Fingerpaint Chalk Experimentation

So I have to be honest. I get really bored just coloring with straight up markers with Shyla.  This is especially true since being an artist, I am very aware of the amazing amount of media out there used to flair up the act of creating color on to a canvas or piece of paper.  This week she has wanted so desperately to color with me that I decided it was my job as her mother (and for my sanity) to begin to expand my daughter's horizon on the world of coloring beyond markers and crayons.  SoI went into my big stack of art books and pulled out Creative Art for the Developing Child.  I turned to page 78,  Here is what we did:

Click photo to view at a larger size

Materials Needed:

1. Assorted Colors of Chalk

2. Chalk Drawings produced on Watercolor paper

3.White tempera fingerpaint

Results:

After fingerpainting over previously chalked drawings, children will:

1. discover the process of fusion as some of the more heavily chalked area provide a residue of color that mixes with the fingerpaint media, creating new patterns of color.

2. internalize a knowledge of constancy as they discover that chalk, as a media, is less constant than crayon,

-Creative Art for the Deveoloping Child

The end product ended up being a marble like finish.  I think this would be a really fun way to build a background up on canvas or some handmade cards in the future.  I really want to try some fun illustrations on top of this background. 

Art Saved My Life-Interview with Damon Patterson and T-Shirt Giveaway

Click  for bigger view; pictures property of Art Saved My Life and Damon Patterson;
Collage created by Julie Johnson

I get super excited when I hear about creative, inspiring endeavors coming out of the Kansas City art scene like this.  I know this film and project will help so many people stay in touch with that piece of them that inspires to create.  

I am proud to help support this cause as I know so many people in my life whose lives have literally been saved because of art, including my own.  Please take the time to watch the video below to learn more about this campaign.

Damon also took a few minutes to answer a few of my questions about this project:

JJ: What was your involvement in this film project?

I'm the director and producer. I was fortunate enough to have the whole initial concept come through me.

JJ:  What fears/doubts did you have about attempting this project?

I'm not sure its a fear or doubt but I just wanted to make sure it reaches as many people as possible and the right equipment

J: How did you gain the confidence and courage to create this film?

The project itself gave me the confidence to continue. It just kept speaking to me. Art really did save my life and many other peoples life. I just wanted to show that to the world.

JJ: What was the most challenging aspect in the creation of this film? 

The most challenging aspect was staying organized and planning everything out.

JJ:  What are you most proud of?

I'm really proud that its connecting with people from all walks of life. I've had people from all over the world reach out to me and share their stories.

JJ: Tell me in 10 words or less how art has saved your life?
It allowed me to create opportunity for myself and others.

JJ:  What do you hope viewers will take away from this film?
I hope viewers walk away knowing they have the creative power within them to change their lives and the world around them.

JJ:  Every artist has their co-conspirators in these sort of projects. Who were yours?

 Chameleon Arts & Youth Development, Mickel Garrett, Jacob Thomas, Natasha Harris, Joe Fuller, Ashley Turner, and Stinson McClendon.

JJ:  How has being involved in this project changed the way you create art? 

I'm way more organized and I'm better at planning out the projects lifespan. Seeing something from inspiration, idea, the process of manifesting it, fine tuning, finding its audience, presentation and after presentation or after life. I'm also more interested in creating work that helps socially in some way.

JJ:  How will you preserve the memories of this experience?

We have documented everything so far and we plan on taking photos and continuing to document it all. Art Saved My Life will be released on DVD and we have been talking about adding special features that show the process a little more in depth.

To further spread the word about this cause, I wanted to sponsor a giveaway of a An Art Saved My Life T-Shirt.

Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2012: Thriving in the Roots (my favorite photos of my own collection from 2012)

So 2012 was all about planting roots and thriving.  Seriously, remember when I said that I was going to have an intention word for this year?  Well, I had 2: Thrive and Roots.  In 2012, our family did THRIVE.  We got pregnant with Asher and also got our financial house in order to the point that we are in the process of becoming HOMEOWNERS and because Luke and I feel like we are thriving in our lives and careers here in St. Louis.  Thrive. Yes. It has been a long hard road of feeling as if we were just keeping our heads above water.  But, here we are. Thriving.

Then, it changed to ROOTS for the same reasons we began to thrive.  We dug roots in the ground here in St. Louis.  I became more involved in the arts community both locally and in the world of blogging and social networking.  I began recreating my photography portfolio after a 2 year sabbatical by taking Andrea Scher's online photography class:  Superhero Photo Class.  I love the photos that were created from this class.  What made it such a fun experience was taking this class with one of my great friends and fantastic photographers, Michelle Jarvis.  I also felt very blessed to get my artwork shown in 3 different shows here in St. Louis.  Getting myself back into the art world after my 2-3 year sabbatical has felt amazing.  My ROOTS  are always in the creative world.  To quote a movie I recently stumbled upon that was created in my hometown of Kansas City:  "Creating is How We Find Our Superpowers" from Art Saved My Life ( we will feature this very cool film project on this blog here soon.).

 Generating roots also comes with an aspect of the bitter and the sweet.  We lost Luke's dad after a 2 year fight with a rare autoimmune disease.  But, we count our blessings for the memories we have from knowing him and the stories we get to tell because of our relationship with him.  But we dig roots into the memories of Fred and story tell to the people we love the most about living in relationship with him.  That's how we thrive in the messier parts of our theme word of the year: ROOTS.


My favorite photos from 2012:

PHOTO GIVEAWAY: I will give away one print of any of the photos above to the first person that comments on the Life Astonished Facebook Page about how they feel that they THRIVED this year."