Crazy Birds Tutorial

“Crazy Bird” watercolor, pastel and crayon on cut paper.

Here is a short tutorial of the “Crazy Birds” project that I taught 5th graders in Beijing, China! The video shows only marker, pen, and pencil, but you can modify it with any media you like, as I’ve done in the sample above.

Crazy Birds Tutorial from Silly U on Vimeo.

(If you have trouble viewing it through this blog, click the direct link here: http://vimeo.com/96276667)

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CRAZY BIRDS

Supplies Needed:
– Four pieces of watercolor paper, about 5″x5″ or 6″x6″ square
– Four mark-making tools, such as pens, markers, watercolors, pastels, crayons
– scissors
– glue stick

Here are the steps:

STEP 1
Using two sheets of paper, draw a loose flower shape on one and a loose circle shape on the other. Use 2-4 different media. Work fast and loose!

STEP 2
Cut the flower and the circle papers into four equal pieces. Then, using another paper as a ground, arrange the pieces to create the beginning of a bird shape. Glue in place. Repeat if desired.

STEP 3
“Finish” the birds already started using the same combination of media used in Step 1.

This is a great project for anyone because it’s hard to go wrong! Please feel free to share with your friends, in your child’s classroom, etc. And send me some Crazy Birds!

Horse Sense

I have a slight slowing of my usual schedule this week. I’m taking the opportunity to read and draw more intentionally each day. I’m not drawing or reading A LOT, but it is more than I have been able to manage recently and I’m really enjoying it.

Today’s favorite quote:

“All is well — all very well; all as well as possible.” — Candide (Voltaire)

Listen to Robert Henri!

 

I’ve been re-reading Robert Henri’s classic book, “The Art Spirit.” My heart skipped when I read this passage:

The real study of an art student is more a development of that sensitive natures and appreciative imagination with which he was so fully endowed when a child, and which, unfortunately in almost all cases, the contact with the grown-ups shames out of him before he has passed into what is understood as real life.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

New Princess ‘Zine!

Click the image above to upload the PDF to you browser window (it should take about a minute to load). Then, enjoy the 135 illustrations from people all over the world!

ABOUT THIS ‘ZINE
The illustrations in this e-’zine were created by participants of the year-long online class, “Year of the Fairy Tale,” which I have been delighted to host so far in 2014.

Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Princess & the Pea” was our third fairy tale, and this optional assignment to submit an illustration for this publication was enthusiastically received. Each participant chose a word to incorporate into the “bed scene” of this modified tale.

I hope you enjoy these varied, unique, funny, and touching illustrations! Please feel free to share this ‘zine wherever you like — your blogs, Pinterest, Facebook, etc. We had a lot of fun putting it together and want to share it! If you would like to contact any of the illustrators, please email me and I’ll pass along your request. Thank you!

China Birds

The main reason we got to go to China this Spring was to teach art to students at the Western Academy of Beijing as Artists in Residence. For the fifth graders, I was to come up with a lesson on “change,” so I had them paint two paintings, then change them completely by cutting up and rearranging them into a bird.

Here are just a few:

Aren’t they great?

Steve and I shot a little video tutorial in China on how to make these, so look for it in the next week or so.

Have a great day!

“Paint Your Garden” with Diane Culhane; New Online Class Open for Registration

“Paint Your Garden” with Diane Culhane from Silly U on Vimeo.

Acrylic Painting
2-Week Class; 6 Lessons Total
$85

Class Session: June 2-14, 2014

We will explore six different painting techniques that deal with how we touch the surface of our paintings and the characteristics of the paint itself, including: Sgraffitto , Masking,  Frottage Texturing & Blown Blots.

These techniques will become essential tools, not only for creating areas of mystery and intrigue in your work, but also for inspiring new ideas as your paintings evolve.

We will start by making test paintings of each technique to discover how viscosity and the physicality of the surface play a foundational role in the creation of a painting.

Our test paintings will then become an opening conversation, leading the way to three completed paintings of your garden, real or imaginary.

CLASS ITINERARY

Lesson #1: Sgraffito & Stippling
Lesson #2: Paint Your Garden!
Lesson #3: Masking & Drawing Gum
Lesson #4: Paint Your Garden!
Lesson #5: Frottage & Blown Blots
Lesson #6: Paint Your Garden!

Class begins in less that two weeks! Click HERE for details and to sign up.

 

To China and Back

Steve and I spent the last two weeks in Beijing, China. We had gone to teach art and photography as Artists in Residences at Western Academy of Beijing, an international school. Here’s a quick video Steve made of an impromptu piano recital before school one morning (there is a piano in the lobby!):

WAB from Silly U on Vimeo.

We also did a bit of sightseeing. This was part of one of the Imperial Gardens near The Forbidden City, which we couldn’t go to because it was closed. 😀 Here’s a detail:

I had hoped to post from China, but wordpress.com was one website I just couldn’t access while there. And now, jet lag is taking over most of my days. More photos soon, but here are a few that made us laugh.

 

More soon!

I hope you had a good first few weeks of May,

Carla

P.S. I wanted to remind you that Fred Lisaius’ new watercolor class, “Spring Watercolors,” begins tomorrow! Join us if you can! From the description:

Fred, who is both an accomplished painter ( www.fredlisaius.com) and an inspiring teacher, will dispel the myths of watercolor technique and give you some solid, practical methods for improving your control, color, and balance. This class is great for beginners and advanced painters alike and will help open the door for more expressive and personal work.

Magnolia by Fred Lisaius