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July 25, 2009
by Bonnie Porter
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July 25, 2009
by Bonnie Porter
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FRENCH PAPERDOLLS. Because of my focus on Impressionism in American Girl art classes, there’s one book I highly recommend for gift-giving to the American Girls in our family circles: CHARLOTTE IN GIVERNY, by Joan MacPhail Knight. The illustrations, by Melissa Sweet, are charming and the book is illustrated with beautiful reproductions of art masterpieces. One take-away inspiration from this book are these French Paperdolls, ready to be dressed in paisley, chintz and toile! I used my patterns to cut out “original designs” from both scrapbook paper, wrapping paper and fabric scraps. Paper doilies, ribbon snippets and colored pencils or fine point markers were used for design details. Several of the girls even added matching shoes and mini-purses!
July 25, 2009
by Bonnie Porter
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GIRLS AND THEIR FLOWERS. I’ve noticed that young girls are very responsive to drawing and painting flowers. Girls are drawn to Impressionistic works, perhaps because they sense a bit more freedom of expression.
While they admire photo-realism works of art and “wish” they could execute something life-like and realistic, they find that process tedious and frustrating. There’s a time and place for each of these disciplines.
In my summer art classes we’ve been exploring Impressionism and Expressionism. It brings me great joy to watch them work on their paintings, to hear the stillness of their concentration.
July 25, 2009
by Bonnie Porter
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MORE HYDRANGEAS. I finally learned the secret to drying these mop-head flowers! Selecting and picking them at the end of the season, feeling the petals to make sure they are starting to dry out. These two 5X7 watercolors were my response to the mid-season colors and stage just prior to the drying stage.
July 1, 2009
by Bonnie Porter
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MID-SUMMER. Blue Hydrangeas abound in our area at this time of year. Lazy summer days abound, too, with temperatures over 100 F. and super high humidity.
Forced to linger indoors with books and paints. A lovely combination. Music in the background. A tall glass of ice tea on my watercolor tray.
My neighbor keeps me supplied with bouquets of hydrangeas. Used them for the first day Art Camp. Yesterday I cut a cobalt blue mop-head one from my own yard and used it for a Nature Study. With a full day of solitude on my schedule, I dipped into every tube of blue and yellow paint I could find.
These two paintings are the happy result. Then I found this quote in my Italian “blank book” which has been designated my Art Quotations Notebook: “There is no blue without yellow and without orange.” Vincent van Gogh, post-impressionist Dutch painter, 1853-90. I added that quote to the painting on the left. For the one on the right, I inserted some lines in Italiano pertaining to gardening tips for L’Ortensia (=hydrangeas).
June 20, 2009
by Bonnie Porter
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AMERICAN GIRL Art Camp #1, Day 4
My first American Girl Art Camp was a rich experience for me and the ten lovely young ladies who participated. One highlight of the week was the tableaux we created with my granddaughter, Lauren. The well-known painting was actually exhibited at the HIGH last year: “Young Girl Reading,” by Fragonard (18th century). This master painting was executed during the period of American Girl dolls Felicity and Elizabeth.
I was so impressed with the direct observation studies these young artists executed during the tableaux session. The same giggly little girls could change gears and focus, in concentrated silence, for a serious art study! I loved every minute of this week!