Water Painting Class

I've been to three classes so far. I really like it, it is so fun to be taught something I don't know. Last week we did trees. Since we don't have green in our palettes we spent the first hour mixing greens!! We did a few trees, it's much harder than I thought it would be to paint a tree. I'll be practicing this week!

Zoey's Journal

Here's a couple of samples from Zoey's journal.

Students Introduced to Illustrated Journals

When I decided to try an illustrated journal for myself I started talking to kids about it. Several kids seemed interested so I bought some inexpensive journals for 10 kids (next time I won't buy 'cheap' journals--the ink seeps through). So far they've done some great stuff, I thought I'd post some samples here. Madison drew her classroom teacher's desk and Meara's drew a fashion gal.

In our first session we talked about realistic drawing and drew either candy boxes or pop cans.

After that lesson, Angela drew the catsup at a Chili's restaurant and Jackie drew some crayons.

Angela drew ALF, a classroom mascot. The kids will send me new entries over the summer.

Shopping List

These are the things I need to buy (and don't need to buy):

1. Moleskine Watercolor Journal (Bought a hand book journal so I'd have one)
2. Winsor and Newton Compact Set Watercolors (bought it today 30% off at Hobby Lobby)
3. Derwent Watercolor Pencils (30% off at Hobby Lobby)
4. Brush (came with paint)
5. Waterproof ink pen (3 pack of Itoya .1,.3,.5)
6. Colored pencil (have a great set of 96 Prismacolors)
7. Pencil Sharpener (99 cents)
8. Pentel Aquash water brush
9. Drawing Pencils (got em)
10. Markers (got em)

I Can Do This

OK, I've spent hours looking at sketchbooks and illustrated journals and I have include a lot of links here to inspire me. I ran across this drawing by m.m. trujillo. I think I can do this.

Emerson Says it All

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I need say nothing else.

A New Day

In 29 school days I will no longer be a teacher. After teaching for 25 years I am retiring. Hmmm, it is a really exciting time for me and I'm planning a lot of adventures with my husband of almost 40 years, Paul. One of the things I want to do is learn how to do illustrated journals. There is a little problem--I don't draw, paint, watercolor, and I hate to write. I think (hope) I might be able to overcome some of those challenges.

I think, deep down, I'm a creative person. I've tried my hand at some creative outlets over the years. I've done cross stitch and knitted and I think I have a good sense of design. I illustrated a curriculum guide and won a doodling contest. For the last 25 years I was able to write curriculum, created tons of websites, design many workshops and presentations. That may have been enough of a creative outlet for me. Now that I am going to become a lady of leisure I plan to tackle some new stuff. After school's out I'm going to buy a journal, a pen with waterproof ink, and some water colors. Then I'm going to find a water color class. Wish me luck. If you see no more postings here, you will know I failed at this endeavor and went on to something else.