My Childhood. It is Complete.

Hello World!

I'm thrilled to say that at twenty seven years of age I have finally gone to Disney-for the first time ever! Initially, I informed my parents that did me a huge disservice by not taking me in my youth, but now having gone as an adult I had the TIME OF MY LIFE (yes, it warrants caps).

Seriously though, going as an adult was fantastic. First, I'll remember the trip. Second, I had the patience to wait in lines. Third, my parents didn't want to maim me because I threw daily tantrums (after careful observation these tantrums typically happened around mid-afternoon) and whined about the heat, lines, wanting things, and so on and so on. I fully advocate hitting up Disney as an adult because, really, you just get to be a kid again; I can't even tell you how hard I geeked out when I got my picture taken with Ariel (she's my idol).

I went with some of my very best friends and we hit every park. We got to go to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Food and Wine at Epcot, breakfast with Donald Duck (eeeeee!), and a bazillion more events. And we only whined a little ^_^

Girls vs. Boys

Us at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Naturally, I was Ariel and my husband was Eric. Major kudos to my friend (Belle in this image) who made nearly everyone's costumes. Whew!

All of us with Safari Mickey at Animal Kingdom.

Enthusiasm aside, I will now relay to you my tips for any and all who wish to travel to Disney.

1) Stay at a Disney Resort. They have transportation to each park and you are given the Holy Grail of all items: the Magic Band. With this magical item you can Fast Pass lines ahead of time, and sync up your dining plan, room key, park tickets, and credit card. It's amazing.

Magic Bands Unite!

2) Fast Pass everything and anything! Rides, restaurants, whatever you can Fast Pass-do it. It is such a time saver. You're able to Fast Pass three things ahead of time using the Magic Bands, but you can also go to the ride itself and get a paper Fast Pass for specific times.

3) Be prepared to spend a bit on food. It's a theme park, right? They thrive on tourism. Just be prepared for higher-than-normal prices. Some great places to eat you ask? I highly recommend the Be Our Guest restaurant at Magic Kingdom. Food aside, the atmosphere is fantastic.

4) Wear sneakers. Serious sneakers. 

Needless to say, my friends and I had a blast at Disney. I don't need to continue gushing on and on. So I will leave you with my latest piece of artwork. It was a quick illustration I did before we left and has nothing to do with Disney!

Enjoy!

<3 Kate

Texture Monsters!

First, I want to preface by saying I love Kindergarteners. They are so free with their art! They're never held up with thoughts of how "good" something looks. They just create and it's so wonderful to watch! That being said, my kindergarteners were hilarious to observe while making these texture monsters. There was much growling and roaring while they were being created. Check them out, aren't they fierce?

This project combined a couple different art elements. We studied line, texture, and shape. The students used texture tiles to complete texture rubbings for the monster's bodies. Then they cut rectangles, circles, and semi-circles from squares (and practiced their cutting skills and fine motor skills while they were at it-whoo!). Finally, the students used line for the teeth. 

Scary huh?

<3 Kate

Groovy Lava Lamps

Whew! It's been awhile! Not to worry though, internet, I haven't left you. I know you were worried about that.

Anyways! Today I'm writing about some lava lamps that my 3rd graders completed. I love doing this project as the first project of the year-it's great review for geometric and organic shapes, as well as complimentary colors. Plus, I put out real lava lamps in my room and my students love looking at them. It incorporates observational drawing to also have real lava lamps displayed!

I also review water coloring with them; how to appropriately use the paints, brushes, and water. All in all, a really engaging lesson for the students to start the year off with!

The first day of the lesson the students review geometric and organic shapes, and discuss the characteristics of both. We then make the observation of what part of the lava lamp would be geometric and what part would be organic. The students then proceed to draw their lava lamps.

The next class would involve complimentary colors. I explain it to the kids as colors that "loooooooove each other." That gets some good responses like "ew!" and "that's gross!" Of course, we also look at a color wheel.

The final class is devoted to painting with watercolors and adding a "glow" with chalk pastels.

This lesson could be easily adapted to 2nd grade, even 1st, but I've always enjoyed starting 3rd grade off with this project.

So, there you have it! Unfortunately, no new artwork from me, personally, but I've got some ideas in the works!

<3 Kate

A Line is a Dot That Went for a Walk

Hey folks! No, I haven't been ignoring you. In fact, I've been insanely busy! With the new school year three weeks deep, and grad class borrowing my spare time I've found it difficult to do anything else! No to worry though for I'm going to share some 1st grade work! 

I want to preface by saying I really enjoy 1st graders. They're so enthusiastic and willing to just experiment and be pleased with their results. In the images below, you'll see line paintings. This is a lesson that usually takes two weeks. The first week involves talking about the various types of lines, drawing them, and then coloring in between the lines. Of course, it isn't so simple as that. What I do is give them "rules" while they draw. For example, I might say 'I want everyone to draw three straight lines, and all the lines must be touching two sides of the paper.' It's a pre-assessment for me to see that they both know the various lines and to see how they organize their compositions.

The second week, students complete their coloring and then create watercolor resists. So, they paint with watercolor over their crayon. This allows me to review painting expectations and review texture. The watercolor and the crayon create a 'resist' because the waxy texture and watery textures 'don't like each other.' Really, it's my preferred way to watercolor with students because the colors come out so vivid.

This project is great for reviewing various art elements and concepts. I don't tell students how to organize their papers. I let them create impulsively and all the results are varied. To supplement this project I read the book The Straight Line Wonder by Mem Fox. 

Until next time!

<3 Kate

Week One

Well, I've been back to school for a week and a half now, and the kiddies have been back for three days. I have to say: so far so good! A lot of people may assume that the first week of school is easy-peasy but, truthfully, it's not.

From my perspective, I'm like a broken record the first week. I repeat the same expectations for 24 classes all week. However, after day one, behavior is already in a decline. The first day, the kids are excited! They're back to school! New class! New teacher! By day two, they're seeing where you draw the line. It's like they're testing you. And boy howdy do you have to make that line clear and immovable. 

I always enjoy the feel of my classroom the first week though. Everything is fresh and new, clean and tidy. For example:

 Fabric for the bulletin boards. Never fades and there is years of use!

Like my bulldog? I painted him (apparently it's a him) my first year.

Jobs and such. It gives students a sense of responsibility and ownership.

In the next few weeks, my room will be used and filthy with clay, paper cuttings, bits of crayon, sticky glue spots, and probably dirt. Always dirt. That's alright though. In the end, an art room is supposed to look bedraggled! It means there has been serious creating going on!

<3 Kate

Otakon! Wait, where did the summer go?

Well, Otakon was epic. As I insinuated in my last post, I went as Korra from the Nikelodeon show 'The Legend of Korra.' My husband and two good friends were the Fire Ferrets and councilman Tenzin! We also had Pabu, but she was taking the picture. Our costumes were probably the best we've ever done and we've been attending Otakon for years now! Observe:

I can take absolutely zero credit for my costume. That was all my mom! She's pretty rad and has way more sewing skills then I will ever have. Tenzin (on the far left) also has to thank his mom profusely for his super popular costume (he was a big fan fave), and then our Fire Ferrets bravely created their costumes all on their own! We had a ball.

Now, as a not-quite-tangential-but-still-random side note: THE LEGEND OF KORRA RETURNS SEPTEMBER 13! Oooooh yeeeaaah. If you've never watched the show, you really should. Not only is it beautifully animated but it's appropriate for both children and adults. There are some pretty deep themes in the show (along with its predecessor Avatar: The Last Airbender) but they are done really well. It's just great. 

Now that Otakon is over, my summer is also inevitably over. Where did it go?! I demand a recount! This is the time of the year where I start getting nightmares about my classroom. The kids all realize that if they all worked together they could totally rebel and overthrow any classroom management I have in place! You wouldn't think that'd be "nightmare" worthy, but trust me...it's terrifying.

So, look forward to some awesome student artwork in the next few weeks/months! Their work kind of takes over my own, but I'll try to post some things from myself! 

<3 Kate

Off to Otakon!

And I shall be the blondest of all the Korra's.

<3 Kate