Sunday, August 25, 2013

Creative Kids!!! ~ A Summer of Art Camp!


Art is not a part of life, 
it is not in addition to life,
it is the essence of those pieces of us, 
that make us fulfilled. That give us hope. 
That give us dreams 
and provide the world a view 
very different than what it would have been 
without us.
~Hansan Davis

Leopard Love
by Stella, age 5
watercolor pencil, white pastel


Stella ... artist, fashion maven, spitfire and future designer of all things animal print.


I've been a little behind and slow with blogging over the summer. Once again I was teaching summer art workshops, at the Wizard of Art in Los Feliz, (near Griffith Park.) This summer I did 10 weeks and the very last day was on Friday!

I thought I'd share with you, some of the amazing kids we spend a week or more with, over the summer. The kids sign up by the week. Some do 1 week, some two ... Keya spent 4!

Penguins in Pastel by Keya, age 12. 

I don't have the photo of Keya but there will be much more of her work to come. She is starting as a regular student, at the Wizard of Art, this fall. She is a rock star, and I can't wait to have her in class.


Tiger Eyes
pastel on canvas
Alexis, age 8


Alexis ... artist, animal lover and sweet spirit.


Hummingbird in the Afternoon
Watercolor on paper
by Georgia, age 10


Georgia ... watercolorist, over-achiever, and future Ivy League grad.


Ringo 
charcoal tone drawing
Lola, age 7



Lola ... artist, and future editor of Rolling Stone. (She walked in Monday morning and we asked what she wanted to draw. Without hesitation, she said, "Ringo or George.")


Harp Seal at Night
Mixed Media on paper
by Graham, age 6


Graham ... artist and future Green Peace activist.


Apple on Green
Oil on Canvas
Gabe, age 10


Gabe ... well first let me say, that this brilliant apple was Gabe's first oil painting ever. He's been doing acrylics for a couple of years, and using this new medium was a revelation for him. He kept shouting, "I love Oils!!!" while he was painting. 

I can't imagine him not becoming a painter, not only because of his talent, but how passionate he is about it! 

He also ran for school president and won. His platform was that the art studio should be open during lunch. An artist for president perhaps?


Night Owl
Charcoal on canvas
by Gavin, age 8


Gavin ... proud artist and Audubon enthusiast.


Dolphin and the Sea
Animation cell, mixed media, watercolor and salt
by Maggie, 5 1/2


Maggie ... artist, dreamer, and eyewear maven. 


Tropical Seascape
Watercolor on Paper
by Ziggy, age 9 (10 in one month)


Ziggy ... watercolor genius and future humanitarian award winner. (Wins current award for kindest smile, and most beautiful attitude.)


Evening by the Sea
Acrylic on canvas
by Asher, age 10


Asher ... painter, future A.S.B. President, captain of the football team, and most likely to be a missing member of the Kennedy family. 


Still life with Single Rose
Acrylic on canvas
Nelly, age 11

Nelly was leaving the next day. Her family was moving to the east coast and she was visibly shaken. Nelly did this painting for her best friend, and it was her parting gift to her.


Nelly ... artist and future art therapist.


Art opens up the closets,
airs out the cellars and attics.
It brings healing.
~Julia Cameron

Bright Poppies
Watercolor on paper
by Ruby, age 7


Ruby ... painter, sweetheart, and creator of things bright and beautiful.


And here are a few more of my summer faves that I happened to get photos of. Sometimes they left and I realized I missed photographing some of my favorite art pieces! (And kiddos!)

Orla ... artist and lover all things pastel, stuffed and furry. Age 5.


Sadie ...  sculptor, beauty (inside and out) and most likely to be a future choice, to represent the U.S., at the Venice Biennale. 



Tessa, 9 ... artist, watercolor enthusiast, and most likely to change her major from pre-med to art, a semester before graduating. 



Carolyn, ... painter, Monet enthusiast, and wins the award for sounding most like Brenda Vaccaro at 13 years old. (So fabulous.)


Samara, 7 ... watercolorist, and future head of a Fortune 500 company.


Ashley, 5 ... animator, cutie pie and future fashion blogger. Just look at those glasses!



And then there was Michael. Audrey, our high school intern (who has been taking at the Wizard since she was 4) and I were so taken with this little one. The cuteness ... was astounding.




He was also one of the most focus little ones, we've ever had. His squirley little buddy Leo, would come up and start joking around and Michael would sigh and say, "I'm trying to work."



He would get so passionate, about what he was doing, he'd have to get up. All that energy would just pop him up out of his seat!



I mean seriously, could he be any more adorable? ... A little bundle of joy and light. 



Parrots at Sunset
pastel on paper
by Michael, age 6



These are 3 of my favorite teenagers, on the planet. 

Audrey, on the left, is our super talented high school apprentice, and fast becoming a great art teacher. She still takes Saturday class at the Wizard. 

Faith is in the middle and has been coming back every summer for workshops and is another amazing painter. She always stuns me. 

Anna, on the right, also takes Saturday class and decided to do two weeks of workshops, this year. Yay!


Anna and Audrey did portraits of each other.
Here is Anna with her oil painting of Audrey.


Audrey
by Anna, age 16
oil on canvas


I know! Right? Incredible. So fun to see what she comes up with.
Here, Anna is working on a portrait, in ink.



Anna and Audrey, with Audrey's Portrait of Anna


Anna
by Audrey, age 16
oil on canvas


Faith was working on this, below. I will have to post the finished piece later. She found a photo of this British politician with  ... let's just say, he had a rather full face. Somehow, she imagined him ... pickled. 


You have already seen these Sartorial Sisters, with their art. Stella with her leopard, and Sadie with her seal. I love seeing how these girls express themselves, not only through their art, but what they wear. So dang cute.


A lot of silliness happens over the summer ...
And sometime you just have to join in. (Yes, that's me in the glasses.)


Shane, (Faith's sister) ... more silliness and artist's eccentricities! 


Another character, 6 year old Brooke, funny, sassy and smart as a whip. (And Alexis' sister.)


We have a snack break and you never know what will happen ... shoulder rubs, games, jokes, charades, hair braiding ... and of course, actual snacks.


The teachers ... Mekenzie, Audrey and I. It's funny, because we look appropriately tired in this shot! So lucky to work with these talented ladies! 


Making art is like giving a gift:
evidence of your spirit
and that you are here.
~Patty Mitchell

Blessings and light!

11 comments:

donna baker said...

Kids are the best. I bet you had a ball with them this summer.

Amanda Summer said...

What precious faces of these creative little souls and their works of art! Also love the Julia Cameron quote~

Theresa said...

Man o man!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here you go again. These are amazing.

Marty said...

oh là là, such a wonderful post, so many artists ! they all are lovely, cute and all these paintings are amazing ! really !
I feel happiness !
last month I visited the garden of Monet ! just gorgeous ! hope Carolyn could see it one day, if she hasn't already !

Candy said...

Lucinda, this is one of my favorite posts! You are all amazing!

Unknown said...

wow! loving all the drawings from all these kids

http://www.ohmydior.org/

Victoria said...

Pure magic...I have been so captivated throughout this beautiful post!So many gorgeous creations( wow..stunning array!!)..so many talented little souls!! I imagine you to be a very fun..magical and super-cool teacher..the kids must adore you! What a blessing to be surrounded by such creative magic and to be a part of it all...you are a fabulous spirit! Love all of the photos..love all of the art..and wonderful quotes alongside!
Thanks for sharing such a very special post!
Very inspiring!!
Massive hugs and sparkles
Victoria

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

WHOAH....I am blown away, stunned, enchanted....

Uhmmmm.....I just don't know what to say! OK, the art teacher at the French immersion school where I taught was amazing. She got EVERY CHILD in that school to go beyond what I had ever done in school, and I'm an artist....but LOOK AT WHAT YOU GOT THESE KIDS TO DO! Each one exceeds anything you would expect. But my favorite is that OIL PAINTING OF THE APPLE! And that this 10 year old was enthusiastic about it. WE TEACHERS have the big but fabulous job of bringing out the best in our students, and with that, I leave so excited to start teaching French to high school seniors and 8th graders next week. No more immersion, but rather focusing on my passion: LANGUAGE and it's power to communicate. How inspiring is your post today my dear. Thank you for visiting. Anita

"Create Beauty" said...

What a JOY to see these kids exploring, enjoying, and excelling at ART!!!!!!

So Talented! What great teachers they have!!!!!

I was blown away....

Anita told me of your blog.
~ Violet

Cobalt Violet said...

Thanks for the comments about the kiddos!!! They really are amazing and inspiring! So happy I can share it with all you creative souls!

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