Art's Summer Finale (Day 4)

I'm a day late getting this post out, sorry.  It was a busy day yesterday getting out of town and our artist was ornery and did not want to discuss her work because it was cutting into her play time.  She has finally agreed to give us a few minutes of her time.

Day 4

Anna Grace's pastel...

Cute Dye

Thoughts from the artist..."The name is Cute Dye because it is a cute dog and his name is Dye.  First I traced the head without the ears with a pastel.  The whole thing was made with pastels.  Then I took my finger and put it on the pastel and rubbed it to soften the line.  Next I drew the ears, then the eyes, body and nose.  Next I took a white pastel to color the white part.  Then I took a brown pastel to color all of the brown parts of Dye.  Next I did the background and last but not least I colored in the eyes.  There were two colors to choose from for the background - light blue or purple.  I chose purple because it is my favorite color."

Finally, Anna Grace's canvas...

Queen of the Jungle

Thoughts from the artist..."This is a painting.  First I painted the background.  Second I did the purple part of the dress.  Next I did the red neckline of the dress.  Then I used a pink to paint the nose, mouth, paws and ears.  I then used black to paint the fur.  Before that I used white to paint the white part of the fur.  Then I went back to her dress and did all of the orange polka dots then the hot pink.  Next I did the black middle part of the eyes, then the dark blue part.  Then I took black paint and did the dots on her nose.  It was then time to draw the crown.  I did the polka dots first then added the crown below it.  Then I did the details on the crown - I put a bit of sparkle on it.  Next I did the light blue part of the eyes and added sparkle to her eyes.  Then finally I painted the  purple shadow at the bottom.  This canvas was fun and easy and I liked it because the panda had a crown and a cute dress.  Art camp this year was a blast." 

Proud Artist #3 of the summer

Something to talk about (Day 3)

Day 3

Thankfully Anna Grace brought a picture home today so we don't have another "silent day" not discussing the canvas.

Anna Grace's painting...

Yummy Apples

Thoughts from the artist..."I used regular paint and charcoal for the black lines.  Mrs. Belinda drew the plates for us but we had to draw our own apples.  We painted the background one of three choices - I think they were yellow, purple or green.  Then we were supposed to paint the blue plate.  I had three colors to choose from for my apples - yellow, red and green.  And only I took some yellow and mixed it in with the red to add some more color to the red apple.  My favorite part at art today was drawing my red flamingo*.  Mrs. Belinda told me how to do it but I did it all by myself."

Final day tomorrow.  The big secret canvas will be unveiled soon.

*Anna Grace was not interested in actually putting the red flamingo on the blog.  Not sure why, it looks pretty good to me.  I guess it will be for her immediate family's eyes only.

The Silent Artist (Day 2)

Day 2

Anna Grace worked on her canvas the whole time today.  However she wants it to be a surprise therefore she will not tell me (or you) anything.

Thoughts from the artist..."Well lets just say I got a lot done."

She assures me that she will talk tomorrow.  She is not a very silent person so I know it will come eventually.

Art Camp...Girl's Perspective (Day 1)

This week is Anna Grace's week to go to art camp.  Her camp lasts two hours instead of one so we should be in for some really special, creative treats this week.

Day 1

Anna Grace's painting...

Lighthouse of God

Thoughts from the artist..."My favorite part about this picture is the door because it is a purple-ish, pink-ish color.  Mrs. Belinda drew the lighthouse herself.  Then we took a Sharpie and traced everything - the lighthouse, the islands and the water - except the light.  After that I used a red marker to outline the stripes I was going to paint on the lighthouse.  Then colored the cross with a yellow marker; then took a wet paintbrush and drug the ink out to make it look like it was shining.  Next I colored the little island first with a green Sharpie.  Then I took a wet paint brush and drug the red ink onto the stripes of the lighthouse on the painting.  Before the red stripes I did the red part around the cross.  And also before all of that I outlined the roof with a brown marker and used a wet paintbrush to get the brown all over the roof.  Next I used a purple marker and colored in the door.  Then I took a paint brush with green paint on it and painted over the little island that was already green and painted the island where the lighthouse sits.  Then I moved on to the water.  I used a paintbrush with blue paint on it.  Then I used the same color to paint the light part of the sky where the lighthouse is lighting it up.  Finally I took light blue paint and the dark blue paint and mixed them together for the rest of the sky.  Everyone in my class painted the same picture with the same colors today.   It was kind of easy for me to paint but it took me a long time.  I love being with Mrs. Belinda because she is not too bossy and she has great pictures to paint.  Tomorrow I am going to draw and paint on a canvas but it's a secret so I can't tell you more."

Art's End (Day 4)

Day 4

Caleb's Canvas...

Kitty Cat Spot

Thoughts from the artist..."I did the yellow first and then I did the white. Then I did his nose and then the straight line down and the things beside it. Then I did the whiskers. Then I did the eyes and ears. After that I did the two spots. That is all. Art camp was the best its ever been this year. Of all the things I did this week the two owls was my favorite because I got to paint two things. Other boys and girls should go to art camp with Mrs. Belinda even big kids because it is super fun."

Proud Artist #1

Dean's canvas...

Ruff Spot Dog

Thoughts from the artist..."First thing today I did the ears I think.  And then I did the tip of the tail brown. Then I did the spots.  And then I did the nose, mouth and center of the butterfly.  Then I did the eye.  Finally I went back and did the wings of the butterfly.  Then Mrs. Belinda came to every kid and I drew the antennas.  Art camp this week was fun and it was the best art camp I ever did.  My favorite painting of the week was the doggy.  The dog was a little harder than all of the others but I still did it easy (even though I accidentally did it wrong but I don't want to talk about that)."

 Proud Artist #2

Non-stop Art (Day 3)

Day 3

Caleb's artwork...

Ladybug Crawling

Thoughts from the artist..."Miss Mary made my name*.  I did not help her; it was too hard.  I did a big circle then the little black circles inside the big circle.  Then I did the lines.  Then I drew his eyes by making two small circles and put dots inside them.  Then I did those parts by going up and a circle and then up and a circle again.  I don't want to talk about my big picture at all.  I will bring it home tomorrow; its as big as me."


Dean's painting (the much anticipated rooster)...

Cock-a-doodle-doo Rooster

Thoughts from the artist..."I painted the grass.  Then I did the eye and outline with a Sharpie.  And that was it for Cock-a-doodle-doo Rooster.  After that I worked on my canvas.  I painted the dog white but the canvas was white though so it is hard to see.  Then I painted the grass.  I also painted the sky light blue.  Art was fun; it was only a little better than making the rooster.  I am excited that the white goes good with the blue on the canvas."



*The lady bug is on a paper that has been tented.  Caleb's name is written inside the "tent" in fancy block letters.  That is why he felt the need to discuss how it was Miss Mary who wrote his name and not him.

Way Back in November...Anna Grace Turned 7

 

Things have been crazy the past - I don't know - 8 months, but I am trying hard to get back on track.  I wrote Anna Grace's birthday blog (I wrote the boys' as well but I certainly can't put them up without putting her's up first) but never published it because I never grabbed the pictures.  So finally here it is; but first pictures from her birthday - which by the way was upstairs at Homewood Gourmet.  I highly suggest it for a party if you have a little one like Anna Grace who can't wait to grow up and own her own restaurant.  Chris and Laura did an excellent job.  Laura and Anna Grace worked together prior to plan a menu (Anna Grace only planned part as she answered questions about what she wanted to learn to do and what she likes to eat)  The girls make pizzas from scratch, fruit skewers and dip, and homemade frosting.  Then while their pizzas were cooking downstairs they took their frosting and decorated the chocolate cupcakes that Laura had already made.  The girls got to take home their cupcakes and however much pizza they had left.  I think all of the girls had fun but wow! Anna Grace loved it.  Her passion for being a chef has grown - Has anyone noticed that chef and chief are closely related?  In cases such as Anna Grace it is no accident!

  

Anna Grace,
It is an interesting journey we are on.  I watch you and I see so much of me in you; I see your daddy too but wow there is a great deal of me.  God has blessed you with a tender heart and I pray that it will always remain.  I see you learning each day and I am so thankful that you are teachable and willing.  You ask questions and desire to learn.  You love those around you with open arms.  You may try and boss us all to death but you love us, protect us in your way and encourage us.  I have loved watching you sit down with Dean and teach him to read saying all of the things you have heard said (whether or not you practice them).  I have also enjoyed listening to you play with your brothers over the summer and these the past few months while homeschooling.  I know it is not always easy being away from your friends and living your life differently but I do think you enjoy your time.  It has been a thrill to see God's word take hold of you and watch you grow spiritually over the past year.  He has much work to do in you (and me) but I am so thankful to know he is working in you and through you.  When you discuss things we need to pray for I count it all joy.  You are spunky and oh so imaginative; you are quick and not always tempered.  You are passionate and determined, silly and beautiful.  You are an artist.  You test the limits yet share the Gospel.  You inspire; you love. You are drama - good and bad.  And you still call us "Mama and Daddy" even though most of your friends have gone to "mom and dad."  You love to sing and dance and are good at both in my opinion.  I think your love for singing (both made up songs and real songs) is part of the reason that when I pray for you a song often comes to my mind.  And when I sing this song, A Mother's Heart, I find my thoughts wondering to you.  It is one of the Getty's and I know you know it by heart as you do most of theirs but this is the section that reminds me of you:

...Hold my hand; I'll teach you the Way to go.  Through the joys, through the tears, 

the journey of these years, He is with us 'til the end.  

He is faithful 'til the end.

You'll travel where my arms won't reach as the road will rise to lead your feet

on a journey of your own.  May my mistakes not hinder you but His grace remain

and guide you through; this is my prayer for you.

Take His hand and go where He calls you to.  And whatever comes, seek Him with all your heart;

this is my prayer for you.  

Father, hear my ceaseless prayer, Oh keep her in your care."

God has a journey for you.  We know not what it is but we are excited to see the adventure unfold in His timing.  We will remain prayerful and Lord willing steady and do our best to continue to point you to your heavenly Father and His word that you may walk with Him all the days of your life.

I love you, Sweet Girl!

Mama

Art...still fun (Day 2)

Day 2

Caleb's watercolor... 

Woodpecker Man

Thoughts from the artist..."Why, Mama? Why Woodpecker Man? Because that owl is huge; that owl is a dad so it is definitely a woodpecker man. First, I painted the orange beaks. Then I did the yellow bodies. Then I did the eye's pink. And then I painted the blue background after I put a little of the purple in the background. Then I went to wash my hands. And I did not put those black lines on there. No person did; I didn't see any person put those black lines on my picture. Yeah, they came on there by theirself. I didn't do it. Today art was fun and easy. It was more fun today and not hard. They say stay in the lines but it's okay if you get out. Tomorrow I am going to paint a 'hu-gungus' picture. Mrs. Belinda said it was going to be almost as byg as your whole body!"


Dean's painting...

Per Dean, his class did not get to finish the
rooster's eyes or paint the background. So
no one brought their picture home. However,
he had quite a lot to say about his work.

Thoughts from the artist...“I didn't do a Sharpie on the lines how Mrs. Belinda colored it. So then I painted the body yellow.  Then I did the feathers on the back after I did all of the orange.  The beak was orange; the wings were orange; and the feet were orange.  Then I did the back of the feathers. I mixed in red and was supposed to do one feather that way but I did two accidentally.  One I did pink probably; it was actually purple. Then I painted some other colors but I forgot what they were.  Then I did the bottom of the beak red and the comb red.  Then I painted the face light blue.  Art camp today was a little bit hard but it was still easy for me but not as easy as 'easy peasy lemon squeezy'.”

I don't know about you but after that description Dean gave I am anxiously awaiting tomorrow's camp so I can see his finished masterpiece.

Yeah! Art Camp This Week! (Day 1)

Dean and Caleb have art camp with Mrs. Belinda this week.  So we will have pictures of their creations each day.  (Anna Grace's week is next week and Hudson has to wait a year.)  Each day the artist will name his painting for me and I will take a picture of it.  On Thursday (the final day) I will take a picture of the artist holding his painting along with his fearless (because let's face it you have to be either fearless or crazy to hold art camps all summer for children as young as 3 and 4) teachers, Mrs. Belinda and her helper Miss Mary.

Day 1

Caleb's Painting...

Pear Patch

Thoughts from the artist..."I used a paint brush to draw and paint the pear.  Then I mixed some blue to the paint to add some extra color to the pear.  Then I painted all of the orange background.  Then Mrs. Belinda helped me make a straight line of the brown and I painted the rest of the brown.  I added some red spots to the orange to make it more colorful.  Then I painted the brown stem on my pear.  And I went to wash my hands and I was done.    The first day of art camp was fun."

Dean's Painting...

Giraffe Head

Thoughts from the artist..."I drew with a pencil and then outlined with a brown marker the whole giraffe neck and head first.  I drew 3 spots on him next.  Then I painted the giraffe's face.  I did a sharpie for his eyes and I colored in them.  And then I drew antenna - outlined them and made circles on the ends with a brown maker.  Next I painted the giraffe yellow except the spots that were already brown.  I made the giraffe's nose then finally painted the background blue.  Making Giraffe Head was easy peasy lemon squeezy and fun."