My studio is seeing activity the likes of which it has not seen for many years (and in fact it was another studio in another place far far away).... oil painting! I'm loving the luscious juicy painterliness of oils and having a great time ... here's how my studio looks...
.. and here is a bit of painty goodness for you to enjoy
I recently read Susan Striker (author of the 'Anti Colouring Book series)' 's book 'Young at Art', a book discussing early art experiences for toddlers and preschoolers. Striker advocates for allowing children to explore materials in a progressive way, rather than trying to force young children to engage in representation before they are ready e.g. providing pre-formed shapes, stencils etc. It has made me reflect upon the kind of activity I am doing with my children and to consider avoiding the kind of known outcome that can result from some projects.
With this in mind, when I bought some plain t-shirt for my little ones to make their mark on, I avoided providing stencils or shapes of any kind to use, and just provided them with some suitable fabric paint.
Boo was mostly interested in mixing the colours together, whilst Boo Two was mostly concerned with preventing me from taking his photograph. It is hard to let go of the desire for a 'good' outcome, but really that satisfies only the adults.
For the first time in about 6 years, I cracked open the oil paints and made a couple of eensy weensy little 'fine art' paintings (as opposed to the illustration work I've been doing the last few years). The paintings will be in this anonymous art show for North Vancouver Arts Council. Check it out, all paintings are selling off the wall for $100 a piece and half of the proceeds goes to funding really worthwhile community arts projects.
Well, my exhibiting history may have been rather thin on the ground, err, make that non-existent in the last few years, but here's my little ones proving that its never too early to make a start on your exhibiting career.
Opus Art Supplies, North Vancouver, offered all kids interested in taking part in an art exhibition a free square board for their creation. Here's Boo Two's sponge painting (he's not keen on the finger painting, constantly requiring a 'wash'!
And here's Boo's piece, complete with pink ballerina and collaged fabric flowers (think I've seen them somewhere before!). I didn't make her this girly, please take my word for it, the pinktastic world is entirely of her own choosing.
Boo didn't seem too bothered about having her work exhibited, mostly she just wanted to take it home and put it on our wall, but its a great opportunity to do a 'special' (borrow mummy's artist quality acrylics) picture, and a great focus for the seemingly endless summer break we get here in Canada. I for one hope they do it again next year.
.. and here it is, my latest illustration offering. The girl (based on Boo of course) rides on her beloved bear through the forest of North Vancouver. It's made with a lino print using oil based ink, coloured with watercolour and mounted on a background painted with acrylic. I've left the background more painterly than I usually do, and I'm not sure about this.. is it too much?
I showed Boo the picture and she said 'but my bear doesn't walk like that, he walks on two legs like a human'. There's no pleasing some people!
BEFORE my rampant toddler reached into the box containing my sewing machine (which I foolishly left on the floor) and SNAPPED off the plastic reel holder rendering it unusable, I did actually manage to do some sewing. Here is Boo modelling her 'Doves and Cherries' dress, now with new addition of matching outfit for Kitty Doll. If you like this stuff, check out clothkits which is where I bought it.
Well, its his own fault (ok its actually me own for being quite so stoopit as to think he wouldn't get his hands into EVERYTHING)that he won't be getting his Kit boy doll which I also purchased from Clothkits. At least not until I track down a Singer repairer.
Harrummmph.
I promised you some some art in my last post. It's on its way... soon...
I do believe it's time for somewhat of a re-invention of this blog. With these crazy busy days with two at home and an active boy toddler being one of them, I have found little time for planning and executing arty projects. I haven't wanted to force it for the sake of 'keeping up the blog' and know that things ebb and flow and no doubt in time we will be back again in that place.
However, after some years of tinkering around with my illustration work in the 'margins' of my life, things are starting to come together, and its time for me to bring in centre stage. So I have created a new 'gallery' at the side of this blog where I will be showcasing some of my illustration work as I compile my portfolio to submit to publishers of childrens books. I'll also be writing some posts about how things are going and my working process.
I've been exploring some different approaches in my work and usually end up working in mixed media. I make and dye my own paper sometimes, other times using found papers as well as fabric. Recently I've been making use of some lino and rubber stamping in my work and think there is lots of scope to develop this further.
I'll stop talking now and show you some pictures, hope you enjoy them.
I also have a new page on Facebook which you can go 'like' at CathHughesArt. In time I will figure out how to put one of those nice little buttons on this blog!
Boo has been sporting a 'wobbler' for a wee while now. I have to say it took me by surprise, she only turned 5 in March and none of her preschool chums have lost teeth yet, but wobbling it most definitely was. And out it most definitely has now come. She is so proud, especially as it came out at preschool so was quite the 'event' and Boo quite the focus of attention for a few minutes.
Every lost tooth needs a pillow, so here is ours, fashioned from an offcut of a lovely echino fabric I picked up, complete with pockets for the tiny tooth and for the shiny coin. What is the going rate I wonder? I have a shiny new loony ($1 Canadian coin) so I'm thinking that will be just right. No doubt inflation has hit since we used to find a 10p coin under our pillows.
Of course the pillow has to hang on the outside of the door. The tooth fairy may be welcome, but like Santa she is not allowed to actually enter the bedroom.
Boo received a 'window stickers' kit a while back and we thought we'd give it a go. The kit came with some templates for designs, which we used, but the really interesting things started happening when we started going 'freestyle'.
We used lots of colours to make this luminescent heart.
Then Boo did this cool little drawing of a man who appears to be jumping.
She followed this up by making some black 'lightning' and I made a little star to go with it.
We were soon out of most colours of window paint (you paint it onto acetate first and allow it to dry I should point out) so I am left wondering if I can make some myself?! I would imagine it is based on white glue so I am wondering, would ink work to provide the pigment? I may give it a go when I get a mo.
Ahhh, printmaking, its been too long. Now, I have to say, this method of printmaking is not my fave - I much prefer collagraph and monoprinting, but you can't knock foam printing for its simplicity and speed. Perfect, really for naptimes, especially the short ones my 2nd child seems to delight in!
We used 'Scratch-Foam Board' manufactured by Scratch Art. You simply draw onto the board using a pencil or ballpoint pen, then ink up with a roller and print. The foam boards are pretty durable and stand up to multiple printing and washing.
Here's Boo inking up her first foam board.
And here's the print, a 'man on a mountain with a stick'. I am interpreting this as a portrait of her Daddy hiking.
And here's her second print, some flowers and grass and, if you look at the top left hand corner, there are 2 little people jumping on the flowers. Love that.
This is one I did, of the daffs we had sitting on the table.
Boo loved this technique (so easy!) so that's good enough for me.
Fancy trying out some other printmaking techniques with your little one?
See also
Oh I mean't to say, whilst I bought a pack of foam board specifically manufactured for printmaking, if you are of frugal bent, I reckon you could probably fashion some serviceable foam board from those trays that food often comes in.
I know, I know, Valentine's Day is history, but I'm still a-catchin-up, having been through a bout of flu. I had four of these little beauties in the production line for 'V'day, but I'm afraid only one actually reached being finished in time. For the one most likely to complain if something was not produced for her on the day! In fact, this was originally intended to be a 'Mama n Boo' project, but like so many of my little brainwaves, it turned out (no doubt due to the laboriousness of the papier mache technique), ended up being a Solo Mama project. We started out with heart shapes cut out of card, which were then given some form with scrunched up newspaper and masking tape.
Then the papiermache began, using the laminating technique i.e. layering pieces of newspaper coated on both sides with paper paste. Don't forget to factor in drying time as it can take several days to dry, and you need at least 5 layers to make it strong enough.
After the drying, I got stuck into decorating, painting with acrylics and decorating with cut fabric pieces and beads, before putting a hook in the top and attaching a ribbon to hang it from.
Another mama heart for my Boo. Now for the other ones...
Boo has been tadpoling a whole lot recently. No, not fishing for nascent froggies, but rendering what is known as a 'tadpole' in whatever drawing media she can get hold of. Tadpole drawings are the first emergent representations of figures seen in childrens' drawings and the interesting thing is that all children everywhere go through the same representational stages towards figuration. They require no tuition, it is simply a natural development inherent to the growing awareness of self in the small child. It felt like I was waiting forever for Boo's first tadpole, but I recorded back in October 2010 when she was 3... and here it is..
I thought that once the tadpole emerged there would be no looking back but she was back to scribbling and other mark-making much of the time. However, ground work was being laid, figures were sometimes just vertical lines, there was repeated use of circles, parallel lines, crosses, 'ladder' shapes, wee small circles moving towards their combination as the tadpole.
It is almost as if the tadpole emerges as a true sense of self emerges, and I don't believe these expressions can truly be called 'art' in the formal sense, they are almost an assertion of the 'I' of the child. Boo was late to use 'I' in reference to herself, so it's perhaps not surprising that her tadpoles took a while in coming. But here they are now, and here they will stay, gradually becoming more detailed as fingers emerge, the tadpoles become clothed, they start to stand on drawn surfaces, and some of the them are beginning to perform actions (mostly dancing!) I have to say I love the age of the tadpole and look forward to when Boo is ready for a bit of observational drawing.
A den, a hideaway, a grotto, a shady secret spot. Isn't that what every child needs?
Baby Boo Two is almost one and I thought it was about time for his first painting.
We made some 'paint' using cornflour, using a great recipe I found here on a great early learning blog called Imagination Tree. There is a great section on different types of play on here too if you get a chance to take a look at it.
I've made cornflour goop before but the addition of hot water takes you into a whole new dimension of cornflour goodness. It takes on a thick gloopiness that is just perfect for baby fingers.
Yumm!
So how did he get on? Well first he ate a bit, then gagged. Edible, yes, but tasty, no.
Boo was beside him demonstrating the correct method...
I put a bit of the paint on the paper to see if he would push it around a bit.
He happily did so for a minute or two.
Then he played with the paintbrush a little.
And that was it, he wanted out.
I think maybe having him in his highchair confused him (what is this blue stuff you're expecting me to eat?!)
Next time I think he'll be on the floor on a mat, wearing just his diaper, just like Meg's baby on Sew Liberated demonstrates.
