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!

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.

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.

Alice in Wonderland by Savannah

I ran across this beautiful drawing Savannah Rose did for me last year of Alice in Wonderland at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party.

She knows I love and collect things from Alice in Wonderland. I must get this picture framed for safe keeping.

I love her colors in this piece.

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.

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.

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".

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.