Teaching and being taught

I love the idea of becoming an art educator. As I pursue this avenue of my life I wonder where it will it take me. But, more so I find myself working in my studio to explore my ideas and how could I take them into the classroom is huge for me. regardless of the type of art I've started looking at it different, how can I simplify it for my kids and will they have fun creating it? The one thing I've learn more than anything is not what they make but how they go through the creative thinking process. The vocabulary of art, teaching them the design elements and principles, and encouraging them to learn more about art. When you see a child's eyes light up with the "I get it" beam, that is so cool! Well, its time to create. Take care, God Bless and let the creative juices run freely! :)

Inspiration

Where does inspiration come from for you? I'm currently in the U.P. at my mothers spending some much needed time with her. I look around me at all the beauty the God has given us. No its not a backwoods wilderness place to visit as some might think. But, an over abunance of beauty, right now there are Sand Hill Cranes, a fox and several deer out back in the field. Great Grey Owls down the road. Not to mention a sky so clear at night the stars dot the sky like city lights in an urban environment. Yesterday you would've found me with a knife in hand cutting Birch bark from trees that are getting ready to be milled. It was an old tree and dying. Now it will be beautiful milled lumber for someones house. Rummaging through the wood shed I find Cedar bark for the exterior of another handmade book. Where do you find creativity and how do you recycle it into an item that someone would cherish to have in their possession? Look around you its in everything that touches our lifes from urban to rural settings. What inspires me? Talking to you and expressing myself in everyway I can through the arts! Keep the creativity juices flowing and God Bless!

Ann Arbor

After a working on my portfolio and a good hard workout this morning. I got out of the house and went to AA2, Kerrytown of course. Got some paper at Hollanders talked with staff about one of my books, which I know now for sure I'll be taking additional classes on the weekends to expand my knowledge of books and the type I make. From there to the farm market craft fair held every weekend. Always an inspiration to see how others do and make their crafts. Candles, books, jewelry, ceramics, fused glass, paintings, batik tie dye. etc... of course all handmade. No Wal-Mart vendors at this show. For those that don't know what a Wal-Mart vendor is, they order their stuff from catalogs by gross lots and put it in shows as original "handmade" art. Buy from local artist especially ones you know! Well, off to have a glass of wine and work/finish up another book. Keep the creative juices flowing and God Bless! :)

Handmade Gifts

I've been making several handmade books this summer for gifts. As an artist it has been my goal to get people to stop buying items at box stores and support your local artist. Just my way of spurring our economy. This book is 11x17 in size, the dancer figure is an underlay. I cut the figure our of matte board, glued it down and then as the PVA glued was applied I used my bone knife to work the paper around the figure giving it a 3D feel. The paper comes one of my favorite stores in the region, Hollanders in Ann Arbor. Never been and you enjoy nice handmade paper, make it a point to go. I make it a point to go on Sunday's the farmers market will be in full swing then I arrive. The best of both worlds art and fresh organic fruits/vegetables. Well, time to get my morning workout in and enjoy everything this day has to offer. Please check on my portfolio to see more of my work, take care and God Bless!

New Beginnings

Tonight is the start of my art blog. I've put a lot of thought into this and what will it contain. I've come to this conclusion, this blog is about me coming into my own as artist and art director. Of course the road my change at any given moment as new explorations will always be around the corner. Where does inspiration come from and how does it affect my world as an artist. This and so many more new adventures are ahead for me and I know it.