Mixed Media: 2nd Grade, Middle School, High School

student created the textured papers before she cut the hearts

student repurposed junk for a golden mandala

student repurposed a a discarded book and created a loopy birdhouse.

Student Projects / Summer 2014

Ready to take flight

Would you believe a lightbulb
is underneath it all?

A 10-year old student had a hoot repurposing an
assortment of found objects

Exploring mark-making in black-n-white on brown

A teen sketched her pillow design, cut the leather,
sewed together the 4 sides & sketched the free-motion stitching for me to add.

The technique of fusing plastic bags was introduced.
This student then took her newly-made "plastic cloth" home and used it to cover her block hooks.
 Very cool !

Purple Pig did not forget to stop and smell the roses.

This student wrote his name in bold marker lettering,
water-colored the negative space, cut apart the squares and rearranged the pieces 

Found-object fish

Art in the summer studio moved along swimmingly.

There's A First Time for Everything

 

I love that my students are always up for trying new things in the studio.

     

  Another returning student explored painting with knives. She added dimension and texture to her canvas by trying new techniques and unusual materials.

This student is musically inclined so
she designed the first ever clock to
tick-tock 'n rock from my studio.

If at first you don't love it, paint over it! Doodle and dab.        
    

Another bright idea and first! 

This student was the first to design a pillow and use a sewing machine in the studio.
 She sewed the straight lines and I added the free-motion stitching to her canvas & leather creation.

A 9-yearold boy surprised me with his knack for fine-line mark-making.

Creating a walldoll was added physical therapy for a hand on the mend.
Aside from working his clever mind, this student sketched, cut, drilled,
gripped pliers, twisted wires and managed a glue gun.
His "Mister Kaens" assemblage is more that meets the eye.

Abstract Show

Now exhibiting: Interlopers.
Jurist Bob Collins chose this acrylic piece to be included in the Post Road Art Center's 2014
Abstract Show which runs until May 1st in Marlborough, MA.

This painting could be a poster-child for the admonition to try something new.
Physicality, mystery and adventure kept me hyper-focused.  The paint reduction technique involved creating shadows and light by subtracting paint (as opposed to adding more paint) ---and I loved every minute of it.

Using knives on a gessoed panel substrate, I applied layers of acrylics, working my way up from light to dark.  I then saw the light again by rubbing away the darker layers. It took time and isopropyl alcohol.

Interlopers /acrylic on panel /18" x 24"

 Some of my art students wanted to give it a shot.  Student Raquel S. earned a Silver Key Award in  Scholastic's 2014 Art and Writing Competition.

Art student, Raquel, employed another technique of mine
involving the use of Contact paper. 

In process and upside down.

Students in the Studio

The summer art sessions in studioCB have proven once again that stretching one's imagination and thinking creatively rules over prepackaged art kits any day.

Kids, ages 9-16, have been designing, drawing, print-making, drilling, cutting,  hammering, measuring and re-imagining.

One student's exploration of replicating an object using 6 different mediums.

Sam's Walldoll measures almost 3'.
He learned to use a small hand drill
and to wire parts together for a
strong hold.

Lauren's wall sculpture was inspired by  women's vintage headwear.

Leather boots started from cardboard and styrofoam,
by Serena and Erin.

Ben's eye-full includes piano parts and leather.

A 10 year old found her groove mixing it up with paint, pastels, pens, pencils, and a tissue dress pattern. 

Bubble wrap and water colors created the blue and lavender polkadot blossom.

Colored pencils, black ink art pens, crayon pastels and a perforated kitchen tool  template.

Layers, layers, layers!

A steady hand holding a black ink art pen made this pink and orange posy pop!