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.

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.

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".

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.

Where to Start

Recently my daughter, Savannah Rose (soon to be 15), brought it to my attention that she was not being included in my blog site, www.WonderlandShoppe.blogspot.com/ and wanted something that showed her artsy side as well as her brothers, Wynston (age 11) and Avery (age 9).

So thus begins the blogsite: Happel Art