Bringing it to the Classroom

Wrapping up the week with images from recent printmaking workshops with students in New Jersey through Young Audiences of NJ/EP (YANJ/EP).

Relief stamp (right) with print

We began by looking at logos and symbols from popular culture, Chinese characters, Underground Railroad, and West African Adhinkra story cloths.

Unique personal logo

We talk about positive/negative space creating dynamic relationships and how repeated designs create patterns.

The Process:
Working on 3" square pieces of cut mat boards and foam adhesive shapes they create their own personal logo and stamp.

The printing process for these is a simple 3 step...

1. Color the foam pieces with washable markers.

2. Damp- the stamps are pressed lightly onto baby wipes or a damp sponge

3. Stamp- onto paper with finger tip pressure onto the paper.

Awesome, simple... and fun!

Relief Stamp Print

I love coming into a classroom and helping students learn new skills and discover how creative they can be with just one simple printmaking workshop. This week the school I was in a school no longer has art so the kids really appreciated the opportunity to be creative.

Want to get fired up about the lack of creativity in our schools, listen to this great TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson.

Afterward, many of the students told me how much they loved the workshop. One young girl exclaimed to me-

"This was the best day ever!"

Bring it on, bring it in.

Beyond Teaching to the Test

Display of some of my work in at the art room of Mary Ann Uhle at

Kennett Middle School for Career Day.

Just noticed that the student works behind my table are of Butterflies, and Rabbits.
Serendipity at its best!

 

Last week I was at Kennett Middle School for Career Day.  I brought samples of my studio work including my children's book Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings- When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids, shared my website and blogs with the students. We also did a quick and easy printmaking project- creating personal stamps, using foam shapes with adhesive backing, small pieces of cardboard cut in 2" squares for the stamp backing and water soluable markers to "ink" them up.

Using water soluable markers to "ink" up their
personal stamps

I learned that last week was also Teaching Artist Appreciation Week.  As a teaching artist, I have worked with Arts Horizons, Young Audiences of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania,  and the DCCA Contemporary Connections program, and numerous other organizations to bring art to our schools with projects that integrate their art practice with school curriculum.

Sample print made from a personal stamp

It is a great way to enhance, engage and expand the classroom- and get beyond teaching to the test!