Want to arrange a program?
Let me know who you are, where you are and the date or dates you would like me to visit. That’s first the first thing on the list.
The costs? Fees are discussed after availability is confirmed. Budgets can always be worked out! If you have a set budget, please advise in advance. An eight week lead is ideal, but three to four weeks seem to be the norm.
Advance book sales can be advertised with a sheet provided by me, or ask for art and I’ll provide what I have available. See my brochure for the variety of programs offered.
Have a unique program in mind? Want to teach the school how to draw their mascot? Let me know. Specialized programs can be created.
Releases and Contracts:
Brochure: Cover / Inside
Brochure (Black and White): Cover / Inside
Book Order Form (sample)
Here are some fun sheets you can print out to help in class. Have an idea? Send me a query, I'm sure we can find an answer!
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Book picks:
Below are a list of books that I love to use when I work with kids– kids of all ages. A lot of these should be read by adults. I've included a quick synopsis of what I have done in classes with these projects. Need more details? Write me!
Peter Reynolds has two of the best books out there for children and adults. These can be read to kids up to middle school age because of their message and ability to lay the groundwork for discussions regarding confidence, experimentation and enjoying art for its provision of joy.
The Dot:
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Once you read this book you need to make a dot gallery with your class or kids. For older kids, have them make a dot drawing that says something about themselves; younger kids will simply love making dots. I did the dot gallery with kids from kindergarten to third grade and the results were amazing. (Make sure you do it on a day you can handle the sound of crayons rhythmically rapping off the table tops!) The jacket copy from the author is a must read. Must. |
Ish:
| The second in his series deals with something we all deal with– confidence. Ish quietly whispers the need to not judge your art or explorations, but to enjoy them. Each character is a spring board for a personality check. What character in the book are you most like? |
It’s me, Marva: A story about color and Optical Illusions
| For color theory, I have to say Marjorie Priceman’s It’s me, Marva: A story about color and Optical Illusions is a fun romp through color theory and optical illusions courtesy of a wonderfully wacky inventor named Marva. |
Mouse Magic
| Mouse Magic, by Ellen Stoll Walsh, is marvelous for showing how colors can move and shake and reveals the magic the color wheel holds. Experimentation with color is a must with this book. I used this book in conjunction with a first Grade study of apples. Using only red and green, kids created patterns that moved. Once mixed, brown became available as a perfect compliment to their hopping, popping apple orchards. |
Picasso's One Liners
| Picasso’s One Liners by Pablo Picasso, ventures to show how one continuous line can create powerful, energetic, emotional drawings. The challenge for kids to imitate the same is a wonderful exercise, especially when you offer only a length of colored wire to create their presentation. The limitation of the wire's length presents a need to keep the image simple and the lines limited to the vital bends. The wire prevents the option to adjust the use of a single line that may occur with a pencil. Thread could work just as well, but with the wire, kids can hold their creations up to the class for review. |
CinderLilly: A Floral Fairy Tale
| CinderLilly: A Floral Fairy Tale, David Ellwand (photographer), Christina Tagg (illustrator): This visual extravaganza allows children to think beyond paint and crayons to create art. A five minute trip outside to collect five nature elements from the school yard was a mysterious adventure prior to the story being told. Once the story had been read and the pictures examined, the kids were sent to the tables to look at their collections in a new light. The clue to success? Thick tacky glue to attach the heavy items to the construction paper backgrounds. After their art was completed, they were asked to write a poem, a paragraph, to tell the tale of their creation. This was project was done with fourth graders. |
Fall Is Not Easy
| Fall Is Not Easy by Marty Kelley will tickle everyone one who reads it. The simple illustrations lead to clues for the other seasons, but it is a laugh-out-loud session when you get to Fall. Kids can talk or draw what there tree might “turn” into. Younger kids can help each other trace their forearms and fingers to create a tree trunk. From here they can draw their own kind of leaves. Stamps and sponge shapes can work wonders here. Tip: Use a sponge as a paint holder. Dispense paint into a wet sponge and fold the paint in so it is evenly distributed across the top of the sponge. Let children tap stamps or sponges onto the sponge pad. This method keeps paint spills and waste to a minimum. |
