I have daughters. I have never raised a boy. I half feared it and half envied it. I recently spent a week with one of my favourite 9 year old artists from the city. This is the first time a boy has come to art camp. Here is what I learned- 1. It is actually possible to never sit … [Read more...]
my favourite moments of the week- overheard at art camp
A.L. self portrait at the beach " My father once forgot his bathing suit when we were at a friend's cottage and so he waterskied naked" Was that embarrasssing? "Yes and we were never invited back" ********** "My brother is at the Calgary Stampede this week and he is going to eat … [Read more...]
words for wednesday-sold out
A few months ago I decided that for the first time I would run a March break Art camp. For years I have been asked to and always have taken the break from my work to be with my children. This year one is at Uni and one is in Buenos Aires. What is wrong with this picture? I am in my … [Read more...]
when your best friends are short
Well into the week with eleven 8-10 year olds you realize that these short people are pretty certain you are more or less their age. Ok that is not true they know you are super old but they start treating you like you are their age You do everything together- does this look solitary? it … [Read more...]
the evolution of an idea
I told you last year how much I sweat over this one. The large canvas is the most anticipated project at art camp. The day we do it, we make sure it is not too hot and that we are well rested for the adventure. There can't be rain in the forecast. We do yoga that morning so we are stretched out so … [Read more...]
words for Wednesday- mostly dead
"He's not dead, he is only mostly dead"from one of my favourite movies The Princess Bride and one of my favourite campers today at Art CampThe girls found a frog today and ran screaming to me"Nancy, Nancy this frog is dead.""Look at him he is so skinny, he must have starved to death."They begin … [Read more...]
just an item on the list
I love to play table games. They are games that require no props so you can play while eating dinner.We play them a lot at art camp. Really fun when you … [Read more...]
the building of a painting
I love the moment when a child sees the finished product they are to do and says "I can't do that" and I have the opportunity to show them that they can.It can take a long timeNot every minute of it is fun.It starts with the horizon lineand the layering of colour between swimsand then so many dots … [Read more...]
the beauty of hard work
Yesterday by 12 noon all 10 campers and their families were gone.They had spent a few hours in the garden looking at all the beautiful artwork their children had created.They heard their stories. And watched their production. Many hugs and thank you s and then they were gone. And then suddenly … [Read more...]
Words for wednesday-overheard at ART CAMP-8 year old wisdom
I have just begun my second week of art camp with 10 new campers. The last group was teens and this is an adorable set of 8-10 year olds. I forgot how much smaller they are. And they eat about a quarter of what teenage girls do. Some of them hate everything but naked noodles.The other night we had, … [Read more...]