Party!

Student Exhibit and Holiday Party this Saturday, Dec. 22nd, from 1 to 4!  Bring your relatives, friends, and possile future students!

Your childs work will be displayed and we will have Pias Sweet Potato Pie, whipped cream, and whatever you want to contribute.

I look forward to seeing all of you!

Joan

                        As promised I am posting some photos of the students hard at work.  Enjoy!

                                             Tuesday a.m. class- Lucy and Caroline. 4 yrs.
My youngest, and smallest class- I broke my rule of "at least 3"  for these two, who had been waiting.  This is their first color mixing from primary colors experience, and their work is spectacular.  It is a pleasant morning time, adults sipping coffee and tea and the girls chatting and working.  We recently started clay work, with oven fired and air-drying clay, which the girls will paint using their new color mixing skills.

Lucy Painting

                                                                       Caroline at work

We're starting to work in clay!

Tuesday PM Class- 8 and 9 yrs

This class could be called:  The Drawers and the Painters- or that is the way it seems sometimes.  The students are at an age of tremendous pressure, around what it means to be a "good artist". Yes, it starts this young.  I am working hard to get them to cross boundaries of what they have been good at, to stop judging their efforts in different media- while respecting their own likes and strengths-art flows when we are doing what interests us, usually.  

 I didn't put the pressure there, but recognize it exists and want to empower the kids to see they can do whatever they want. This semester the drawers are learning to mix colors while the painters have been learning that drawing is like painting,as varied as the individuals doing it.  If they want to draw what they see (because that is what is expected of them ) they can.  And then move on.  I have found continuous line drawing to be a method that helps the student to see the way things are connected, and loosens them up- once they relax with it.

We do both, and some clay and collage as well.  This class is about the entire art experience, and the whole child.  It is also about working with others who may have different interests and abilities. Next semester I feel the creative energy will just explode in all directions, fueled by confidence. They are all working very hard- taking risks. I am so proud of them.

You will see more of their wonderful work at the student art exhibit, Dec. 22nd in my studio. 

                                                            Jordan and Julian Y- Wall Painting

                                                            Julian and his work- pensive          

                                                 
                                                    
                                                Julian P and Noah at work in their "studios"

 Ana and Violet pose for Continuous Line Drawing

                 Tues. Pm students, siblings, parents, and caregivers, coats, boots and strollers-  leaving.

                                                             Wednesday Class- 4-6 yrs

A quiet little class that recently grew to four.  Two of the students have worked with me before- two are new this year.  We have worked in color mixing, and matching- with great success.  All kinds of clay, and bead (or other jewelry) making and painting. The students have worked on the wall and at their desks.  It is a wonderful delightful class. The artists are very motivated.

Violet and Ana on a fall day- matching the color of flowers

                                                         
                                                   The girls gradually mix their skin tones

               

Two new students join-Nikita and Asha.  Well actually Asha returns after a year- we are so happy to have them in the class!

Asha adds RED

Nikita blending some wonderful colors

And at the end, we dance...

                                         
                                      Asha and her red again- this time she paints with  a scarf

  

                                                       
                                                       
                                                    Thursdays Class- 6 and 7 yrs.

Now these kids paint!  Just three of them, but as a class they work hard and furiously.  As you can see, the paintings and confidence are wonderful.  We have worked on tables, floors and walls.  They love it all. Students have learned to control their work- when to stop and say-" its done" so one painting does not morph into five or six.  How to keep their colors clean so they can mix just the one they want. How to use long brushes and their whole bodies.  After giving them the tools, I stand back and watch.  That is the best teaching experience one can have.

Chloe with what will be "Girl with Green Hair"

Ian and Claude at work on Wall Paintings

Claude overheard:  "I don't want this to be a face"

Another Claude painting

Ian, done. With his and Claudes whimsical wall paintings

Chloe carefully considers each stroke

some rather exuberant scarf "dancing"

All for now.  Don't forget the Student Exhibit and Holiday Party, Dec. 22, 1-4, here!

Hi all!  Thank you for bearing with me while my place of work and living, Westbeth, gets back on the map after the Hurricane.  Plan on starting fresh the week of November 12.  Not by choice-

Just need to photograph one more class and will have some fresh images of students hard at work.

Going to Brooklyn to wait for power.  Stay well.  Joan

9/2012
HELLO!  Welcome back from your wonderful summers!  

Most of  your children have started school.  My little school will start this week- on the 12th.  The classes and schedule have been updated throughout the summer on the blog- but here it is in brief, to make sure there are no mixups:

Tuesday:  10:45-  NEW Class time for the youngest students!  The class is in formation and hopefully will fill by the 18th ( next week).  This class is for 3 to 4 year olds approximately.  Very wonderful class.  Painting in all sizes, on the floor and walls, and learning the same color mixing skills as learned by the older students.  Clay and collage work.  All age appropriate.  Dance at the end to loosen up and relax.  Students in this class NEVER have a problem staying the hour  once they get used to it.   Please email me to sign up for this right away so it can start.  We have TWO definite students.  Need 3.

Tuesday 3:30

8 and 9 year olds (approximately again). Some returning.  All serious, but with different areas of interest.  Open to exploring new ones.  The class emphasizes growth, without competition, (except with the student him or her self).  

I am expecting to be blown away- by these as by all the students.

*THIS CLASS IS NOW CLOSED TO NEW STUDENTS- (posted Sept 29). Sign up for next semester!

Wednesday: 3:30

5 and 6 year olds. NEED a third.  (Will start on the 12th however).  One returning student and one new one.  We will be doing a lot of painting, and a lot of clay work ( PROMISED to the returning student!)

PLEASE find students for this wonderful class!

Thursday: 3:45

6-7 year olds ( approximately).   Students will all be starting together- in color mixing, first in tempera and then moving into acrylic and?  (whatever moves us).  Assemblage, collage.  Clay. I am expecting a lot of energy and discovery here.

THIS CLASS IS NOW FULL.   WILL CONSIDER ONE NEW STUDENT.   

As many of you know- I am at Westbeth.  Call or email for the apartment number if you do not have it.   

Most have sent in a deposit of $50.  For those-the balance will be due- $50. +15 for supplies, for the month of Sept.  It is due by the first day of class. All payments will be expected the first week of the month this year.  

For those signing up now- you MUST do that by email in advance, and the tuition is $100 plus 15 per calendar month.  But the commitment is for the semester.

Please come prepared to fill out a rolodex card with all your contact info.  Parents or sitters should be prepared to stay the first day at least, unless you can arrange with others to be responsible for your child if needed. 

I do not allow drop-ins.  Sorry.  

Parents do not participate in the class work or dancing, but there is a sitting area, separated only by a curtain. I always provide a snack for the parents who wait, and for the children after their work.

Smocks are used.  Best to mark them, and leave them here. 

Still open to having adult classes -( drawing- prerequisite for painting)- in the mornings Wed. and Thurs. mornings -Tues or Thursday evenings.  Please let me know if this is of interest for  you and a couple of friends and we will open a class!  Prices are listed further down on the blog.  Or email me.  joanroberts909@gmail.com

Classes start on the 11th- next week!  Sign up now if you have not, by emailing Joan at joanroberts909@gmail.com.

Drop-ins are not permitted, so do sign up.  A semester commitment is required, for the good of all.

Class schedules have been updated:  just scroll through the photos of the student exhibit.

See you soon!  Joan

It is mid July and I am in Maine relaxing with friends.  However, I check my email regularly, so do write if you are interested in the classes, listed after the wonderful work from the end of year student exhibit.  Doing some kayaking and loving it.  Wish for all some down-time with friends and family.  Joan

  

STUDENT EXHIBIT 2012

Great success!  The work was extraordinary, as usual.  The show was hung in the Community Room at Westbeth- the first time.  I used to hang it in my apartment and studio, but the school has gotten too large.  We ate strawberry shortcake ( yes that is what that was- not pita bread) looked at the art, adults mingled, grandparents oggled, we all listened to Noah on the piano, and students ran around the courtyard.  I wasn't sure it would get done ( 9 to 1 is NOT enough time to hang a show) but it did and all was down by 5. 

Keep scrolling down for information about Fall classes, the school in general, and my art educational philosophies: the posts run from most recent to least.  I will be posting photos of the show here, adding a few at a time.  Thanks for looking, and any comments on the show, (you now can), and thank you wonderful students for your remarkable work.  Joan

                                                                       Coming In!

                                                            Ava and her Wall (6 yrs)

Nicco's Wall ( 7)

                                                Noah and his Value (ink wash) and Line Drawing (8)

   

                        Continuous Line and Value Drawings from Observation- Noah and Buster (8)
                                                          (some close ups coming)

                                   Julian and shows his grandmother his Wall and sculptures

                                                                       Proud dad 

                                                          One of Izzy's collages (6 yrs)

                                                                  Violet's Wall (5yrs)

Noahs (8 yrs) Continuous Line drawing of my friend Ruth's sculpture.  Taking the photo to show her this weekend.  Actually taking all three of the wonderful drawings the students did of her "Ondine". 

                                                                Alexander's (8yrs) "Ondine"

                                                                 Buster's (8 yrs) "Ondine
                                                  (These are going to make Ruth smile! )

                                                    "Black Dry Paintings"- 7 year olds                                                  

                                  (top, Julian.  Bottom left, Tessa.  Bottom Right, Cayla)
At this age children in my classes seem to split a bit between those who want to work representationally, and those who think more abstractly. I encourage both.  In an attempt to have the more abstract thinkers feel comfortable with drawing- that is primarily seen as a representational, linear art form- I gave an assignment to do "Black Dry Paintings".  The children were given dry media, in sticks, and told to not leave any white, and to fill the page. Usually I shy away from formal constraints but I was trying to make them see drawing in a more painterly fashion.  The results, you can see, were astounding.

(Julian, top; Cayla, bottom)

                                     Caylas "Wall", Nicco (left) and Tessas (right) Black Dry Paintings

                                                                    Izzyy's (6) spot

                                                                  Giselles Wall (3 yrs)

                                                     Giselles Portrait of her Sister Tessa

Violet's (5) Wall

 Buster's Continuous Line Portraits of 1. Himself  and 2.  Noah  (8 yrs)

Buster's continuous line drawing of my dog Cookie- sleeping. (8)

                                            Buster's continuous line drawing of Alexander

                                              Julian's Mixed Media Paintings, Collages (7)

                                                                    Tessa's (7) Shell

Tessa's Area (7)

                                              Maeves (6) Mural Painting behind Stroller

                                   Noah's(8) Continuous Line Drawing of a miniature Eiffel tower

Alexander's (8) Charcoal Value Drawings

Alexander's Continuous Line Drawings: Flower, and Self-Portrait in Studio

                                            Nicco's (7) Observation Painting of Flowers

                                                                 Our Entertainment

                                                             Maeve's and Noah's Parents

                                                   Maeve(6)' and Charlotte(7)'s Walls

                                                                       Maeves Column

                                                                        Charlottes Wall

                                      Proud Artists and Good Friends  Maeve (6) and Charlotte (7)