Thankful for Art

What a hokey post title, huh?

But I am. Not only for the opportunity to produce, share and teach it but for the way art can bring people together.

Especially this season, thanks to one of the sweetest and strongest art teachers I know,  Mrs. Ashley Cogbill.  (BTW she was also one of the sweetest art students I ever had. Wish I could remember her artwork but honestly that so long ago and I think I was teaching about 12,000 students at the time.  Love her stuff now though)  Anyway, Ashley graciously invited me to come be an artist-in-residence at her elementary school in Henrico County this past month.

I had an absolute BLAST working with her inquisitive, flexible, energetic and creative students.  

24 bundles of enthusiasm greeted me each Thursday as we worked together to create a 10'x5' mural, titled "Water Is Life" as part of the Wyland Art Foundation National Art Challenge.  

Though Ashley will not take the credit, she made my job so much easier by getting the kids prepared and working though a lot of the decision making before I even showed up. 

 She really spoiled me.... Ashley even served me tea while we were working!

So I got to do all the fun stuff like teaching chalk transfer techniques, making individual studies and splatter painting.

Not only were these kids and their art teacher a complete joy to work with but the whole staff at Springfield Park Elementary did so much for make me feel welcome.  I was especially impressed by classroom teacher, Melanie Moore, who was so giving and flexible with the class schedule.  Without her support and so many other teachers willing to switch around their schedules this mural just would not have been able to happen.

So this Thanksgiving as I tuck into my turkey I will be thinking of that kind art teacher, those 24 adorable artists and that caring faculty who helped to remind me how creating, sharing and teaching art are some of the most wonderful things that people can do for each other.  Thank you Ashley for making this happen!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kathy

Is Art Life?

Yet another great article that really hits the mark about the timeless and universal way art can really sustain us, whether as artist or viewer.

 Alain de Botton has makes a few great  points in this essay, like the one below...

 In 'At the Linen Closet', a modest domestic scene by the 17th-century Dutch painter Pieter de Hooch, we see a couple of women putting the household linens in order. His painting suggests that the big themes of life—the search for prosperity, happiness, good relationships—are always grounded in the way we approach little things and ordinary routine. Peter Horree/Alamy

Just make sure you can pull up the artworks he references, otherwise it is just a touch annoying.   Reading about the influences these paintings had on him without being able to view them can be frustrating.


Otherwise, happy Reading!

Kathy