Today was the last day of my first sessions of classes. THANK YOU to all of my wonderful students. You are all wonderful with your own unique package of gifts and talents. Keep those creative juices flowing!
In Step into a Book on day two we read one of my favorite stories, "The Mouse Bride." It tells of a little mouse who is tired of being small and weak so she decides to find the strongest husband there is so that at least her children will be strong. She starts with the sun who tells her that the cloud is stronger, who tells her that the wind is stronger and so on. I'm sure you can guess where her journey leads her. We talked about how we can use our creativity to become strong when we are feeling small and weak. Besides having a great message, this story has the best illustrations I have seen in a children's book. It is incredible how he gives different things from nature a personality. On day two we did our "Happy Accident" activity, which you can see in the Gallery, to help the children practice using the watercolors. We also began brainstorming ideas of what things they could bring to life and give a personality. Their ideas were so creative and hilarious! On day three we did the actual paintings, and also a small activity about mixing colors. We also read "The Hello, Good-bye Window." The illustrations are done in a very bright fun and loose style. There are "happy accidents" all over the place. We talked about how sometimes we need to look through a different "window" and see things in a new way.
In drawing and design we tried out using white and black charcoal on gray paper by drawing kernels of popcorn. This was a challenging activity, but the kids did great. Then each of the kids set up their own still life of fruit and drew it in oil pastels. The biggest hurdle for most people to get over to be able to draw accurately is to learn to actually look and what they are drawing and draw it as they see it rather than defaulting to an idea in their minds that isn't accurate. The kids are slowly starting to get that concept and will continue to improve as they practice in their sketchbooks throughout July.
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Inspiring imagination and creativity through the visual arts
What is Creative Elements?
Creative Elements offers quality art instruction in a variety of ways-- parent/child classes for preschoolers, summer and after school classes for children, private lessons, classes for adults, Art centered birthday parties, customized art classes in your neighborhood, and more!!!
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. ~Pablo Picasso
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. ~Pablo Picasso
Testimonials
About the Art with a Buddy Series, Christine said:
"We absolutely loved your Art Class. After having a couple of Elementary Education classes in Art, I can really appreciate the concepts you are teaching the kids.
"We absolutely loved your Art Class. After having a couple of Elementary Education classes in Art, I can really appreciate the concepts you are teaching the kids.
I thought it was very well run... Awesome to have a class in the park, wonderful to provide shade, the perfect type of projects. You are a wonderful teacher! We look forward to taking more art classes from you."
Angela said:
"We loved Art with a Buddy! I loved how prepared you always were with creative ideas and activities. I especially appreciated how well you related with the little children."
Angela said:
"We loved Art with a Buddy! I loved how prepared you always were with creative ideas and activities. I especially appreciated how well you related with the little children."
My Philosophy
Everyone has an innate desire to create something worthwhile. There are endless ways to fulfill this desire. The visual arts are a wonderful vehicle to teach children to tap into that creative side while they are young and uninhibited. Not all children will become artists, but every child will have a need to be creative and imaginative to be successful in what ever they become. I teach the techniques and principles of art that are a part of the Elementary School Curriculum, but use that as a means to teach children to be more creative thinkers, to appreciate the beauties around them, and to use their talents to better the lives of others.
Followers
About Me
My name is Alyson Harwood. I am a wife and a mother of four boys. I have an Associates of Fine Arts from Ricks College (BYU-Idaho) and a Bachelors of Fine Arts and a Secondary Education Certification with a K-12 endorsement for Art or Spanish from Southern Utah University. I received the Pestalozzi Award for Outstanding Education Graduate from SUU. I taught 7th and 8th grade art in the Meridian School District for a year before I "retired" to start on my own four little masterpieces. I have taught art workshops for children from my home various times over the last ten years, just completed my first summer of Creative Elements art classes and volunteer as an art teacher in my children's classes. I absolutely love seeing children go through the creative process and am excited to provide more opportunities for that to happen.
Color Comentary
Art is in everything. Like when you hear good music it is like a beautiful picture. --Jared
Art is like an old fashion movie because if you make a lot of pictures and flip them really fast then it would look like a movie. --Camden
Art helps me become more creative every time I make a picture. --Jake
Sometimes when I see a blank paper, I just look at it and then I see something else so then I make it. --Michelle
I look at a blank paper and then just start doodling. Then it becomes a story only just with pictures and as I draw it the story changes. --Annika
Art is color. No one can control your art except for you. -- Sam
Art is like an old fashion movie because if you make a lot of pictures and flip them really fast then it would look like a movie. --Camden
Art helps me become more creative every time I make a picture. --Jake
Sometimes when I see a blank paper, I just look at it and then I see something else so then I make it. --Michelle
I look at a blank paper and then just start doodling. Then it becomes a story only just with pictures and as I draw it the story changes. --Annika
Art is color. No one can control your art except for you. -- Sam
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