I am a Liebster Award winning art blog?! THANK YOU!

http://myadventuresinpositivespace.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00:00:00-05:00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00:00:00-05:00&max-results=46

Thank you so much for recognizing me, Renee Colins, art educator in New Jersey and host of  "My Adventures in Positive Space" art blog! I am so honored! Who would have thought when I share what I love most in cyberspace, people actually connect and appreciate it! I'm from little ol' Iowa and someone across the United States is recognizing it! Isn't the power of cyberspace amazing?! I am definately going to pass this award on to other amazing bloggers whose instruction make a difference!

2012 The Sketchbook Project tour...I'll be part of it!



The guide about the sketchbook tour..play by play!
http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject/exhibitions

 I was having a girls night with my art teacher friend, Laurie, and noticed on her side table a sketchbook with her name and a barcode. I came into the kitchen and said, "Hey, what's this?" She then let me in on what the project involved. It's a worldwide sketchbook tour that anyone can participate in! However, only so many participants are allowed I believe so I got my name on one and registered. There is a small fee and you have an option to buy a comemerative t-shirt for this year's tour (which I did because I like the logo and what a great souvenir to remember a special event of history). 

My sketchbook that was assigned to me! I'm in the system!
Now part of history!

Then you pick a theme from the ones available or make up a theme of your own! There are a lot of choices. I picked a somewhat generic one called "This is a sketchbook". Basically you 'use' your sketchbook and decorate it til your heart's content and then send it in before the deadline (January 31, 2012). Then the world tour starts where it stops at differerent art museums or galleries. The sketchbook I make is going to be part of an exhibition in a museum for people to look through! Then when the tour is over, they find their home and become part of a section in the Brooklyn Art Library in Brooklyn, NY.


 

I collaged front and back of my sketchbooks with fliers from bands/concerts, artistic graphic like papers, museum badges, drawings, and quotes about art! They are filled with all kinds of notes, ideas I had at the present time, and plans for future pieces.




BACK of collaged sketchbooks. Don't be afraid of my pistol! I did
a series in college where I feminized and showed how such a cliche, masculine form really
is a delicate, working set of parts that produces a simple result. Yeah, I went a little
deep there. Haha. I collaged using band fliers from concerts in Chicago, museum badges,
and other souvineers of life.



I love working on sketchbooks. They help get your ideas out and keep them flowing. The process ends up being a work of art in itself and a piece of you. Myself and my friend Laurie are going to the Sketchbook Tour stop in Chicago at the Hyde Park Art Gallery. We're going to make an art weekend of it and no worries...I will take pictures at the beginning of May while we're in Chicago so you can see us with our sketchbook at the exhibition! Stay tuned on my progress!!!



My sketchbooks have traveled with me everywhere! I love
how it's basically a record/artistic scrapbook of my journeys and thoughts. I took
this mini sketchbook to the first ever 80/35 Music Festival where some of my favorite
bands played. Here is my wristband, program and paper streamer (shot out of confetti gun and canon) from the Flaming Lips concert!




an inside look of just random drawings, plans, thoughts and souvineers of my artistic expression



Hearst Center sticker where I used to work teaching art camps and work at the gallery, a sticker from the Walker Art Center design created by J. Otto Seibold with a Claes Oldenburg's Spoon Bridge, and plans for a piece of interactive art I created for the Dean's triagle back in college! Everyone loved it.



lucky charms interpretation..just another sketch and how poetry soemtimes inspires me. I write my own inside of my sketchbooks as well.



Bread that's worth SCREAM-in' about!

I thought this was so awesome..... I have a student who's family owns a local bakery. My first grade student walks into my classroom before school with bag and smiles and says, " I have a gift for you!" *pulls it out of the bag* "A BREAD SCREAM!" (it's a piece of bread formed in the shape of Edvard Munch's "The Scream" face. I was super stoaked to say the least. I ranted and raved about how it was amazing! We took pictures with it! How cool! I just had to share :)

Another new, work of art, inspirational apron for my collection:)

Just stoppin' in to share one of my new aprons. I love getting fun aprons for my students to look at and enjoy, but also it protects my semi nice clothes:) It just adds that fun factor. This apron I discovered made by another artist in Valley Junction historical area of Des Moines, IA. A few ladies who are friends are also artists and made a painting on canvas, then added some fun trimmings to sew this apron. I loved the bright colors and personality it has. I stopped by their shop,"Fuss it Up! Designs" and they were so excited I wanted to buy a piece of their art. True artists are always excited when a piece of who they are, strike a cord with others and make a connection. I have other hilarious aprons too. I should just take pictures of all of them and show you. That might get boring...I don't know...but enjoy!

Oh and what's more fun than a plain, full body armored paint smock...............A TIE DYE PAINT SMOCK! I call it my 'tarp'. Because it can completely cover me from a paint massacre! Becky Brandt my student teacher gave this to me as a gift. It's amazing and now added to my fun collection of cover ups (aprons etc.).

Claudia Monet approves as Shantel says!



Art Adventures/summer Living

Wow, the summer flew by! I went to a few art festivals, talked with other art teachers, worked on some new lesson ideas, and had a little project of my own! This is my new mug I made at a paint your own pottery place. It's going to be on my desk for students to enjoy. It has Claudia my cat as an artist at the "Meow Museum". These are all famous artists with famous pieces of art, with a feline twist. Enjoy!

Claudia Monet, my cat:)