The Magic of Mud

This week I opened classes with some questions "How do you know when artwork is finished?" and "How can you turn a mistake into a happy accident?".  So much of being an artist is reflecting on and reacting to the process of creating- before, during and after.  Like everything in visual art (and life), each individual has their own thoughts and ideas on process and problem solving.

In the Muddy Brook studio students are encouraged to revisit work.  Many painters from last week added to their work this session with drawing tools and more paint.  Observing day two, it is interesting to see individual learning styles.  Some artists embrace the mud of mixing, while others strive for clean hues.  Where adults see variations of brown and gray young artists see mixed rainbows, the perfect animal fur, and newly created never-ever before invented colors generated by their wonder and fearlessness.  We need to embrace the magic of mud.

Opening Studio Centers

Visual Journals are already in use.

 This week we opened the painting center with liquid tempera paint.  All students learned painting expectations, where to find smocks and supplies, and how to clean up.  Many children love to paint and the drying rack was filled with colorful experiments.  Students were thoughtfully discussing color mixing as their pictures shifted with each wet layer.

We will revisit these paintings when we talk about collage next week and think about the big question "When is artwork finished?"

Technique and skill come with engagement, care and hard work.

Many artists were excited to paint!

The soft opening of the supply center for grades 3 and 4 allowed for the beginnings of figures made by 3rd grade friends.

Welcome to a New Year of Awesome Art!

Muddy Brook Artists are already busy in the art studio!  We started the year with the inspirational book Ish by Peter H. Reynolds.  It reminds artists that art doesn't have to be realistic and "ish art" can be beautiful and freeing to create.  Ish art can be a great place to start- or end!  Artists make plans and artists can change their plans!  We've started a project I'll share later, and we've opened the drawing studio.  We've talked about art studio expectations and behaving like artists.  AND we've created our own personal visual journals!  We've been busy- and Monday students haven't even had art yet (they will have a busy class to say the least)!  All students are excited to be back in the studio and most already have big plans for the year.  We will be aligning with classroom curriculum for some project based learning with a strong goal of wonder, artistic experimentation, and play.  I am looking forward to a truly amazing year!
Artfully yours, Ms. Benton