I hosted the coolest art workshop on the planet. I might be bias, but I'm pretty sure I should get an award. :-)
The pictures above are from my example elephant my daughter helped build and my son named and painted, that's Ellie the Elephant.
The workshop was a life size paper mâché 3-day for 10 elementary kids. The pictures are below. But before you look, I want to get on my soapbox for a minute, because it really matters. I want to focus on what I saw happen that was amazing and beautiful.
These kids, they were amazing! They produced animals that would impress anyone. But that's still not the point, the point is, they impressed themselves. And this is what art does that nothing else does quite as well... It builds self confidence, it shows a kid that they can be AMAZING. Let's be honest, a math equation or a good grade on a spelling test just doesn't have the WOW power in a kids eyes that a full size animal they built themselves does.
I saw pride like I've never seen before in the eyes of those kids, and they deserved it! And I think we all know where self confidence gets you in the real world and work force. Try telling Bill Gates creativity and self confidence just doesn't matter.
And now we face the real truth. Here, where I live, not all kids are getting this education. The reason I volunteer at the school, is because the school doesn't have a real art class.
Yes, I love it, and I love the opportunity, and my students are getting great lessons, but there are SO many students falling through the cracks. But that's another topic. In this post, the point is, kids NEED art. At this young age art does so much more than what meets the adults eye.
So if you are lucky enough to live in a place where your art teachers are still employed... Fight for them!! Before it's too late.
On a lighter note.. Here's the pics of the beautiful work my students did. I'm so proud, and so were they.
I'm going to be honest, I didn't want to let these critters go. :-)
PS. Im an artist for hire, contact me, [email protected]