Happy Holidays

This Fall Session of Art Club sure has gone by so fast. I know I've said that before but wow is it really December already? I guess the other projects I have in mind will just have to wait till next session.

Someone secretly cleaned the Art Room!?! But we can't figure out who? I know Mrs.B cleaned up the sink the other day but someone or someones cleaned off all the counters and cupboards. The Art Club would like to Thank whoever took the time to make the room look so nice!

After checking the calendar, our last class was suppose to be on December 22, which is the last day of school. But the High School students are on a field trip, and the Junior High students are at a dance until 3, then need to clean up afterwards. So it may be best to cancel our last class. I apologize ahead of time, since I never cancel a class.

During the holiday break in the past, my students have asked for me to give them something to do. So this year I'm giving an optional sketchbook challenge that will be due when we meet next. This sketchbook assignment is to:

"Draw Your Favourite Christmas Recipe"

 here are a few examples:

Cookie Frosting:

Egg Nog:

Peppermint Bark:

I prefer you not use these recipes but your favourite thing to eat or drink during the Christmas Season. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Enjoy your break!

A Magical Winter's Night Lantern Walk

It sure was a couple of Magical Night's at the Lantern Walk! I hope everyone came out and enjoyed the walk.

Thank you Westlock Home Hardware for hosting such an amazing family event! And Thank you for inviting both the Art Club and St. Mary School to be a part of this event.

Here is the first part of the path of lanterns

A Young Family reading the story

Last Year's Art Club Fairy House Lantern were donated to the Lantern Walk this year!

One of the last paths of lanterns

If you get cold while reading the story, come warm up at the fires. Maybe enjoy some hot chocolate or roast marshmallows!

Warming up around the fire listening to Christmas carols

We had a great time at the Magical Winter's Night Lantern Walk. Can't wait to come back next year! If you haven't checked it out yet, definitely come see next year. And thank you to Home Hardware for hosting this wonderful event!

December 15th

Today we boxed up our lanterns ready to hand them in for the Lantern Walk, which is tomorrow!
So exciting, I hope that you all come.

Here are some of the samples:

I can't wait to see them glow!

This week's sketchbook assignment was to "Draw A Holiday Word"

Here is what some of the students came up with:

And the Winners are:

Zero:

Sally:

Oogie Boogie:

Jack Skellington:

December 8th

Ok last chance to work on our lanterns for the Lantern Walk. Try not to forget to paint your lids, and add extras that go with the theme you chose.

Here is my sample:

It looks way better lit up. But I made it with the Beauty & the Beast Rose, which goes with the Spring flower board in the story.

I love some of the theme the kids have chosen. We have Olaf, Olaf chasing his head, foxes, a nativity, and even winter sleigh. Pictures to follow next week.

This week the sketchbook assignment was to "Draw Something Cold". 

Here are this week's winners:

Zero:

Iced Vanilla Frappuccino

Sally:

Cold Winter Feet

Oogie Boogie:

Frost Covered Tree

Jack Skellington:

Getting a "Cold"

Next week's sketchbook assignment is to:

"Draw A Holiday Word"

December 1

Wow is time going by so fast, I can't believe that Art Club is already almost over. But we need to stop our current project for 2 quick classes. 

The Art Club has been invited to be a part of Home Hardware's 2nd Annual Lantern Walk on December 16th & 17th. So we will be working on this year's lanterns. We will be staying with the theme that matches the story you read at the Lantern Walk. This story is about the Winter Solstice, and includes Fairies, a Fox, and a Gnome. But you can also use any kind of Winter or Christmas theme as well. 

This is the idea behind our lanterns:

We will be making Silhouette Jar Lanterns. So first step is to decide which theme you would like, then find a silhouette picture. We then photocopy it on to yardstick, and then cut it out. Glue on the silhouette, coloured tissue to go with your theme, and add extras. Sound simple? Actually it is...

Last week's Sketchbook Assignment was to "Draw Something Broken"

Here are our winners:

Zero:

A "broken" record

Sally:

"Broken" on the Inside

Oogie Boogie:

So "Broken"

Jack Skellington:

A "Broken" Country Leader

Next week's Sketchbook Assignment is to:

"Draw Something Cold"

November 24th

We are currently still working on our String Art, but we have also been doing a few warm up drawing exercises. First of all was the 30 second draw with a model. So a student volunteers to come be the model, and strike a pose that they have to hold for 30 seconds. The others have 30 seconds to draw as much as they can starting with the frame work, then adding details if there is time left over. We try to do about 6 of these to warm up our drawing skills before starting to work on projects.

Soon we will be trying to draw with pen, drawing with our eyes closed, drawing with your wrong hand, etc. These warm ups open your mind up to the different styles and ways to draw everyday.

This week's sketchbook assignment was to "Draw Something With Wings". Now there are a lot of items that have wings, but will you draw bugs because it's the first thing that comes to mind? Or will you think of a few other things that could "fly" that may also have wings? Let's see what the kids drew:

Sketchbook Winners:

Zero:

This is a drawing of a friend of ours (@monkeythepolydactyl) that passed away recently. When an animal crosses over the Rainbow Bridge we like to think that they have earned their wings

Sally:

Oogie Boogie:

Jack Skellington:

I think you all did an amazing job. Group Zero, you girls sure make my job very difficult. Somedays I have a hard time trying to pick a winner, other times I have to get the class to decide for me. Here are the 2 I was trying to decide between this week:

I love the mechanical wing! But something about drawing an animal, especially one that is polydactyl with extra toes, is a step up. But the decision was not easy at all. Keep making my job difficult! As much as it's a hard choice, I love what you girls are bringing in.

Next week's sketchbook assignment is to : "Draw Something Broken"

November 17th

We have been so busy in the last month or so of Art Club that I haven't had a chance to post anything. So here are a few things that are going on.

We are continuing to work on in progress projects, like the String Art. But make sure that you have completed other projects as well, such as the Bell Spiders and Leaf Watercolours.

I asked my artists to: "Draw a Weapon". Now if you are thinking of just a weapon,  that would work, but is it thinking outside the box? Let's see what you come up with:

Sketchbook Winners:

Zero:

Sally:

Oogie Boogie:

Jack Skellington:

I'm impressed that there is a good mixed of regular weapons and out of the box weapons.

Our next sketchbook assignment is to:

"Draw Something With Wings"