Nominations Open for Art Ed Blog of the Year

Do you have a favorite art education blog?

Do you want to promote your own blog?

The Art of Education blog is hosting another art ed blog of the year award.

Visit the Art of Education to nominate your favorite blog!

Blog Directory

Do you know that there are over 200 art education blogs on my art teacher directory?  Have you added your blog? 

Have you made art today?

Have you found a way to spark your creativity?

Blog Spotlight

There are almost 200 blogs in the Art Teacher Blog Directory.  Have you added yours?  I was going to highlight some of the newer entries and then  Mrs. Hahn posted some spotlights highlighting the blogs that are on the Art of Ed list, which reminded me that I was going to post about some of the newer entries in this blog directory.  So, anyways...  one of the newer blogs that I discovered is Ms. Branigan's website.  She has some interesting posts, including some fun slide shows.  I always like that kind of interactive format on a blog.  I also use slideshow presentations in class and it's nice to see how other teachers introduce their lessons.

A few quick facts:

• I see that she has been blogging since 2010.
• She is most interested in contemporary art.
• She invites parents and artists in to visit the class.
• She has done service projects such as placemats for Meals on Wheels.
• On her blog, she provides additional resources for her students to dig deeper.
• She makes her own artwork too!

A free guided drawing book

Check out this really cool FREE downloadable guided drawing book from Fairy Dust Teaching. Click on over to her website to get the lovely book.  I'm going to print this out and have it in my drawing book section for kids to use in their free time. 

Free Fonts!

Thanks to Pinterest, I found this cool site that has tons of FREE Fonts.  They are all fun and contemporary handwritten fonts.  I thought they would be fun to use when I make up signs for bulletin boards.

Art Teacher SHOWCASE!! Installment #5

Today I am featuring Karen Bosch on the 5th installment of the Art Teacher Showcase.  

1) My name is Karen Bosch and my blog is Pixels and Paintbrushes:  http://blogs.southfieldchristian.org/pixelsandpaintbrushes/  I also have a personal blog called Clever Karen which features the creative side of my non-teaching life: http://cleverkaren.blogspot.com/

2) Last year was my FIRST year teaching elementary art at Southfield Christian School in Southfield, Michigan USA.  However, I am not a new teacher -  I spent many years teaching third grade and for about 10 years have been the technology teacher for K - 8.  Because of budget issues, I spent the previous year teaching 5th grade and last year teaching art and technology.  I started following many art blogs to help me learn about teaching art and to get inspiration for projects.  My blog features both technology and art projects and many projects combine both areas!

3) One of my best projects from the year was creating papier maché penguin online story books! The project combined a papier maché art project with story writing and photography and audio recording using an iPod!  The art project is blogged here (http://bit.ly/jLV0wq)  and the iPod storybook is blogged here (http://bit.ly/lFMDS0).

4) My favorite book to help inspire art ideas has been the Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas (http://amzn.to/kL86k1).  Over 400 cool ideas that can be adapted to all kinds of projects!

5) My favorite product in the art room is not anything unique.  It is the black Sharpie marker!  I have been using them in all kinds of projects.  A Sharpie outline helps make any project POP!

Here are some more pictures from Karen's blog:

 

Karen also has a lot of videos and slideshows on her blog:

Water Color Time Lapse from Karen Bosch on Vimeo.

Karen Bosch

K - 8 Technology/Elementary Art

Southfield Christian School

kbosch@southfieldchristian.org

248-357-3662 

http://blogs.southfieldchristian.org/pixelsandpaintbrushes/

http://blogs.southfieldchristian.org/mstech/

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If you want to be featured on my blog, then answer the following questions.  Please email them to me at marciadotcom@yahoo.com.  Don't comment on this post with your answers.  If you do email me your answers, you will give me permission to post a couple images from your blog to include in the blog post (with of course, a link to your blog).  If you only feel like answering a few questions, that is fine too.  I would also be happy to feature your own personal artwork.

1.  The name and URL of your blog
2.  A brief description of your blog and why it is awesome.  Tell us where you live and work, what you do, etc. 
3.  An example of a tried and true art lesson favorite that you have taught. (could be in a workshop setting, school setting, or just with your own children or yourself, no exclusions here!)  Give me a link to a post about that lesson, so I can include a link and photo.
4.  A favorite, must-have art teacher or art technique book.
5.  Your favorite product for the art room.

So, what are you waiting for? Email me today about your blog!!"

New Stand Alone Page

I figured out how to make a stand-alone page for the art teacher directory!  If you haven't added your's yet, you must!  It needs to be an art teacher blog, however. I will delete it if it is something else.  Find the art teacher blog directory here. 

Art Teacher Showcase Installment 4

The next Art Teacher Blog I will be showcasing is Jody Sebring's. 

1.  The name and URL of your blog   www.artfor1170.blogspot.com
2.  A brief description of your blog and why it is awesome.  Tell us where you live and work, what you do, etc.  Not sure I am at "Awesome" yet but it's new, since April and so much fun.  I teach in Clarkston Michigan for the Clarkston School District. I teach Pre K-5th grade art.
3.  An example of a tried and true art lesson favorite that you have taught. (could be in a workshop setting, school setting, or just with your own children or yourself, no exclusions here!)  Give me a link to a post about that lesson, so I can include a link and photo.  One of my favorites, and I say favorite a lot is the clay owls.  I usually do this project with fourth graders. I have the How to on my blog.

4.  A favorite, must-have art teacher or art technique book.  Any book on clay projects is a favorite. I have one in mind but I think it's packed in a box right now. It's by a Michigan art teacher and I think it's title is Clay Ideas.
5.  Your favorite product for the art room.  Just posted my favorite tool and it's my clay cutter!

Thanks for posting this idea. I love the idea of sharing

Jody

--
Jody Sebring
Art Educator
Pine Knob Elementary, Clarkston Elementary, North Sashabaw Elementary and the ECC

""Art is literacy of the heart"     Elliot Eisner

Here are some more pictures from her blog:

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If you want to be featured on my blog, then answer the following questions.  Please email them to me at marciadotcom@yahoo.com.  Don't comment on this post with your answers.  If you do email me your answers, you will give me permission to post a couple images from your blog to include in the blog post (with of course, a link to your blog).  If you only feel like answering a few questions, that is fine too.  I would also be happy to feature your own personal artwork.

1.  The name and URL of your blog
2.  A brief description of your blog and why it is awesome.  Tell us where you live and work, what you do, etc. 
3.  An example of a tried and true art lesson favorite that you have taught. (could be in a workshop setting, school setting, or just with your own children or yourself, no exclusions here!)  Give me a link to a post about that lesson, so I can include a link and photo.
4.  A favorite, must-have art teacher or art technique book.
5.  Your favorite product for the art room.

So, what are you waiting for? Email me today about your blog!!"

Art Teacher SHOWCASE!! Installment 3

"Summer months are slow in blogland for teachers.  Most art teachers are taking a break from teaching all day.  Some are doing art camps or personal travels, but I know that in the summer months, not as many teachers post ideas, since we're not teaching full time now.  However, summer free time is a perfect time to research ideas, look at art eye candy, experiment and have fun!  So, what I would like to do to help you out in this summer is to feature different blogs.  Maybe one per week (or more if more people respond).  This will be awesome in several ways.  First, you will be able to get a taste of everyone's favorite art projects and visit new and different blogs.  Second, YOUR BLOG could (and will, if you submit a response to me) be featured and more people will visit you and see all the wonderful things you are doing.  We all make new friends and get new ideas for next year!  Sounds great?  Well it will be!!  

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 Installment 3 of the Art Teacher Showcase

Art Teacher: Marilena Linardatou

I am teaching art this summer at my school on Tuesday's and Thursday's.

I will also teach two art camps, one in June and one in August.    

The name of my school blog is http://explorationinart.blogspot.com/,

Art is an amazing way to explore and understand the world.

Studying and creating art is a way of communicating with others.

Through exploration students appreciate and understand the importance of art in our society.

Through exploration we are able to cultivate and develop skills in various artistic media.

Through exploration we can create an exciting and safe environment that allows our students to be inspired and inquisitive.

Through exploration we can design art based on one's own experiences, identity, environment, imagination and observations.

   

 I teach art at a private school  Chesterbrook Academy Elementary (K-5)  http://northraleigh.chesterbrookacademy.com/page.cfm?p=19859 where we emphasize Integration of 21st century skills in academic instruction. 

My students have art for 45 minutes twice a week.

I also teach art to our Pre-K students.

One of my favorites art lesson this year was " The concept of scale in art (The roses of Will Ryman)"

http://explorationinart.blogspot.com/2011/05/kgg2g3g4-concept-or-scale-in-art-roses.html

It was a collaborative project, where Kindergarten, Second and Third grade students worked together to complete this artwork.

The students loved this project because it gave them the opportunity to explore the difficulties and challenges involved in completing large scale artworks.  

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in the ART TEACHER SHOWCASE.

Here are some other images from lessons Marilena has taught:

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If you want to be featured on my blog, then answer the following questions.  Please email them to me at marciadotcom@yahoo.com.  Don't comment on this post with your answers.  If you do email me your answers, you will give me permission to post a couple images from your blog to include in the blog post (with of course, a link to your blog).  If you only feel like answering a few questions, that is fine too.  I would also be happy to feature your own personal artwork.

1.  The name and URL of your blog
2.  A brief description of your blog and why it is awesome.  Tell us where you live and work, what you do, etc. 
3.  An example of a tried and true art lesson favorite that you have taught. (could be in a workshop setting, school setting, or just with your own children or yourself, no exclusions here!)  Give me a link to a post about that lesson, so I can include a link and photo.
4.  A favorite, must-have art teacher or art technique book.
5.  Your favorite product for the art room.

So, what are you waiting for? Email me today about your blog!!"

Art Teacher Showcase Installment #1-- Stephanie Clegg

This is my first installment of Art Teacher Showcase, where art teachers across the world will be sharing with you their favorite lesson and invite you to visit their blog.  If you would like to participate, see the bottom of this post.

The first art teacher is Stephanie Clegg!
My blog is called Mrs. Clegg's Class blog.  My blog started out as a place for students to find out information about assignments and due dates.  It has since involved into more of a showcase for parents, the community, and other teachers.  I teach at a rural high school in Utah.  I am the only art teacher, teaching students 9 - 12.

My favorite project from this past year was Altered books and more altered books.

Here are a couple images from her altered book lesson.  If you want to see more, you'll have to visit her blog.
These are gorgeous!

____________________________________________________________________________

You can also be a part of art teacher showcase.  Here is what I posted earlier.
"Summer months are slow in blogland for teachers.  Most art teachers are taking a break from teaching all day.  Some are doing art camps or personal travels, but I know that in the summer months, not as many teachers post ideas, since we're not teaching full time now.  However, summer free time is a perfect time to research ideas, look at art eye candy, experiment and have fun!  So, what I would like to do to help you out in this summer is to feature different blogs.  Maybe one per week (or more if more people respond).  This will be awesome in several ways.  First, you will be able to get a taste of everyone's favorite art projects and visit new and different blogs.  Second, YOUR BLOG could (and will, if you submit a response to me) be featured and more people will visit you and see all the wonderful things you are doing.  We all make new friends and get new ideas for next year!  Sounds great?  Well it will be!!  So I need your help.  If you want to be featured on my blog, then answer the following questions.  Please email them to me at marciadotcom@yahoo.com.  Don't comment on this post with your answers.  If you do email me your answers, you will give me permission to post a couple images from your blog to include in the blog post (with of course, a link to your blog).  If you only feel like answering a few questions, that is fine too.  I would also be happy to feature your own personal artwork.

1.  The name and URL of your blog
2.  A brief description of your blog and why it is awesome.  Tell us where you live and work, what you do, etc. 
3.  An example of a tried and true art lesson favorite that you have taught. (could be in a workshop setting, school setting, or just with your own children or yourself, no exclusions here!)  Give me a link to a post about that lesson, so I can include a link and photo.
4.  A favorite, must-have art teacher or art technique book.
5.  Your favorite product for the art room.

So, what are you waiting for? Email me today about your blog!!"

I just discovered two new blogs-- 2 posts from them

Paint Chips!  What a cool way to use PAINT CHIPS!  I might just use this next year when my kindergartners design castles.


Face Jugs!  I did a lesson very similar to this when I was student teaching.. we called them Face Vases.  I should try this lesson again. 

the art of silliness!

This is a worksheet from Carla Sonheim's Art of Silliness class.  I recommend this class, it's very fun.  The worksheets she sends you each day are very unique drawing activities.  What I am doing with these is photocopying them for kids in my class to work on when they are finished with their regular art projects.  (She allows photocopying for classroom use in schools, which is awesome!)  Some of the kids did a drawing exercise on Friday in class where they draw stacks of turtles.  One stack with their left hand, one stack with their right hand.  Great exercise for the brain and hand/eye coordination.  The kids lOVED it.  They also had a blast coming up with Fleep (nonsense) words.   I also have Carla's book, which is also chock-full of fun drawing activities.

Wouldn't this be a fun and educational project for kids?

In my blog perusing, I found this cool junk mail tutorial. Wouldn't it be a fun project for kids to recycle all those pieces of junk mail we all receive?  The catalogs and flyers that come in the mail are out-of-control for teachers!




Here is her website

Versatile Blogger Award

Hey!  I received a Versatile Blogger Award from Katie Morris, Adventures of an Art Teacher
Thanks for this award!  I know these awards go around the blogs and it is a really great way for people to connect and find new blogs.

Here are 7 crazy, exciting things about myself:  I'll try to add some different things besides the usual.

Daria and I at church on Easter

One of my watercolors

1.  This will be my 9th year teaching art, my 5th year at my current school.
2.  I teach at K-6  art at a private school, for academically gifted and talented students. 
3.  I love chocolate.  I'm addicted.  I seriously have some sort of chocolate every day, even if it is just one little wrapped piece.
4.  I'm also addicted to diet pepsi.  I know that's not the greatest for you, but I love it.
5.  On the flip side, I'm also a super duper fruit and veggie eater.  I usually have about 8-10 servings of fruit/veggies a day.   Pretty much anytime I go out to eat I get a salad.
6.  This summer is going to be awesome!  I have signed up for a watercolor painting class for myself and a baby/parent art class for my daughter and I.
7.  My baby is now 18 months old and she is so adorable.  She constantly says "More!!"  and we are always trying to figure out what she wants more of.  She also can say peas, shoes, baby, fish, woof, Elmo and several other words.  Here she is:

I thoroughly enjoy making my own art and you can see some of it here:

Now, to pass along this award to other fun art bloggers!!

Here are some great blogs deserving of this award.  Some are by art teachers and some are artists personal works.  I tried to give the award to other blogs who I haven't just seen them with this award! :) 
Scrumdilly-do!
We Heart Art
Art & Ideas that Grow
Hands On: As We Grow
Artistes a Les Corts
Donna Zagotta's Art Blog
Drawing with a Squirrel
Educacio Visual i Plastico
K-8 Art
Milliande
Mundo Lindo Beautiful World
New City Arts
Pam Garrison
Reciclanda en la Escuela
Shine Brite Zamorano

So, if you get this award, be sure to "thank the person who gave it to you" and link back to them.  Then, tell us 7 things about yourself and then pass the award on to some of your favorite blogs.

New Art Blog

So I decided to separate out my personal artwork from my elementary art teaching pictures.

If you are interested in checking out my brand new art blog, here it is:

Art Teacher Blog Directory

I posted this before and I thought a reposting would be nice. Add your art teacher blog to this directory and then repost it to your website. The more people who repost and add it to the list will help all of us get more traffic to our blogs.

Deep Space Sparkle Blog

If you have not seen Deep Space Sparkle blog yet, and you are an art teacher, you must check it out! This is one of the first art blogs I started regularly watching for lesson ideas. There are so many great ideas here. You are in for a treat :)

Blog Hop

Add your link!! Copy and paste to your blog to spread it further.

the arts map! put yourself on the map.

Check out this arts map.  "Connecting the arts, artists and the community."  How cool!!!

Here is one of my clay pots.  I made it in college but I have it and still love it.

Fun Blog

I just discovered a fun blog from a kindergarten teacher who does lots of way cool art projects.  These kids are so lucky to have such a creative teacher!  I'm impressed with the felted balls she made with the kindergartners.  Why have I been intimidated by teaching felting to kids?    Plus she has such a cool name and it is her real name, lol.


Meri Cherry's Blog