“To take care of you, you must take care of future you.” These words were shared with me by a fellow Boss Babe, Pia Fleischmann Park. I have been fortunate to enter my studio and find an encouraging note on my desk from Pia many a time. This small act brings oodles of joy and energy…
Author: mjallegra
Maker. Art Educator. Curiosity Junkie.
YOU GOT THIS: 3 Habits Any Teacher Can Embrace to Build SELF-EFFICACY in Children
Think about a time when you saw someone complete a task that made such a beautiful or jaw-dropping product, like witnessing a caricature artist at a street fair or a magician pulling off a mind-bending stunt. Would you offer your services and step in to create the next portrait or perform the following stunt? Most…
#FACEYOURSELF @Peconic Community School
I was fortunate to set up #faceyourself, the programmable portrait machine, at Peconic Community School this past weekend. They hosted a Maker Fair and my 9 year-old daughter was entertained for a continuous four hour period. On her own, she constructed life-size cardboard sculptures, made glow-in-the-dark slime, played in a black light room, bought a turkey and cheese…
Drawing with Scissors
Hello there! Do you know about the artist Henri Matisse? Well, he was an unstoppable artist who never gave up. Henri was one of those few fortunate artists who were well known when they were ALIVE! He was famous for his canvases that burst with color and pattern for most of his adult life. When he was…
“Tell Me More!”: Talking to Children About Their Art
This juicy text has been re-posted from sunporchstudio and is updated and enhanced for Art Engine. Enjoy! For young children, art making is a primary means of expression. It is how they are able to share stories and it is how they reflect on their experiences to better understand their world. As a parent and teacher, it is…
The Mirror Doesn’t Lie
Have you ever given mirrors to young children? Do this and observe without judgment. What you will notice is one of the purest forms of first hand, primary source research. You will witness curious faces test an array of poses. The mirror wants to play and so the children feel free to play too. Eyes widen and squint, lips…
Celebrate Mindset in your Work Space
Hello There! Consider how simple mantras inspire us everyday to open our eyes, ears and mind to the new adventures ahead. We grow when we feel supported and are celebrated for our work habits rather than the end product we produce. Say Goodbye to “Great Job” and “Super Work” and Hello to a celebration of risk taking, mindfulness and the use…
Flower Portraits
Artist Georgia O’Keefe once said “Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven’t time, and to see takes time – like to have a friend takes time.” Her most famous works are large scale flower portraits. Georgia zoomed in on each flower and illustrated their form to help us witness the fine…
So, what green do you mean?
Green is my favorite color. Mostly because, in my eyes, I believe it to be like no other hue on the spectrum. Green is never considered blue, nor yellow. But orange can labeled as tomato or even yellow-gold. And purple, well add a drop to many of blue and it becomes indigo. Now, Green, this shade has so…
Nurturing Creativity at Home
As an artist I get excited over colors and shapes and am inspired by many things that I encounter each day. I can easily say that I am an art teacher at heart because I yearn to share my excitement with others. I would rather use my energy dreaming up creative art experiences than make a personal…
The Language of Learning: Talking to Children about their Art
For young children, art making is their main means of expression. It is how they are able to share stories and it is how they reflect on their experiences to better understand their world. As a parent and teacher, it is often the adult’s responsibility to foster the child’s interest as an artist and help them to…
PEOPLE: From Collage to Drawing
PEOPLE. That is what we are. Super complex beings on the inside and out. Have you ever sat down to draw the human figure? Drawing people from observation is quite challenging let alone creating one from our imagination. There is so much to include, so where do we begin? SHAPE. We begin with geometric shapes. Read on, I…
Fuel the Maker in YOU 