CartaBella

l'Artista Blog

June 5, 2010
by Bonnie Porter
Comments Off on

EARLY SUMMER NATURE STUDIES. KinderArt students enjoyed gathering nature study items in brown bags. The combination of mosquitos and high humidity forced us back inside to make sketches of leaves, twigs, rocks and flowers we found in the garden by the pond. One student brought Jack, her pet frog, and let the other students observe and draw a real-live-frog! We are compiling our Nature Study drawings in a portfolio.

June 3, 2010
by Bonnie Porter
Comments Off on


SKETCHING OUTDOORS. Taking classes into God’s outdoor studio stirs up a child’s innate creativity. Take your sketch tablet and pencil + eraser and walk out the door! You could also bring a viewfinder with you–we’ll explore their uses in another blog. On this particular day we were working on a landscape scene with the pond in our backyard, trying to factor in the large trees in the foreground and a gazebo in the background across the bond.

May 1, 2010
by Bonnie Porter
Comments Off on


FLOWERS STUDIES. A favorite theme in our paint studio sessions! Whether we use watercolors or oil pastels, a limited palette or a full palette, children are drawn to the harmonious color combinations and design patterns found in petals and leaves.

April 27, 2010
by Bonnie Porter
Comments Off on


COLORBURSTS. “I saw God wash the world last night,” says the poet. April Showers certainly do bring brilliant colors into our world. Our cozy CartaBella cottage has had the front glass door open all week to let in the sunshine and the “local color”! No wonder my KinderArt students wanted to go outside and sketch!

April 27, 2010
by Bonnie Porter
Comments Off on



WE GET TO GO OUTSIDE! Finally, a KinderArt day without cold, wind or rain! Spring in Atlanta is a wonderful time to explore nature up close and personal [except for the yellow pine pollen “snow”]. These little girls wandered off to find a spot of their own and got wonder-fully “lost” in the process of observing and sketching in the cool and calm greens surrounding our cottage.