Feeling pulled to goodbye

I haven't been blogging..things here in the house have been a bit nutty. Several colds, infections, basement remodel issues, organization nightmares...and house cleaning de-cluttering marathons. Whew...what a week.

During this time I have been trying my best to work thru my Soul Art Certification program. I am officially now in part 2, which will help me figure out what types of journeys I want to help people with.

The piece up there was my independent assignment for the program. At the time I was having several body image issues. They are still there but they have quieted in so many ways. Its like the process of making the art immediately works your brain to a place of acceptance. Soul Art is a powerful process and although it has been hard to work the training into my life...when I do it, it is so incredibly valuable..it is so worth it. Kind of like (art) exercise!

Today I sat and looked at it for a long time. Part of the Soul Art process is to dialogue with your art...really listen to it. And this week what it told me was so different.

I look at the piece now...and it takes on a different meaning. I feel pulled. In many different directions. It speaks to the realm of trying to do too many things, be too many people, take on too much. The hands are grabbing instead of protecting.

It seems that I have gotten off track a bit. I need to return to my focus. I need to make my own art, teach my classes and take care of myself, my kids and my family. I need to stop thinking about things and make change. I need to get rid of the extra fluff that is laying around.

And I wonder, where does this blog fit in. I mean really..life can go on without a blog. I don't even know why I have one. I remember why I started..I was looking to get back to creating art...to challenge myself to create. Well, I'm doing that now..so why do I still need it. I have tried to morph it into a blog about my classroom and some days that feels good and some days that feels forced. I don't want to have a blog about my classroom I want to create..my life.

And then I get the answer I am looking for. This blog is really not necessary. My life will go on without it. My lessons will happen, my art will be created and my family will grow.

So I have decided to stop blogging.

I find that there is just too much time taken out of my day related to the computer. Putting the blog to sleep is just my first step in taking minutes back.

So to anyone reading I send you creative love and happiness.

Get away from the computer and go create something fabulous!

up, up and away

Well I officially have a full week of teaching under my belt. I decided to let all of the "fluff" go for a bit (like jazzy bulletin boards..most of my kids can't read) and posters full of guided inspirations (again, the reading thing) and just focus on the art-making with the kids. I have to say I can blame pinterest for most of my "gotta have it look fabulous right now" method of thinking. SO easy to get lost there in all the beauty.

I think I got all caught up in all of the gorgeousness I was seeing around the web with everyone putting their rooms up on display. I felt the rush of "get it all ready" instead of my usual "let the creative flow...flow". Boards will get filled, but as I tell my students...with their art, not mine. I think that is one of the major differences in my own teaching philosophy. Many teachers fill their rooms with all sorts of fantastic boards that show kids how to do something. My room revolves around the flow of experiencing those things, finding the moment within the class that play turns into learning. Feeling the juice of creativity, if you will.

Part of my own journey as an artist has been dictated by the experience of letting go..and I think that is one of the best things about being an art teacher. I "let go" of the outcome for the kids, and in return they find the process that much more fun.

The worst thing that I can imagine is having everyone's art look the same. I see lots of examples of that on Artsonia and some on Pinterest as well. I've worked with other art educators like that and I would wonder at how controlled her classroom must be. My two girls have an art teacher like that...and I am mystified at how much work they do with a pencil...and how little they are allowed to create in a year's time. How little freedom they have to choose their direction. Its sad to me.

My students know that they have the freedom to create. That they can ask for a material that they might need, that they can go looking in bins for that "just right" bead that might just complete their piece. That they can take the lesson in a new direction if that is where they are headed. As long as they are making a decision that is art-based, its OK with me.

My job is to bring them the inspiration to create something. Not "teach" them to draw, to paint in a dictated way.

To let their own inner artist, speak.

Yes, these product-oriented things look fabulous. The bulletin boards scream "WOW, she must be a really good teacher, look at how fantastic those are!". But what I want people to see is that each and everyone of my little artists enjoys art, that they are inspired. That they love the process of creating. That they see other artists creations and wonder "how?"...and be inspired to create something that makes others wonder how as well.

And so, the year begins....

art room tidbits

I finally remembered to bring my camera in. Up there is my art room door...just a few updates from last year, a few more images, a few signs...I added the "art makes everything awesome" from yesterday's post to the middle..and it looks awesome!!
My version of a sign I saw on Pinterest. HEART stands for our all-school program so it is totally something I needed to include. The kids really responded to it so far.
This is my "fun center" as you enter the art room. I'm working on eventually getting that bookcase painted, maybe during winter break. A wonderful gentleman made it for me, it actually is custom made to be the length of my teaching desk, but I really like it there this year. It really highlights it. Its still a work in progress...I have so many books to bring in and so many baskets. The bottom shelf is the "please touch me" shelf...the kids can touch anything there. It is artwork from around the world...and examples of projects. I'll rotate them out as we do more.
That's the "helper monster"..he tells the kids who are the helpers for the day. Last year he talked about the table color. This year he is all about the number that YOU are...so if you are 1, well you are a helper. The kids LOVE this monster and totally keep track of the rotations.
These are my drying rack tickets...one for each class (there are so many they go out of the frame). I clothespin the ticket to the rack where the kids artwork is for the class. When its dry I clothespin it back up and put the artwork away. Easy peasy.
The new paper center. 12X18 colored paper fits here. Its gotten reincarnated from being the classroom folder holder. I like this system much better. Large manilla and white drawing paper underneath.
I found this idea somewhere, can't remember where..so sorry! Its a little sign hanging from the drying rack...hopefully it will be a gentle reminder to write their names!

That's it for now...I'll try and take more next time!

optimistic

I'm heading back to work tomorrow and I am going in with an optimistic attitude.

You can't change people, but you can change how you relate to them and the personal choices that you make for how to run your day. Those choices can either ruin your mood or elevate it.

I am choosing the later. I will only surround myself with people that elevate me, that understand, that lift me up. Those are the people I want to be around. Not the petty, jealous, nasty, cranky kind.

I will not let their funkiness spoil my day, not one minute of it.

I love this..right?

It was a rough start to the school year...two days felt like a month. I vented like a crazy woman last night and as I woke up I realized that I needed to regroup and get a grip. "You can't let other people make you feel inferior, without your consent"....an old quote from my files.

So I've decided to edit myself and get rid of the old post...trying to keep peaceful karma coming my way...you get what you give and all that.

words of wisdom

That one goes without saying. I was looking for an art apron and came across that little tee shirt on zazzle.com. (If you know me at all, you know I looked until my eyes crossed and FOUND a great I LOVE ART apron.)
Beautiful OOPS is getting some major love right now in blogland...the message is perfectly beautiful.
Found that on Pinterest. I want to make my own version for my room, but will switch it up to say Take my time (get rid of talk quietly when allowed) and Sit quietly instead of Stay in my seat. (They can get up and around in my room.)
People ask me all the time "what do you think art is?"..I think I wrote many a paper on that subject in college. This poster says it all...to all those who think they are not artists or creative, I say read this and give yourself a hug.

A new online resource

www.dumpr.net is a BLAST!

You can make any photo into a sketch, like my oldest daughter up there. This would be great for a project that I do with the kids faces. Originally I had them alter a regular black and white photo that I printed out, but this gives them more options, since its more like a sketch. (I don't have a photo of the project since it involved kids faces...sorry!)

You can also make any cutie into a regular troll! By moving the pixels on the photo you can morph anyone into a little wierdo. She's still cute though.

Me and the kids had a blast with this yesterday.

Have fun with it!