lesson 5

Dear All

We had an adventurous 
session painting the 
bees from their fuzzy thorax, striped abdomen,a head with  large compound eyes and mandible(mouth), wings and 3 sets of legs, although, in our rush, we missed their antennae and sting. we will try to recover them next time we paint them.  Watch how your students will try to put bees in their paintings from now on when they can.  

The joy of recreating nature on paper draws the students' relationship with nature closer.  All of sudden the bees become more intimate to them since they know how to paint them.  Most students will start taking a delight directed learning toward bees.  Their eyes are now opened to observe bees for painting purpose instead of seeing for  mere recognition. 

We placed some of the bees on the stage.  Our stage is the seed pod of a sun flower.  This give the students composition ideas.  Most students liked their bees.  Although this is only the 1st attempt to painting them in simple brush strokes.  The few who did not like their bees will either be more conscientious in growing their painting skill or they will find something else that they like better.   I challenged your students beyond their ages.  I am very please to see how they responded to my challenge and demonstrated to themselves that they can get anywhere by following instructions carefully.   Perfection is not my goal. Delightful learning is.  

I thank Valerie and Michele for helping.  I have attached my demo painting for your reference.

Lesson 4

I had to catch the new students on how to properly load their brushes.  So we did Daisies.  The returning students are challenged to stroke through the pedals while the new students may place the brush down for the pedals.  

We started the front view of the daisies, and move to 3/4 view, then side view, lastly the buds.  We then added the leaves and stems.  This is also necessary as the background for our bees next week.  

I have put up the student's paintings on the Hallway to Einstein.  You can see the birds and the angel fish they did.  We are having great time painting together every Tuesdays.  Thank you for Mrs. Doherty for her wonderful room.  

Lesson 3

We tried to capture the joy of the birds on our 3rd lesson.  The students followed me closely.  But many are disappointed that their birds did not look like mine.  This is normal.  There is a mechanism of visualization that matures with your students.  The painting process awaken's this mechanism.  Your students will develop keen interest in looking at whatever they try to paint. Their paintings, good or bad also teach them how 2 dimensional representation work.   This will develop in them a habit of effective observation.   

I explained to your students that when I eat chicken nuggets, I need to eat 8 to be full.  Even though I am still hungry after I eat the 1st one,or 2nd one, it does not mean I have eaten them in vain.  Because I can't eat my 8th one and be full without the previous experiences.  We will revisit birds including chicks, ducks or cranes to reinforce their mental picture of birds, for now I think the students need a little comfort painting to give them a sense of mastery.  We will do some flowers before continue with birds.

I will start exhibit some of their paintings on school wall next week.  I will pick some to represent what we did in class so far.  All students will have their paintings exhibited one time or another, but not every time. 

Thank you for allowing  your children to explore the visual delight with me in our painting adventure.  I have attached my sample painting for your reference.   

lesson 2

The children did great following my instructions in painting their 1st angel fish.  After that you can see their creative outburst in creating angel fish community and their habitat.  I have attached my sample painting for your reference.  They did not copy mine.  They created their own free hand.  Each person's stroke are unique, their preferences are different, this is only their first experience on the rice paper.  They did great with the line work and the control of the moisture in their brush.  

The students are allowed to take their paintings home.  But they have to remember to bring them back so we will have our portfolio in the end of the school year.  Most students left their paintings in my keeping.  I will request spaces in school to display their paintings down the road.

Thank you for sharing your children with me as we seek to multiply joy together.