Friday, December 20, 2013

some pics!

Managed to get on a computer that works! Here are a few pics of recent stuff.
 
 
 Y3 fabric printing using balsa wood blocks/sticks.
 

 One of the Roman costumes for the xmas production.
 
 The centurion version.
 
 In Y1 we made wrapped decorations.
 
 
And finally. I've been dabbling with simple automata. The clown is poseable (he has elastic fastened joints) and he twirls round when the handle is turned. In this photo he is holding a cocktail stick because I haven't managed to get hold of one of those little cocktail umbrellas yet! (he's been made to 'hold' anything in his hands so long as it is light enough).
 


The simple mechanism.
 
I'm toying with the idea of putting the automata in my shop(s). Would love any views as to the saleability/price that could be asked. I've got a poseable ballerina one too!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Not yet

Computer science graduate son comes over tomorrow so, fingers crossed, he might be able to sort the laptop out! Lots happening - up to our ears at school in cards, decorations, nativity costumes etc. Managed to make some very effective Roman armour from bits of card - lots of favourable comments - will try and post some pics after Xmas when, hopefully, the computer will be in a more compliant frame of mind.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Still here

Main computer still says 'no'! A pity because the children are doing some fantastic work. And our  huge Christmas trees are getting lots of praise and are rapidly filling with decorations that the children have made as part of a whole school competition.
A few welcome sales of my 'books' too over the last week or so. If you're still wondering whether to purchase from my 'shops' please bear in mind that Christmas deadlines for posting stuff are fast approaching.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

LRRH

Still no pics - dratted computer! Have relisted my unique and innovative take on the story of Little Red Riding Hood in my Etsy shop. I cannot for the life of me understand why publishers are not beating a path to my door - perhaps it's too original a concept!
It would make the perfect Xmas pressie - a gift that can be shared and that keeps on giving as it is also a puzzle (find the hidden mice) and colouring book. Be quick though as copies are limited (I only printed a few) and 'last' postal dates are fast approaching.
Please click on the shop link on the right. Feel free to browse in my Folksy shop too for that perfect pressie for the ' very difficult to buy for'.

Monday, November 25, 2013

No pics

The 'big' computer is playing up. I've tried two system restores at different points in time but it still refuses to work properly! Windows 8 and Compaq don't seem to have been a happy mix for me. I hope customer service at Curry's/PC World is up to scratch when I take it back at Xmas.
So, am unable to upload any photos of all the wonderful stuff the children are doing or list any more goodies in my 'shops' - but please don't let that put you off having a look in them anyway because there are still some wonderful bargains to be had.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

castles

The y2 children made their pop-up castles yesterday. After careful detailing and cutting out they assembled them into working pieces.

 
They even suggested the addition of a 'working' drawbridge across the moat.
 

 
They now plan to add text (facts, names of features etc.).

Thursday, November 21, 2013

still no idea?

This should make it obvious. Today in Art club we painted the panels that I cut out of thick card last week. Next time we plan to add patterns (stripes, zig-zags, spots/dots etc.) in a darker shades of green.
 


It should all be ready to slot together for the beginning of December!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

block printing

Last week in y3 we designed our printing blocks. This week we made them. We used balsa wood (easily cut with sharp scissors) as our carving skills aren't quite up to the mark. The idea is to copy the techniques of printers in India and use the wooden blocks to print onto fabric. 
 

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

timeline

Today I've been busy putting up an art timeline around the room. I've tried to place the artists according to the timespan during which they were active - its not precise! Its simply to inform the children of the approximate era in which certain well-known artists plied their trade.
 

The timeline stretches around 3 sides of the room beginning with the Romans at 0! I'm not going to extend it BC but am putting up pictures that represent Greek, Egyptian and 'cave' art in the windows on the 4th side, immediately prior to the timeline start (if that makes sense).
It all took far longer than I thought it would - having to print out each artists label, find suitable artworks, print them out, trim them and then finally blu-tack it all in place! Tomorrow I'm planning to unpack, assemble and become familiar with the new kiln!

Monday, November 18, 2013

today

Am busy getting my art room into shape! But still finding time to come up with ideas for forthcoming lessons. Y2's are looking at castles so I thought we could have a go at pop-ups.
 
 

 
My sister likes penguins so I've cheap-skated and drawn her a xmas card this year. It helps if you squint a little as you look at the pic;

 
The little chaps are supposed to look like they're holding their flippers/wings in certain positions, though the more I look at 's' the more I see Elvis !? Big sis doesn't read my blog (!) so I'm not giving the surprise away.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

can you tell what it is yet?

 Today I've been cutting up some huge tri-wall boxes (really thick corrugated card). The white strip is a 1 metre ruler - just to give you an idea of their size! They come flat. Apparently we can get hold of as many as we want! The only problem is they weigh around 15kg just as they are and are too large to store down the cellar!

 
 
The next pic shows a trial fitting together of some of the parts - trapeziums in this case. Can you guess what the finished construction will be? Clue - It will stand over 3 metres tall and the aim is to get all the children in school to help paint it all various shades of green.
 

 
 UPDATE - have finally managed to list the two recent footy paintings in my Folksy shop. Ended up having to retake the photos. Please click on the button on the right to go to the shop.


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

origami

As part of the Literacy unit on 'instructions' the y3 children have been creating origami pieces. These are my 'here's one I made earlier' and are all made from a very similar set of folds - in fact the tiger and polar bear are identical right up to the colouring in stage. 
 


All of them were made from a square piece of copy paper. The 'Pudsey' (Bottom pic - right) is in anticipation of 'Children in Need' on Friday.

Monday, November 11, 2013

we have lift off

 
A5, ink & pencil on paper.
 
 
My colleague is back at work, albeit on a phased return to work, but the day when I can get back to just teaching Art (with a bit of Design Tech thrown in) draws ever nearer! Yay!!

Saturday, November 9, 2013

footy

A post dominated by footy today - in honour of Rotherham's victory over Bradford in the 1st round of the FA cup. First up, today's doodle;
 

Secondly, a couple of just finished paintings that I'm about to list in my Folksy shop;


 
Please check out the 'shop' for further details.

UPDATE - for some reason Folksy keeps uploading my images sideways on!! Until I can sort it out, if you're desperate to grab that perfect xmas pressie for the footy fan in your life, you can email me. I'm charging £20 ( for an original painting remember). Oh, and world-wide p&p is free!

Friday, November 8, 2013

wistful

 
'fly me to the moon'
 
 
A5, ink & pencil on paper.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

today

 
'balloon 'bot'
 

A5, ink & pencil on paper.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

wednesdoodle

'bot 'n doll
 
 
A5, ink & pencil on paper.

Monday, November 4, 2013

back

Back to school today after the half term break. There may be light on the horizon - I might be going back to doing my art 'job' soon as my injured colleague appears to well on the mend! Fingers and everything else crossed. Todays doodle;
 
'birdie 'bot'
 
 
 
A5, ink & pencil on paper.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

elephants & basketball

 A pic of this years completed embroidered and appliqued Indian elephant pieces. Each square is approx. 20x20 cm. Felt with added beads, buttons and metal washers.
 
 
 
And 'basketball 'bot' ;

 
A5, ink & pencil on paper.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

wednesdoodle

 
'barca 'bot'
 

A5, ink & pencil on paper.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

strictly

'ballroom 'bot'  
 
 
 
 
A5, ink & pencil on paper.

Monday, October 21, 2013

on a roll

'blading 'bot'
 
 
A5, ink & pencil on paper.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

sunday dood'

'mirror, mirror...'
 
 
A5, ink & pencil on paper

Saturday, October 19, 2013

itsy bitsy...

...teeny, weeny, yellow, polka dot bikini.
 
'bashful bikini 'bot'
 
 
A5, ink & pencil on paper

Friday, October 18, 2013

pollack & doodle

In art club this week we embellished our strip woven pieces by adding woollen threads and card 'buttons'. They turned out quite 'Jackson Pollacky' !

 
 
Today's doodle - 'bowling 'bot', A5, ink & pencil on paper.
 

Thursday, October 17, 2013

daily doodle

Today's doodle - a coy 'bot in dungarees. A5, ink & pencil on paper.
 
 

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

yay!

Today's doodle celebrates a gutsy performance from the lads last night (retro shirt).
 
 

We've also been working hard on, and have nearly finished, our embroidered/appliqued elephant pieces. Stitched flower patterns, beads and bling (small metal washers) have been added.



Tuesday, October 15, 2013

big game

Today's doodle is in anticipation of tonight's footy game between England & Poland. England need to win to qualify for next years World Cup Finals in Brazil. Here's hoping that the Polish goalie doesn't emulate his countryman from 1973 who kept the then England side at bay and positively refused to let the ball go past him. Fingers crossed for a win!
 
 

Monday, October 14, 2013

mondays doodle

Todays doodle - ballerina 'bot.
A5, ink & pencil on paper.
 

Sunday, October 13, 2013

'bot a doodle doo

Rubbish title for a post but couldn't resist it. Today's doodle, another robot (botette ??).
 
 
 
A5, ink & pencil on paper

Saturday, October 12, 2013

weaving + daily doodle

In art club this week we wove paper strips. We interlocked strips of different widths and then added even thinner strips on the surface. The intention is to embellish these pieces further with threads, buttons and beads.
 
 


In an effort to keep some sort of personal creativity going I'm going to try and draw and post a doodle a day. At the moment I do these whilst waiting for the photocopier to get its act together. I then usually leave them lying around in the repro room - to raise a smile, spark ideas, as a random gift for whoever would like them. Here's the first;

 
A5, ink & pencil on paper

Thursday, October 10, 2013

mathARTmatics

As I'm still covering a colleague on long term sick leave it's difficult to have as much of an influence on art across the school as I would like. I've given out lesson plans/notes to each year group and try to suggest ideas that they can easily implement.
Y2 are currently looking at their local environment and we've already sketched the local town. To this end I've tried to sneak art into their maths curriculum and have created the good old standby of a drawing that has to coloured according to a key. Different colours have different values (white=15, blue=10 etc.) They look at a section, work out the sum and then colour it in accordingly. Et voila - a stylised, coloured representation of the town.
 

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

stitch

A bit more sewing with the y3's today. The embroidered/applique elephant pieces are coming along nicely. Might even decide to make them into small cushions.
 
 


Thursday, October 3, 2013

robots

We had a parents open session at school yesterday where mums and dads cam in to work with their children. In Numeracy, as part of our study of shape, we created robots! With lots of talk about the properties of 2d/3d shapes and a couple of simple card nets, the children made some wacky 'bots. Bent paperclips served for antennae.