Tag Archives: artclubblog
Graffiti Friday #6
Filed under Graffiti Friday
Spring Flowers
Even though spring appears to have finally arrived, I still have this nagging feeling that the warmer weather is just temporary, and the fact that I ditched my socks yesterday may not last. Clearly, the lasting effects of a traumatic winter are lingering, so a good dose of flower making should help.
Koinobori Treasure Tin
Koinobori, carp-shaped wind socks, are a big part of Japan’s Children’s Day celebration on May 5th, a day which celebrates and honours boys, while March 3rd is reserved for girls. Carps are chosen as a symbol of strength, courage and determination – attributes desired in boys, and are flown from rooftops throughout the country.
I’ve always loved how children like to collect the most random things, and store them in small containers for safe keeping. So instead of making wind socks, we’ll be making small drawings of carps, and decorating a tin to store them in.
Filed under drawing, Japan, Multicultural Art, tins
Monster Scroll
Long before the beloved book there were scrolls, which first surfaced in ancient Egypt. They were traditionally made from parchment or papyrus, and provided a more practical way of keeping records than clay tablets. No kidding. By the 5th century, use of the codex book format, developed by the Romans, had surpassed that of the scroll. Today, scrolls are reserved primarily for religious purposes, and Harry Potter.
How did I end up with a monster scroll? First, I came across some very cool work by street artist Cranio, who made an extremely long drawing of his favourite characters, Indigenous Brazilian Indians, doing all sorts of fun things – the kind of drawing perfect for a scroll format. Why the monsters? Because my daughter had to draw some for art class, and I joined in and got carried away with how much fun it was.
Eggspressions
Who would have thought a little egg painting would lead to such an exciting opportunity. Two of my projects, Painted Eggs and Painted Eggs II, have been featured in this weekend’s USA Weekend – a magazine with a circulation of 22
Talking Trees
The power of the almighty googly eye does not cease to amaze me. My plans to make a kind and wise looking tree were thwarted by those eyes, turning said tree into a purveyor of nightmares. It began innocently enough, with the new season of Game of Thrones inspiring me to think of a project about enchanted forests and trees, and the role they’ve played in so many wonderful books and movies. Think of the Ents in Lord of The Rings, the grumpy apple trees in The Wizard of Oz, Grandmother Willow in Pocahontas, and the troll trees in Bridge To Terabithia…which brings us to talking trees. Just remember, when making your own, the use of googly eyes is optional.
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