High School Students: Art & Journaling Workshops / Creative Note Taking and Art Journaling

With all this Home Schooling, and New Parenting... it's hard to keep track of what to do, when to do it, and how to do it... and how to do it effectively.

I find myself re-visiting tricks and suggestions I learned in college, and often thought, why didn't anyone teach this to me when I was in Elementary, Middle and High School.  Not that it was not taught, but not taught in the creative way that made sense to me.  I'm a visual learner.


I recall a time in 7th grade, when I really "BOMBED" a test.  It was an Oral Memorization type of quiz/test and really way out of my comfort zone.  The teacher then gave me an option.  Retake the oral quiz, or rewrite (yes... re-write) the entire chapter of part of the text book.  He wrote his own text book and it was excerpts from Alice in Wonderland.  Whoo-hooo!  I grew up with my father reading Alice to me.  I have a collection of Alice in Wonderland books, and most have beautiful Illustrations.  Therefore, at the time of my 7th grade brain... the idea of spending an entire weekend handwriting the book was not a punishment at all...  A weekend with Alice and the White Rabbit.  I remember that I chose the passages that involved the Dodo Bird, the Walrus and the Carpenter, and the Oysters...

Bring on the Calligraphy Pens and Creative Art Journaling.  

In college, in my very last semester, I had a strange yet rewarding class.... It was directed to all the students in a variety of majors, that all involve "human interaction" - So that basically covers teacher, hospitality workers, human resources, interior designers (me), and psychology majors.  If your profession involves face-time with other humans, then this was where EVERYBODY had to be.

Task number 1 was to take our notebook (which was one of those thick, college ruled, 5 section books) and with a ruler, make a vertical line down each and every page of the first 3 sections.
The Left Side of each was for Taking notes in class.... When she (the professor) said "Highlight" you did take out the Highlighter and mark the word or phrase... this indicated that on the Right Side of the line you would need to research and expand on those notes for homework.   In the days before internet, then it really did mean homework and research!  We had to turn those notebooks in for "Check"

So now, as a mom, as an art teacher, I've developed a method to teach my own kids, and at least share this with all of their school counselors.  I'm an advocate for constructive doodling in the notebook.  There's a right way, or there's the distracted way, and there is a difference.  My goal is to help the Visual Learner use their talent to build upon what they are learning, and yet stay focused!

Please join my "CREATIVE ART JOURNALING" workshop

Customized Schedule for the High School and College Students, and Adults.

Custom Calendar!!!

You will need:  A Composition Book / Notebook

White or Natural Paper

Selection of Pens, Pencils, Colored Pens, Markers, Sharpies.

Glue / Stickers 

Research Ahead of time: YOUR TOPIC OF CHOICE

Drawing a Butterfly....

Here's my Lesson for Drawing a Caterpillar, Chrysalis, and Butterfly.

Enjoy.

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...

ART LESSON: FISH

This is a step by step introduction to HOW TO PAINT A 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!

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....

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!

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!

 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)...

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!

"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:

If you have little ones, Monsters vs. Aliens is a fun distraction for you.. Here are some of the movie posters from that... who doesn't like "Bob"?

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"