WASH DAY

8x10 oil on canvas panel

April's challenge for Some Texas Artists Like to Paint was tools. Our students in the second grade experience Pioneer Day each Spring. The children dress in costume and experience a wide variety of activities, such as washing clothes with a washboard or a very useful tool prior to the invention of the automatic washing machine.

And speaking of school, I'm thrilled to say we have only 20 days left. These last 2 months are the hardest and most definitely the longest. Once again I'm looking forward to summer vacation and some serious daily painting.

DO-SI-DO for Edward Burton

This is for Edward Burton's moleskine of The Flying Moleskines and my response to his music theme. Until I read Edward's introduction in his book, I had no idea what I was going to paint for his music theme. When I read "people dancing", I knew immediately I would attempt this painting.

At my school, after studying Pioneer times, 2nd grade has a day where they celebrate the Pioneer life of long ago. The children are dressed in period costumes and have fun experiencing Pioneer times. One of our grandmothers dresses the part and tells "stories" of her travels West. After her stories, she plays her autoharp and the children dance. This is Jules dancing with one of our parent volunteers. I don't have favorite students, instead I have a whole school (250 students) of favorites. Jules is special, she loves art and I love her!

I posted this video not too long ago, here it is again, you can see a real quick shot of Jules drinking milk in the dining hall and then later eating a sandwich. As sad I as I am for my summer vacation to end, after watching this video again, I cannot wait to see my students!

JENNIFER'S PRAYER

8x16 oil on canvas

I painted this at the end of the school year with the intentions of going back and working on the hands. Well, time has passed and it is no longer the end of the school year. I just returned to school this week to begin the new school year and I still have not returned to these hands.

I always return to school reluctantly, but the minute I walk through the doors, I know that is where I belong. This is Jennifer one of the precious students I get to teach at West Dallas Community School. Jennifer is a delightful 7th grader, soft spoken, very polite, and quite the artist!

I am continuously amazed with the fellowship and friendship that has grown from all of our blogs; thank you so much for visiting and commenting, you are the best!

THE LOVE OF CHRIST

11x14 oil on canvas sold

This painting is a companion piece to Adore His Sacred Name that I posted a few months ago. If you recall, my school opens our day with a morning assembly where we pledge, pray, and sing the hymn of the month. As we learn the new hymn of the month, one of our teachers teaches all of us how to sign the hymn. It's incredible to see children of all ages, along with teachers and staff, learn sign language to accompany our voices. After we have mastered both song and sign language, we sometimes sing with our hands only...a truly beautiful event!

This is 5 year old Ivan, signing the word love in the hymn, Lift High the Cross. Ivan's arms are crossed over his chest to sign the word love. Lift high the cross the love of Christ proclaim, till all the world adore His sacred name.

So, two paintings are now finished, I have several more to complete the sign language series. Thank you so much for visiting my blog, your visits and comments are most appreciated. Take care.

ADORE HIS SACRED NAME

11x14 oil on canvas nfs
Every morning we open our day with a morning assembly where we pledge, pray, and sing our hymn of the month. One of our teachers teaches all of us how to sign our hymns, so in addition to learning the lyrics we also all learn a little bit of sign language. This is Madyson, a Pre-K student, signing the hymn, Lift High the Cross. Madyson is signing the word, adore... Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore His sacred name! I am determined to learn how to paint hands, so there will be more of these sign language portraits to come. 

On April 1, Madyson ran up to me to tell me April is her birthday month, April 13 to be exact. Happy 5th Birthday Madyson!

I CAN TIE MY SHOES

10x10 oil on canvas

This is one of the paintings I worked on during my Spring Break vacation a couple of weeks ago. I am, happily,  very busy with pet portrait commissions, but thought I would, selfishly, fit in a little painting for myself. I try to have my camera with me at school so I can capture little moments such as Aaliyah learning how to tie her shoes. I have so much to learn, ugh those hands. So many of you paint such beautiful figures, please keep in mind I am learning, but aren't we all? 

STARRY NIGHT COMPLETED

We did it and we are all patting ourselves on the back! I posted a few pictures of our Starry Night in progress a few weeks ago and now that it is finished and installed, I am thrilled to share our accomplishments. 

We painted (64) 9x12 canvases using the new Golden Open Acrylic paints, altogether there were (40) 6th, 7th & 8th grade students and (24) members of administration, faculty, and staff joined in on the painting, as well. From start to finish, this was about a 6 week project and the completed project is about 6'x8'. 

Please pardon my flash in the photo, I know it is not the best photo, but I could not wait to share it with you. In an earlier post, I showed a few students working diligently on their individual paintings and here I've added photos of some of my "big kids" working just as hard! Pictured here are Tom Neuhoff, our Headmaster and Kathy Stewart, our Assistant Headmaster. If you would like to learn a little more about our school, click here. 

I received a blog award!

I received two art blog awards (is it ok to combine) from the very kind and generous artist, Edward Burton and from the ever so positive and sunny, Sheila Tajima. Well, still being new to this internet blogging thing, I'm actually afraid to write stuff about myself and share, but I will try. 

You probably already know how this works, as I understand it I am to list several things about myself and then tag others to do the same. So here are some things about me:

1. I have the best job in the whole wide world. I teach 1st-8th 

grade in the inner city in Dallas, an area that is known as one of the 8 poorest areas in the U.S.  I love to go to work everyday.

2. I have 1 husband of 24 years, 1 daughter of almost 19 years,and 1 dog of 14 years. I am incredibly blessed to call them my family.

3. I'm originally from SW Louisiana and am known for visiting with an ice chest to bring back fresh seafood, cajun sausage, and lots and lots of cayenne pepper and Mello Joy coffee.

4. I collect old/interesting bottles to hang on my bottle tree that was designed and built by my 2 very talented brothers. And yes, the occasional great bottle of wine is placed on the tree, front and center.

5. I love cows of all kinds and wish I could have one, but that's not going to happen in the city, besides my husband says NO. A few weeks ago I got to climb up onto a longhorn and pose for some pictures...yes, the picture is on the refrigerator and above.

6. There are several great masters of long ago whose work I admire immensely, they are: Bougereau, Cezanne, Sargent, William S. Johnson, Augusta Savage, & the amazing quilts from the artists of Gee's Bend.

My job here is done and now I am to tag some of my favorite and incredibly talented artists:

1. Nathalie S. Davis - inspiring portraits.

2. Sally Tharp - an amazing painter of bottles and glass.

3. Helen Parkhill - wonderful artist, hasn't posted in awhile, but I hope this encourages her to post some new animal portraits!

WEST DALLAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROJECT

My students in classes 5-8 are recreating Starry Night on 64 canvases. We are using the new Golden Open Acrylics, which I highly recommend if you are looking for a slow-drying acrylic. As we work on the painting, I will continue to post in-progress photos; we hope to be completed with all painting within a month. When completed the painting will be approximately 6' x 8'. Pictured here are Chantel, Sydney and Victoria working on their individual sections.