Fall Favorites at The Wizard of Art

Sunset is still my favorite color,

and rainbow is second.

~Mattie Stepanek

I love when the kids at The Wizard of Art choose do art pieces inspired by the time of year, or even unconsciously choose a color palette that speaks of the season. I have been sharing more of the kids' art lately but I can't seem to resist! 

Autumn Reflections

watercolor on paper

By Wyatt, age 10 (see what I mean about fall colors!!??)

Tiger Cub in the Forest
Pastel and charcoal on paper

by Cass, age 12 (his work has such a great touch!)

I ran across the rainbow quote (top of this post) and remembered how I loved to watch Mattie Stepanek interviewed on television. He was such a bright light ... a little prophet. So, I thought I'd look online and find more of his beautiful words to share, and it definitely felt fitting to put those words with a post of these great kids.

  

While we are living in the present,

we must celebrate life every day, 

knowing that we are becoming history 

with every work,

every action,

every deed.

~Mattie Stepanek

Sunset Sail
watercolor on paper (don't you just love that sky??)

Sasha, age 10 (finally was happy with one of her pieces!)

Desert Landscape
watercolor on paper

Ava Luna, age 12 (This piece knocked my socks off. She was born to do watercolor.)

Keep all special thoughts and memories 

for lifetimes to come.

Share these keepsakes with other 

to inspire hope 

and build from the past,

which can bridge to the future.

~Mattie Stepanek

Fox in Winter Snows
Pastel and charcoal on paper

Samara, 7 (My fellow Sagittarian ... ugh. So dang cute.)

Late Afternoon in the Southwest
watercolor on paper

Rio, 10, (Love the way the sky mirrors the shapes of the Rock. So cool.)

Sunset on the Water
Acrylic on wood panel

Saria, 9 (Don't you feel the cool weather in this one? And it's sort of becomes abstract. Love it.)

Remember to play

after every storm.

~Mattie Stepanek

Bat and Gator by Moonlight
Pastel on paper

Daniel, 8 (love that there is a whole narrative you can create with this one! He came up with it around Halloween.)

Orange Cat Chillin' in Yarn Balls
Pastel on paper

Emily, age 5 (Can you even handle this face? Actually, hers and the cat's!)

I have lots of posts getting backed up! Went on an Art Deco tour in Downtown L.A. and also to the newly reopened classic, Clifton's cafeteria! And, soon I'll be heading to New Mexico, for a mother daughter trip to Santa Fe!

And here we are ready to start our December adventures. Lots of birthdays (friends, family, my own!) and Christmas cards, and holiday parties ... it's always a whirl wind!

Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving 

and are getting December off to a beautiful, joyful start!

Even though the future seems far away,

it is actually beginning right now.

~Mattie Stepanek

(1990-2004)

blessings and light

Amazing Kids at The Wizard of Art

Youth, with swift feet, walks onward the way;

the land of joy lies all before his eyes.

~Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

The Winter Hare

Charcoal and pastel on paper

This is one of my all time favorite pieces ever. Just look at the expression on the rabbit's face? So much personality and life. The trees have a wonderful feel and unique line work. They remind me of an Egon Schiele landscape. Anyway ... I love it. The best pieces really reflect something about the artist. This work is a perfect example of that. Gentle and sensitive, just like the artist. 

Mia 

Artist and total sweetheart

The quietest poetry can be

an explosion of joy.

~James Broughton

Rocket to Space

Pastel on paper

My friend said it reminded him of a Marc Chigall! I totally see it! Marc of the Future!

Elliot, 5 years old
Artist and future astronaut!

Joy is in the process, 

not the product.

~Fay Bohlayer

Yellow Tractor in the City, by Wyatt age 9
Creative spirit, questioner of everything, and future engineer and philosopher
Mixed Media
pastel, pen, collage, pencil and charcoal

Anthropomorphic Jellyfish
Watercolor on paper

Believe it or not this was one of Chloe's first watercolors. Wait until you see some of her other pieces. She is crazy amazing. She's also super funny and thoughtful. 

Chloe, 12 

Master Watercolorist and social director

Magical Genie and the Lamp with Hearts and Stars
Pastel on paper

Veronica, 5 years old

Magical creative spirit, and music aficionado

(She went to the Hollywood Bowl. I asked her who she saw. "Gustavo Dudemel was conducting ... it was symphonic.")

 

Joy is but a sign

that creative emotion

is fulfilling its purpose.

~Charles du Bois

The Old Collection

Acrylic on canvas board

Lorelei is taking a break from class and I miss her!

Lorelei, age 11
Artist but currently too busy for art class!

Turtle Burger, by Oliver age 6 (Artist and future New Yorker cartoonist)
Pastel and charcoal on paper

Don't explain, enjoy.

~Darby Bannard

A Pensive Elephant (with Butterfly Ears)

Pastel and charcoal on paper

I love this pic of Mia and her elephant ... looking at her! And the butterflies on her shirt mirroring the elephant ears. So sweet.

Mia, age 7
Artist and future Humane Society volunteer

Gray Seals
Mixed media, watercolor, colored pencils and charcoal

Note her signature is in English and Japanese, which she is learning in school. She so expressive and still comes in with some wonderful and entertaining story to tell.

Sophia 7
Artist, Japanese interpreter and future winner of the Booker Prize

Those who bring sun sine to the lives of others 

cannot keep it from themselves.

~James M. Barre

The Cherry Blossom Buddha
Pastel and charcoal on paper

I mean, seriously? This kid also did an amazing picture of the Taj Mahal with so much detail you can't believe it. I love the subject matters he picks! He just finished the pyramids. He has the patience of Job when it comes to his art, and I'm pretty sure in a past life he was best friends with Siddhartha.

Louden, age 7
Artist, old soul and and future builder of monuments

Plush Horsey
pastel on paper

Super cute, right? She always looks at me like she is ready to crack up or she has some secret she's not telling. You can see that in her photo!

Samara, 7
Artist, perfectionist and future holder of State's secrets

Rainbow Dog
Pastel and Charcoal on Paper

Julian is pretty new to the Wizard. I love that he wants to fill things will all kinds of unique colors! And look at his signature, with a star!

Julian, 5
Artist, colorist and total cutie pie

Mystical Island Seascape
watercolor on paper

Just look at that sky! It looks like tie dye! I was so happy for him, because I could tell he was really so happy with how it came out. It's so fun when they love how their own work turns out.

Rio, 10
Watercolorist and super laid back cat

Winter Falls
Acrylic on canvas

Leo is a natural painter. He just keeps getting better and better, and he is definitely finding himself and his own style and brushwork. Very cool to see. After this piece, he moved on to oil paints, which is very exciting! He's one of those young artists that we feel privileged to teach.

Leo, age 12

Amazing painter, totally Zen guy (and future teacher of mediation through painting!)

There is no greater joy than that of feeling oneself a creator.

The triumph of life is expressed by creation.

~Henri Bergson

quotes from Art Quotes

Blessings and light!

Amazing Art Kids at The Wizard of Art

I don't think I've posted the kids' art since summer! And, I have to say, it's been nice to teach there on a more consistent schedule, and really get to know the kids better, as well as their art. 

Here are some of my faves, since fall. 

La Tour Eiffel by Moonlight 

Watercolor, watercolor pencil and ink on paper

By Shelby, 10 

sweetheart and more talented than she knows! 

(Wait til you see her next piece!)

Oh, and here's a little fun music to go with the kids …

Still life with Roses 

Pastel on Paper

Deanna, 6 
Matisse enthusiast and storyteller

Still Life Narrative: Story of Tragic Transgender Teen
(No, I'm not making that up. 
She had a whole beautifully detailed story 
written around this piece.)
Charcoal and Pastel on Paper

McKenna, 13 
Artistic soul, got into all 6 high schools to which she applied, 
including the Los Angeles School of the Arts, her school of choice

Girl with Blue Orb 
Oil on Canvas

Talia, 17 (just turned 18) 
Beyond brilliant, and off to Brown University in the Fall

Godzilla and the Chevy 
Pastel and charcoal pencil on paper

Simon, 8
Imaginative and unique, also a beekeeper

Monochrome Monarch 
Charcoal tone drawing

Jessica, 9
A little funny and bright butterfly, 
practical joker, and my little buddy

Landscape Meadow with Oak Trees
Watercolor on Paper

Juliette, 10 
Energetic and excited watercolor enthusiast, 
(this was her first!) also fluent in French.

Still Life Interior by a Window View
Pastel on Paper

Jaffe, 6
Snacker and visionary colorist

I found I could say things with color and shapes 

that I couldn't say any other way-

Things I had no words for.

~Georgia O'Keeffe

Cupcake Creation with Chocolate Sprinkles
Acrylic on Canvas

Keya, 13
Sensitive, talented, and totally boy crazy

Seascape Inspired by Book Cover 
Acrylic on Canvas

Tessa, 11 
Humorist, jokester, matchmaker 
and paints water like no body's business

Mountain Landscape with Lake 
Watercolor on paper

Eva Luna, 10
Watercolorist extraordinaire, future public speaker 
and fellow matchmaker with best friend Tessa

It's not just about creativity,
it is about the person you're becoming 
while you're creating.
~Charlie Peacock

This Sunday is our yearly exhibition "Wiz Works," of all the kids art. If you are in LA, you should come by! It's from 2-6:00pm 1947 Hillhurst, in Los Feliz.

Hope you are all of to a great week!

Blessings and light!