Outdoor Hour Challenge #1 and Field Book Drawing

The first Outdoor Hour challenge is simple. Read pages 1-8 (did that, read my “book review” here) and head outdoors! The focus is Comstock’s principle that “In nature-study the work begins with any plant or creature which chances to interest the pupil.” So yesterday we went for an hour-long walk around our block and we …

Owl Observational Drawing/Painting is complete

Maybe you recall Amie’s observational drawing of her “Owlie bank” last week. It wasn’t finished yet. We returned to it over the weekend and she water colored it in. She has taken over my habit of trying the paint in the margin, to see whether it’s the right color. Is that the right orange? She …

Our First Project: Painting Birds

I’m warm because I’m sitting in the sunlight, but it’s coooold out here: 20 F this morning (there’s no wind). The Red-Bellied Woodpecker that is supposed to be in Florida is still here. Can it really be our bird feeder that keeps him here? The day before yesterday I believe I saw a new bird: …

Realism in Kid’s Art

While perusing the marvelous Camp Creek Blog and emailing Lori about some of her entries there about observational drawing outside, I happened to mention (and realize, to begin with) that when Amie draws “from something” outside, she will attain a realism that is (to me) uncanny. Like the drawing we did a while ago at …

Requesting Pumpkins for Composting

Tomorrow we’re  dropping these leaflets in every neighbor’s mailbox. I should have handed them out as we went trick or treating – ah well, next year. We’re sure to snag a couple of pumpkins and leaves this time around, tomorrow we’ll also get a nice Fall Walk out of it, and Amie and I had …

Pumpkin Carving

Over the weekend Amie watched with fascination as a friend carved this big pumpkin. Isn’t it spooky! She couldn’t wait to carve one herself. We compromised: she could “design” the face (draw it on the pumpkin) but Mama would do the actual carving, under her direction of course. Compared to the skullish one, hers looks …

New Drawings: Tigger, Pooh and Christopher Robin

Here’s what Amie drew today. She is obviously feeling much better, as testified by this springy Tigger. He’s jumping, see, and holding a black balloon, and there’s a tree behind him. She drew this at her little table while no one was watching. Winnie-the-Pooh has become Amie’s favorite. We read a story from the original …

O Heavenly Drawing Day at Drumlin

(Two entries in one day, for a change!) Today dawned gray but then the skies cleared up again by noon and by 2 Amie and I and our drawing materials were on our way to Drumlin Farm. In the car we discussed how we love Fall – though Amie avows she loves all the seasons …

“I can do it better”

I have a new resolution. Well, it’s not exactly new, but.. uhm… REnew-ed. Yes, that’s it: an old one newly made. In any case, it is to draw something every day, and what better to draw than my little girl who finally will sit still for two minutes at least while she is  drawing something …