Black Pete in stained glass

In the folklore of the Netherlands, Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) is a companian of Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas), whose yearly feast in the Netherlands is usually on the evening of 5 December, when they distribute presents to all good children.
The character of Zwarte Piet appears only in the weeks before Saint Nicholas's feast, first when the saint is welcomed with a parade as he arrives in the country (in the Netherlands by steam boat, from Spain), and is mainly targeted at children, who come to meet the saint as he visits stores, schools etc. Zwarte Piet is black because he has to climb down the chimneys with the presents for the children.
Foreign tourists often experience culture shock upon encountering the character. Since the last decade of the 20th century there have been several attempts to introduce a new kind of Zwarte Piet to the Dutch population. These Zwarte Pieten have replaced the traditional black make-up with all sorts of colours. These multi-coloured Pieten are unpopular amongst the Dutch population and are not catching on.
Source: Wikipedia.

Stained glass is the name for a window glass that consists of pieces glass which are connected by lead. Discuss with the children where stained glass is still to be seen. Why do people make it, since we can produce a window out of one piece of glass? What is the effect of stained glass? Wat is lead? What is lead used for?

You need:

1. black construction paper
2. tissue paper
3. scissors
4. glue

Children are going to make a black pete in stained glass. Our lead is black construction paper. Draw a line around the sheet at 2 cm from the edge. This will be the frame. Draw a black pete in the frame with few details: face, cap and dollar are enough. Link this pete with some strips from 1.5 cm width out of the construction paper to the frame. Draw crosses in those pieces that have to be cut out. After a check from the teacher, the real cutting can start.

After this, the little windows have to be made. Put a piece of tissue paper behind a window of the frame and outline it with pencil. Cut this piece with an edge of 1 cm and glue it on the back of the window. Continue with the other windows.
Hang all artworks against the window!

lisa golightly : artists who blog

Lisa's blog: kikiandpolly.com/blog
Lisa's website: kikiandpolly.com
Lisa's shop: kikiandpolly.etsy.com



Why did you decide to start a blog?

Probably the same reason many people do. I had been reading blogs for years and started wanting to share some of my ideas and how I work. I think I had been writing posts in my head for quite a while before I actually took the plunge.



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

It’s just my name and that of my website. And yes, that is my real name. The name Kiki and Polly was inspired by my daughter. Polly was her imaginary friend and Kiki was the name she gave a bird that came to our yard.



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

Hmmm. I guess one of the greatest things for me is getting to hear feedback. Putting my work out there and hearing peoples thoughts on it has been really gratifying and inspirational.



What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

Too many to list here (I swear it grows daily!) But a few are:
design is mine
frolic
Camilla Engman
design milk
Art Addict
Antler



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

I try to balance what is inspiring me, my daily life and what I’m working on, mainly because those are the aspects I enjoy most in other people’s blogs. So to blog what it is that draws you to other blogs is a good place to start.



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

Like I said, hearing from people who have found my work has been amazing. I am a pretty quiet person so having a blog helps me out of my shell!



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

I have kids, so balacing time and giving enough to each is the hardest. I heard an artist say once that his wife couldn’t be a true artist because she made the choice to be a mother and art requires too much of yourself to make that sacrifice. Well, I think that’s bull@#$%$, but that said, somedays it would be very helpful to have a few extra hours in the day.



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

Participating in online art markets, maintaining an active etsy store, and introducing yourself to art/design blogs.



How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

That’s the big question, right? Some days I feel like I have acheived it, others I still struggle. Just recently I started back at my childhood love of horseback riding which has been huge for me. I think the biggest realization for me has been that I don’t neccesarily have balance on a daily basis, but if I step back and look at the overall picture it’s there.



What would you like to accomplish by the end of 2009?

I’d like to keep getting my work out there, keep pushing myself and making the most of some fun opportunites I have coming up.

Thank you Lisa for sharing your thoughts and your lovely artwork!

Explosion at the bottle factory

This lesson is designed to help explain the idea of Abstract art. It is from an Arts and Activities magazine.

Paintings of trees by the Dutch painter Piet Mondriaan show the development of realistic painting to abstract painting clearly. The red tree (1908) is a realistic painting, Mondriaan painted what he saw.

The grey tree (1911) is more abstract, but the shape of the tree can still be seen.

The apple tree (1912) doesn't look like a tree anymore, unless you see this one together with the former paintings.

You need:

1. black construction paper
2. scissors and glue
3. coloured paper
4. ruler and pencil

After showing the paintings of Mondriaan, kids have to make their own abstract artwork out of a realistic one.
Children draw a line halfway their black sheet. Then they have to cut three or four double bottles out of coloured paper. Glue the bottles on the top piece of the black sheet. Cut the remaining bottles into pieces and glue them on the bottom of the sheet.

The longest line

You need:

1. white drawing sheet 15 by 15 cm
2. black fineliner
3. markers

I found this lesson on Artsonia. Start in a corner and draw ONE line, the longest line: curved, straight, zigzag, with angles etc. The line has to fill the whole sheet and you may not pick up your marker from the sheet! The line may not hit or cross itself. And, the most important: the line has to end at the point it started. So be sure you're back in the beginning in time!

When ready, draw with a pencil three or four geometric shapes on your sheet. Choose three colours marker per shape and colour them. Outline your shapes with the black fineliner.

jennifer sanchez : artists who blog

Jennifer's blog: miss-sanchez.blogspot.com
Jennifer's website: miss-sanchez.com



Why did you decide to start a blog?

People ask me what inspires my work and what it's about.
The answer is a little different depending on what i'm reading or what i've seen. A blog seemed like a great way to share what's going on w/my art and what inspires, right now.



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

Don't know yet, but I definitely use it as a reference tool. If I want to look at something I saw on the street or in a recent show, it's right there on the blog.



What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?

http://joannemattera.blogspot.com
http://edwardwinkleman.blogspot.com

both are generous w/their insight and opinions about the art world

http://www.artfagcity.com
http://badatsports.com/category/theblog
http://hragvartanian.com
http://hyperallergic.com

These are all great blogs that provide insightful, critical and funny posts.



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

Write in your voice - the way you talk. Keep it simple.



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

It helps me get my thoughts together and remember stuff. For me, it's like a growing database of cool stuff I can use in my paintings.



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

Trying out new things in my paintings. It's always a little scary and fun at the same time.
Hearing from people who like my work – that's always great and motivational.
Being able to paint for most of my living.



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

My website and I've been linked w/some really great websites and savvy online marketing ladies:

suzanne shade, beholder-art.com
jen bekman, jen bekman gallery, 20x200.com



How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?

I make a schedule for myself. I have a morning, part-time job that offers a lot of time off.

I can easily spend my time surfing the net, going to shows hanging out at the park. I sorta plan out my week and have a rough idea what I'll do each day. Spend this much time looking at art, this much time in the studio, this much time doing 'office work'. And I make sure I have down time or loaf time - it's good to hang out and waste time. Gives me the space to process all that I'm taking in.



What would you like to accomplish by the end of 2009?

Be able to quit my job!
I'm also beginning to incorporate a sorta new element in my paintings; large and loose, broad strokes of color. Hope to be able to reconcile it and work with it better.

Thanks Jennifer!

Greetings from ... Holland!

And this is Holland too ....

You need:

1. white drawing sheet from 20 by 10 cm
2. markers
3. fineliner
4. ruler
5. pencil

Draw a horizon line about 2 cm from the upper edge. Put a dot in the middle of this line, the vanishing point. Draw lines from the bottom and sides towards that vanishing point. Make six lanes or more - this is the highway. Colour the highway with gray marker, leaving out the white stripes. Colour agriculturul fields besides the highway. Colour the sky. Draw a cityscape with high buildings and houses on the horizon and colour them with black and grey markers.

Together with the lesson about the bulb fields, we have a nice postcard! Greetings from Holland!

Find it!

Waterpaint with finepointed marker

You need:

1. white drawing paper A4 size
2. watercolour paint or tempera
3. marker or fineliner

Paint organic shapes on you sheet with different colours. Make sure the whole sheet is full. After drying, take a black fineliner or marker and search for faces, animals or objects in your shapes. Outline them and add details to recognize your object or face!

Tempera with marker