“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…
Tag: featured
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…
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…
Understanding Symmetry with Rangoli
Happy Diwali Everyone! Nature can inspire assemblages that teach symmetry, design and promote cultural awareness. Rangoli is made during Diwali, the festival of lights, with colored sands and glitter. In the art studio recently, we used nature. The leaf colors this time of year are divine! A strong art historical connection can be found in…
Nature Prints in Clay
Much of the texture of an object goes undiscovered when we study something with our eyes. But when we feel it with our fingers or even our cheek, we are able to discover the bumps, nooks and crannies of an object. Printing allows a viewer to discover the textural qualities of an object by sight….
Fuel the Maker in YOU 