post a photo of the art back to http://www.facebook.com/FreeArtFridayVermont , so that I know it found a good home.

The first work I will drop is a watercolor from my latest series.  The watercolor is matted, and sized to fit into a standard 8” X 10” frame.  It will look great on your wall.   I will be dropping it on Friday February 1 at a yet to be determined location.

That’s it.  Free Art Friday.

Of course, it's a community art event and anyone may participate as a hider or a seeker.  Community members who would like to  participate as an artist and hide a drawing, collage, original photograph, painting, object of choice can visit the facebook page and post a photo for the seekers.  

The Free Art Friday Facebook page has been up for just three days, but has already gotten the attention from other Free Art Friday movements around the country.  I'm hoping this will encourage local artists to participate as a means of promoting and supporting their work in and outside our community.  

Please support Free Art Friday by visiting and  liking us on Facebook  

How about you?  What challenges do you face in your town and how do you work to overcome those challenges?