Working with Students

I have finally begun to work with the students on the mural, and on some art projects for fun.

I knew I couldn't have 30 kids all painting on the mini-canvases at the same time, so I had them draw sticks as they came to see me on the stage. The sticks were different colors, and determined which group they would be in. I then had them rotating to different stations with different mediums at each station. They chose a color page that I copied from a coloring book of famous masterpieces. They would then use the different mediums on their one coloring page. Watercolor, crayon, colored pencil, marker and oil pastels. Working on the canvas was also a station. They really seemed to enjoy this, and it kept everyone busy, and since the timer was set for just 3-4 minutes at each station, no one got bored.

The younger kids worked with me in their classrooms. I had them painting full pages of one color to be used for the lettering and details on the mural. I was a little worried they would be bored just filling a whole sheet with one color paint, but they all kept saying how fun it was. The older kids will trace and cut out the lettering for the big mural and we will adhere it with gel medium.

So far everything has been going really well. I don't have any down time, and actually feel rushed during my 15 minutes between sessions. It takes me the whole time to clean up and set up for the next group.

It's coming along very nicely. I can't wait to see what it looks like with the lettering glued on it.