Remember, remember the 5th of November
The gunpowder treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

“V for Vendetta” is one of my favorite movies. Apologies to anyone who wigs out at the exploding of Parliament… but I very much agree with the philosophy of ideas being immortal. This, of course, has nothing to do with my title… so moving on!

Last week, I taught two classes at my girls’ school. Once a month, the local art society sponsors art education for elementary school students and it’s run by parent volunteers. This month, the two featured artists for us to choose from were (being as you’re smart and able to read, I know you know already the answer!) Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh.

I decided to be clever… or masochistic and do a different artist for each class. These are classes of first graders who are ages six and seven. For my first daughter’s class, I did a still life using 1 inch by 1 inch squares of paper. The subject was a bowl of fruit that I had set up in the middle of the room. (click left)

For my other daughter’s class, we studied Vincent Van Gogh. And for the sake of having time to actually DO the project, I did not mention his ear! For this project, I modeled it after his “Vase With Twelve Sunflowers.” We glued birdseed in the middle of the flowers for added effect and mess! (click right)

Working with first graders is amazing. They throw themselves into the project. There was paper and glue on the tables, the chairs, the floors, the children, me… EVERYWHERE! They all had a great time and cheered when they went over their November schedules and heard that I was coming back for Grace Art this month. Just wait until they have to lay on their backs under their desks and color in parts of the Sistine Chapel – it’s Renaissance month! *grins* Maybe I’ll start off talking about the ultimate dudes bearing Renaissance names the kids can relate to, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Cowabunga!

Did you see what HAED did? Jasmine Beckett-Griffith draws these adorable wide-eyed girls. I find them cute, but there were only two of her pieces that I’d ever want to stitch. Well one of them was just released! *insert much mumbling and cheering and sighing and cooing here* So jam another new start into my 2007 list, that is IF I can wait that long… A Pale Comparison has been released and those huge red eyes are SOOOOOO hard for me to resist! Since the chart doesn’t have any sparkles on it, d’ya think I should stitch the cuties on an opalescent? I’m thinking Porcelain from Silkweaver… or maybe a non-sparkly Silver Mist… or maybe just some white I have laying around… *drools*

P.S. Happy Happy Happy Birthday, Jan!! *HUGS!*