two hundred fourteen

Mrs. Jones is showing the Murphey Traditional Elementary 4th graders the unique names the class came up with for several characters in the Exquisite Corpse project.  It was another fine day realizing how awake the future is . . and how supportive and encouraging our art teachers are.

During each visit with Artists-In-Schools there is 45 minute per class to share my work, my history, answer questions, and make a project.  (Yikes!)  When it comes time for the illustration project, the students are given markers and pencils without erasers.  Why?  "There are no mistakes.  Draw over something you don't like."  This technique encourages the students to understand not every piece is a 'masterpiece'.  It also gets them to see that a mistake in their mind may be a significant part of the finished work.

I also got to speak with a kinetic sculpture artist, Jay Jones, the husband of the art teacher.  We had a splendid conversation.  Check out his elegant mobiles on Etsy.