Andrea's Art Class

The Blanton

It has bee a while since I have been to the Blanton Museum so I went to check it out. Since this museum opened I have been bored with it. Sorry to tell you how I really feel. But this past Thursday I was engaged in a lunch lecture at the museum and enchanted by the reconstructing of a renaissance masterpiece.

The quick version of the story is that a church was built by a wealthy family in the 1700’s by the  Petrobelli family. The family hired a famous painter named Paolo Veronese to paint a religious depiction for the church. The church was burned and demolished and the alter piece was cut into pieces and sold. ( can you imagine cutting up a painters work?) the painting is so large that it was more feasible to cut up and sell. Over 200 years later it become apparent that a piece  was in London, Scotland and Canada that all belonged to the Petrobelli  Alterpiece . These pieces have been reunited with each other. However there are still missing pieces and the Blanton just happen to have the face of Saint Michael the central figure in the altarpiece.

The painting pieces all went through a series of x-rays and other analysis to confirm its authenticity.

A painting created and then destroyed and separated. A 200 year old mystery solved. Very cool! Yeah for the Blanton.

David Bates & Family Day at the AMOA

The person at the front desk at the Austin Museum of Art is always so happy and helpful. I love being greeted into the museum. I have never heard of David Bates before so I was curious what we would see beyond the entrance. Hello big paintings with strong outlines in Black. Earthy colors and realistic subjects. I favored the swamp sceens with egrets and owls. My children and I sat for at least ten minutes and played I-spy on a painting with a wood pecker,snake and other animals. The paint is applied so thick on some of his paintings it looks like frosting on a cake. I quickly became aware that Bates has many talents, as I viewed sculpture in wood and cast bronze and relief  prints. I liked his work.

In the room at the back of the gallery was what my kids called a giant birthday cake. It looked like a cake to me and displayed neatly on each tier was the soft sculptures of Jade Walker. Wacky, unique objects that seemed intuitive. My complaint here is that I was unable and so were the children to view them. The sculptures are up so high on display. Not so sure about that.

After visiting the gallery I went into the small work room and helped the kids with some rubbings and drawings. I could not get the kids out of there they love that room. Of course a trip to the museum shop which we had a hard time leaving as well. We became immersed in books and looking in every draw of jewelry. On Family day the museum puts out tables with supplies and materials to create with in the big room in the front of the museum. I was impressed with the set up and what people were making. I saw people making all sorts of stuff from animals to abstract stuffed socks with pipe cleaners woven in and out of the sock fabric. It was a collective of strangers all working together and helping and complimenting each other. We could of stayed there longer if we could. In the end we had spent only 7$ total and enjoyed two hours of art! I give this event an A+

Family day at the AMOA (with serious faces)

AMOA

Andrea plans on going to family Saturday at the AMOA. That’s the Austin Museum of art. On the second Saturday of the month its family fun day. Parents and kids can have a look at the current exhibit and then spend time producing art in the manner of the artists. Cost is $7 and it begins at 12.

ARTventures in Soft Sculpture

See how local artist Jade Walker transforms fabric and everyday materials into abstract, natural forms in the New Works: Jade Walker exhibition. Get inspired by the art on view, and then drop into the Community Room to create your own soft sculpture out of found objects and materials!

Also, join Brandy Arena of Bea Love Yoga for a family yoga class at 1 pm. Please bring a yoga mat if you have one!

Drop in and create!

$7 for the whole family; $5 member families.

Armadillo

Sales were slow at the Armadillo. But if was fun being part of of the show. My friend Andrea yes she has the same name as me, so graciously allowed me to put my shirts in her booth. Thank you Andrea.

My shirts at the Armadillo in the Herbal Soap Works booth.

Shirts at AMP

Shirts for the Armadillo

My shirts will be for sale at the A.M.P. outdoor market Saturday December 5th 10am-4

Also at the Armadillo Christmas show at the Austin Convention Center.

Paper Mache

Its so much fun!

Paper Mache

 This project was inspired by a party my daughter Lucia went to that had a Pinata.                                                                                                  

The forms are dry

We cut out the mouth and teeth and painted

  Paper Mache paste can be easily made by adding flour water and glue together. Mix it not to thick and not to thin.

Mosaic Bar Top

As a crafty artist I have various talents working with different mediums. This mosaic project was a referral from my friend Julie. The client had liked the work I did at Zilker Elementary School.

planning

In the planning phase I drew several sun motifs to get just the right one.

choosing colors

                                                   Choosing just the right color to keep a spanish feel at the clients requested.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

One of a kind bar top

                                                   This is a unique bar top that is sure to be a conversation piece at any back yard party. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Daubing

In my excitement for pumpkin season students made and decorated there own paper pumpkins. kiddos traced a template pumpkin and then carefully cut it out. We worked on setting up our work station and followed steps to proceed with this lesson.  Daubing yellow and orange to achieve each child’s desired effect. After these dried then faces were added as well as a stem.

Repeating Patterns

Children learn about AB, ABC,ABBA and so on… pattern making. Circle square circle square is ABAB. With manageable sized cut sponges in different shapes the kiddos experimented.

Jerry’s Artarama

We went to Jerry’s Artarama last weekend. Mostly to get supplies for making art but also for the free ice cream, Wonder Craft recycled project and a hip kid band. A fun day was had by all. I love this art supply store it is big and it has a lot of great artist supplies. ( not so much of the crafty stuff that Hobby Lobby or Micheals might have. I buy some of my screen printing supplies and nice printing paper. And of course my husband Scott gets great deals on large canvas’s and oil paint.

The Wonder Craft mobile was there and I was curious about that so I sent the kids over to make art with the nice ladies in the air stream. The craft was made with recycled materials so it was free. Yeah! I thought the crafting went well and the kids enjoyed it! What a great concept. The Wonder Craft rides around and parks where needed and offers cool projects and class like upcycled soda can jewelry and sculpting polymer clay. See more details at www.thewondercraft.com