Snow

Face Painting

I painted faces at Nash Mills School Christmas Fair yesterday. I didn't look up for 3 hours and have no idea how many faces I did - but I do remember I was asked for many and varied faces. From the timesless classics of snow queen, butterfly and tiger to the more challenging dolphin paradise and 'I want to be a policeman'. I suggested that the little boy could be a robber instead but he insisted I knew how to do a policeman and he was right - the customer is always right! To the untrained eye he may have looked like a clown with stubble but to him he was a policeman! This is why I enjoy face painting. Forget the no-time-to-breathe and back ache. I'm after the 'mirror moment' A child has come keen to be transformed and wait for ages sometimes in the queue. They sit with hands clenched in anticipation and screwed up faces while parents watch intently (are they checking they'll get their money's worth?) until I finally lift the mirror so they can see what they look like. I love it when the little slightly anxious face breaks into a grin as they recognise their new persona. (i quite like it when the parents smile too1)

Ribbon roses

Today my art club made ribbon roses I didn't take photos but it went well. Look forward to my 'how to' and experience what the children did when having spent some time doing a fiddly bit of careful folding with slippery ribbon suddenly you can see a beautiful rose appear before your eyes! Some of the children got the technique really quickly and made a whole bunch; others needed a lot of help but all had at least one lovely rose to take home.

Here are all my photos from the wonderful Egyptian day.

2010-11-13 Day of Egyptian Dance

St Ethleburga's Centre For Reconciliation and Peace

This is the wonderful setting for the day of Egyptian Dance and Music I attended - and where in the 1950's my grandad was a churchwarden!

From 2010-11-13 Day of Egyptian Dance

From 2010-11-13 Day of Egyptian Dance

From 2010-11-13 Day of Egyptian Dance

From 2010-11-13 Day of Egyptian Dance

From 2010-11-13 Day of Egyptian Dance

From 2010-11-13 Day of Egyptian Dance

Follow the link for information about the centre - St Ethelburga is a church built in the 12th century and almost flattened in 1993 by the IRA. It was rebuilt over 10 years with financial support from the city and has risen from the rubble to become a true haven in Bishopsgate in the middle of, and over-shadowed by, the City.

Follow the link (hidden in this blog post's title) above for more information.

On my way to a day of Egyptian Dance and Music I chanced upon the end of the Lord Mayor's Parade / Show. I even got a wave from the Lord Mayor himself.

What fun! Use the link below to see more photos.

Lord Mayor's Show, 13 November 2010

How to make a tessellating pattern

Shapes that tessellate fit together with no gaps or overlaps Escher (1898 - 1972) was a Dutch graphical artist most famous for his impossible structures and mathematical tessellations. I did this excercise with my Key Stage 2 Art Club tonight. Here's a 'How to' sheet for you to try. Follow these instructions for a simple tessellating pattern and this could be your first step towards something as amazing as Escher! I'm happy for you to print off the JPEG for your private use.

Eiffel Tower

Find more some of my Paris photos on flickr... http://www.flickr.com/photos/69659790@N00/sets/72157625267889690/

Paris!

I'm off to Paris for a night away with the family and I'm hoping for some lovely light and clear skies for sketching and photos. Still, if it rains I might get some arty reflections. Batteries are charging and my camera, 2B pencil, and sketch book are about to be packed! Hopefully some pics on picasa at the weekend.

family learning

What a great way to spend a day. Kings Langley Secondary school has had two days of free art workshops for families. I've been making monsters from socks and flowers from ribbons with children as young as 3 to grandparents who are much older! The feedback was reeally good too - if they're happy, I'm happy! In the summer I ran workshops for Extended Schools making sock monsters, macrame bracelets and paper chefs hats. I really enjoy doing them... I should run my own! Watch this space or contact me if you want an arty party!