You are currently browsing the monthly archive for March 2011.
SILLY 4 is over… so sad!!
SILLY 5 is currently scheduled for January 2012, but I am working on some other online classes for the summer and fall — stay tuned! (Or sign up for my newsletter to get all the updates!)
Hello!
Please join me for the fourth installment of my online class:
The Art of Silliness
(30 Worksheets/30 Days/25 Bucks!)
May 4 – June 2, 2011
(This class is open to ANYONE, whether or not they took the first classes — because “silly” has no prerequisite!)
Here’s the scoop:
• Each day I will create an Activity Sheet just for you. Worksheets may include one (or more) of the following: drawing exercises (can’t draw? YES YOU CAN!), writing prompts, vocabulary words, drawing games, puzzles… (just to name a few). FUN!
• Here is a SAMPLE of the first worksheet from the “The Art of Silliness 2” (Fall 2010):
(Non-threatening and easy!)
• The worksheets will be created as the month goes on… in other words, this course is not preplanned down to the finest detail. (We are spontaneous over here at Silly Headquarters, Inc. Company.)
• Each day you will receive an email from me with a url link to the new pdf worksheet, which you can download, print, and complete!
• The daily email might also include stories, jokes, and all the Silly News.
• 30 days, 30 handouts. At the end of the class you can bind them all together for your very own Silliness “4″ Workbook!
• Our goal: to get you to just PLAY, just 10 minutes a day, with pen and paper, thoughts and images. (You will be surprised how a shot of silliness like this will positively inform the other goings-on in your day, including your regular artwork.)
• Every handout will have an “Extra Credit” section, in case you want to spend MORE than 10 minutes that day creating like a kid.
• Speaking of kids… this is a perfect class to do together with your children!! Each household can download as many sheets as they like.
• TEACHERS!!!! If you do this online class, you are welcome to photocopy the worksheets for use in your classrooms.
• A blog dedicated to the class will be created and administered throughout the month and will be the place for you to post comments, questions, and/or links to your finished Activity Pages.
• A “Silly 4″ flickr site will be created so you can (optionally) share your worksheets, drawings, artwork, and enjoy and learn from the artwork of others. (However, if you are shy about posting your art, I will be available to you the entire month to look at your work via email.)
• Prizes? Of course!!
• The class material will be up and available for download until August 15th, 2011, if for some reason you need to miss a day (or a couple of weeks).
• Here’s what people are saying about the Silly Series so far:
“I want to say that your online Art of Silliness drawing workshop caused something of a paradigm shift in my perspective on drawing, more specifically, my ability to draw. I draw all the time now. No big deal, no worries, no “I’m not having fun this is too ugly”, none of that. I am now and forever more a person who draws. Because of you.”
— Jennifer W.
“The Best X 3:
Best drawing class I’ve taken on-line or off-line.
Best teacher who made drawing fun.
Best time spent that brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart
— Judith W.
• I promise to make it fun. (Do you want to join me?)
Cost: $25
SIGN UP VIA PAYPAL HERE
(or email me at carla@carlasonheim.com for other payment arrangements)
Note: When you sign up you will receive a welcome email confirming your registration within 24 hours. If you DON’T receive an email, try checking your spam folder. If it’s not there, email me! carla@carlasonheim.com.
The Art of Silliness 4
May 4 – June 2, 2011
(though you will be able to access the pdfs until August 15th)
And please help me spread the word. THANK YOU!
Carla Sonheim, A.K.A. The Silly Queen
P.S. A note to OLD-TIMERS
Why take Silly again? Well, one reason is…
Silliness is Like a Bowl of Strawberries
Let me explain. You’ve tasted strawberries before, but that doesn’t mean you would say “no” to another bowl, right? Even though the experience will be similar, it deserves to be repeated because it “tastes good!”
Yes, it will be similar, but different. Why? Because now you are several months older. The weather has changed, and your energy level has increased (or decreased). That distracting situation with your neighbor is now resolved. In short, you are a COMPLETELY different person now and will thus respond differently to Silly 4!
(And though there will be some repeat exercises — such as Fleep lists and blind contours — the subject matter will be all new. The Squeen never just recycles material “copy and paste” style. That is my Silly Promise.)
Hello!
This activity should take only about 10-15 minutes, depending on how many rabbits you draw. The supplies you will need are:
- Black Tombow(TM) Pen (#N15)
- About 8 – 5″x7″ pieces of watercolor paper (hot or cold press)
- #12 round watercolor brush
- Optional: black Micron pen, size 01
(Note: If you do not have these items on hand, don’t worry! Use any watersoluable marker, any paper, and any brush, and do your best. If you like the process, THEN go out and purchase the nicer stuff!)
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BUNNY POWER: Easy Tombow Rabbits
STEP 1
This is a V.I.S. — Very Important Step. Take about two minutes and go to the following link, and just LOOK. You don’t need to draw anything, but just look at photos of rabbits for about two minutes. Googly Rabbits.
* * * * * * * * *
STEP 2
Now take your Tombow marker and draw a simple outline of a rabbit. You can draw from your imagination or from a reference (your choice). Keep it simple!
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STEP 3
Dip your watercolor brush in clean water, and tap off a little of the excess, either on a paper towel or the side of the water container. (You want your brush “loaded”, but not “too loaded.” You will probably need to experiment with a few rabbits before you get the hang of it.) Start painting on the line, being careful to leave the outside edge of the line intact:
A quick demo of the whole painting process:
Tips while painting:
- you will probably need to re-wet your brush several times.
- work fairly quickly so that the water doesn’t have time to dry before you get the whole inside of the bunny painted.
- even though it is a “black” marker, when wetted down the colors will separate into pinks, light blues, etc.
- Leave some white spaces.
- Take extra care around the eyes (see Step 3b)
- If you make a mistake, don’t worry! Just stop, let dry, and go to Step 5.
* * * * * * * * *
STEP 3b
Here is a slower demonstration of the painting process. Take care around the eyes, as shown.
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STEP 4
Let dry completely. In some cases, this is the last step… your bunny is done, and doesn’t need anything else!
* * * * * * * * *
STEP 5
Sometimes, though, you may need to go back in to your drawing, either with your Tombo marker or other fine-tipped black marker, and re-draw any lines that may have been obscured by the painting step:
You can even add other details:
Done!
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This tutorial brought to you from Artspark! Ten free tutorials this week! Go here for the full schedule and links.
P.S. If you do this project and upload it to your blog, flickr, etc., leave a comment here with the link!!! Let’s paint 1,000 bunnies!!
If you are a teacher and would like to add more creativity and spark to your classroom, then join me as I join educators Deb Barends and Dar Hosta and others for
“TEACHING OUT OF THE BOX”
Educational Summer Institute
(I’m so excited to be one of the presenters!!)
From the description:
An exciting, two-day hands-on retreat just for teachers, in a beautiful setting in Central New Jersey, where you will learn simple ways to integrate creative activities into your classrooms, curriculum and literacy instruction that will stimulate and motivate student learning. Come and participate in dynamic workshops that use recycled and “upcycled” materials. Learn how to be creative on a shoestring budget and how to promote literacy through the exciting practice of “Art Journaling.” Abandon your fears of drawing, painting and creative writing and experience our belief that Creativity Is A State of Mind. Find out how you can integrate the arts, poetry, technology and nature-based learning into your K-5 classroom. Come and make new friends, join professional artists, writers and educators for this informative, inspiring and spirit building event and leave with a box full of ideas to enhance your teachings!” Professional Development hours will be provided.
When: JULY 27 & 28, 2011
Where: At The Hunterdon Learning Center, 37 Hoffmann Crossing’s Road, in beautiful, scenic Califon, NJ
Cost: The cost for the two-day event is $275.00 and this includes lunch both days PLUS, a “Swag Box” of free stuff.
Details and Registration: Click here!
*****
Since I started out teaching in my sons’ elementary school classrooms, “teaching” teachers is very exciting for me — I’m really looking forward to it!!
I am newly part of a small “online” group of women called Artspark; we are all teachers, making a living in similar ways, and we share tips with each other (everything from how to add a video to YouTube to what vitamins help with energy… see my last post, haha).
This week we’ve organized a Blog Hop of Spring Tutorials… totally free! The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, March 29
Melanie Testa: Incised Fun Foam StampingGwen Diehn: Recycled Slip cover for a small bookKelli Nina Perkins: MP3 case
Wednesday, March 30
Jane LaFazio: Freezer paper stencils from your sketchbook images and PaintstiksCarla Sonheim: Bunny Power: Quick Tombow RabbitsTracie Huskamp: Painting a Bird’s Egg
Thursday, March 31
Lyric Kinard: Sketchbook SlipcoverAlisa Burke: Spring Wreath
And if you have five seconds, here’s a little sneak peak into mine:
A few years ago I had some blood tests and my doctor said I was anemic. So I started taking an iron supplement and continued diligently until the bottle ran out.
About a year ago I had more blood tests and my doctor said I was still anemic. So I bought another bottle of iron supplements and took those. I might even have bought a replacement bottle, and took those as well, though I can’t really remember.
A few months ago I got a new doctor who looked at my labs and told me I should definitely be taking an iron supplement. Was I? No… but I bought another bottle and kind of sort of took those for about two months, when the bottle ran out. I did buy a second bottle, but for some reason it never got opened.
Two weeks ago I had another blood test and I got a very worried message on my voicemail saying I was severely anemic, and needed to take massive doses of iron IMMEDIATELY. I emailed her back, confessing that I had been “lax” about taking my iron, sorry, and that I would start taking the pills right away. I opened the bottle and have diligently taken an iron pill every day since a week ago Thursday.
Yesterday I had an appointment with said doctor where she explained that my iron levels were so low that one treatment would be a BLOOD TRANSFUSION.
Oh.
___________________
I’m writing this here for several reasons.
- If you are experiencing “Helium-Head” or have a strange aversion to doing anything other than the bare minimum, get your iron checked.
- If your doctor says you need to take iron pills, take them.
- If your husband says you need to take iron pills, take them.
- If your friends say you need to take iron pills, take them.
- If you have been wondering what is going on with me lately (lack of posts, concentration, follow-through, etc.), now you know.
- Though Steve says I can’t blame my behavior lately solely on my iron deficiency, I don’t believe him one tiny bit. In about two weeks, after the increased iron dosage is working in my system:
• I will be able to walk up a flight of stairs without getting out of breath.
• I will be able to do the dishes.
• I will be able to fold laundry and go to the grocery store.
• I will be able to change the litter box.
• I will be Superwoman.
See you in two weeks!
Lately I’ve had rabbits on the brain. I’m working on a slew of rabbit paintings, none of which are quite ready to show, but here’s one I did finish yesterday (and yes, I think it’s a dog, not a rabbit. It morphed on me at the last second. 6″x6″, mixed media on wood).
I am trying to paint as much as I can before the next round of online workshops carries me away to Computerland for a few months.
(Computerland is not a bad place, it’s just a place where your hands can’t be as messy.)
If I’m fairly quiet over here, that’s why!
I feel just like this today.
The beautiful work above is by the students in the class in Port Angeles last weekend. Lovely! (And, please forgive the bad/blurry phone photos… taking the time to take good photos during classes is one of my many weak points!) Thank you to all of you who were there!
Today and tomorrow I will be splitting my time between attending lectures at the National Art Educator’s Association (NAEA) National Convention (held here in Seattle this year, lucky me), and Wes’s Robotics competition. (Walking distance from my office, both venues. Life is good.)
Have a great weekend!
Sometimes I like to highlight on this blog things my talented friends are working on! Today it is a new four-week online course titled “Write Your Story: The Magic of Journaling” (June 6 – July 1) by my long-time friend Wendy Murray. From the class description:
This course focuses upon cultivating an intentional approach to writing in a journal, which ultimately gives voice to the narrative of your life. By means of specific writing exercises you will put pen to paper to begin developing a theme and structure that serves to build your life’s narrative while igniting your inner reflection and imagination. This class prepares you to write your own story and further, to keep writing your story, in a way that enables you discover and appreciate the unique gifts and perspective that you alone bring to your life’s sojourn. You will also develop your individual style and creative expression.
You will work with a published author who has kept journals all her life and turned their contents into three published memoirs.
I highly recommend Wendy as a writer, teacher and all-around great person. Registration is now open… For all the details, click here!
Sometimes I like to pretend that it’s really late summer of 2010, in which case I would have time to actually create and produce a calendar like the one mocked up, above.
