Printed Portraits!

I love a good self portrait lesson.  I love when children need to really think about who they are and how they feel.  When they have to look closely at how they see themselves on the inside, and then how they want others to view them on the outside.  I come from an expressive arts background.  My philosophy of Art Education has always been revolved around helping children develop a deep awareness of self.  Allowing them to reach their full potential through self expression and community.  Creating a safe space where each child uses a variety of art materials to explore, create and understand.  
To make sense of their world.  

 
Today I would like to share some portraits that my students just finished.  



They worked so hard from the planning stages until our final critique.  There was SO much learning during this unit and so much fun!  Aside from the clear awareness of self, they learned how to use the carving tools safely, printing effectively and combining colors in the most interesting ways. 

We looked at a number of adult printed portraits and discussed how their facial expression, body gesture, background and use of space expressed who they are and how they want others to see them.
Then each child thought about how to best express themselves..the results were outstanding!

They even got into some serious experimentation!

 

When it was all over we had a final critique where they got to share their work and compliment others. We looked at each piece individually and then as a series of work. Amazing!

Vision Board

A vision board is a collage of images, pictures and affirmations of your hopes and dreams. This board can be about one specific aspect of your life you would like to improve or understand better, or it could be about your overall hopes/dreams for the future.  The process is totally fun!  You look through a variety of magazines pulling out images and words that call to you.  It is really like making a collage about what you hope/need in your life.  Like in many expressive art classes, you don't want to think too much about the images you choose, but rather you allow the images to find you. You can make a collection of these images.. keep a folder, or shoebox until you are ready for the gluing.  It is a really therapeutic process.  I found this such a fun exercise I wound up making two in the same evening!

After looking at the final pieces, I felt happy and clear in my life's desires.  Making art, cooking and yoga.  Creating a deep connection to nature, spirituality, love, happiness and tranquility.  I want to live a healthy, colorful and peaceful life filled with joy.  I am certain as the days pass I will notice more inside these vision boards.  What images will you find in your dreams?

Celebrate!

I recently turned 32.  Really.

Even though I am getting way older than I feel.. faster then I imagined, my birthday is still a day I look forward to!  This year was no exception.  My birthday, like a new year, is a time to reflect and dream.  Reflect on things I have accomplished and dream of things I hope to.  It is a time to celebrate life and love....and o boy do I feel loved!  From the special gifts and homemade treats to the friends and family that helped me to celebrate life! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to make me feel special.  For helping cook a delicious meal, for sharing a drink, for singing a song, for a thoughtful gift and kind words.  Thank you for making me something with your bare hands and for saying happy birthday with your heart! 
As I get older I feel quite happy!
I am grateful for my life, and this 32nd year ahead!

                                                                            Love is Poetry of the Senses.

My Valentine

I recently joined Pinterest, and love it.  I pinned an image a few weeks ago and got an idea to make an accordion style valentine for my sweet husband. This idea quickly became a reality as my first graders were painting papers for a collage... and I made some too!  I thought the outcome was pretty sweet! I would definitely like to make another.. maybe smaller or bigger, or longer. I made this one with ten hearts, to signify how many years we will be together this year.  wow!

10 months later

Friday's post was from April of last year. Just sitting there, in the edit folder, for the last 10 months!  As April is quickly approaching again, I've decided to try and really blog.  Will it be true?  Only time will tell.  Almost 10 months into our new home, and I feel reborn.  What a change.  A great new chapter in this exciting life!  It is all I could have imagined and more. I feel as if my heart has grown 10x, like the Grinch.  I picture my heart busting through that wire box. ahhhh happiness!

Back to Nature

My husband and I finally moved back to nature!  We met in college in the magical beauty of upstate NY, a place that I could have envisioned living forever.  But, after receiving our degrees, we moved into the big apple for work "for a year or two."  Ha!  8 years later, we still love our jobs, but our living situation left much to be desired. I know the city is a wonderful place to live for many people, but for me, not so much.  All I wanted was
TO SEE: colors, flowers, plants, trees, snow, birds, leaves. TO BREATHE.
TO WATCH: the seasons change, magical sunsets, clouds pass, my cat run (really run), snow fall, wind blow, the stars, the moon.  TO GROW.
TO HAVE: a parking spot, bar free windows, quiet, space, fresh air, a car, a BBQ, washing machine, a garden and a place to make art.
To take walks whenever I feel like..beautiful walks right from our doorstep.
To drink tea while listening to an old record.
To cook delicious meals in a spacious kitchen.
To have wonderful neighbors who engage you in lovely conversation.
To have friends and family gather in your house and share in your joy.
...this list could and will continue.

Well, after much back and forth about what we want to do with our lives, a marriage, travel, jobs we enjoy, (and are lucky enough to have), life changes, ups and downs, and going from 24 to 31 in literally the blink of an eye (scary!) ...we finally moved!  And not just a small move, we now live in the country!  Legit rural living.  And I love it!

What's not to love?!  So now, I have been re-inspired to share my daily experiences and Belle Stories!  This blog is a place where I would like to share the unfolding beauty in my daily life. Whether painting, sewing, teaching, gardening, walking, reading, cooking, eating, sharing ideas/questions, crafting or finding a good deal (I now love garage sales!)  I hope you enjoy it and get inspired!

Sketch Books (and journals) are GOOD ;)

At one time in my life I kept a sketchbook.  I could write, draw, paint, collage, whatever.  I would carry it around with me everywhere I went.  It felt good.  It slowly changed to occasional entries in my planner, becoming a very weak version of my sketchbook.  Now I hardly have anything resembling a sketchbook, even throughout the summer months when I am not full time teaching.  What happened?

It was inspiring, thought provoking and wonderfully reflective.  Last year I was in the midst of my thesis for Teachers College, researching this very topic.. and  found a name for this very thing.
The Artist-as-Teacher.
It was a super-duper interesting topic and I really enjoyed the whole self-reflective process!  One important part of my research was to keep a daily journal.  I should start to journal again as part of my new quest. Sketchbook here I come..?