What do you think of this nine year old

Art Camp

Day One

We started each day watering the gardens. 

It was great to have help!

This is Avery and she came for a visit this week.

We had a 4 day/night all inclusive Art Camp.

Following is my documentation of our projects. 

On the first morning while I was getting set up, Avery watched my video demonstration of the making of this piece of mixed media art.

This fun video titled, Collage Layers with Napkins, was inclued in most of my online classes.

You can watch it now on my Vimeo site.

Since Avery watched the video, I did not make a demonstration piece.

I just watched, answered questions and gave instruction.

first layer of papers

second layer of butterflies

painting edges

adding layers of paper napkins

stamping the word "and" to layer onto her collage

Day one project.

Wish and Dream

Day Two

early morning sunshine

paper layer and transfer of house fragment

we're gonna paint a face

That face!

a self portrait in progress

She Looked and Smiled by Avery Thomas

a self portrait

She Wondered by Sharon Tomlinson

a portrait demonstration

After lunch when I needed to retire to the chair zone, I gave Avery an 8 x 10 canvas board and told her she could paint anything she wanted to while I rested.

She had one question, "What does a dolphin look like?'

Me, "whaaaaaat?"

I quickly thought to suggest she google 'dolphin'. 

And that's all I heard from her until my rest period was over and she ask me to join her.

Neither of us had much of a clue how to paint waves so I taped her brush onto the end of a bamboo stick to force her to get looser with the paint.

She was such a good sport about it and it was kinda fun.

The Dolphin by Avery Thomas

Day Three

we sculpt with Sculpey clay

Avery made a red bird and a blue bird that she gifted her parents with.

I played with Sculpey clay too and this is my bird.

She is a Garden Palace bird.

the beginning of an art journal

Avery's first time to use a needle and thread.

She discovered that she loves sewing and we are planning a sewing camp in the future.

We used a yellow file-folder (cut down) for the cover but then decided to cover it with fabric.

This is the front and she stamped her initials on it.

Day Four

On day four Avery worked in her new art journal.

This is the drawing she did of the dolphin reference she found on her Google search.

She used carbon paper to transfer the drawing to the canvas and saved the drawing for her journal. 

Before stamping the cover, she practiced on a little scrape and then stitched it into her journal.

While Avery worked in her new journal, I made a folder for her to keep the extra papers and things she will use in her journal when she goes home. 

I used an old hanging folder.

After cutting off the hanging bars, I closed the sides and decorated it a bit. 

And sometimes she gave me this look.

I meant to tell you in the beginning that she is a bright, happy, smart, fun, freckled, precious little nine year old with the most brilliant mind I have witnessed in a nine year old. 

But I'm thinking you have figured that out too. 

Ever since Avery went home, I've been at Chair Camp.

Do you know what I mean?

A Vintage Floral Project

I have had some treasures so long that I don't remember from where they came. 

And I'm not even sure if the two larger prints were framed when they came to me. 

It could be I removed them from these old frames and don't remember that either.

But first I had to do a little repair as is the case with very old frames. 

As you can see, the nail holes were not gonna hold a nail until I filled them and started over. 

I have this old contraption that holds a 90º angle and used it to reglue the corners.

My old contraption can also be used to cut a 90º angle. 

I mounted the old prints on watercolor paper that I aged with a splash of ocher.

I like that the edge of the old print shows history of being framed and I think you will agree they do go nicely in the old frames. 

I only had to reglue the smaller frames.

I didn't add paint to any of the frames as they seemed perfect just as they were. 

For now, they are displayed like this. 

It could change.

A long shot of a vintage floral project.

If walls could talk

Little by little I'm getting things on the walls of the Garden Palace. 

This sweet yellow chippy vintage plant stand from the home studio is now where it belongs.

The plant stand was one of my earliest purchases and there were two for sale.

I will always regret that I only purchased one and I have no idea why I do stuff like that. 

Maybe you noticed the first plant in the Garden Palace is in a special morning glory pot. 

When the Garden Palace was named and the specific floral theme was established for each room, I glazed terracotta pots with the themed flowers and they have been waiting.

That was a long time ago. 

I could be inspired to paint more.

The tole painted morning glories above the plant was one of my very first paintings about 45 years ago. 

My Mother recorded the history of this first bit of art on the backside.

I gifted it to my Big Mama and when she passed away it went to my Mother. When my Mother passed away the morning glories came back to me.

And now it hangs in the Garden Palace that is so full of.... 

Pressed botanicals complete this wall gallery.

I don't remember if I ever told you when I was thirty-something I mailed my last letter to Santa and ask for a large flower press.

I sent along the instructions that I found in a magazine. (as if he wouldn't know how to make one)

Santa was delighted to get the letter with instructions and sure enough my Christmas wish was fulfilled with more love that you can imagine.

I pressed these many years ago and they have held up beautifully.

I have intentions to spend time in the Garden Palace pressing botanicals that grow nearby.

On the other side of the doorway I added a garden plaque that was gifted to me a long time ago just for this little house. 

I repainted the frame to my liking first.

You know what?

If walls could talk you might already know about all these special memories of mine.