Drawing Fun for the Holidays

 

You are cordially invited to come to Creative Pencils and join The Holiday Designs workshop.  It is a set of 3 colored pencil projects.  We will draw a set of candy canes with a ribbon, a candle, with evergreen, and a vintage stocking.  In each of these designs I will teach you strong shading skills creating depth and beauty in your drawings.  

In the candle project I will demonstrate using the Zest-It blending solution to create the layered look of the colors.  (If you do not have Zest-It, you can blend the candle just like the other 2 projects.)

Once you have learned how to draw these designs you can mix them to create new designs that are uniquely yours.  

You can use these designs to decorate cards, gift tags, ornaments, packages and much more.

 Its fun and even a beginner can accomplish these projects.  Get out your pencils and let's get started.  

You can purchase this workshop on the home page of Creative Pencils

Wind and Honey Creations

A Love Affair with Pumpkins

 

I love pumpkins!   I'm not sure what it is about them that has captured my heart.  But I've loved them for as long as I can remember.  Perhaps it is their shape.  They are so fun to draw and color.  The ripples in their form provide ample opportunities for creative shading and highlighting.  And yet they are not difficult to draw.  The natural variations in their shape gives lots of grace for those struggling with perfection when outlining their form.  

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 Perhaps it is the season they come in.  I love Autumn with its crisp new air.  I love the colors of the leaves changing.  Autumn provides a sense of nesting as we get out the quilts and prepare to snuggle in for the winter.   Autumn reminds me of the fun memories of football season when I was in High School band.  And although I'm not much of a sports fan, those were very important days that made a huge impact on my life.

 

Maybe I love pumpkins because I love its pie.  I love pumpkin pie so much that when I was growing up, I used to ask for it in lieu of a birthday cake.  And I married a man that loves it equally as much.   Just give me a good pumpkin pie and I'm a happy girl.  

We had a pumpkin vine grow up volunteer in our yard one year.  That was fun.  It was as if the seeds knew, just like those stray kittens know, that this was a house where they would be loved and well cared for.   The vine grew large and beautiful with all its twisty curls.  I think, perhaps, I will plant a pumpkin vine next year.  Or maybe 2 or 3. 

 

I can tell you this, though.  My love for pumpkins is definitely not because of their color.  I'm not really fond of orange.  Shhhh, don't tell my OSU Cowboy friends.  I will be the first to shout "Orange Power" at those games.   But only out of loyalty, not out of a love for orange.    

So I love my pumpkins, color or not.  And even though the reason is a mystery, I will enjoy them just the same.  Now, pass another piece of that pumpkin pie, please.

Wind and Honey Creations

Teaching Children to be Creative

One of the many hats that I wear is that of art teacher. I teach children as young as 5 and adults as high as they want to go. Studies have shown that studying art and experiencing creativity helps children to excel in every area of their lives. Over the years I've found that many parents think they can't do art with their children. They say, "Well I'm just not very creative." or "Why, I can't even draw a straight line." Well, I've got news for you. Drawing a straight line has nothing to do with it. Its more about freedom and fun than anything else. And kids are the easiest because they already feel creative freedom and already know how to have fun. You're just along for the ride!

Let's talk first about some barriers parents put up that stifle their kids creatively. A common complaint from my students is that their parents won't let them do anything messy. One can rarely be creative without being messy. So get a couple of vinyl table cloths. Throw one on the kitchen table and one on the floor and loosen up. Or better yet, when the weather allows, work outside. Come on parents, loosen up. Those kids are washable.

Another complication that parents often put on their children artistically is to expect the results to look like something straight out of a gift shop. They are kids. Their focus isn't that of an adult. Their fine motor skills aren't that of an adult. And their perspective isn't the same as an adult. So, let them be kids. Let them be artists. And see what wonderful creations they come up with.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T FIX THEIR WORK. It won't be perfect. Thats ok. What you want to communicate to them is that it is fun to make art and what they make is delightful. Don't critique every line they draw or every color they choose. It is ok to make a few small corrections if they are said with a positive attitude and prefaced with a positive comment.. Something like this, "I love the bright colors you are choosing. Perhaps this line should be a bit shorter."

Display their work. You, as their parents, are the single most important factor influencing their sense of creativity for years to come. Of course, there is the classic home gallery, the refrigerator. Also they will love turning their rooms into their own personal art gallery. Let your kids use their art as gifts for grandparents, teachers, or even friends. Just think how affirming it is to them to believe that their artistic work is valuable enough to be a gift. Take a few of your favorite pieces and frame them. Yes, even hang them in your livingroom.

In the next week I will talk with you more about how to help your kids grow up to be creative people. Also I will give you some tutorials for inexpensive projects you can do with them.

I've included some examples done by some of my students ages 6, 11, and 12 respectively.