God is an Artist

Experience God with Mother Goose Time

God is an Artist: The Creation Story

The thematic unit for Mother Goose Time this month is The Art Studio, learning about famous works of art, artists from around the world and various techniques used. To compliment this art theme, the Experience God add-on uses the story of The Creation to illustrate how God is an artist. The first week goes over how God created color and light. After Mr A and I read the story cards for the first time and we learned what He created on each day, Mr A was impressed that He created us. He gasped and said "Woah" with wide eyes and a smile.

Mr Z was busy with something else while I read the story cards with Mr A. But, when he was ready to sit with us, he had fun putting these cut out pieces on the Day 1 card. Basically the discussion with him went like this while he was playing with the cut outs, "God made our earth, birds, animals and the sun for us to see. God made the land, plants and oceans. He made the sun, moon, stars and everything that we can see and even people"

We played with play-doh for a little while to see what we could create with just our hands. Mr A wanted to find the bin of tools to use with his dough, but I reminded him that God didn't use tools to make the universe. "Oh yeah. I can use just my hands too." Then Mr A made me with his play-doh... with arms, legs, a face and a big belly with the baby inside. "Artists use dough too make stuff too? ... Oh yeah, like Grandpa in his workshop. He has lots of clay to make things."

The art project for the lesson was to be an artist and paint each day in the creation story. In each child's packet were a coloring sheet, paintbrush and cardboard paint palette. The boys were intrigued to be using something so different to hold their paint, usually we just use a bowl.

I noticed since Mr A is a lefty, he started painting on the right side of his paper. I can't recall if he normally does this, but I thought it was interesting. I think he's picking up that if he starts on the right side, he won't get his hand all messy by crossing over what he already did.

 Mr Z painting away with no rhyme or reason. It  makes me smile.

I love seeing how the two work side by side. Mr A used to make the mess of mixed paint but has started paying more attention to detail and keeping things more neat. The transition from chaos to tidy is interesting. Sometimes it seems like it just happened overnight. I love watching how the two of them take on art projects. It was fun to hear Mr A encouraging Mr Z about his painting technique, "Wow that's awesome. Your black sun is cool. And I like your rainbow tree you painted. I'm going to do that too."

Mr Z was long finished with his painting, but Mr A was still working hard. I told him about the artist's paint palate and demonstrated how its usually held. Mr A gave it a try.

God is an artist and so are we. We are His masterpiece. He created light that we may see and He is our light if we chose follow Him.

Morning of Art

The Art Studio with Mother Goose Time

Day 3 & 4: Printmaking and Murals

Mother Goose Time sent us materials to make our own stamps for Printmaking; foam shapes of various sizes and some cardboard lids. The boys picked out what shapes they wanted to glue on their lids and then used a brush to spread paint semi-evenly on the stamp.

We looked at some rubber stamps too while deciding what shapes to use.

Mr Z mostly wanted to paint with his brush and only used his stamp once (and mixed his primary colors together).

Mr A was impressed that his stamp worked fairly well. He used two diamonds and a circle which turned out to look like some kind of animal. He was rather proud that he made a successful stamp. Mr A ended up using yellow to do some color mixing too.

While the boys were making pictures with rubber stamps, I tired to talk about how when newspapers were made a long time ago. I described how they had to use one stamp for each letter and build words and sentences one by one. It took hours to make one newspaper... nothing like a computer. Mr A didn't really care, but maybe he'll remember about it in a few days.

We talked about what a mural is for a few minutes. Mr A didn't recall seeing any large paintings that covered a wall or ceiling anywhere. I know we've been around some, but just haven't really noticed or talked about them. Mr A was impressed that paintings could be so huge or be painted on ceilings.
I normally don't bother with aprons while painting, but this project called for them. We used our Raddish aprons since they're just the right size. I didn't want paint dripping all over their clothes since they would be upside-down. Surprisingly, they didn't drip paint anywhere anyway.
Mother Goose Time provided the paper and a foam rectangle with slits. We rolled it into a circle and rubberbanded it to make a crude brush.
I told the boys that a long time ago, the artists had to make their own brushes and paint. Berries, leaves and other natural resources provided a variety of color. Mr A thought that was neat.
While Mr A was painting he said, "This is so much fun!" and he covered his paper with paint. He took his time t o gather paint on his brush and decide where to paint. Mr A swished his brush back and forth until he a was satisfied with the way it looked.

Mr Z did not want to participate for awhile. But, when his brother finished, Mr Z decided to give it a try. He painted in one corner with all the colors and was done in a few seconds.

These two art projects were fun and simple. That's they way I like activities these days. What a fun morning.

A Self-Portrait

The Art Studio with Mother Goose Time

The Self-Portrait and the Mona Lisa

Well, we attempted to start the unit for July this week. I have been head over heels about this thematic study about art. But, with so many other factors going on right now, it came up short for me... but it was only day one.

I have been having a hard time the last several weeks with feelings of depression, fatigue, no motivation, anxiety, stress, dietary issues, guilt... the list continues. It's been rough. I mean, nobody really talks about antepartum depression, its always about postpartum. I didn't really know depression during pregnancy was really a "thing". Its frowned upon by society, I guess, since having a baby is supposed to be a happy and exciting time for all the parties involved. I've been crying about silly things the last few days. I knew something was actually wrong with me when the family was at friends' kid birthday party and all I wanted to do was cry the whole time, then yell at anyone who tried to talk about the pregnancy and ask me questions. So, I have an appointment in a few weeks to talk to someone at the Dr office.

Well, how does this have anything to do with Mother Goose Time and my boys learning...?

I'm more irritable, less than patient, easily frustrated and its effected everyone in the house. Chores don't get done and lessons and activities have been put on the back burner. When we have tried to do something, it ends in a yelling match and way too much frustration for everyone. Then I feel guilty. Its been a vicious cycle. I try to have a good time. I try to be happy for the kids and enthusiastic about what we had planned. Blah. Hormones are dumb. Needless to say, we've attempted MGT and some things worked for everyone, but most of the time it has not been successful. (And not because of the curriculum itself... its the hormones. Stupid hormones that are making me different. And now that I am not denying that I am struggling with this pregnancy, I have felt better... today so far anyway.)
There have been a few quotes that I ran across someplace that I keep thinking about, so I'll just leave them here...

'Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.'

'There is no such thing as a perfect parent. Just be a real one.'

Anyway, THE ART STUDIO unit...

It has so many great components. We started the morning, by reading the story of Falco, the Featherless Bird and the boys really enjoyed it. Its about a bird that lost his feathers because he got greedy and only wanted to look for gold coins. We have to try to help him earn back his feathers throughout the month by discussing character building words.
We talked about discipline and what it means... to keep trying even when something gets hard, you find a way to keep going.
Mr Z found the basket of color paintbrushes and the paint pallet on the floor and went to town finding matching colors. These brushes were given in the curriculum throughout the year... each month we focused on a specific color and got a new brush. Now, they work perfectly with out art camp. I'm glad Mr Z finally has a good time with them for a few seconds.

The activity the boys decided to do next was to make your own self portrait. So I got some mirrors to look at ourselves and a few photos of the boys. The paper and orange frame was provided by MGT and so we went to town drawing ourselves.

Mr Z decided he was going to draw Falco instead of himself and scribbled all over the paper.

Mr A went to work with his face and drew his hair then eyebrows and everything went downhill. He was not satisfied with how his eyebrows turned out and fussed about it. I, being more impatient than usual, got upset that he wouldn't try to keep going with this picture when we just talked about discipline. I was frustrated and told him to throw his picture in the recycle bin. He wouldn't do that, so I tossed it across it the table. Yes, I know... not the proper way to handle that situation... but we obviously needed a break. So I sent the boys away to play something on their own.

Later in the evening, before bed, we sat back down at the coffee table where everything was left. I had calmed and so we talked about how art doesn't have to be perfect and that I'd really like to see how his turns out. I showed him my portrait and asked if it looked anything like me for real. Mr A laughed and said that it didn't. So, he agreed to finish his portrait.
Sometimes you have to just walk away from something for a little while before it can be completed happily. I forget that sometimes. That stubborn part of me wants things done right then when it is started. But it doesn't always have to be that way.
After Mr A finally completed his picture, he was happy with what he drew, happy that he had finished it and happy that I liked it too.

Even though we didn't get anything else done for day 1, and despite my own personal struggles, the boys did make fun pictures. And now that I am typing this out I have learned that stepping back, resting and coming back calm to a project is perfectly okay. I have issues within that need to be worked out, but lashing out at the boys because of them isn't good for anyone. They are wonderful and happy boys with great spirits. I love them... and am determined to get through these dumb negative feelings.
Happy learning!
Ps... this kid in his tie-dye and Hawaiian shorts! how can you not smile at that awesomeness. =)

The Italian Flag

The Art Studio with Mother Goose Time

Day 2 Italian Flag art project

I absolutely adore the art process that these guys go through. This comparison is so amazing. I love the differences. I've done an art project comparison awhile back of the boys' interpretation of the same project... (here).

This one was a simple Italian flag. Literally all you had to do was glue a green and red paper rectangle to either side of the white paper to make the flag.

Mr A glued his papers on where they were supposed to go. And as he did, we talked about Italy. It's where his dad's family is from, where the Leaning Tower of Pisa is, its where the artist that painted the Mona Lisa was from and the country is shaped like a boot. I also searched for traditional Italian music on my phone so we could hear some real Italian sounds... (here). Mr A did not care for the music all that much. He kept telling me to turn it off.  Mr A was finished with his flag in no time.

Mr Z however, he had quite the different approach and its so funny. He added his papers to the middle of the white sheet. Then saw more glue that was uncovered, so he needed more paper to cover it up. Mr Z added more glue and more paper for several minutes. It always makes me smile when he glue and paper happy when making a craft. At least he only used the colors that are in the flag; green, white and red.
Though, I do battle myself. On one hand, I want him to follow instructions and make his project look somewhat similar to what its actually intended to look like... that's the controlling, stubborn side of my brain. But, on the other hand, I just say 'oh well' and let him enjoy what he likes doing... that's the carefree side of the brain. And that's the side that usually wins.

What a great comparison of the Italian flag art project this is...
Mr A on the left... almost 6 years old. Mr Z on the right... 3.5 years old.