This warms my heart

http://imaginechildhood.com/

To Smock or Not to Smock,That is the Question

I know that we don't all want paint or glue on our children's clothing. But, the truth is that although we use
smocks or paint shirts this is not a 100% full proof  method of mess prevention.
I've had days where I was trying to be cautious with your child's clothing by using smocks. Well, one day an artist
proceeded to say"I want this off" and pulls her smock off while having paint on her hands, getting paint on her clothing  Since I was helping wash up someone else, I could only watch this with a faint grin on my face. Not that they got paint on their clothing, but no matter what I do, paint happens.
Also, being that they work in a studio, there could be drops of paint lingering from a previous class that we have no way of seeing and their clothing could get into those hidden blobs of paint.
So, in the new year, I would suggest having a set of clothing that your child can wear to school on his/her art day that is worry free. They have such a short time with me, that when we put smocks on and off this takes up about 10 minutes of a twenty to twenty five minute session. That is a waste of everyone's time. Save those gorgeous clothes for the other days. Your child will get so much more out of their art class if I am not wincing every time they either get paint on them or close to it. You can also change them after school if you have somewhere special to go.
I do use washable paint. If we use acrylic(rarely) they use shirts or smocks. But, I see sleeve edges get color on them even with a smock.
I suppose a good analogy would be that when you go to the gym to work out, you wear gym clothes,clean up and change into clean clothes. This is the same for your young art student, or for that matter preschool student.
Please keep this in mind in the new year and I think that we will all be happier.
Sincerely,
Miss Julie
P.S. Your child's teacher can let you know when the studio day is.

The Threes worked in 3-d also. They painted branches,cones,rocks

and bark and put it together in plaster as a beautiful sculpture.

This is a glimpse at an auction painting that the W/F

Twos are painting. We are all very excited

to see it finished.

Ooey Gooey Gooey

The twos had a very tactile experience this week. I mixed up cornstarch,baking soda

and water to make a dough to work with. This substance was dry and wet alternately.

It was always changing ,therefore engaging them continually. Children who don't usually enjoy

getting their hands "messy" loved it. It looked gooey and sticky, but they were surprised when it

was not. We will cook the substance next week and find out what happpens.

Working with wire not only stretches the artist's imagination by working

three dimensionally, it also works their fine motor skills. Trying to twist the wire

with their hands as well as pliers and dowels, pushed their hands dexterity.

At times it was difficult, but as they learned, their body heat will make

the wire more pliable. After working with the wire they were happy to draw

with the soft pastels.

Repurposed Christmas Tree

                             I found this tree on a blog and thought that it was beautiful in the use of materials.

                               I suppose that there is beauty lying about if we have our eyes opened up to seeing it.

Curling,Twisting Bending

W I R E D