Thanks Piet Mondrian

This weeks work was inspired by the Dutch painter Piet Mondrain. I have to say sometimes I just don't know what art projects will work well with those with Alzheimer's or for the elderly for that matter. Sometimes you think you have a great project and it just flops. Well this project was a winner. I was shocked at how everyone settled in and just really focused on the project.

Here's where I got the idea for the project, Piet Mondrain for Kids. They do a great job explaining how it works. I would recommend getting some of Piet's work that is similar to what you'll be creating to show your participants. Having a little bit of history on this gentleman is great too. You'll find info at his website here.

I first made a sample myself to show the groups. Then I premade all of them by just adding a couple of lines of tape on each page of card stock. Each one was a little different, I had them pick one that spoke to them. Then I would ask them where they would like to put the next line of tape. Once they felt there was enough lines, I gave them red, yellow, blue and black paint to use.

What I love about my groups is I try to give them a few rules to go by and they usually break all of them. I LOVE THIS. While I tried to have them stick to squares and rectangles there were many triangles and other wild shapes. They'd mix their paint to come up with other colors and THAT'S what I love about the creative process.

At the end of the class I like to ask each person to talk a little about their work. I try to see if they can come up with a title and any other thoughts or feelings they have about their work. 

Love Week

I've been pondering what to have the peeps create for the week of Valentines. So I decided to head to my favorite site in the whole wide world...Pinterist of course, and start to do a little search. Came across the Useyourcoloredpencils blog and loved the art project that resembles the work of Robert Indiana's Love Sculpture. I like when I can show the peeps that what they are doing is inspired from a well known artist. Much like the painting with scissors project we did a few weeks ago that was inspired by Henri Matisse.

My cat Mike checking out the project. He approves!!

I've found that with elder classes, they actually do quite well when we do a drawing step-by-step. I'll use a white board and walk through each line with them. I like outlining the words in a black crayon and or oil pastel. It creates a nice resist technique so when you paint in the spaces, the paint is easily kept in the right spots.

I recommend bringing in pictures of Mr. Indiana's Love sculpture to show the class. It's also a great conversation piece to see if it triggers any memories in my early Alzheimer's groups. 

I took an 8 1/2 by 11 piece of paper,  folded it so it makes a squire and cut off the excess. Then I folded the paper in half both horizontally and vertically so I had four boxes the same size. This makes it easier to create each letter in it's own box. You could first use a pencil to draw in your letters, and then go over it with a dark oil pastel and or crayon. Then get out the paints, course you could use any type of medium really. I just like the watercolors with the oil pastels due to the resist technique that is created.

Just an FYI...I created these two Love pics very quickly. I didn't even use card stock, which I would recommend, or even watercolor paper. I tried a few different approaches with colors.

Painting With Scissors -- Thanks Matisse

I came across this project idea a couple of weeks ago and was able to use it in both my classes. I have to say this is probably one of my favorite projects. It's simple, it uses a lot of cutting which my peeps seem to love to do. It had to be modified just a little for each group, but my early Alzheimer group really got into it and didn't need much prodding from me at all.

I first saw the idea on Pinterest (of course) then started to do a little research and found this story about Henri Matisse and all about how he started to "Paint with scissors" later in life. Awesome story!!

What I like about this project is it's great for anyone who can use scissors. Old, young and in between. Feel like you can't draw? Well then this is perfect for you. Just start cutting colored paper and just see what happens.

The top picture above is the one I created in I'd say about 15 min. I call it "The Amusement Park" because some how...and I don't even know how I did it...I created what looks like a mouse. So then it got me to think about Mickey Mouse and from there I got my title.

So if you're feeling creative and don't know what to do....this is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. The other pic's you see are from my students. 

Chinese New Year Lanterns

This week with the peeps I decided to use the cherry blossom project and mix it with the Chinese lantern project (In honor of the upcoming Chinese New Year). The results were so amazing. First off, the people I work with are challenged in many ways. Blowing Ink around on a paper to create the limbs of a cherry blossom is not the easiest for those who are completely healthy. One young woman was totally exhausted from her first project, but was eager to make another one. When she was finished she told me it was probably one of her most favorite projects so far.

I have to say watching people be creative, never ever gets old.

Peace Friend

This week's art project was in honor of Martin Luther King Day. I thought I'd go with a peace theme. So I had participants paint out their own peace sign. Here's how we did it.  I taped out a Peace symbol on the back of a paper plate using masking tape and then told them to think "Tie Dye" while they painted using watercolors as the medium!

 The project was a huge hit. It was fun to watch them tear off the tape and watch their expression as they saw this amazing peace sign outlined by their work.Those moments never get old.

Want to make one? 

Here's what you'll need:

* Large Paper Plate (That's what I used for this project, but any type of sturdy paper would work).
* Masking Tape - just three pieces used. One down the middle of the plate, and two smaller pieces on either side.
* Watercolors - nothing fancy. As you paint I really do suggest you think "Tie Dye!" Start with a lighter color (like a light yellow or green) then getting a good amount of extra water on your work take your brush and dip into those shallow pools of water and watch the "Tie Dye" effect effect happen. It's fun!
* Black Sharpie type pen to outline project when done. 

BONUS!!!

As a bonus I'm going to give you a doodle project for the week. Below you'll find a peace sign you can print out, doodle on (ever heard of Zentangles? LOTS of doodle ideas there), color, paint, whatever you like. Then I want you to  think about all the things that make you feel peaceful. Write a list on the back of your peace sign, or in the middle of it. Then try to do just one of those a day for the next week. Off the top of my head for me I'd say meditation, walking in the woods, sitting in the sun...ahhh,  I feel a little more peaceful just thinking about it.

Just Click Here  And on the top left you'll see a button that says, "download". Hit that and you can print it out.

Peace my friend!

Let's get creative!!

I teach creative art classes and I have been working with some amazing people over the last few years. Probably not the kind of people you would imagine right of the top of your head. No, I have been working with mainly people who are slowly loosing their memory. They can sing me songs (and often do) from their childhood, but can't remember how they even got to class. Or have been in my class for several months, and yet, tell me this is the very first time they have attended. I love these people. Talk about living in the moment. One guy who has been the breadwinner in his family forever, and has really never did much art in his past, is always eager to create. He is usually the first to finish his project, it's amazing. Today I watched him hold up his piece and just stare at it. That's the best part I think as a teacher. When a student does something they personally can admire.

I really do believe art is for everyone. Ya...I know what you're saying, "you're not an artist, you can't draw a straight line, you're not creative"...gosh I know so many excuses because I've used them myself, probably still do. But for some reason art has a hold on my soul. I can't stop wanting to play art.

Do you feel like that? Do you ever feel you want to paint, draw, or write but aren't talented or good enough? Your soul needs to express itself. You have something you need to say in a creative way. Let it happen. Let it happen in it's awkward, not so perfect way.

Have you ever looked at a multimillion dollar piece of work and thought? WHAT????? WHY??? Everyone has their own style, their own approach. Now yours and my work may never fetch that kind of cash, BUT...we can still express ourselves...and by doing just that, we are opening ourselves up to something so magical we could rule the world with it.

As a VERY small side note (MOST of those famous artists never saw all the money their work made. Just saying. But they still carried on).

 "It took me 4 years to paint like Raphael but a lifetime to paint like a child" -Pablo Picasso

Come with me on a journey. You might feel like you're doing a project a child might do? Really??? Lucky you! Let's have some fun! Let's let ourselves go and just cut, paste, draw, and paint like a three year old.  Have you EVER seen a three year old color? So uninhibited, they could care LESS what others think. They KNOW they have colored they best picture ever.

Play, have fun, learn about yourself, find your style....what a journey this is going to be!!!