this art that we love

 

"Watch Over Me"  is a new collage I began this week in a new art group that I started at my new school... originally it was to be an art club for a handful of 6th graders... but then some of my middle school students from last year,( and their mom!), found out about it and the group started to change.  

Another teacher asked me if maybe we didn't have to ask any of her students yet... so it was just the five of us... and on Thursday afternoon I found myself surrounded by these lovely art spirits... and I was renewed.

 

This week my son had a jazz festival up north... and I took this picture of him holding his stand up bass... he got home just in time for dinner... also renewed.  His music is to him as my art is to me...

 

Here he is playing his mandolyn that he bought for himself with money he earned this summer.  He picked it up amazinly fast...

 

This is Mandy... now in 9th grade... from our art group... I loved watching her design her page... thinking and pausing... It is wonderful to me how we all approach design so differently... some more intuative... some more planned... some just bursting with ideas...

I began the group by talking about art journaling... and I put out some supplies... pages from a calligraphy book, old maps, graph paper and colored bits and pieces from my scrap drawer... I showed them how to use medium... and from that point there was no holding back... next week I am going to have them carve some stamps and sew into their pieces...

 

These are the hands of Trish... tomorrow I will take a picture of her project and show it to you here...

 

And some of the little girls in my class...jumping and throwing crunchy yellow leaves at recess...

 

I worked on pages in my "barely there" book that was a gift from Lynne... She is now selling them at her amazing heArt shop at Etsy... The muslin pages are so much fun to work on... and the way her textures come through is wonderful.

 

And to make my week even better I received this glorious necklace in the mail from Kathleen... I won her giveaway!  The postcards are of her own art work as well... her collages are beautiful...

 

And a new canvas...small... called "I am by the river." The house is one I painted that sits across the river... and the bird a swallow that I painted last weekend, cut out and found a home for here...

Comments

[Kathleen Botsford]

My art never looked so good. Thank you for being the fabulous inspiration you are, day in and day out. Love your new canvas and your 'barely there' book. I'm off to Lynne's to check them out.....

[mar]

lovely and what makes the experience enjoyable too is the mellow music you chose to accompany the post

yellow
worked well for the viewing the pieces
:)

[robyn]

There is a wonderful creative buzz on your blog Roxanne ..... a feeling of ideas bubbling and brewing ..... a flowing of inspiration. I would so love to be part of your art group!

[caterina giglio]

another beautiful post! love the first piece and story of your art group forming. your son is so talented too and your barely there journal is coming along beautifully as well. it is so nice to see that after such angst your life has unfolded in such a wonderous way!

[Rini Boer]

Lovely young art group , and congratulations with your winning of the give away , its beautiful!
Great canvas !
Love Rini

[mansuetude]

love that collage about the river, the little house. Kathy's necklace looks delicious, as i have just won another of the rounds... anticipating. Lynne's shop is "ABOUT TIME" is all i can say!

ps... don't say so but your son looks like a soulful wonderful handsome!
/
ok
blessings.

[Leslie M.]

Such beauty and loveliness here. I'm glad to see your art finding its home and a peacefulness washing over you again.

[rochambeau]

Dear Roxanne,
You children and your students are lucky to have you in their lives!
My favorite thing you wrote is: It is wonderful to me how we all approach design so differently.
Thank you for that quote.
xox
Constance

[Chris]

This makes me feel happy. You are expanding their worlds!! Your son is very handsome, too. I miss my guitar... Keep up the great work.

[Seth]

I knew you would find a way to make art grow in your new job Roxanne. Well done!!

[gwen]

colors and music ..

lots of liviness...

I am so pleased to see and hear about your son and his musical talents...
and knowing that this will be inside of him forever... the best to you!!

[mary ann]

What a delight...the giving and receiving is wonderful to see in your photos! I like your new canvas, colors and title!

[Amanda]

I am so glad to see this post! It is great to see you inspired, and I am so happy you found a way to keep teaching art in your life. I love you so much. Your strength this year has been amazing.

[Jill]

What a joy to read this post! It has art in your pictures, your spirit, the energy of the children in your class and in your photos. So glad I can feel you breathing the art in your heart!

[Stephanie]

Roxanne,
I can tell by this post that you indeed are feeling renewed! What a wonderful talent in your son and your students, lucky indeed.

I love that you are having a new art group at your school.

x..x

[Debbie]

Your son is very handsome! My daughters LOVE music. Does your son have a place online where they could hear him play? How nice it must be to have a musical son. But I'm not surprised, since you're his mother.

I love the necklace Kathleen sent you! I won one also and I will cherish it. There is a photo of mine on my latest post. It seems like Kathy picked the right ones for each of us! She is such a wonderful soul.

Lovely post, dear heart!

Hugs,
Deb