Monday, August 31, 2009

Seahorse


You need:

  1. white drawing sheet A4 format
  2. watercolour paint
  3. white crayon
  4. brushes
  5. salt
Show various photos of seahorses and discuss the characteristics of these remarkable animals. Children draw a seahorse with a white crayon on a white sheet. Details should also be drawn with the white crayon. The seahorse has to be painted with watercolour paint and a small brush. You may touch de lines, but do not cross them.

When ready, paint the background with a large brush, watercolour paint and lots of water. Try different colours blue or green (by adding water) and make sure they mix up a bit - wet on wet technique. Sprinkle salt on the background while it is still wet. The salt will absorb water and it gives a nice effect. When the drawing is completely dry, you can wipe the salt with a clean hand.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Warm sun, cool moon

You need:
  1. black paper A4 format
  2. pencils
  3. gold and silver coloured markers

What colour is the sun? Do you see warm or cold colours? What colour is the moon? And the rays of the moon? How come you see the yellow moon often as cold? How would you use the colours gold and silver in the sun and the moon? All these questions can be asked in a class discussion about the sun and the moon and the differences between them.
The children draw a circle on black paper around a saucer or pot. This circle is a face of a sun and a face of a part of the moon. Using warm and cool colours these two parts should me coloured. Met behulp van warme en koude kleuren worden beide helften ingekleurd.
The rays of the sun and moon should clearly differ.
If the colouring is finished, the parts of the sun should be outlined with gold marker, and the moon with silver marker.
The backgrounds from the sun and the moon should be different too.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

geninne : artists who blog



Geninne's blog: www.geninne.com
Geninne's shop: www.geninne.etsy.com

Why did you decide to start a blog?

In 2005, I discovered Illustration Friday, a weekly creative outlet/participatory art exhibit for art illustrators and artist from all over the world. I decided to participate in the weekly art challenge and needed a blog to post my entries.



How did you come up with the name of your blog?

In the beginning it was called Geninne's Illustration Blog because I was only using it to post my entries for Illustration Friday, but after a while I began expending my posts to include my adventures in crafting, sewing, etc...so I needed a new name and changed the illustration for art.

How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?

The most important thing is that it has made me more prolific with my work and motivates me to continue creating.



What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

There are so many arts and craft blogs that I love. For my daily birdy fix I visit Diana Sudyka's blog thetinyaviary.blogspot.com. I'm a BIG fan of Laura Normandin's work and visit her blog wrenhandmade.typepad.com for inspiration. I also admire Camilla Engman's work and her adorable dog Morran's adventures at camillaengman.blogspot.com. There is so much talent out there!



Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?

“Just do it” If you want to get your work know I would advise you to participate in any of the many creative outlets available on the internet. Blog about what you love, don’t try too hard, just blog about what your passion is.



What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?

The positive feedback I get from my readers is a daily source of encouragement.



What do you find the most difficult/most rewarding part of having a creative profession?

Seeing/reading how people enjoy my work and make it a part of their living environment puts a smile on my face.



Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your art/design?

I posted a new illustration every week at Illustration Friday for two years and I think that really helped expose my work in the creative community.



How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

The balance comes naturally since I’m a bit of a hermit and love to stay home with Manolo and the kids. I home school them so I get stay in most of the time, which means I’m close to my desk and water colors for when inspiration strikes. Albert Einstein once said “The monotony and solitude of a quite life stimulates the creative mind” I strive to keep it simple everyday.



What are your main goals for 2009?

My future plans with Manolo are to open a little shop with his furniture designs, my art and handmade crafts. It has been a dream of ours since we got married. We don’t have any specific plans yet but we are giving it a lot of thought.

Funny fishes



You need:

  1. white drawing paper (A4 format)
  2. water paint
  3. black marker

Divide the sheet in nine rectangles from 10 to 7 cm. Draw a fish or shell on a small piece of cardboard that fits in the rectangle. Cut out the fish or shell, this is your template. Outline that mall in all rectangles.

Choose three colours to paint the figures. You may make patterns in them. Paint the backgrounds with the same three colours and make patterns if you want. Outline everything (fishes, patters and rectangles) with a black marker.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Famous name




You need:

  1. white drawing sheet
  2. black marker
  3. wasco crayons
  4. black sheet for background

Write your name with a black marker several times on a white sheet. Upside down, from the top to the bottom, it doesn't matter. Write your names disorderly, taking care the letters will mix up.

When your sheet is full enough, choose a couple of colours you like. Colour just the white spots who are completely surrounded by black lines. This might be small spots from the letters, but they could be tall as well because they are between the names.

Glue your work on a black background.

Your name in a frame


You need:
  1. white sheet
  2. black marker
  3. wasco crayons
  4. black construction paper for background

Another fun idea with your own name!

Draw four diagonal lines on your white sheet to make five compartments. Use capital letters to write your name in the compartments, and take there that the upper and bottom side of the letters will touch the lines.

Colour the letters with a black marker. Colour the compartments with crayons. Glue your drawing on a black sheet.

Radial name design



You need:

  • white drawing sheet from 21 cm by 21 cm
  • black marker
  • black fineliner
  • black or coloured construction paper for background

There are many fun things to do with your own name!
Draw a spot in the middle of the sheet (use a ruler!) and draw an even amount of lines to the sides of the sheet. In the example are ten lines, producing nine compartments.
Write your name in capitals within a compartment, while the bottom and upper side of the characters reach the lines. Colour the characters with a black marker.




Then write your name with a fineliner as often as you can in small characters in the next compartment. You may write horizontally of diagonally, as you wish. You can even write in squares.




Fill the compartments alternate with big and small names.
If you like it, you can colour the compartments with the big names with wasco crayons.

Friday, August 7, 2009

bueller : artists who blog



Bueller's blogs: 2 and fro, bueller designs, bueller's kitchen
Bueller's shop: www.bueller.etsy.com

Why did you decide to start a blog?

Bueller Designs began as a way to keep track of inspiration rooms and images that I would come across while surfing the net. It started as a journal for myself. It then caught on and I began to have followers who loved the rooms I was picking and were moved by my photography. I very quickly realized I had an audience of more than just myself all over the world which really blew my mind and was very exciting. Being a photographer I'm naturally a very visual person so I really love the format of blogging as is it such a visual medium. Nothing makes me happier than looking at a beautiful room that makes you dream. I also wanted to create a mini online gallery to share my photography and creative projects, handmade coasters, huge canvas prints, etc. It's fun to share what I've made with others.



How did you come up with the name of your blog?

Bueller was a nickname given to me by my old boss so when I started the blog and formed my company it seemed only natural to call it Bueller Designs. Bueller has become my online persona as I'm not too keen of having all my info on the net. I also have my health and wellness blog Bueller's Kitchen which is all about health, wellness, anti-aging, and my journey in overcoming adrenal fatigue and mercury poisoning - health and sharing what I've learned about how to attain it is my other passion.



How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?

It has allowed me to grow in my ability as a photographer and designer by defining and sharpening my eye. I have learned so much about what my style is which I never knew before both in regards to what I shoot and what I like. I don't think I ever had a style per say. For instance, I designed my new apartment using only recycled vintage industrial pieces with the goal to not buy one new thing and to give everything a purpose. It looks amazing (as shown on my blog) and I was able to pull it off because I had been so inspired by the vintage french industrial trend I saw online. I kept narrowing down what looks I really liked by posting them on my blog. So when I went to design my apartment I knew exactly what I wanted and what would work. I good family friend, who is an exceptional designer, told me, "Pick what you love and the rest will fall into place." I think she was right. I've now created an apartment I love and it perfectly reflects who I am both as a showcase for my work as well as my character. This goes for my photography as well. I'm always redefining my eye and refining the way I see based on what I am inspired by in the blog world.



What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

I love Au Fil De. Beal's images are stunning. Everything is so soft and beautiful. It's really different from how I shoot so I am always looking for inspiration. She captures light in a way that is pure magic. It makes you want to put on a sundress and go running in a field. I love Bea's blog (not to be confused with Beal above) La Tartine Gourmande. The pictures make my mouth water and my soul want to travel. She also has a photography site. I can always find inspiration here. Jan at Poppytalk is always finding the coolest stuff. I love to go see what wonderful letterpress, posters, art, jewelry, vintage items and things she drums up. It just amazes at how much talent there is out there. Her taste is just exceptional. I may be biased though since I have a table at Poppytalk Handmade so you better check it out for yourself!



Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?

I would say speak your truth. Find what you love, what you are truly passionate about and blog about that. Don't worry about what will attract an audience or what will bring in the most viewers. The more specific you are about your passion the bigger your audience will be. When you love what you blog about, it shows. Also, find other bloggers with your same passion and reach out to them. Join the community. Read their blogs and leave comments. Support each other. Above all else, do it for yourself first and the rest will come!



What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?

What has really blown my mind is the community online. The bloggers and readers are all so wonderful, kind, supportive, and fun. I have made friends all over the world. It's great when I actually get to meet someone in person who I've only known through blogging. Some of my closest friends are people I met through blogging. I love hearing feedback, getting comments or emails and knowing that I've reached people all over the word. I have followers in Australia, Dubai, Holland, Brazil, Ireland, etc. I absolutely love connecting and hearing from people. Some of the people I have helped on Bueller's Kitchen have really touched me in particular. People who may not have considered diet and food as medicine who then heal themselves, that's pretty incredible. It's wild! It's really not like anything I've ever experienced. It's a wonderful playground!



What do you find the most difficult/most rewarding part of having a creative profession?

Definitely without a doubt the most difficult thing to do is to keep growing, to keep learning and pushing myself past where I am in the moment. I am like a child who is always reaching for what is just out of my grasp. I want that cookie on the counter that I'm not tall enough to get! My best photographs almost always come when I'm trying something new and I am out of my element. The most rewarding part is when someone falls in love with one of my photographs and it moves them. Photography is emotion captured on film and it should tug right at your heart. When you get that feeling I call the "pitter-patter", than you know you have something special. It's like a first kiss. I'm constantly trying to create something that makes the heart go "pitter-patter" just a little bit more than the last time. You can't beat that.



Other than your blog, what has been the most effective way for you to promote your art/design?

Reaching out to people who love my work and asking them to pass on the word has really been the most rewarding and successful. I really don't do any promotion as I'm rather shy when it comes to tooting my own horn. I have to constantly work on it. My Etsy shop helps a lot as it is constantly bringing in new clients. Also, my daily photoblog 2andFro helps to bring in an audience too. I think it's important to be in as many different places as possible and to funnel everything to one place. My blog is the hub and keeps people connected to everything I'm doing.



How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

Well this is not easy to do as I'm constantly juggling between Bueller Designs, my Etsy shop, Bueller's Kitchen, my daily photo blog 2 AND FRO, all in addition to a full time corporate career (that will remain a secret for now). So, I'm always doing something. Also, with adrenal fatigue you have to be sure not to burn out so it is extra important to find balance. Living in Silver Lake has really helped me to take some time for myself as I can just walk out my door and around the lake. It's all about creating a schedule for my own well being, so I don't get sucked into the vortex that is the internet. So often we schedule all the tedious stuff but we never take care of ourselves. Wellness and balance is a choice you make everyday. You can't just say, I will walk sometime today because you will get caught up with something and never go. I have to say, I'm walking at 7 am or 4 p.m., etc. I have to schedule it just as if it's an important meeting because the truth is it's more important than any meeting. I've learned to remain well by making these rules: -the computer is off by 10 p.m. otherwise I work all night -when I wake in the morning I don't allow myself to check email or anything until I've walked around the lake which is 2.5 miles -in the afternoon I force myself to break for yoga, even if it's just on my apartment floor -never eat at the computer, take a moment to just relax your eyes and enjoy your food.



What are your main goals for 2009?

There is so much I want to do in 2009. My main goal is to learn more about digital photography. I started photographing when I was 12 using 35 mm film and a darkroom and because I'm self taught I still have a lot to learn. I'm also going to be expanding my card line and poster line. I'm having a lot of fun and great success with my posters like KEEP CALM AND SURF ON and NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP.....LIKE EVER and I'm looking forward to starting a newsletter so that I can connect more with my readers. As the little green sign on my desk says, There's so much I want to do!



Thanks Bueller!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Country vanes








You need:







  1. white drawing paper (A4 format)



  2. felt pens



  3. black fineliner



Each country has its own specific things: an anthem, a flag, one language, national food, a certain building, an event. What do you think when you think the Netherlands? Of course there are the requisite stereotypes, like wooden shoes - no, we don't walk on them anymore! Yet the wooden shoe is something special about Holland. In this lesson children will make a vane, a little flag with characteristics about a self chosen country. The vane should have four distinctive things to recognize a country, so other children will instantly know to which country the vane belongs.




Discuss with the children some examples from countries and significant things who belong to that country.



After this children choose a country. In their table groups the children help eachother to consider the four typical things for the chosen countries.



Vanes come in different forms. Show some forms on the digital blackboard. The vane has to be symmetrical. To avoid ugly wrinkles, it's better to divide the sheet with thin lines in four pieces. After this, outline a symmetrical vane.



Draw four different things in the compartments and colour it with felt pens. Outline every drawing with a fineliner.













































Picknick quilt

What kind of things do you think of when you hear the word summer? Which of those things are easy to be drawn? An ice cream will be easy to draw, but a drawn beach will be less clear as part of a quilt. Is it better to choose objects that belong to the beach such as shells or beach toys. Each group receives a large sheet of coloured paper and white squares of paper from 11 by 11 cm. We're drawing summerquilts together!

Discuss how you can get a group work: choosing matching colours or choosing the same subject.


You need:

  1. pencils
  2. sheets of paper from 10 by 10 cm
  3. scissors and glue
  4. big cardboard for background

Every member of the group makes some drawings for a summerquilt. Those little drawings have to be coloured with colour pencil. When all drawings are ready, they have to be glued on the coloured background. Possibly the edges of the large sheets can be decorated with sticky buttons or drawn patterns.

















Picknickkleed, door Oscar, Ozan, Yorn, Fabian en Richard, groep 7