The Joy of Watercolor

I used to think watercolor was such a tough media to work in.  I was always afraid of watercolor.  Seeing the fine detail and rich representational work done by most artists, I didn’t think I could do the same sort of work.

Watercolor is so loose, can be drippy and runny.  How does one create something with that property?

And how does one introduce children to this media?

The last few years at winter break, I have worked on learning how to use and introduce this media to children.  I figure the more I play with it and understand it’s properties, the more knowledge I have to share with the students I teach.

What I have discovered is that I actually love water coloring.

What I have learned is it takes time to do a watercolor.  Watercolor is about patience.  And having a rag to sop up the extra color and water where you don’t want it. 

I took a class in water coloring a few years ago.  The teacher was teaching us to do oceanscapes and flowers.  That was where I learned the few techniques I do have. 

What I know about watercolor is that it is great for blending and mixing colors on the paper.

Oh!! And that paper is important, more important than anything.  Best to use a 140lb sheet of paper, holds the wetness. 

I have practiced using masking techniques, where one applies this rubber cement like mixture on paper, let it dry and then paint all around it.  Then you rub it off and have empty space to paint in. This is not a technique I have used with children because of the strong smell of the cement mixture.  Also it takes time to dry. I have used tacky tape to section off areas for children to paint using watercolors. That’s cool.  

One technique I love when working with children and watercolor is eyedroppers.  There are these diffuse papers, kind of like coffee filters that hold the liquid.  They come in different shapes.  Children love, love the eyedroppers and it is also a fine motor development.  It requires the thumb and index finger for squeezing. And then there is learning to hold and squeeze for color to fill up and then release on the paper.  That is lot of learning from one experience.

I like all the forms of watercolor, liquid, cake, tubes.  And I find it important to teach children to use all the various forms of this media.  Learning to use the eyedropper with the cake form and not scrub the brush is an important technique.  Learning how to use the brush and clean it in between colors is important with any liquid media.

As a teacher and artist, the more I play with a media, the more comfortable I am with it, the better to introduce it to my young students.

I never thought I would say I love the media of watercolor.  I have learned to manipulate it so that I can create what I want.

And that’s the best part.

Happy Twenty Twelve

Watercolor on watercolor paper
12/2011

Out with the old, in with the new.

Ideas for Teachers - books for inspiration and learning

Today while driving I was thinking about my favorite books as a teacher/educator: books that support my development and inspire me to stay open and try new things.   And then I had a little fantasy what if I could decide recommended reading for teachers/educators.

 In my perfect world, when teachers graduate from their programs, doesn’t matter the level of program, but before they set foot in a classroom, they should be handed these books as a set.

These are my choices:

Painting and Children by Cathy Topal

Beautiful stuff by Cathy Topal

The Hundred Languages by Reggio

Clay and Children by Cathy Topal

Parenting from the Inside out by Dan Siegal and Mary Hartzell

Why? Why would I choose these books?

Let’s face it , in a classroom, a teacher must have knowledge to plan experiences and curriculum for children.  Children learn best by doing, exploring, being curious, touching. It’s helpful to have some knowledge of materials, like clay, paint, glue and more materials. 

I think these books support beginnings and intermediate learning processes for teachers with materials.  Cathy Topal’s books give me confidence to try creative expressions with children and not be afraid.

The Hundred Languages reminds me of the process of education, the respect for children, parents and teachers.  It reminds me to think about what I am doing: to ask myself questions about the choices I make.

It reminds me to have a strong image of children as co-creators and co constructors of knowledge.  It reminds me to be curious and to wonder with children.  It reminds me to listen.  For a new teacher or even a teacher that has been in the classroom for many years the Hundred Languages is a work that can be read over and over again.  One can find new inspiration.

The parenting book is an excellent resource for being mindful and aware of oneself in the continuum of life as a human being.  When we reflect on our self and how we were raised, it helps understand the choices we make as an adult in relationship with others.   And this is a book that works personally and professionally: the more aware one is, the more one is able to be in deeper relationship with those our life intersects with.  It talks about attunement,  Important in relationship particularly with young children.  Plus it has brain development information thrown in.

When I see articles in newspapers, magazines and online about education and all it’s inherent problems, I think about these books and that they could be a beginning.  There are more books that could be added, but then I would have to write more….. another entry.  Life long learning, being a teacher, a human being, a parent, a child, a friend,  living life: it is all a journey.

Happy reading!!

Inspired thought

Rainbow Lotus - Om
watercolor on watercolor paper
12/2011

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,

there is a field.  I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass,

the world is too full to talk about.

Ideas, language, even the phrase each other

doesn’t make any sense.

                    - from Open Secret: Versions of Rumi

Merry Merry - Love to All

Rainbow Angel
watercolor on watercolor paper
12/2011

Clay – getting complex

I have written about clay and children in a previous blog entry.  I realize it is time to write more.

The great thing about using clay for representational work with children is its malleability.  If a part isn’t working then a child can smooth it and start over until it is the way he or she wants it. 

 Another of my favorite experiences with children 4 and a half and up is making what I call vessels.

I call them “vessels” from my time in art school in the clay studio where ceramicists were building these vases and huge cylinder shapes.

This basic technique teaches coil making and ball making, which are fine motor skills.

Clay also supports fine motor development through the processes required to make self portraits with Clay. Making a portrait in clay requires using the

scoring tool kind of like a pencil or pen. The child draws on the clay similar to ones on a piece of paper, making eyes, nose, mouth and being able to smooth the lines with a finger if not to the child's liking. Using clay to work in a relief style (clay as a piece of paper) helps the drawing development. 

Another component of complexity with clay can be to have the child draw what it is they are going to build.  For example here is a butterfly a child drew and then broke down the shapes of the butterfly before connecting them. Working like this provides children with a slowed down process where they can take the time to do the steps to go from a one dimensional media (drawing) to a three dimensional media (clay).

Clay is a media that works for all ages and stages.  It is a favorite of mine.  I learn as I manipulate it.

I hope this gives you some ideas.

The Giveaway

I have carried this piece of paper around for a very long time. Now I pass it on to you.