life on mars

Recycled tube rocket power with my nephew and niece, Charlie and Tessa

swimming pools

 I used to house sit for my friends the Coverdales and the pool in their back yard reminded me of David Hockney's swimming pool paintings. Inspired by his work, I did a swimming pool project with a group of 5-8 year olds. I love the wandering lines in their paintings, suggesting light reflecting and refracting. Float on little people!

 

Picture of a Hollywood Swimming Pool, David Hockney, 1964

city of electric light

I recently discovered the wonderful work of artist Chris Johanson,  a veteran of the Northern California punk/skate scene.  He has a beautiful book Please Listen I Have Something to Tell You About What Is and I particularly love his paintings of cities that often explode the frame, become sculptural, spontaneous, sprawling.

On Thursdays I teach painting and drawing to an amazing group of 6-8 year olds, and last week we made city pictures inspired by Johanson's work. The kids loved the details in his paintings: bright roadways, upside down vehicles, underground hide outs. They became architects of their own gorgeous cities.

ice treasure eggs

Remember when it was hot out? My friend Erin at Collage Collage offered some artful ideas for cooling off. My nieces and nephew and I made ice treasure eggs, loading up water balloons with bits and pieces and freezing them. The kids loved rolling them around in the grass, dunking them in water, watching them melt and breaking the treasures out.