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...]
when it is more than just art
Just last month, an art camper from last summer who was to return this summer , lost her father, after a courageous and heart wrenching battle with cancer. I wondered if she would return given this tremendous loss just a few weeks prior to start of camp. I sent her mom a note telling her we … [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- blank canvas
"LIFE IS LIKE A BLANK CANVAS" I want to leave it there for you. But there are many endings to this quote I love. "...waiting for you to create your masterpiece" "... and you need to throw all the paint on it that you can" " ... and you are the artist" you decide. But what are you going … [Read more...]
my favourite things of summer
steak on the BBQ, corn fritters, veggies and roast potatoes followed by the best dessert in the world- PAVLOVA diving into the cold lake with my running clothes on every morning with my summer sidekicks when shopping means this going barefoot for days (honestly, have you ever seen … [Read more...]
stuff dad taught me- the sweetness of a job well done
Art camp finished today and when the last camper left and we felt we had done our best, we cranked the music and cleaned the cottage and then went for a long swim with no one asking for piggy back rides. Then we hung out on the dock and laughed and chatted for hours. Because we could. I … [Read more...]
words for wednesday on friday-What’s a birgin?
encaustic mixed media www.artstudioforchildren.com At every art camp we have one movie night. It is the only silent time of the whole week. We try to find a movie everyone can love, hasn't seen, has no issues, no stuff there parents would not approve of- not an easy task. We … [Read more...]
this work is a privilege
I have just begun the first of five weeks of art camp I am running this summer. The beginning comes with a mix of emotion. It is hard work with spectacular attention to detail and requiring a level of patience, creativity and energy sometimes difficult to muster. I need to both psyche myself … [Read more...]
Artists Wanting More
art work created at art studio for children Probably 6 years ago a group of pals at 3.5 years of age came into my old art studio for their first class. They did a class a week every single term for the next 6 years Really, do the math. I feel like some of these families … [Read more...]
words for wednesday-being fed to wolves
"feeling shy" www.artstudioforchildren.com Q :What is worse than being fed to wolves? A :Speaking to a group of teenage girls about what you do for a living ok that is not entirely true but I did feel very nervous when the Head of Guidance asked me to come into my children's school and … [Read more...]