Inside the Spin-Mosaic Studio

The image above is inspiring. Each childlike part of the collage is an adaption from a 36" work I created for and with Coulston Elementary School that will soon be transformed into 32-foot Artwall. This commission with Arts for Learning of Indiana has been postponed due to repercussions of corona. Each image in the artwork is inspired directly from 100's of drawings sent my way from students.

In addition to a resume' or CV, artists have what is called an Artist Statement where, among other things, a short description of the artist's key inspirations are discussed. Every artist is entitled to their own source of inspiration. My inspiration is kids, empowering parents, and igniting the spark of Art.

This blog contains 3 parts. I know some of you are skimmers, so feel free to find what you need. 1) An introduction that answer the questions, "Why am I doing this?" and 2) "How is 30 Days & 30 Ways different than a series of art projects?"

Then, we sequence into a recap of the original FB post short description for those who arrived here by word of mouth. We bring up the caboose with Q & A's that have came my way.

Art does not begin with the pencil, or the hand; it begins with the eyes, the brain, and the heart. When all of these elements are in sync, this is when the magic happens. This is what these training excercises do.

This 30-Day challenge all started with a list. Lists are lists. Grocery lists. To-do lists. The folded piece of paper is still setting on the counter next to my gray sink with a coffee ring blurring my black ink where I laid it down too close to my morning ritual. Coffee, write a to-do list, feed dogs, watch the sunrise, name the most impactful projects in my teaching career on a piece of paper...another normal day in the life an artist?

This list was different. My brain reeled back in time to only a few years ago when my days were filled with students in high studio desks, classes of young artists coming and going, and the smell of earthy clay and drying paint. How I love the smell of an art room! 

I now do studio work full-time. When I chose to redirect energies beyond teaching, increasing my availability to work with many schools and districts for special projects and initiating non-traditional artful impact remained high on my list: murals, school-wide programs, collaborative community art projects, resident artist public studios...I love the variety. This 30 day challenge is another form of empowering Art in non-traditional ways.

This morning, my list began by jotting down the most impactful projects over the course of 15 years. I aimed to let my memory float back NOT to "the best" projects according to IDOE standards or Scholastic contest rules, but the "street-smart" projects--where even if the end product was not idealistic or realistic, the students learned a ton and had a blast doing it.

Those 15 years included 5 school campuses ranging from preschool, elementary, junior high, high school, and a taste of teaching college in both public and private school settings and across a great spectrum variation of development and abilities.

My goal was to make a list, then adapt the techniques, mediums, and concepts to a level where my 8-year old could jumpstart these four weeks schooling at home with "serious" art lessons. I am qualified after all.

After five minutes of writing, one glance back at my list shined with revelation. I heard the art-angels sing. The majority of projects where students achieved the greatest success were the same projects that required specific "training exercises" in order to grow into the technique. These exercises would then fill leftover minutes here and there throughout the rest of the school year. Kids who took these seriously were the ones who achieved artistic wonders.

I took out my pen and rewrote my List naming only the exercises that had preceded the most impactful successes. In that amount of time, while my 2nd cup of coffee brewed, I realized this is exactly where I needed to begin with my son. This is where "serious art lessons" need to begin: not with the pencil, or the hand, but with the eyes, the brain, and the heart. When all of these elements are in sync, this is when the magic happens.

In the same way a star basketball player begins with hours of repetitive drills; in the same way a musician spends hours practicing scales; in the same way a spelling champion recites words frontwards, backwards and inside-out, the eye and the hand of the artist must walk together in their growth from day one. 

I write not as an expert, but as a witness. These 30-days are not book-smart as much as they are street-smart straight from the alleyways of art classes.

Once the plan was crystal clear, I remembered my many friends who are on this same 4-week school-at-home "free cruise" with creative kids. Sharing what I'm doing with Brandon might help them, too. My friends are awesome and capable, but after years of talking with parents, the most common question I have had come my way is, "How do I encourage my (creative) child's...creativity?" 

I realize that each parent, teacher, or caregiver reading this is coming from a different stream of experience and skill, but if these words resonate in the least, know that you are not alone. This is why I am sharing. I am convinced that parents who care enough to want to encourage creativity in their child, recognize the value because their child received it genetically from...YOU. I have witnessed parents experience awakenings of their own creativity as efforts to encourage their children bloom. I LOVE to hear these stories, too!

Below are the answer to a few questions that have come my way. Feel free to skim to what applies to you. 

The Facebook post stated,

"Include Art in your day! Join my BLOG for 20-minute hand-eye-brain exercises that can raise your child's creative awareness and Visual Art skills in 30 days.

This collection of "Creativity Training" activities have been skimmed form the top of my "student favorites" files from 15 years of teaching K-12 Art. Activities can be adapted for all ages. No special supplies are necessary that you can't find in your junk drawer or garage. 

I am a professional artist and mom-of-4. My youngest son is 8. I am using these 4 weeks at home to begin 'serious' art lessons with him. This is where we are starting. Join us!

These 30 exercises will be like the dribbling and ball-handling skills of basketball, or practicing scales of a musical instruments--but for Art! And, they are fun. This toolbox of skills can set a strong foundation for creative kids to continue self-driven growth and empower YOU to lead (even if you can't draw a stick figure)!

Hand-eye-brain training is the starting point of "seeing" with the mind's eye and training the hand to respond intuitively as a young artist. Creative concepts can be applied to other Arts disciplines (music, writing, movement) and contribute positively to brain-eye-hand-heart connections as a life-skill. Join us and share!"

Here are answers to a few questions that have come my way from friends and friends-of-friends.

Do I need to sign up?

Nope. Just stop in to this blog whenever you are ready. It is, however, helpful for me to know my audience. After each week (5 days) an email will go out listing supplies needed for the coming week, and addressing common questions asked by parents. More information will head your way about opportunity for your student's art to be featured.

When will postings be?

Every day, 5 days a week, Monday-Friday with the summary and informational email on the weekends to prepare for the next week. Each day's challenge will actually be posted late the night before, so you can jump on board one-on-one with your child when your are good and ready (coffee has something to do with that)!

How much time will each activity take?

My goal with my 8-year old and his attention span is to aim for 20 minutes. Honestly, at whatever age or skill level your child is at, I recommend sticking pretty close to the 20-minutes for the first round. The goal is to intrigue curiosity, have fun, and to keep the idea fresh so that they will want to repeat the exercise on their own.

How much preparation time will each activity take?

For these activities to be successful, and for you to give yourself the time to feel competent in your teaching, I would recommend approaching the "30" with 20/20 vision: 20 minutes prep time + 20 minute engaging in the activity with your child. Read through the lesson. Have materials out. 

If your child (or mine) shows initiative to invest more time, then go for it. School art classes are longer than that. Any quality art project takes longer than that, but remember, these are not art projects. There will not be an advanced list like "Spring Trees with Magazine Mosaic Leaves" to choose from and produce a pretty end product. For these exercises, a pretty end product is NOT the goal.

Understand, there is a lot of pressure on kids to produce pretty end products. These 30 exercises release them from this pressure, not add to it. I would still recommend celebrating, displaying, taking photos, and taping their work to the fridge! Just keep in mind that the goal is NOT perfection. Breathe a sigh of relief.

And, in contrast to scrolling through ideas on Pinterest and picking which one that looks great, I would recommend following in sequence. Each has a necessary concept behind it that will help enable your child with a wholistic tool belt for success.

What ages can participate?

I would recommend age 2-high school. That seems like a broad span. Each lesson will have a list of adaptions and recommended adjustments for skill levels.

YOU can jump in, too?! If you want to get the most out of these ideas, there is no better advise than venturing into this with a spirit of learning together. 20-minutes is not unrealistic given the demands of our busy days. Do the activity along with your child!? Sit beside him. Ask his advice. Turn your phone off. Make eye contact. 

Will there be videos or live FB's?

Later. But, not at first. I want your child to establish YOU as their teacher, not me. The first week will be in blog-writing fashion with photos. Each post will be along a similar format. I will give you enough information to feel competent.

When I taught art in the schools, I was always very careful when giving demonstrations to not give too much information. Creativity, by definition, is not replicating exactly what a teacher creates. I do not teach classes or share these ideas to create duplicates. That's what factories are for. I will provide enough information for success, but little enough to allow for preferences, decisions, insights, and ideas to flourish.

What supplies will I need?

For the first day, each participant will need:

1) two sharpened "ready" pencils or mechanical pencils

2) NO eraser 

3) a small stack of blank paper (8.5 x 11 printer paper is fine)

4) a paper lunch-bag or something similar that is not see-through

5) a hair-tie, pony-tail holder, or large rubber band

Stop back Monday for the first Creativity IQ lesson!