oh my it's cold outside. we aren't use to this cold. this winter tree reminds me of this weather. the background was painted first with tempera cake paints and then the tree was added later after the background was dry. the tree was painted with black acrylic to give it the stark dark blackness that makes it stand out from the rest.

Wow, can you believe it! 2011! I just got used to writing 2010 and 11 will be here before we know it. I hope that's it's a creative year and that inspiration will be everywhere. I hope we can inspire each other as artists and art teachers, and pass on the wonderful gift of creativity to those who need it as much as we do. Go make art.

Here's an art teacher blog directory for other art teacher blogs

Before we left on vacation we were working on the backgrounds for our next project. The backgrounds are going to be either warm or cool colored tissue decoupaged onto white paper with watered down elmer's white glue. We will then add our subject matter (you'll see) on the top. More to come.......

My jr. higher's organized a gingerbread/graham cracker house building day before school let out for vacation and here is just one of several results. They really had a good time, and of course there was lots of candy involved so who wouldn't have fun.

Nothing like being home for the holidays. This idea came from Artsonia. The kids drew their houses for the holidays. and a line of pattern and the word home on the bottom. I like staying home on the holidays. I always think I am going to get so much done, and then the vacation just flys by. Happy Holidays. Hope your Christmas is great whether you stay home or take a trip.

The Christmas program was themed "home for the holidays" so we made some cute houses that showed signs of being home for Christmas. Construction paper and gel pens.

My 5th and 6th graders made artwork for the Christmas program. We got ideas from the website deepspacesparkle.com. Its a great site for art teacher ideas, and you can get lesson plans too. This snowman was created in oil pastel on blue construction paper and then we added snow with white tempera paint.

Baby Jesus all wrapped up in a warm quilt and halo and rosey cheeks.

Poinsettias sponge painted with tempera paints, also from deepspacesparkle.com

Art Sample

Art Sample