The Sinister Scribe

Here are drawings from both Jessie and Sam for week 7 of Wildflower Morning’s Wildflowers in Winter blog-a-thon. (click them to see a larger version in a new window) I didn’t expect Jessie to draw for it but she heard Sam and I talking and wanted to join in on the fun.

Sam’s drawing is from a flower seen in the front yard last spring. Jessie’s flower sprang from her fertile imagination. Both are done with Derwent watercolor pencils. We just got some. I love how the colors intensify with a little water.

This week’s activity includes a contest too! Here’s the info from WFM’s site:

on Wednesday, March 5, we will open up the voting, which I will keep open until Thursday, March 6, at 6:00 P.M. PST. take time to look at all the week 7 entries, choose your favorite and then send me an email with your choice to: joyinthemorninglight at yahoo dot com. (Remove the spaces and fix up the email so it will work.) The winner will receive a really cool Dover Publications Wildflower Coloring book and a neato set of Prang watercolors, some watercolor paper and a piece of graphite paper.

So, please vote for Sam or Jessie if you get a chance.

Since Barb has got me thinking of Tuesday’s as sketch/art days, I decided to work on a scroll blank during quiet time today. The color copy is the inspiration for this one. I like this style because it is so much like doodling. Granted my versions are usually not as airy as the original piece. Which is okay, I like that chock-full-a-doodles look but I’d like to work on the light-and-airy look too. Maybe the next one.

But alas, QT is over and I must jump back into the thick of things. But do go over to Barb’s blog and check out this week’s Sketch Tuesday, Sam and I are in it. (we’re the first two listed)

I seem to have hit on an art project Sam really likes. These are done with construction paper and an Xacto knife. We talked briefly about complimentary colors and positive/negative space. The ones on the left were done Tuesday, the other two were done today. I’m kinda enjoying this project myself. I wonder if I could do card sized pieces and sell them on Etsy…? I’m kinda proud of my little witch. LOL!

This morning we were treated to a gorgeous sunrise. It was so freaking orange you’d think it was sunset… after a huge fire or something. There was even a rainbow.

After lunch we went on a listening walk. That was Jessie’s idea. We caught a leopard frog. Or at least I think it is. Could have sworn I ran across an entry for a frog that looks very similar… somewhere. The kids climbed the cedar tree. I’m going to make rabid tree climber out of Sam yet. I really enjoyed watching them climb. I think every kid should have a tree to climb.

Read a rather disturbing post today about the NEA (National Educational Association) and their current resolutions against homeschoolers. There is an online petition here that gives some of the details.

“The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs based on parental choice cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience. “

There sure is a lot of evidence to the contrary. Colleges are actively seeking homeschooled kids too. The petition link above includes a link to some impressive stats and more information (that I need to read).

Not exactly sure why this NEA resolution bothers me so much. I’ve seen other such things and ignored them successfully. Will have to spend some time thinking and reading more on it. Exactly WHY do I homeschool…? What makes ME think I AM qualified? Stay tuned….

More home-made decorations today!

Sam and I made these cut paper decorations today. They’re sandwiched between wax paper with melted crayon shavings. I didn’t have any contact paper. Thought they came out kinda cute. They remind me of Magic Windows/Ventanas mágicas that I checked out from the library not too long ago. (just not as detailed as hers )

This link for Halloween lesson ideas is what spurred this craft. There is some pretty neat stuff there. For instance, there is a good reason why the sky is a livid red in “The Scream.”

Jessie made a hand print bat with red glitter decorations. I forgot to get a picture! Will get one tonight or tomorrow morning before she destroys plays with it.

Managed to get this one, from the Fall Art Kit, done today even with a field trip in the afternoon. Our “green hour” today was spent petting barnyard animals, running willy-nilly through a hay maze, hay-riding and pumpkin picking.

You can’t tell through the paint, but it is a little crispy around the edges. Sam said no beads on this one; he is sending it to Grandma.

Here are a few I tried. I’d love to do more in different colors. The paint is acrylic in none other than “leaf green.” LOL! I just happened to have it on hand. (and now on my fingers )

Today, as promised, we did the fall banner from the Fall Art Kit.

The kids were excited to use the “special markers” we bought just for this project. LOL! Yes, we have other washable markers but these were speeecciiiiaaallll. *giggle*

Sam and I painted the glue solution while discusing the nature of a “solution.” (Who knew science was involved in this!) We had trouble getting the canvas to absorb the solution though. The first time we peeled the transfers and plastic off the colors didn’t transfer too well. So I painted the areas on the canvas where the transfers where and reapplied. The second time was a little better. I am wondering if prewetting the canvas would help get a more even transfer…? Not sopping, just slightly damp.

These are the “transfers.” I am letting them dry and thinking about hanging them from the banner! I could have so much fun just painting coffee filter leaves and decorating the house with them. LOL!

Today we did the warm colors exercises from the Fall Art Kit. This is Sam’s two efforts at the watercolor portion. I REALLY like the first one. He (as any artist) doesn’t like it. In the second one, he really enjoyed playing with the watercolors on wet paper. Oh, that’s right. This wasn’t in the instructions but we both wet our paper slightly before we began. Oh and we used a bit of salt too.

Here’s my first attempt. It looks much better in person. I used colored pencils to bring out some of the details.

This is my second attempt. It looks better ON SCREEN than in person. LOL!

Last, but not least, here is Sam’s drawing on the warm colors worksheet.

Tomorrow… fall leaf banners!