art class

This is the art class the kids are taking at the Multnomah Art Center. The class has four different stations set up each time to do different projects and the kids can move around to any of the areas depending on what they enjoy and what they are up for. It is very loose and the teacher is there to set it all up and take care of finished projects and be really enthusiastic! Today was the last day of this class and we are going to sign up for another of the same kind in the fall. We are hoping that the next teacher is as open and enthusiastic as the one we had this time. She is on her way to work at the Portland Art Museum.



Samuel is working on a collage with glue and tissue paper on aluminum foil.



Samuel and Eva working on collages with colored glue and feathers and pasta and different types of paper, all on coffee filters with paint or origami paper. The number of different supplies is really exciting for the kids.



Eva pointed out this photo is her in purple but with the red paint and Samuel in red but with the purple paint. She wished I had taken one with her with the purple paint and Samuel with the red paint. Ah, if only I had thought of it!



And here is a big pile of art projects from the different classes. There was clay and different painting with spray bottles and salad spinner paintings where you put the painting in the salad spinner and added glitter. Lots and lots of glitter! And lots of collages and colored glues and eye dropper painting on coffee filters and shiny paper and feathers and lots of colored pasta. Today they had oil pastels on black paper and different types of chalks. I liked too how she mixed up the projects each time because the kids moved around and did all of the different projects and then did others they didn't think they would like if some of their "favorites" ended up not being there that day. And they enjoyed those as well. A real discovery class.

And on that note of discovery, I found another unschooling blog today that I am thoroughly enjoying. I agree whole heartedly with her sentiments that, "we are trying to be a buffer for our children, so they can lay claim to their own gifts without the weight of second guessing themselves." Very aptly put. She had a link to this ode-to-creativity article that is well worth reading. I get shivers reading the last lines. It can be an effort to find what we truly love and what inspires us, but surely that is what this life is about.