Summer Art Fun

 Ava - 8th grade

 Maddy - 8th grade

 Avery - 8th grade

My experiment

The above works were based on the art of Yellena James. 

I have been creating mixed media collages using gelli printed papers in my own art. I thought I'd try these techniques with my group of 8th graders. I love their artwork!

 

The above mixed media lemurs were based on the bold and colorful work of artist Holly Mills.

Artwork by my Kinder through 4th graders.

I'm a big fan of artist Mia Charro. 

These collage works created by my group of 1st through 5th graders 

were based on her series of animals with flower crowns.

Alpacas with Colorful Landscapes

Carlie

Ella 

 Brooke

 Blake

 Annabelle

Everly

Alexa

My example

There are some really Fabulous llama and alpaca art lessons out there right now. I was inspired by these: http://www.handmakery.com/2019/01/you-me-a-teepee-alpaca-my-bags/

these: https://www.smallhandsbigart.com/llama-drawing-project/

@iluvcuppycake on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iluvcuppycake/

and the Gorgeous art of Jane Newland.

Our Alpaca landscape illustrations were started creating colorful mountains using tempera paint sticks. I encouraged the children to add a variety of colors and patterns. Next they added watercolor wash grass and skies, choosing from day or night. These were put up to dry and I led them in a simple line drawing lesson for standing and sitting alpacas. They could add brightly colored details with markers.  I showed them how to create packs for their animals to carry on their backs. I had a few children concerned for the welfare of their alpacas so it was a resounding, "Nope!" 

Day 2, they added details to their landscapes and dry brushed clouds. And last, glued their alpacas to their foreground. 

Here is a link to my close-up Llamas with Peruvian Textiles:

https://marymaking.blogspot.com/2015/04/llamas-with-peruvian-textiles.html

Somewhere Right Now

The Origins

 

 Pages at a Glimpse

I am thrilled to announce my children's book, Somewhere Right Now, is now available for purchase on Etsy. Just click on this link:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaryMakingArt

Somewhere Right Now parallels the daily events of a young child (brushing teeth, going to the park, taking a bath ect..) with the activities of animals and creatures around the world at that moment. Through rhyming text and bold type, it is meant to spark a curiosity and respect for wildlife and animals in places near and far. 

The collage illustrations were created using leftover painted papers made by children in my art classes. I transformed these remnants and scraps into layered collages with pens, markers, watercolor and acrylics. 


I am a children's book enthusiast and have been collecting them since I was very young. (Ezra Jack Keats and Brian Wildsmith are longtime favorites). Writing and illustrating my own book was a real passion project for me. I have been so pleased to hear the positive feedback in response.

Fairy Tales and Fantasies

 Aladdin's Magic Carpet

"My Monster and Me" inspired by

Where the Wild Things Are

Royal Self Portraits

Kinder and 1st grade

What a fun theme this has been for my two groups of young students.  We flew over rooftops on magic carpets, created out own monster friend to interact with and became a royal for a day.

Tigers and Pandas

This week my groups of students focused on tigers and pandas in my Animals of Asia classes. I gave the children a lot of free reign in terms of media, colors, and style in creating their artwork. It's not something I always do. But I find summer the perfect time to be a little less structured and really allow a sense of play and experimentation. I had children from Kindergarten through 9th grade in the same class. And I could not have been more pleased with the way they worked together and encouraged one another. Next week we'll be "visiting Europe" on our last stop of our animal art tour around the world.