Ahh! A Little Rest & Spring Break Sketching

A few years ago I joined The Sketchbook Challenge. The details are on the bottom of my sidebar on the right.

This is an online group that, led by a core group of artists, creates sketches with a different prompt each month. While I don't seem to be submitting as many sketches now as I did in the beginning, some months the topics are more appealing to me and I sort of "get in the groove." This month's theme is "Polka Dots" and I'm so happy that it coincided with Spring Break when I have a bit more free time. So, what does an art teacher do during vacation? Why, sketch, of course!!

Happy Passover and Easter (to those of you celebrating either)!!

From Sketchbook to Classroom

For the last couple of years, as I have mentioned before,  I have participated in the Sketchbook Challenge. ( See my sidebar for the link) I like the informal structure and I like having one topic for a whole month. It gives me time to think about the concept as I'm moving through daily life and then draw when it is convenient.

Someone recently asked me how I use my sketchbook. Well, sometimes it stays out and I grab it while I'm watching TV. Sometimes, it is sitting there and because it is a watercolor sketchbook, I'll get out the paints and work for half an hour to an hour just for fun. When I don't have it sitting where I can see it, I tend not to do as much drawing (lesson learned!!).

This month the topic was "Spirals". I did a quick sketch early in the month called, Wandering Spiral.

Then, I got to thinking about that, and how I might use it in the classroom. Instead of using colored pencils (as in the sketchbook spiral), I decided to have the kids use red, yellow and blue tempera and thumbprints to make the spiral.

To form the initial spiral I coiled a length of yarn leaving plenty of space between the arcs to fit thumbprints.

Using the primary colors for some of the prints and combining the colors to make secondary colored thumbprints, students will consider balance as they complete their spiral, leaving the yarn until they have finished making their prints.

When the prints are dry, we'll outline them with a Sharpie.

All done -- sketchbook to classroom!

The Sketchbook Challenge

Well, I mailed off my sketchbook to Brooklyn for their Sketchbook Project. Glad it is on its way!

Now, I am on to something new -- the Sketchbook Challenge. It is SO MUCH FUN!!! Each month they post a topic (this month's is HIGHLY PRIZED) and you sketch one or more pieces that you can either post on your blog or in the Flickr Group collection. It was fun considering the topic and deciding what to draw/paint. I've only done one sketch so far and am not sure whether I'll submit more or not for this month. But, it's fun to think about!!

I like that it is not a weekly commitment and that there is plenty of time to complete the task. I also like getting back into a regular routine of using the sketchbook. When I signed on, I didn't anticipate the pleasure I'd get looking at all the variety of styles of the submissions of other participants. I think the whole challenge is a great idea!
If this sounds interesting to you, click on the badge at the bottom right of my blog to find out all the details.