CAHEP- in school projects

While gallery sitting today, I'm working on examples for my CAHEP in-school projects. 

This work-in-progress is my "Blue Heron Mask". Between sessions I work on the mask further to show the class in our next visit.  This way I can work alongside the students, and show them how I get to the end product. This years theme for Artists-in-the-5th is "Spirit of the North" so at Gorham and Ware (where I went to elementary school!), we're creating animal masks exuding a northern spirit. All CAHEP Artists-in-the-5th projects will be on display again this year at the Folklore Festival so be sure to check 'em out!

Below is another work-in-progress for my CAHEP Forest of Reading Project. I love F.O.R. projects, learners create works of art inspired by books! The project I'll be leading at St. Margaret school is based on "If you hold a seed" by Elly MacKay. We'll be creating mixed-media images on mylar, exploring transparency while creating imaginative scenes looking out our window. 

Looking out my window I see bunnies eating lucky clover. 

It's warm and sunny, just after a spring rain.

A majority of the time I lead mixed media in-school projects; with no two ever the same.

It's always interesting for myself as an artist, because I tend to try new things and have to explore the medium deeper.  Collaborating with teachers/teacher-librarian is also always a benefit as well as a challenge, as our two/three brains when put together come up with very interesting projects. I say it can also be a challenge when collaborating with other non-arts related teachers because as an artist going into the classroom, we are also there share our knowledge with the teachers.  Sometimes teachers can be more stuck on creating realistic works of art than the students are, or sometimes they are eager to pull out their own art materials to add into the mix - when sometimes, you just can't paint before you glue for instance.  But nevertheless it's always exciting to see teachers alongside their students eager to learn.  And we, the artists are always growing.

In my projects I rarely aim for exactness and love encouraging students to create abstract images.  It's always tough though, getting the learners to fully understand what "abstract" art is and how to create it.  At least throwing some new techniques and creative ways of creating surfaces makes up for the realism that most people tend to aim for.  Each class I learn what to do/not to do when attempting to aim for abstract.  And sometimes I just roll with it.  As long as they're enjoying themselves, that's what counts.