My summer art camps were a success! All four camps were full and filled with great students. I am lucky to have the space to offer these wonderful art classes. The feed back from parents was that it was just what they were looking for. We made awesome art and had fun while doing it! i couldn’t of asked for anything more. Here are a few pics to see a glimpse of what i am talking about.

paper mache

Air Brush

T-Shirt Stamping

Painting Class

Jackson Pollock

Paint Gun

Tinkering

Spray Paint

Robots

After a month of mounting and preparing student art for the art show at United States Art Authority I am pleased with the results. I thought the kidos were ecstatic and had a wonderful experience. I believe the parents were impressed as well. I appreciate all who could make it to the event and understand that others tried their best to be there but could not. All of the children’s art work will be sent home with them from school in the next weeks before school ends. Also if you were unable to attend and did not receive your achievement award that will also be sent home.

Here are a few pictures of the hung show before the event.

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.

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)

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.

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 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.

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.

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!