science meets art

Busy being scientific on the run in to the end of the school year. We did the old chromatography bit and separated different black inks using water.We then used the dried pieces to create collaged parrots.

We also investigated our fingerprints and looked for loops, arches and whorls. Once satisfied that our prints were unique we used them to create various whimsical doodles.

romeo & juliet 2

My wife works with a teacher who is leaving the school. I reprised a diptych I did last year as a gift, 'cos I can't find the original! The teacher in question teaches English so a painting of R & J is quite apt. This version was painted on canvas board. 'Romeo' measures 18x13 cm whilst 'Juliet' is 10 cm sq. Done with acrylics & inks. It's supposed to represent the moment when Juliet appears at her window - 'What light through yonder window breaks'.

a mad idea

Have seen a few pixellated images on the net of late and thought I'd give it a try. Sketched out a sheep easily enough but then got carried away and tried to do a fish! Decided it was too much of a faff before I'd even added any fins. Probably easier to do on isometric paper rather than plain.

Work is manic - chasing paper before the end of the school year whilst still trying to teach a science week and sort out my room, as I'll be undertaking a different but hopefully more exciting and fulfilling role next year. Watch this space.

more cards

More hand-drawn card designs. The footy supporters would come in packs of 3 of the same team colours. Must get round to putting these in my Folksy shop, but work is hectic- too busy chasing paperwork around!

went to the zoo

For our end of year trip we are planning to go to a reasonably local zoo. I went on a recce yesterday to gather info for the 'risk assessment' because you can't just take the kids out on a whim these days. I know there are pros and cons about keeping animals in zoos but for a bunch of young children the educational aspects of such places are huge. Spotted these chaps all parked up in a row. I thought they'd organised themselves very tidily!

masks made

We have been making masks ready for our plays. They are deliberately over-size 'so that the people at the back can see the characters'. These two represent Theseus and the Minotaur. Simple card/paper construction with button embellishments. All we've got to do now is write the plays!

ice cream

As part of our German lesson we went to the local ice-cream parlour today. The children all had to ask for their choices in German. Back at school we only had about 15 mins left before home time - so I dug out one of my ideas from way back when and showed them how to create recognisable images of people using an ice-cream cone as a starting point!

Should you be interested, I've got copies of the how-to book - 'Snow-cone Figures' - listed in my Etsy shop.