Alexander Calder -- Art Exploration with Mobiles

Another art project from the Usborne Art Treasury book was tried by Wynston recently.

Alexander Calder created huge mobiles out of painted steel and wire. Our project was to make a miniature mobile out of pipe cleaners, cardboard and pictures.

Today mobiles are mass-produced and sold in stores around the world. But in the 1930's, they were a brand new idea. The inspirations came from an artist named Alexander Calder. He wanted to create sculptures that moved - but without machinery. The result was the first mobile.

He was born in America in 1898. He came from a family of artists and he set up his own workshop at the age of eight, making tiny moving animals out of metal. Although he studied to be an engineer, he soon returned to art.

One of his famous pieces is called The Star as shown here.

Art Exploration -- Foil Sculptures

I recently checked out of the library a book titled, The Usborne Art Treasury. The kids and I are having fun reading about all different kinds of art forms. The book is presented beautifully with information about the artist, an example of their work and then a project to try using simple materials to make your own interpretation of that type of art.



The first one we decided to work with was Alberto Giacometti born in Switzerland in 1901. He produced stick figures which became famous. People admired them for the way they seemed to capture the pain and uncertainty of modern life.


He made his sculptures of bronze, but we used pipe cleaners and aluminum foil for our sculptures.
Wynston decided to try to make a tall man like one of the examples in the book. His other figure is above and started out to be a giraffe, but we ended up deciding that it looks more like a dinosaur. He might be adding a tail onto his creature soon.



Savannah made this cute dog sculpture.

Fall Colors -- Leaf/Outdoor Art

Avery came in the house the other day from a pacing break when doing school work and brought me a green leaf.

He wanted to draw some leaves and I told him that we should try a fossil art type trick with them.

We then made another trip outside with Wynston tagging along and brought in a few twigs, different types of leaves, and blades of grass. The boys chose the colors they wanted on their pages. I think they did a good job and had fun exploring shapes. We finished Avery's page up by taking a plaque off the wall and using the "LOVE" in it to add to his creation.

Avery Illustration

After finishing reading his first Chapter Book from Hooked on Phonics, Avery Zefram asked for a drawing pad to create this illustration from the characters in the story. He looked at the cover of the book when drawing the main character, Detective Dog. I think he did a really good job for a 9 year old!

The Art of Having Fun -- Water Fun That IS

The kids got to enjoy the last event of Eagle Mount Summer Day Camp getting wet at a local swimming pool.

They visited with the staff and talked of video games, cartoons, fishing, and planning of activities with Eagle Mount in the future.



Avery made a successful head first down the slide into the water which I did not catch on camera, but was instructed that he could not do this again because of possible injury. When wanting to go down again feet first, both he and Wynston could not figure out how to coordinate their bodies onto the enclosed slide. The Eagle Mount instructor, Deb (Avery's favorite) tried to help them both, but it was agreed that next time at other pools locally maybe they could try the slides that have no top over them. These kinds of slides are easier to mount and go down.



Wynston had fun playing/spraying other kids from Eagle Mount as pictured here.

Happel Art -- Mid-Summer Ramblings

The days seem to fly by so quickly. Savannah got to go on a 4 hour float trip recently and then the next day she and Avery got to go on a two hour float trip on the Missouri River. They both had a very fun time and I am sure will want to go again in the future.





Avery got creative again late the other night and presented his version of Spiderman to adorn our refrigerator. He applied tape heavily so it won't fall off. Unfortunately, Spidey is getting water logged from people getting ice for their cups while in the freezer and it melting.



Wynston was playing on the computer the other day and started dabbling with a small piece of paper. Here is his happy looking fellow he presented to me. I gave him compliments and Wynston's smile was as bright as his drawing's smile.



Savannah has been using the light box and tracing one of my embroidery patterns I found on the computer as well as a troll from a recent drawing book I got for the kids from Michael's.




Fred has been doing something he loves recently which is refinishing a small table. The original finish on it was very thin and wearing badly. He thought I was going to donate the table to charity, but I suggested he refinish it and play moving a few pieces of furniture around. I like the end result.




I have been busy stitching some hand towels and have had the bright idea to maybe make a few into quilted table runners/centers. I love finding vintage transfer patterns and flickr.com has a wonderful group with more being added almost daily -- more than I could ever stitch!

Dear Aunt Trish

Aunt Trish: I scanned in Avery's note to you. He wrote this late the other night.

"Dear Aunt Trish,

I am happy that you are coming. Here is a drawing for you. I am missing you."

He then was trying to make hearts across the page but they didn't turn out right to him so he "XXX" them out. I told him "XOXOXO" meant hugs and kisses. He liked that.

He then put the picture on the back of the note. -- I love his train!

Alice

(Notice how he is learning to add "ing" on his words in his note to you.)

Drawing What You See

Avery and I talked about a couple of pictures I sat and drew the other day just for fun. One is of Tinkerbell (off of Savannah's backpack) and the other is from a ceramic sculpture of an angel I have on the table sitting next to the chair I was in.


He then decided that he would try this new idea instead of drawing characters he has in his video games. (Here is one he drew that has a new story to tell -- something about a professor creating a robot and asking what does "ambition" mean in a talk with me yesterday.)

Update: Avery tells me this drawing is from "a character in Teen Titans. His name is Slade. He is wearing a mask because the character does not want anyone to see his face. Slade makes robots or minions that look similar to him. Teen Titan Robin (from Batman and Robin) does not like him very much. Slade is a bad guy."




He decided to draw the table and lamp that is next to the same chair I sat in earlier.


Then he followed it up by drawing my Red DX fitness chair I am using for a sewing chair in our living room. I have included his drawing and a picture of the chair. I think he has done a very good job with proportions. That is something I always have to play with especially in trying to draw people or figures.




To conclude, Savannah also gave me the bright idea of using some of my drawing as embroidery patterns. I think that is very smart thinking on her part and creative also.

Horse 'n Around Photography

Savannah, Avery, and I got to tour Eagle Mount here in Great Falls the other day and have the staff meet us to talk about their "Wrangler" program. Each of us snapped some photos while there and I have chosen the best to put here.



One funny note, the kids were told they might have to do some "mucking" while there. You can bet they didn't get too excited about that chore!

GFAA Gibson Park Paint Out 6/3/09

All three of the kids and I enjoyed a late afternoon / early evening out at Gibson Park here in Great Falls, MT with some of the members of the Great Falls Arts Association. We met at the Flower Garden and Arch. The weather was beautiful and the mosquitos were plentiful, so much so, Wynston and I drove back home for the bug spray to help keep everyone free from being the bug's feast.

Savannah, Wynston, and I drew pictures from the Arch as pictured here. Avery drew a picture of his new DVD, the 1st season of Teen Titans. (I will have to find his picture and add it here soon.)





Avery did have fun playing with his brother and sister in the park and also taking some digital pictures which I have included here.