Angels in August

I was commissioned to paint some angels in an outdoor grotto at one of the Catholic churches in my town. Two weeks before I headed back to the classroom I got the go ahead to begin painting.  Even though I had to spend my days painting instead of putting up bulletin boards, which is my normal routine for the last couple of weeks in August, it was a wonderful opportunity and I knew that once I dove headfirst into the project, I would be hooked and anxious to return each day, which is exactly what happened.

Day 1....
I figured out the logistics, materials, the right height stepladder, realized I needed another few colors of paint, discovered that Walmart opened at 7:00 AM which I also discovered is the best time to shop there, and I began early in the morning with the sketch.  I made a drawing ahead of time and turned it into a stencil of sorts so I could mark off the lines within the shapes.  I would be making 2 facing angels holding a swag of flowers above a white stone statue of the Blessed Mother, so I needed the angels to be as similar as possible. I sketched out the angels and the swag, and painted the skin of the angels. I cleaned up around noon to have my weekly lunch with Mom.

       

Day 2...
Other than the sound of passing cars, the train whistle and the occasional visitor passing in front of the parish center near the grotto, I was alone with my thoughts and a paintbrush.  Although the grotto itself offered me automatic shade, the weather has been absolutely beautiful for August, or even September for that matter! It has been sunny, but breezy and mild, perfect weather to be outdoors.

 


Climbing up and down the step ladder and switching from one side of the statue to the other is sort of a hassle, but all in all, the experience so far has been good. I worked on the angels' dresses today, complete with shading. I worked for 5 hours and packed up around 2:00 PM.  I am very happy in my own company, so I think that's one of the reasons I love to paint.  Being surrounded by my own thoughts, planning, shading, comparing, evaluating.  My favorite time is time spent creating.

Day 3...
Today I spent doing faces and flowers, but I have to admit, I wasn't really in the mood for detail today, so I tried to block out where the flowers would go on the ribbon swag held by the 2 angels. I knew it was a day I should only attempt broad areas, so  I packed up around noontime and headed home.

                

Day 4...
I was definitely in the painting groove today.  I was in the mood for detail, so I added some depth to the flowers, modified the shade of green I used for the leaves to tone it down a bit and added the feathers to the angel wings.

Day 5...
I think I'm done!  I made a stencil that read Ave Maria to be added above the swag the day before,so after tracing the letters, I painted them, touched up a few things and added my initials.  I feel happy with the painting and hope the parishioners feel the same way! The past few days, people passing on their way to the parish office offered some very positive comments which made me feel good.
It was a big undertaking for me, but a job well worth all the planning, painting and climbing up and down the ladder.  I got the opportunity to work outdoors, in a beautiful friendly atmosphere on some lovely August days.  What a perfect way to end the summer- with some angels in August!

Day 6...
Just when I thought I was done, I was asked to darken the lettering so it would be visible from the street.
So I painted the letters a shade of violet.  I also added some clouds.  Now I am finished.

I feel very good about the results and I'm actually glad I changed the color of the lettering and added the clouds which finished it off.  Now it's time to head back to the classroom with a sense of accomplishment.  It's been a very busy and productive summer!

See You in September!

I made my annual August trip to the art room last Friday to unpack and check in our art supplies for the year. The school offices are closed on Fridays during the summer, so other than the tech staff and a few random workmen, the campus was essentially deserted.  The sun was streaming in the classroom and the fact that I could open the window wide on this unusually comfortable late summer day and work in my casual clothes and flip flops, just made the trip that much better.
The covers I drape over the bookcases to keep the dust off the books and knick knacks were half hanging and although some of my trash cans and furniture have made their way into other classrooms during summer cleaning,  the room is sparkling  and I am very happy to see a new work table and 2 new computers.
I quickly opened the boxes with the energy of a child opening her Christmas gifts. There is something intoxicating about the look and smell of brand new art supplies! There is so much promise of the many ways they will be used during the course of the year. The thought of all the magical images those supplies will produce, never ceases to excite even a veteran teacher like me.  The day I hang up my teacher's smock for the last time, is going to be a very sad day indeed, but that won't be for quite a few years, hopefully, so for now, I will enjoy checking in the dozens of pencils, tubes of paint, and stacks of paper.

The 2 weeks I spent at my daughter's babysitting my grandson this summer, allowed lots of time to work on my curriculum, sprucing up the courses I have been teaching, and developing one I haven't taught in a while.

Teaching art is sometimes a hit or miss proposition.  Sometimes things just don't work as well as they are supposed to, and sometimes the projects that seem questionable come out much better than expected.  Then there are the somewhat happy accidents.  Those are my favorites.  The projects that somehow undergo a metamorphosis along the way often come out the best. But that's what art is all about.  You have to let it take its own direction, and let the artist just enjoy the journey.

Some of my favorite projects from last year were some I tried for the first time, like branch

weaving, 

 mixed media composition with a black construction paper overly, 

    a "zentangle- esque" collage composition

.

and digital composition in thirds.

I had taught Drawing every one of my many years as an art teacher, until about 5 years ago when we started our Graphic Art program.  Because of its popularity, I had to give up my Painting and Drawing classes to the other member of the art department, so I could concentrate on the Graphic Art classes.  But this year, I have the opportunity to pick up 2 Drawing classes, so I had to develop a new curriculum, sifting through projects I had done previously deciding which ones to keep, and adding some new ideas.

Great idea I found here

I found a great idea to try with my Mixed Media class which uses a children's puzzle as a base to create individual mixed media images.  I have lots of fun projects on tap for my students this year. I never tire of the planning process, and always look forward to putting those plans into action.  It's hard to believe the summer is almost over and pretty soon August will be in the the rear view mirror,with the promise of a brand new school year on the horizon! See you in September!