Project Based Learning - Art collaboration in the schools

cover

This is the cover of the book "Sunshine for Lunch" that I collaborated on with first grade teacher Ellen Guest at Mills Lawn Elementary.  I went into the classroom with materials and images for the children to use to design their book.

Ellen and I helped them figure out a theme for each page of the book.  The students then painted watercolors on a 4x4 paper.  I photographed the paintings to duplicate for the actual book so that the students could have the originals.

The students also were guided to create torn-paper collages as a group activity.  2-3 students made various elements which came together to form the central image.  The 'kids' that they made are simply delightful.  See below.  Here is a photo of the first page.  I assembled everything into a large book, 12x16, with hand-made cover and binding.  I photographed each page and made a smaller version to duplicate.  Each child will receive their own book.  They can take their watercolor paintings and glue them into their own book!
Principal Matt Housh allowed us to use his printer for the work of copying.  Amy Minehart held an art class to help the students make home-made paper which incorporated seeds and petals.  The students took some home to their families and some was used to construct the 'big' book.Yellow Springs Arts Council helped along with numerous parents and community members.

page 1

working notes

Here are working notes for design ideas, things the students want to have in the book, themes, etc.  

Here are the beautiful 'kids' the students made.

Philosophy on Pricing and Selling Art

I am in a group show in Worthington, OH at the invitation of Christopher Leeper - a multi talented painter, workshop instructor and art enthusiast (also head of Ohio Watercolor Society) The show opens this Sunday, May 4.  Reception is 2-4 at the High Road Gallery- if you're free - come on down! It is located at 12 E Stafford Ave in Worthington, just off High St. and across from the Library. - a beautiful gallery!

                                            -The Painters - Chris Leeper and Students-

Here is my painting "Grandmother" on exhibit with other's work at the gallery.
   Chris Leeper asked us to write about how we advertize, sell and price our artwork.  So - here goes -

 I've been selling my paintings for about 8-9 years. I started by putting work in group shows of art organizations I belong to. I didn't sell very many to begin with but sales have increased over the years. I have brought together an art group that meets once a month (Monday Morning Artist) and have organized group exhibits locally. That helped to boost our recognition in the area as artists. Then I started to put my work in art shows - local only so far. By far the greatest sales I have experienced were when I exhibited my paintings in our home during an 'Artist Studio Tour' here in Yellow Springs. Exhibits in local fine restaurants have also been very worthwhile. In August, I will have a solo exhibit at the Fifth/Third Bank lobby in downtown Dayton. We shall see if it is fruitful but it is nevertheless exciting to have my work displayed there.


I have entered work in completions such as the Artist's Magazine watermedia but often lose track of the submission deadlines and miss out on opportunities! The fees for entering these competitions can be daunting as well but I should be more diligent and endeavor to acquire signature status in the Ohio Watercolor Society, etc. to truly become professional. Teaching classes/workshops in the local schools and Arts Council is helpful for my growth and local recognition.

As far as pricing, I started out very reasonably priced, say $100 for a 16x20 painting. I have attended several workshops, with you and others, that have boosted my painting skills and confidence. As my style of painting has matured and I have won some little prizes, I have increased my prices to more realistically reflect the time, materials and energy required to create a successful painting. I have a relatively standard price structure now, based on the medium and size of the piece. I mostly paint in watercolor but occasionally do mixed media and acrylic. I will continue to explore and learn new methods/materials.

I do have a blog though it mostly gets attention from people selling stuff in India (!) - If you actually read this and you are real!!!! - please respond.   thanks! Libby

Spring WILL come, blossoms and all...

I recently brought out a painting that had been hiding in my portfolio case, perhaps hibernating?  This has been a long grey winter...The painting pulled on my heartstrings - asking to re-bloom anew in a frame.  Since I was about to participate in a art show, I decided to frame it up.  I hung it along with many other pieces, fabric birds that I've created, cards etc.  The show was fun, lots of beautiful work and friends were exhibiting also so - rather enjoyable.  However - I had no sales...not even a card!

Blossoms - 16x20  watercolor
sold

Late in the day (it was only a 3 hour show : ), a friend looked at this painting and claimed it for her own.  It was my one and only sale for the day and yet it made the show worthwhile!  Thank you my friend.  Thank you little blossoms for inspiring the painting that gave me income to go get more art supplies!  and thus the cycle continues...

winter to spring, dormancy to bloom.............sales to new supplies!

More CollageWork for the 1st grade book

collage of the vegetable garden- first graders

We continue to work on our "Sunshine" book.This is for page 3... next comes a flower in conversation with the sun.

Collage Fun with First Graders



kids doing great work with torn paper collage

   I've started working with a first grade class in the local elementary at the invitation of their very creative teacher.  We talked over her idea of helping her students make a book that focuses on the energy they get from the vegetable soup they made and enjoyed last fall.  We like the idea of helping them design the book, using their understanding of the food chain, based on the chain of energy from food, from the sun, etc. 

  I am helping with the hands-on part of providing the layout, inspiration, instruction on torn paper collage, watercolor sketches for the surrounds of the pages, etc.  This is our first set of collages - very nice, I think.

  We have a few more items to add to this page, including the words they'll help write.  Then I'll glue everything up and together we'll make a great big book!  It incorporates both science and art!

more to come.....

Libby