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.

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.

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.

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'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.