Autumn is here.....

Fall is officially here and I am always amazed how much I love looking around at the natural beauty our Northern community has to offer.....a work of art really. I was down by the river near my house and snapped a few shots of the gorgeous views of the Nechako. Enjoy.

Colour TIme

Source 

I have been exploring colour charts and wheels for my linked lessons as I will be teaching primary/secondary colours, and cool/warm colours. My CT gave me a neat idea for warm and cool colours; choose one or the other and think of a place or environment. If you choose an environment that is normally considered warm then use cool colours and draw a scene. So for example draw a desert scape using blues, greens, and purples. Draw a winter scape using reds, yellows, and oranges. Sounds like a new idea! For secondary colours (After i introduce primary colours) I might use paint to create them so that its a hands-on activity. Any thoughts or advice or other neat ideas?

Meet the Artist: Jane Isakson

This afternoon I had the pleasure of standing amongst some beautiful pieces of the Canadian artist and former biathlete, Jane Isakson. All the pieces in From  the Outer Edges exhibition were acrylic on canvas and they were inspired by three different National parks in Canada; Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland, Ivvavik National Park in the Yukon, and Gwaii Haanas National Park in Haida Gwaii. Many of her pieces feature geometric shapes that make up her beautiful landscapes. It is evident in her work that she has a love for colour....which portrays light, contrast, realism, and of course emotion. Some of her art also features some beautiful Aboriginal aspects and even colour patterns. The paintings give you that feeling that you are there experiencing the landscape and really make you consider the perspective....which I think the artist had intended. 

I would highly recommend going to the Two Rivers Gallery and taking a look. September 29th is the last day the exhibition is on. I had wonderful company with me...which is a neat experience because you can share your feelings and ideas about each piece with your friend. But if you are to go alone I would recommend bringing some really awesome music and slowly walking through (maybe some Sigur Ros?) thinking about each piece. Putting music to gallery art is always nice. 

Sky House of SGang Gwaay 

source 

Beautiful Faces

Today I am posting some photography of beautiful faces. I think that the human face has so much to offer and has of course inspired artists for centuries. Another aspect of a few of these photos is the unfocused background. For the couple photos in which the backgrounds are in focus, there was a reason. For instance in the photo directly below of the young vendor...I wanted to include the fruits and vegetables in the market. But I love the effect when the camera is only focused on the face making your attention hone in on only them and their features. A couple pictures were edited on photoshop and the rest are raw.

Woman, Three Hills, AB

Young girl, Prince George, BC

Vonette, Three Hills, AB

Young Vendor, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Giulia, Bologna, Italy

Young boy, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Toddler, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Family, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

John, Prince George, BC

Richard, Prince George, BC

We are Nowhere, and It's Now

Seeing how this is an art blog and how I love photography I thought i'd share some. These photos are appropriate for the coming season that brings a feeling of creepiness or neglect. I am referring to halloween not October. Anyways this will be the first of a few sets of photos with different feelings or themes. These photos may not be elementary appropriate (so obviously no PLOs :) but they can still inspire.

These photos remind me of something that was once vibrant and had life....these stairs were walked on,  those chairs were sat upon during many a family dinner. It is interesting to think about that life and how those people lived; were they happy? Was there laughter in these rooms....or pain? Another thing I love about them is the contrast of colour. And the strength of colours...the bit of yellow in the outhouse....the dashes of vibrant blues and reds on the stairs, the teal pain chipped on the walls. I am constantly inspired by colours in art ...like when a painting with three simple colours can be so beautiful even though they may be in the form of shape or line...no real picture or story...but still beautiful as a collection. 

I grew up just two doors down from this small dilapidated house. My brothers and I used to call it the haunted house. As far as 'staging' goes I only moved the chairs to line up...the formation somehow seemed eery to me. But that little paper that says "the life of Christ visualized" was just laying there, as were the worn clothes and shoe. 

Now I realize this art is not beautiful ....it's difficult to find beauty in an outhouse. But hopefully it makes someone feel something.....even if it is uncomfortable. 

- Mayfare

Grade 7 Art Projects

This weekend I was thinking about some art lessons I would like to do for my grade 6/7s. I was looking online to get some inspiration or ideas and checking out the PLOs. I would looove to do these masks....they looks like a lot of work and a lot of fun....so we will see.....also a bit messy! (Which almost always means fun!) There were also some other neat ideas I will share with you on here:

1.

Here are the masks! Wicked right!! 

Mc D's Mask

Mario Mask

B3 analyse and apply a variety of materials, technologies, and processes to create artworks

A5 create 2-D and 3-D images

• −  that convey personal or social
  beliefs and values
• −  for specific purposes
• −  that incorporate the styles of
  selected artists from a variety of social, historical, and cultural contexts 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  2. 
  
  
  This was a neat idea....Make a Facebook profile page for a famous Artist. 
  
  
  C2 assess the relationship between selected artists and their social, historical, and cultural contexts 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  3.
  
  
  B2 analyse and apply unity as created by combining visual elements in a coherent way
  A5 create 2-D and 3-D images

  • −  that convey personal or social
    beliefs and values
  • −  for specific purposes
  • −  that incorporate the styles of
    selected artists from a variety of social, historical, and cultural contexts 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  4. 
  
  

This one was using zentangle patterns to create landscapes. Pretty cool looking.

A4 create images using a variety of materials, technologies, and processes

I wish I had time to try all of these lessons because they look so interesting.  
Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

Links to blogs that posted above pics:
http://www.artatmassac.blogspot.ca/search/label/7th%20Grade
http://beckermiddleart.blogspot.ca/2012/04/zentangle-landscapes.html

- Mayfare

An adventure begins...

A blog dedicated to various arts; typography, photography, design, children's art, music, mixed media, and everything I find inspiring. 

From 'Butter Fly Food'

 'Notes On a Wedding' 

'Trendy Wedding Le Blog'

'Wit&Delight', Photo by Melissa Oholendt

-Mayfare