week 2 of summer art camp!

this weeks project came from this post over at Deep Space Sparkle.  (really all of our projects will most likely come from this site because it is awesome.  

i wanted to explore the color wheel because i am fascinated by the process of mixing color, and feel like learning about primary and secondary colors is the real basis of art.  (color art anyway)

since we did black and white line drawing last week, the girls were itching to paint.  

 we started with the color wheel, and i had them paint the primary colors first, then mix up each secondary color and paint it in the appropriate spot on the wheel.  no matter how many times we do a color mixing project, the girls act like it's magic as orange, green and purple appear.  

 it really is fun though, to see what mix they come up with.  Avery's orange was spot on pure orange, orange.  but she kept wanting her purple to be more grape and less violet.  

 Anna was surprisingly the messiest with this project due to over mixing. 

 Madeline was surprisingly meticulous about her mixing and painting "in the lines" not wanting to spread one color over the other.  

once we were finished with the color wheels, we painted a face and body, and had a color wheel clown!  

clearly this was a fun project, but it was also good and long.  it took us close to 2 hours to complete, perfect for a hot summer day!

art camp!

the kids love art, and art projects, and we are always coloring in our coloring books, etc.  but i wanted to offer them more of a "curriculum" this summer to look at art and creativity differently.  so while were are still constantly coloring each day, on Friday while Colin is napping, we're trying something new and calling it: Art Camp.  

this week's project comes from this wonderful resource.  

it's a simple project to work on line drawing and pattern play.  at first, the girls couldn't believe there was no "color" involved.  but when they were pasting their creations onto their chosen color construction paper, they caught the vision!  

i'm not gonna lie, i got into this too!

1) i demonstrated how to make a big upside down U for the shell, and then a series of other U's for the underbelly, feet, tail and head.  

2) then i showed them how to cover the shell in a bunch of free form lines

3) and showed them how to draw a pattern in each free form area

after that, i thought i'd take a little (well deserved at 8 months pregnant) break on the comfy couch, and check back in when the patterns were done.  but, i was having so much fun, i just stayed and did the whole project with my girlies.  

here is our gallery:

(once Colin woke up, the gallery quickly traveled to higher ground) 

 Anna's turtle"

 Avery's turtle:

 Maddie's turtle:

 i love how each of their turtles turned out so unique.  Anna's is pretty bold, with large black spaces, and most of her patterns are stripes and polka dots.  Avery's is so delicate, small, with sweet swirls and a decidedly vertical orientation.  Maddie's is plump and covered in hearts, she said there's a heart for every person that she loves.  

i think Art Camp is already a success!

Anna the artist

Anna dreams of being an artist one day.  she often talks about studying in Paris and loves to send art to her Uncle Collier.  she's hoping she will be discovered!  i am impressed by her style.  but, if i tried to keep every piece she makes, we would be drowning in paper over here.  so, i take pictures and file them away digitally.  here is her latest creation!