Day 1 Self-Portrait

Me and my mirror!

I decided to to do my #30drawingTUI this morning before showering and getting dressed for the day. My hair all bed-head in an unflattering way but I did get it done, in an inspired moment. I think it's the best way to take on any challenge like this, being aware that it needs to be done but acting on inspiration, unless of course, the day is coming to an end and you have no other excuse but to just do it. 

Today it felt good in fact it seemed "easy" I used the gadget my mum bought me for christmas too. An easy button. For tasks that seemed challenging before starting but on reflexion were easy and enjoyable.

This is a personal journey for me while I share it with another 138 students all of which I hope feel good about what they are achieving. As they countdown the days and build a sketchbook of beauty that they will treasure for many years to come and remember it as one of their first challenges in life. 

Roll on day 2!

#30day drawing challenge

Get those pencils sharpened!

Join me and my students in our 30 day drawing challenge. 

There are 138 students and some very brave teachers taking part in this months drawing challenge. At our school we emphasize and work with the children on values, the focus during February is Effort and Perseverance. By starting a personal challenge in which the students have to learn personal commitment and self-discipline it ties in perfectly, especially when you add a creative element into the mix.

The students will use a sketchbook or notebook and draw a specific thing everyday for the next 30 days, I have pinned the list outside the artroom door. The younger students have a purposely designed sketchbook with the day and the subject-matter for that day on each page.

The picture for tomorrow is self-portrait. You can find some ideas to get you started here: Portraits board

Good luck and most importantly ENJOY!

Peace day for my daughter!

Her hands & My heart

As is often the case I didn't read the letter home on the day it was sent, so therefore being creative had to be pulled straight out of a hat. This time instead of a rabbit I needed a dove!

We were asked to make something at home for Peace day. M.(3) was as usual full of eagerness to be wildly creative, I on the other hand, had other ideas. Well one idea to be exact, which gradually got reduced to a quarter of the whole(due to time constraints)!

Tomorrow she sings her song and enjoys seeing the work of her classmates. I love showing her how you can make beautiful things from very little.

New Year - New Mural

The Cathedral has been Zentangled!

This mural was inspired by the work we have done in class on St.Basil's Cathedral, where the focus was on Line and pattern. I enlarged the outline of our local monument the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela to roughly 2 meters and drew sections for the students to draw their zentangles inside the space.

It took a couple of weeks to get the Cathedral complete alongside working on other projects in class. I would send small groups of 4-5 to work on a section while continuing with the regular class.

You can find a similar lesson to my St.Basil's Cathedral at Deep Space Sparkle, a fabulous website full of all kinds of ideas and inspiration.