So I tried something...
and I think it turned out pretty darn cute. I have no idea what it's suppose to be - a hedgehog mouse? I don't care much - with a pincushion this precious I think I'll be super inspired to sew this fall.
Also - to my greatest delight - I have become acquainted with Charlotte Mason and her awe inspiring wisdom. Our home school flow this year has been going so much better then ever before (since adopting a more Classical approach.) However, I hadn't yet learned about the importance of teaching the "arts." I love the arts - I am a romantic. I love paintings and music and poetry. I can say though that in my school years I never learned very much about these concepts. Imagine my joy when I discovered a couple days ago that I could spend TIME on these in my kids schooling - and that it would be beneficial. I know...I know. I should have already known this. But I didn't.
That's why homeschooling has been amazing for us - we have been introduced to so many more options and ways of exploring then I ever imagined. What I love so much about a Classical approach is that it flows - it's full of grace and movement and creativity... short spurts of action and then rest...but always always feeding the mind. It's enjoyable. It's learning without the feeling of your brain imploding. This is a good thing.
Today we started our first composer and artist unit study. We chose Van Gogh and Mozart. We are going to take 5 - 6 weeks learning about these two men. I told my kids that when we meet a new friend it takes awhile to get to know them ... we have to have long conversations, ask a lot of questions about them, learn their likes and their dislikes. Knowing takes time. Hopefully at the end of September Vincent and Wolfgang will be dear friends.
We are also starting Charlotte's Web as our Read A Loud - something I haven't done very much except for your "run of the mill" night time story. Today I read chapter one as we drank tea and the kids worked on their own Starry Night .... Mozart in the background. We also loved learning about The Marriage of Figaro - when I heard the songs I recognized them but never in my life knew that they were from an Opera. We watched some of the Opera on Youtube ... very entertaining. The kids had so much fun and the best part... they loved learning.
Their completed art - Trin added some purple glitter to hers.
Brady looked up Van Gogh's signature and tried to draw it on the side - I think he did really well. We also enjoyed this clip very much and it sparked a great conversation on why it's so important to do what we love not necessarily for praise and acknowledgement...but because it brings joy to ourselves and to others. It's sad that Van Gogh didn't understand that he himself was a beautiful work of art made by an awesome Creator.
Happy Friday Friends!
If glitter had been invented in his day, I am sure Van Gogh would of added it to his painting. :)
ReplyDeleteAlyssa, so glad you are having fun times with children and art. I took ideas from Charlotte Mason also while homeschooling. We did lots of sketching and painting out in parks and gardens, and copying great paintings to learn about colour, form and style. Interestingly my highschool kids now do exactly the same thing in highschool art lessons:)
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