Dragon -- Fuzzy Black Velvet Art

Wynston has put this character on the back burner for now. He started him on the many miles of road we covered on our move from Tennessee to Montana.

I know he will feel inspired to finished him when the months are cold and snowy in our new habitat.

This is so Wynston flavor with the knight, sword, and dragon. Then again, isn't it for most 11 year olds.

Plans on Paper -- Savannah

Savannah has inside her some where some day a quilt to sew. She has drawn this plan on paper.



She is also purchasing fat quarters of fabrics that she feels inspired or happy with and storing them up until such time to get started.

Acrylic Painting -- Great Falls Arts Association

Savannah, Wynston, and I recently attended our first meeting on May 14th with the Great Falls Arts Association. The topic was acrylic painting with a guest speaker by the name of Dave Maloney. See my new blogsite at this link which has some of his artwork and notes displayed: http://greatfallsartsassoc.blogspot.com/

Here is a picture Savannah created while at the meeting. She is a dancer.



I also did a couple of things. This is my first time picking up a paint brush to paint a picture. It is something I have just never tried. I like to draw, but knowing what kinds of paints and different techniques -- such as the term "washings" just seems to escape me. I am determined to try more till I can get pictures in my head to look the same on the paper. I fear this may take many years however.




Also, Wynston did not feel inspired during the meeting. He is more into painting his puzzles than trying to lay something out on a piece of paper from scratch. Different aspects of art appeal to different people.

Mosaic Art

In my recent unpacking I came across one of our art projects a little over a year ago. The kids really like trying something their mother is learning. One of those things I did was a mosaics class.

Here is a cross I believe Wynston enjoyed making.



I am going to hang it right by the back door to see often as we go in and out the door often and go up and down the stairs as well. Art is to be seen and enjoyed!

Savannah Drawings

When picking up the sketch book to work with Avery on Saturday, I opened it to find surprises. Savannah has been drawing some here recently. It has been a while for her, but I love to see what she has come up with. This fairy elf is very colorful. She is not finished with the picture as she has a mushroom on the edge of it, but I have cropped it out for now until completion.



We went this past Thursday to the Great Falls Library for the first time and got our new cards. Savannah selected 4 books (new patron probation limit) and these pictures may be inspired from one of the books she has been reading.

Wooden Puzzle Art -- Wynston's World

Wynston has become fascinated with 3-D wooden puzzle art. He loves to put them together and now has added acrylic paints to them to enhance their look.

I helped him with the final touches on the wolf. Wunston is very proud of him.



He was disappointed on a recent trip to Michael's Hobby and Crafts here in Great Falls as they do not have a very good selection of these puzzles. I will have to do some online searching and get him some. He has shown an interest in maybe selling his finished painted ones. I think they would sell so he could afford some more.

I love his tiger. He did this one by himself.



The bears are not finished yet. I think he will be adding some other color or perhaps black lines to add some texture look to them.





Some of the puzzles, Wynston just thinks and I agree are wonderful plain, without acrylics added to them. He has chosen to keep the eagle puzzle natural.

Silly Monster Art -- To Scare the Bees Away

Young man Avery came back into the house very abruptly after having just gone out the door this past Saturday. I asked what was the matter. He replied, "I saw a bee." This is a new fear/worry he has been developing since before our move from Tennessee.


I told him as the summer pretty months are shorter here in Montana than he is accustomed to that he should be outside as much as possible now days. Very hesitant to do so, I came up with a plan of me joining him. On the way out the door I grabbed a sketch book and some drawing books along with his new twisty crayons. After reviewing his options, Avery decided on The Silly Monsters book.



It is a wonderful book that gives you options for the facial shape, eyes, nose, mouth, body, feet, and extras that you can pick one at a time to create your own special monster. Avery came up with two characters and had much pleasure in also deciding what colors he wanted to pick for each part on his monster.




I love the name he gave his first one. He has something in mind for the second guy, but we have not labeled him as of yet.

Temple of the Twilight Sword Drawing

This drawing has been made several times by Avery. He loves the pillars! Something about the layout of the picture also makes him happy. I am sure it is inspired by one of the video games he likes to play.



He has sent an original of this picture to each of his aunts. I like how he is proud and wants to share his art.

Avery -- "Mr. Big Man"

Avery got a new set of twisty crayons from his mom the other day and broke them in by creating "Mr. Big Man".

Avery introduced his new character to his dad with much delight.

Avery's Dragon Drawing

I don't have the young man in front of me to give some insight as to where the inspiration came for this drawing, but I was there (again up late one night) when he finished it.

Avery felt very happy with the drawing completed that he went immediately into adding colors which are vibrant with expression.

Coloring has been something Avery has not enjoyed (almosted hated) since he was small. Most pre-school activities involve using coloring to help with recognition, he would get angry and rebellious when instructed to do so.

So with age comes maturity -- even though some might consider it later than most -- Avery is not like most. He is unique!

V-Tron the Robot

Up late one night with the "can't sleep" energy, Avery took the pen in hand and came up with "V-Tron the Robot".

He was inspired by his mom and the vibrant markers to add some color to his creation.

When asked about his inspiration for this drawing and he replied, "I have an action figure that looks similar."

Avery was all excited with anticipation in showing his dad his new character in the morning, but managed to get some sleep just like all growing boys and girls need.

Wynston and the Art of Mastering

Wynston Bates (11 years old) has been doing some of his home school learning on the computer lately.

His most recent fascination is that of geography pertaining to the United States (especially since we took a 1868 mile road trip!).

Above is a picture of his recent score on the following link:

http://jimspages.com/States.htm


How well do you know where each state is located?



Here are some more educational and mind challenging games with young brains developing:

http://www.funbrain.com/

http://www.factmonster.com/games.html?utm_source=HouseAd&utm_medium=FM_Games300v1&utm_campaign=Play%20Tic%20Tac%20Toe

The Red Knight of the Round Table

Avery Zefram has created "The Red Knight of the Round Table" miniature drawing.

When asked if he was from a show or cartoon, he simply replied, "No".

Further questioning proved this character to be in a game called Kirby. "It is a long story of about a billion chapters -- Kirby is able to vacuum up his enemies, then he changes into a new form with the enemy's trick move."

"I like this game because it is COOL". "It was made in 2008".

Clay and Sculpy Creations

Savannah Rose has been back into the world of clay and making cute miniature items here recently.

She has been working on a tea set which she has in mind to send to her Aunt Trish in the future.

She made this sweet little rooster just the other day also.



Keeping with the past theme of mask, she felt inspired to make this little creation as well.



What I like about Savannah's creations are the happiness they portray. Before she was put on medications to help with her psychosis, her art drawings were angry and showed a young girl usually crying.

Make Your Own Mask

I wanted to share with you a mask one of the kids made with their Aunt Trish who was visiting from Chicago a year or so ago.


They used a pizza box and some papier mache' techniques in preparing this creation.

Avery Zefram -- Hotel Drawing

Avery Zefram is 9 years old. He is a special boy with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). He is very smart, warm, and creative.

His father has been away (in Dallas) for over a week now on some job training. Avery could not sleep one night and made this picture with his dad in mind.

He wrote "Fly Hotel" on it because he (Avery) loves to fly in airplanes. He also says one of his big dreams is to stay in a hotel someday and order room service with a butler.

Savannah Rose -- Manga Drawing

My daughter, Savannah Rose, shown here working on her drawing from a book teaching Manga drawing.



She still wants to add more to this piece and just purchased some special paint pens from JoAnn Fabrics today.