Here's my Lesson for Drawing a Caterpillar, Chrysalis, and Butterfly.
Enjoy.
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Thursday, April 2, 2020
April.... 2020
April is not "usual" this year, no matter where you are, who you are, or what do you do, Life is not "Normal". What is normal, what was normal, is NOT NORMAL anymore.
We are living in a term of "Coronavirus, Covid-19" and it is not a small flu... it is not a passing thing, it is a GLOBAL pandemic.
Pandemic was not a word in my vocabulary as a child. It was a remote idea that came through as a strange new Virus became active in China.... then very quickly has spread from city to country and beyond.
Therefore, since mid March, here in Los Angeles, we have been on "quarantine"... or in my household, QUARANTEEN.
In my house,
Myself, My husband, and 5 kids...
David is 17, and a Senior in High School
Semaj is also 17, and a Senior in High School
Alexander is 16, and a Sophomore in High School.
Fiona is 14, and in 8th Grade
Victoria is 11, and in 6th Grade.
Learning how to adapt to on-line learning /e-school for all 5 at once has been a challenge. And although it looks like the kids MIGHT be back in the classroom in May.... I'm not counting on it. It is quite possible that David and Semaj wont get a Graduation Ceremony... I don't really know. Until the social distancing is figured out in classrooms (6 feet between each student?) we don't have a clear picture of what is expected. I don't think the schools and professionals know this answer yet either.
So a change in attitude, behavior and so much more is underway. It's all a learning process.
I've been keeping myself busy, and focused, by keeping my art/teaching schedule as NORMAL as possible. I've certainly embraced on-line instruction, videos and Interactive Art Lessons.
Here are just a few images of what I've done in the past two weeks...
We are living in a term of "Coronavirus, Covid-19" and it is not a small flu... it is not a passing thing, it is a GLOBAL pandemic.
Pandemic was not a word in my vocabulary as a child. It was a remote idea that came through as a strange new Virus became active in China.... then very quickly has spread from city to country and beyond.
Therefore, since mid March, here in Los Angeles, we have been on "quarantine"... or in my household, QUARANTEEN.
In my house,
Myself, My husband, and 5 kids...
David is 17, and a Senior in High School
Semaj is also 17, and a Senior in High School
Alexander is 16, and a Sophomore in High School.
Fiona is 14, and in 8th Grade
Victoria is 11, and in 6th Grade.
Learning how to adapt to on-line learning /e-school for all 5 at once has been a challenge. And although it looks like the kids MIGHT be back in the classroom in May.... I'm not counting on it. It is quite possible that David and Semaj wont get a Graduation Ceremony... I don't really know. Until the social distancing is figured out in classrooms (6 feet between each student?) we don't have a clear picture of what is expected. I don't think the schools and professionals know this answer yet either.
So a change in attitude, behavior and so much more is underway. It's all a learning process.
I've been keeping myself busy, and focused, by keeping my art/teaching schedule as NORMAL as possible. I've certainly embraced on-line instruction, videos and Interactive Art Lessons.
Here are just a few images of what I've done in the past two weeks...
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
ART LESSON: FISH
You will need:
Watercolor Paper / Mixed Media Paper
Watercolor Crayons / Crayons / Water Paints
A Small Paper Plate (to use as a template)
Step ONE... Using the Small Paper Plate. Trace around and create several Circles that Overlap. I usually do about 10 on the paper.
Some go off the page, and they certainly overlap.
With a Second Crayon / or Different Color... Go Fishing.
This is where we "Find Fish" in the overlapping circles.
I've demonstrated this with a RED FISH and two BLUE FISHES
Adding color to the fish... then define the bubbles and water around the fish. Section by section.
Add Water / Watercolor as you go.
To see the full video, please visit my FB Art School Page /
@SuzanneGibsonArtist or e-mail me and ask for the Art Lesson: Fish!
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
March 18th - Play with your Food!
We are home again, or home still... and it's time to think about what we are doing in the kitchen to keep our family interested, and it's only the 3rd or 4th day? We could be in this for a while.
So... What's on your Plate? When the kids were a little younger, I was docent in their classrooms for a Food and Nutrition program. This was the introduction of "healthy plates" in comparison to the old "Food Pyramid" which I grew up learning about...
With Nutrition Labels and Balanced Plate Education... It makes us question what is on our plates.
Here are a few coloring pages to help you get the kids, and yourselves, thinking about what you could do for dinner. Balancing the fast with fresh. Being aware of how much good, bad and ugly is in our processed food. How much salt, sugar, and preservatives or chemicals are in packaging too....
So... What's on your Plate? When the kids were a little younger, I was docent in their classrooms for a Food and Nutrition program. This was the introduction of "healthy plates" in comparison to the old "Food Pyramid" which I grew up learning about...
With Nutrition Labels and Balanced Plate Education... It makes us question what is on our plates.
Here are a few coloring pages to help you get the kids, and yourselves, thinking about what you could do for dinner. Balancing the fast with fresh. Being aware of how much good, bad and ugly is in our processed food. How much salt, sugar, and preservatives or chemicals are in packaging too....
Happy St. Patrick's Day - Home-Bound-Edition!
Good Morning to all you Little Leprechaun's.... it seems like the world has been upturned in search of the elusive Leprechaun's... but I don't think the craftiest of the bunch would have set this Coronavirus thing up like this...
On this St. Patrick's Day I find myself surrounded by 5 teens/tweens who really are not ready for school at home,... but they are up and working.
But what about activities for the creatives? Here you go.... Some of these Coloring Pages might be good for your little ones... and fun "Journal" prompts for the older ones.
And we woke up to a Rainy Day too... and as I looked out my window, I was greeted by this lovely rainbow!
This last one is neat... It's an "I am Lucky" craft. If you look at the link up close you can see a dotted line indicating where to glue the Shamrock Petals. But it's a series of hearts.... Under each one is a place to write what you are lucky and grateful for!
Have a fun day! (at home)...
On this St. Patrick's Day I find myself surrounded by 5 teens/tweens who really are not ready for school at home,... but they are up and working.
But what about activities for the creatives? Here you go.... Some of these Coloring Pages might be good for your little ones... and fun "Journal" prompts for the older ones.
And we woke up to a Rainy Day too... and as I looked out my window, I was greeted by this lovely rainbow!
I looked on line to find some other interesting things to inspire me... and then share with you... I was not disappointed! So here are a few ideas for you!
Have a fun day! (at home)...
And If you are wearing green, sharing green, eating green... share that with us too!
Post in the Comments Below! I'd love to hear from you!
Monday, March 16, 2020
"Attack of the Quaranteenagers!"
What on Earth? Coronavirus? Well yes, this is our current reality. I'm not making light of this situation, but rather will take a moment to encourage a little creativity.
Write it all down, draw a picture, illustrate your feelings. What do we encourage our children to do in this moment? Social Media only perpetuates the fear... but what if we grab the fear and knock it down a notch...
There was a funny comment made, and so it made me think of the old "B" movie posters. This one was "THE ATTACK OF THE QUARANTEENAGERS".... so... here's the thought and challenge.
Ask your kids (middle school and up in age) to draw / illustrate what the movie poster would look like? Here are some fun examples that I found with a quick search this morning:
and let's not ignore "Suuuuuuusan".
So go ahead, let's see some fun illustrations and get creative. Come up with your own title...
Mine will be the
"Attack of the Quaranteenagers"
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Journals
Due to our unexpected situation... Known as the Coronavirus.... Life is a bit out of the ordinary.
Life as we know it has changed. It is important to take note, write it down, draw a picture, and adapt, learn, but do it, write it down.
What are you feeling? Who are you with? What have you planned for the next two weeks? What plans changed, what have you adapted? What about your friends and family?
Artistic Journaling is important. So create a handwritten Newspaper Headline... What might it look like. You are the feature... What is the entertainment? Sports? News!!!
Have fun!!!
Life as we know it has changed. It is important to take note, write it down, draw a picture, and adapt, learn, but do it, write it down.
What are you feeling? Who are you with? What have you planned for the next two weeks? What plans changed, what have you adapted? What about your friends and family?
Artistic Journaling is important. So create a handwritten Newspaper Headline... What might it look like. You are the feature... What is the entertainment? Sports? News!!!
Have fun!!!
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Murals! March 15, 2020
It's Almost St. Patrick's Day, and today's inspiration is from the Murals at the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago (Thank you Ms. Erin for taking me there with Fiona a few years ago... and Thank you Lisa for sharing this article with me today.)....It's amazing what Art is around us... and if we pay attention, what ART is, and why IS IT THERE?
Here's a lovely article to read about the Murals, and the Artist, Edward Cox, featured in the Chicago Sun Times.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/murals-mosaics/2020/3/13/21172240/murals-chicago-celtic-irish-american-heritage-center-edward-cox?fbclid=IwAR2k6nqCHvVWBkDnWvelat6_avhKzHoVP-yYlP5Cr3_nmuoOVP42BnW_VHg
Artist Challenge for March 15th... If you could create a MURAL inspired by your own heritage... a favorite story, poem, or written bit of inspiration, what would it be? Draw it, Paint it, and Share with us!.....
Share your artwork here! email me here!
Friday, March 13, 2020
COLOR - A FEW VIDEOS that discuss the chemeistry of color and the history of paint.
With the current world health issue... Coronavirus (COVID-19)… Let's talk about art, color and painting... Art lessons and help keep ourselves appreciating what we can be in control of.
So for the next few weeks, cuz my kids are going to be off school for a few weeks, we will be exploring artists, art, paint, color, and so much more. I might even try to master the "on-line-video" lesson! Yah, let's get to that later.
Before I go into my own art lesson though, I thought you might want to take some time and learn a little bit about color, and see where and how colors were made and developed through history.
Here's a link to a great Video on the CHEMISTRY OF COLOR!
So for the next few weeks, cuz my kids are going to be off school for a few weeks, we will be exploring artists, art, paint, color, and so much more. I might even try to master the "on-line-video" lesson! Yah, let's get to that later.
Before I go into my own art lesson though, I thought you might want to take some time and learn a little bit about color, and see where and how colors were made and developed through history.
Here's a link to a great Video on the CHEMISTRY OF COLOR!
Here's a great video created by two students, Maggie & Sophia, for a school project. It is very well done and discusses the HISTORY OF PAINT.
Friday, February 21, 2020
Self Discovery - 2020
2020!!! Visions - Clearly!
It's a year full of changes, and it's only February. today is February 21, 2020!
I'm looking towards a bright and fruitful year as an artist, a creative, a teacher,
but also as a Mother and Mentor to 5 bright and beautiful children.
Sculpture Garden 2020 remains as my theme for the year, which began as inspiration from our 2019 trip to Blarney Castle in Ireland, where beautiful sculptures were scattered about the grounds and paths leading up to and around the castle site. I was intrigued, curious, and wanted to learn more... and create more along those lines.
I want to explore and encourage my students to discover for themselves what they are capable of, and what is possible. But of course, there's a need to teach some fundamental basics along the way.
So my courses this year are a combination of both... Fundamental Design and Drawings, Structures and Shapes, and Drawing Concepts, Composition, and of course Creative Freedoms.
Questions: What is art, what makes your art? What do you want to see? How can you make that happen? We will constantly be in a mode of self discovery.
Upcoming Art Programs... Some are individual courses, and some are ideas and outlines. All classes are available for children and adults, and can be taken as a single art lesson, or be the building blocks for a more in depth art program.
Art Camps are intended for small groups upto 6 or 8 students depending on the age/skill set.
There's always room for private lessons and art based field trips.
It's a year full of changes, and it's only February. today is February 21, 2020!
I'm looking towards a bright and fruitful year as an artist, a creative, a teacher,
but also as a Mother and Mentor to 5 bright and beautiful children.
Sculpture Garden 2020 remains as my theme for the year, which began as inspiration from our 2019 trip to Blarney Castle in Ireland, where beautiful sculptures were scattered about the grounds and paths leading up to and around the castle site. I was intrigued, curious, and wanted to learn more... and create more along those lines.
I want to explore and encourage my students to discover for themselves what they are capable of, and what is possible. But of course, there's a need to teach some fundamental basics along the way.
So my courses this year are a combination of both... Fundamental Design and Drawings, Structures and Shapes, and Drawing Concepts, Composition, and of course Creative Freedoms.
Questions: What is art, what makes your art? What do you want to see? How can you make that happen? We will constantly be in a mode of self discovery.
Upcoming Art Programs... Some are individual courses, and some are ideas and outlines. All classes are available for children and adults, and can be taken as a single art lesson, or be the building blocks for a more in depth art program.
Art Camps are intended for small groups upto 6 or 8 students depending on the age/skill set.
There's always room for private lessons and art based field trips.
Art in the Garden
Farmer's Market or Fresh off the Vine...
In the Garden studio we work with Real Things, not from photos.
Color Explorations and Textures.
Art in the Garden is a Painting Class,
Oil - alla prima - (Wet on Wet / in one session)
$25 / plus materials (or bring your own)
Individual, Small Group, or Summer Camps are designed to mix Art and Creativity in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. Use of all sorts of materials make it accessible to all students at all skill levels.
Spring Break & Summer Sessions:
MONDAY - APRIL 6 - GET OUT AND PAINT
outdoor painting demonstration, workshop and open classroom
Location (TBD) closer to the date... think "King Harbor / Redondo Beach" area
$25 Pre-Registration (mini-supply kit included)
3 hour painting session - Oil/Acrylic
WEDNESDAY - APRIL 8 - GET OUT AND PAINT
outdoor painting demonstration, workshop, and open classroom
Location (TBD) closer to the date... think "Flowers / Fauna / zoo or aquarium?
$25 Pre-Registration (mini-supply kit and admission)
3 hour drawing/sketching/watercolor pencils
Camp Da Vinci - at Torrance Arts Academy - July 13 - 17
A Full Week of Exploring the Artist and Works of Leonardo Da Vinci
Portraits, Drawings, Inventions and Artworks
inspired by the Classical Renderings of Leonardo Da Vinci.
Early Registration Available: Camp Da Vinci with Suzanne
Upcoming Workshops and Camps:
Skylines of Los Angeles: Painting the Urban Landscape
June & July / On Location
Sunset from Sunset: Hollywood Hills
August: Celtic Art & Calligraphy
Request a Registration Packet, or e-mail me directly to discuss your needs, your student / group, or to join in an art workshop or retreat.
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