Cartooning, is this Art?

Parents are always wondering if their child drawing cartoons is really learning any skills? YES! When your child is drawing and copying what they see, even if it is an anime or another cartoon, they are focusing on their drawing skills. For many young children, drawing something realistic is intimidating and they are afraid of failure. Drawing cartoons puts an animal into a correct perspective, yet they can be silly which takes the edge off of it having to be perfect. So much of their schoolwork revolves around them performing or testing well and this gets translated into a need for "perfectionism" for many young children. And who wants to fail?

I have found that the students in my after-school cartooning classes at St. Mary Magdalen's School love to draw and have fun with drawing many of their favorite characters from current movies, such as "Jungle Book", "Finding Dory", and "The Secret Life of Pets".  They are learning how to draw expressions, a variety of animals, create a story, and will gain confidence to draw beyond the "stick figure".

NEVER too old to learn Art

I wanted to highlight my 101 year-old student: Jeanne Clark.  She was such a joy to teach! She was joyful, open to new ideas, and had such a willing heart to try things. She looked forward to our weekly art lessons, as much as I did. She has helped me to see things that will last long in life: joy, counting your blessings, being close to family, having a happy heart, and doing things that you enjoy!  I also enjoyed hearing her sing "Blue Skies" whenever I asked her, "what color do you want the sky?"  I downloaded it on my song list for her art lessons!

Now that I go to several different senior homes, someone will say, "I am too old, I can't do that", I share pictures that Jeanne has created. Those 80 year-olds don't have her beat! If she can, you can too! We are never too old to learn art and have fun expressing our creativity inside!

"An artist brings joy into our lives by teaching our eyes to see. How deeply I recommend Michelle Honles as a person as an artist, and as a teacher. My mother at 101 years is taking art lessons from Michelle. How gently, patiently and sweetly she engages my mother in art . There are few things my mother can do any more. Her art lesson with Michelle is the highlight of each week and the best expenditure of money, for her well being that I can make. Beauty satisfies the soul."

Christie Johnson, (Jeanne Clark's daughter)

Cultural Art Programs Enriching Lives

Children's Celebration of the Arts has just celebrated their 25th year of bringing art into the classrooms across Ventura City and hosted an art show at The Olivas Adobe. One piece of artwork is selected from each classroom to be represented at the show. To celebrate our 25th year, CAPS made a video of our program. To sign up for this program, teachers are given a brochure and can select from a variety of visual and kinetic art forms taught by professional artists who share their passion with the children. The variety of the classes are not limited to visual arts, but will even show dance, drumming, and harp playing for the students. For $40, all supplies and teaching materials are brought to the classroom and a complete history and art lesson is given to the students. This beneficial program is made possible by a grant endowment from the city of San Buenaventura. To find out more you can go to:

 http://www.cityofventura.net/cs/events/kids/childrens-celebration-arts

Over the last 6 years, I have taught several cultural projects including Mexican Tin Art, or "Jolata", Russian lacquer boxes, African Adrinka placemats, Spanish Crests, and Italian Mosaics. It is such a joy to share my love of art with children. I am hoping on my trip to Israel, to present a cultural art project to bring awareness of how many religions here in Israel are working together - those of the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian faiths.

Learning to see Value in Objects

In this exercise, I had the students focus on the value of objects and really notice the shadows and highlights in  various objects. I helped them shoot black and white pictures of their still-life subjects to notice where the darkest values were without the confusion of colors. This helps the students with their future colored pieces. It also helps them to use the entire gradation scale and not just the middle values as many do. I think they did a great job, wouldn't you agree?!

Zentangle Owls

I had the opportunity to teach a group of Girl Scouts a drawing and painting class. Here are some examples of our Zentangle owls. Zentangle is a new type of art, it reminds me very much of the doodling I did many years ago. I was quite happy to see how each of these owls have their own personality. Not every girl finished with the ink pens, but all had a great time. I also tried this with a group of seniors at Alma Via Senior Center and they liked it too!

My Newest Art Form - Videos

I was quite happy to see that my art skills have been useful in editing and creating these two videos of two recent dive trips I took to Belize, Central America and here at the Channel Islands. I needed to work with the music, learning how to film with a GoPro, edit, and then compose a video. I selected a piece of music but then I realized that the original pictures did not coincide with the lyrics, so those photos got scrapped and I worked with the song and edited accordingly. My first trip was to The Great Blue Hole in Belize where I enjoyed warm-water diving with wonderful, colorful fish and sea turtles! My second video consists of what is local to me in Ventura County of the California coast. Enjoy without the weights, wetsuit, or water!

Gallery space at VC Collective

I am proud to join this group of artists in our community who are providing art in local spaces, teaching classes, and offering studio space. Stop in on Saturdays and I will either have a demonstration or art workshop that you and the family can participate in. This month we are gearing up for the holiday sales, but in the future a new group of artists will display their artworks. If you need gift cards, or a holiday gift, stop in for something unique!

The VC Collective is on the 2nd Level of The Pacific Seaview Mall in Ventura next to Sears.  It is open Thursdays 1-9pm, Friday and Saturday 10am - 9pm, and Sundays 1-7pm.  

2015 Summer Camps at Camarillo Art Center

Not only do art camps expose students to art in general, they also allow the students to hone their artistic talent: whether it be in drawing, architecture, fashion design, painting, or fantasy art.

Lorrie Milton taught an Animal Adventure class where they drew a variety of animals, Ashley Goodman-Konzmann taught a small group how to paint and see value in their work, and I taught Fashion Design and Fantasy art.  Next week we will cover a variety of media including sculpting.

Each day, these art students learned how to draw fantasy art and then they chose how they wanted to complete their pieces. Students were able to choose between watercolors, markers, colored pencils, art Stix, or chalk pastels. Andrea, the youngest, brought in glitter and it added a sparkle to our unicorns! Never would have thought of that! I love their creative touches — loved this week! ☺

Many Winners in The Ventura County Juried Art Exhibit 2015

Many of my students created exceptional pieces for the Ventura County 2nd Annual Juried Art Exhibit where there were many entries and the competition was fierce! My students were able to take home prizes of cash or art supplies! Everyone did a fantastic job and thanks to all who participated! 🏆

Art Therapy and How it Works

After taking the "Art as a Healing Tool" training through A Window Between Worlds (AWBW.org) in Santa Monica, I gained the necessary training to help others process difficult emotions and trauma from domestic violence. I wish I had this training earlier, as I have encountered children who were experiencing triggers while doing a self-portrait. At that time, anger and resentment had surfaced from a student's abandonment as a child and adoption into a new home. I did not know how to allow this frustrated individual to express their deep pain through art.

Now, as participants go through the lessons created by AWBW, they tap into subconscious feelings and art allows those emotions to come to the surface in a non-threatening way. In the above workshop, we set goals for 2015, and took time to journal our thoughts bidding a farewell to 2014's destructive habits and past lies. We also let go of someone or something that holds us back in our lives, a toxic relationship, an abusive parent, etc. 

After the art project is completed, the healing comes when we choose to open up. In the circle, women will open up even if they don't know each other, because talking about your art detaches you from the issues inside. As affirmation is shared about the creative pieces we make, we grow closer and feel safe and nurtured.

Every time, I am amazed how much we need to clean our hearts from the stuff of this world that wears it down or causes pain. If you would like to know more about these classes go to: ArtesiaHealingArts.org

Ventura County 2nd Annual Juried Youth Art Exhibit

19 of my students are participating in the Ventura County 2nd Annual Juried Youth Art Exhibit. What an exciting opportunity to shine in art and have a chance to win one of many great prizes! There are $3,600 in gifts and cash awards this year. Last year, many of my students won prizes and scholarships for art lessons! Crowell, Weedon, and Co. in Ventura are sponsoring this event to promote the arts in Ventura County. (Pictured our 2014 winners)

Join us at the reception & Awards May 19th from 4-7pm.  5740 Ralston, Suite 301, Ventura.