Month: January 2011

The Artful Life: 10 Crafty Tips to Boost a Child’s Self-Confidence and Improve Academic Performance: #9

Categories: animation, Art Education, business, Elysian Studios, family, humor, The Artful Life, youtube

As parents, we strive to help our children grow up to be healthy, productive adults. Times are changing faster than ever, and parents are working harder to make ends meet. With constant introduction to new technology, as individuals and as a family, we have more choices than we’ve ever had before. So how do we stay focused and ensure we give our children the best upbringing possible? In this series we will share some tips we have found that help children develop a positive self image, and encourage success in the classroom.

#9: Teach Them How to Create(& fund) Their Own Projects

It’s in the developing stages, but we are teaching our kids how to make movies (this was a clip made by our six year old).  We decided to harness all the love of video games and cartoons and channel it into something related, but a bit more productive! 

Whether it’s sports, music, school, art, or even TV… figure out your child’s interests (you know, the activities that they keep doing in their free time despite all of your nagging) and build on them.  Let’s face it, soon enough they are going to grow up and spend a lot of time away from you.  What if you could “get them hooked” on a positive activity now? 

For this to work, it has to be something that you guide them to, teach them initially, and then counsel/critique along the way.  It may require a bit of research (we had to rely on websites via Google) and it may require going out on a limb (buying materials from a new source or signing up for a new class), but when your child starts creating something unique, the pride you feel will make the trouble worthwhile!

Projects like this are perfect to show off to grandparents, family and friends, but are also perfect for school reports and talent shows!  When your kids start to need additional materials for their project, make them save up their own money(we are currently working towards a new cast of Mario plush toys)!

What unique activities has your family participated in?  We’d love to share them!

Stay tuned for our final tip, #10, tomorrow!

Missed earlier tips? Start here

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New Endeavors: Writing an Ebook

Categories: abstract, Art Education, Art History, business, drawing, Elysian Studios, marketing, still life

This week I started a brand new project, writing my first Ebook. An Ebook, or electronic book, is a book that exists as a file on your computer (often a PDF).  The advantage of this is that it allows books to be published more quickly than traditional print books, and it encourages new authors to share their expertise without waiting to be picked up by a publisher. Information in Ebooks can be more up to date, and address a smaller niche market than traditional print books.  They also have the benefit of being easily portable, not using paper or shelf space, until the reader decides to print any portion of the book!  New to this medium, I have signed up to take a class from the ever-inspiring Diane Gilleland, author of CraftyPod.  Having just revamped our computer systems here at Elysian Studios, I am in the process of installing, syncing and learning new programs that will help our studio communicate ideas more efficiently and effectively.  I have always dreamed of writing books, so I hope this first publishing adventure won’t be my last!

I am in the research stage at this point, and feel my knowledge base is steeped most in Art and Art History.  Though my subject is fairly set, I would like to ask a few questions of my audience, and appreciate any opinions you may have that might be beyond the scope of the questions I provided!  If you leave a comment, you will be entered in a chance to win a $10 Starbucks gift card!  I will select a winner at random on Mon. January 17.  Nothing goes better with a book than a cozy beverage!

Have you ever purchased or downloaded an Ebook?  Were you happy with it, and why/why not?

If you haven’t bought an Ebook, do you think you could see yourself buying one, as opposed to a print book?  What would be the deciding factor?

Based on the topics you have seen Elysian Studios cover, is there anything you would like to learn more about?

Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a $10 Starbucks gift card….yum!

And the winner is: MY LIFE UNDER THE BUS

Thank you all so much for participating!

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Art Tour: Henry Moore at Denver Botanical Gardens

Categories: abstract, Art Education, Art History, Colorado, family, landscape, portrait, Rocky Mountains, sculpture, travel

“Sculpture should always at first sight have some obscurities, and further meanings.  People should want to go on looking and thinking; it should never tell about itself immediately.” -Henry Moore, 1968

“Two Piece Reclining Figure: Points”bronze, by Henry Moore, 1969, at Denver Botanic Gardens

Born in 1898, Henry Moore’s most iconic works were produced in the 50’s and 60’s, but his international influence has become timeless.  From an impoverished miner family in England, his father encouraged Henry and his seven other siblings to obtain formal educations.  Inspired at an early age by Michelangelo, Henry began carving sculptures from clay and wood as a child, and later earned a six month scholarship to travel Italy and study sculpture. After a brave term of service to his country, where he was injured in a gas attack during the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, he became the first student of sculpture at the Leeds School of Art (now Leeds College of Art), which set up a sculpture studio especially for him. Moore was a pioneer of modernism, who’s signature form is a reclining figure. He created an impressive number of monumental public sculptures, and left a legacy in the Henry Moore Foundation,which supports exhibitions and research activities in international sculpture.

“Oval with Points” bronze, by Henry Moore, 1968-70, at Denver Botanic Gardens

I am in awe of Henry Moore’s work.  His ability to abstract both human and animal forms, taking elements from figurative poses and skeletal bones, and create pieces that dance as your perspective shifts when you walk around them, completely mesmerizes me.  These sculptures harmonize with the landscape in a way that makes every other garden and park seem lacking once you have experienced the impact of these amazing pieces.  They inspire children to climb (though, for good reason, very strictly forbidden!), photographers to snap countless images, groups of spectators to comment and critique, and artists to sketch.

“Collide” sketch by Erin Fickert-Rowland after “Oval with Points” by Henry Moore

Now through January 31, 2011, there is a phenomenal exhibit of Henry Moore’s work on display at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Visitors will find monumental reclining figures and colossal abstracted forms throughout the Gardens’ York Street location; two works stand in front of a unique foothills backdrop at the Chatfield site. Their are tours and activities you can include in your visit, or just meander peacefully through the beautiful grounds and enjoy the sights, which are just as lovely on a crisp Colorado winter’s day as they are in the lush summer.  Fun for all ages, this exhibit is a must see!

“Large Reclining Figure”, bronze, by Henry Moore, 1984, at Denver Botanic Gardens, and photo of Moore in his studio

“Basking” sketch by Erin Fickert-Rowland after “Large Reclining Figure” by Henry Moore

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