Field Trip

My plans for today were changed, so I decided to go tour the Des Moines Art Center. I have been taking art classes there this year, but my classes were on Mondays, and the Art Center is closed on Mondays.  I have been touring the art center every year for seventeen years on field trips.  It was very nice to go without 50 to 60 fourth graders.  I could go where I wanted, when I wanted, and I didn't tell a single person not to touch the art.

As you can see from the photo, the building itself is a work of art.  I was grateful to have my own little field trip.

Growing and Learning

Today was my second to last drawing class.  We worked with Conte Crayons, which are a combination of compressed powdered graphite or charcoal mixed with wax.  This was totally new to me.  It was challenging and fun.

I love learning new things, and I am thinking about what class I want to take this summer.  I want to keep growing my skills, and when it comes to art, I can't do this without a good instructor.  I am thinking about learning to draw with pastels.  I like the idea of doing something with lots of color. The class that is being offered will spend time outside the Des Moines Art Center in Greenwood Park.  That idea really appeals to me.

Another thing growing in my house are the little tomatoes in the Aerogarden.  I wonder if I will end up with ripened edible tomatoes?

The Des Moines Art Center

I am so grateful that I am able to take art classes at the Des Moines Art Center.  It is a wonderful opportunity to learn in such a great setting.  It's fun to use the equipment, and get to know other people who also have a love for art.  It is also gratifying to see my skills grow.  I could never do this on my own.

This week we worked with charcoal.  I wisely wore black, which is good because it was messy.  In my Art for the Curious class last semester, we used charcoal at an early lesson.  I remember that time, I drew a skull, but after I had the basic sketch I didn't know where to go from there.  Since that time, we have learned a lot about value.  This time I felt that I had tools to continue to improve my drawing.

We have just two classes left, so I will soon be thinking about what I would like to learn next.

Drawing With Charcoal

Today was our seventh drawing class, with only two more classes to go.  Each class involves a new skill.  We are still working on value, the lightness and darkness of an object, but this time we are using charcoal.  We started out experimenting with the different thickness and hardness of the pieces of charcoal, just to explore what it would do.  Then we worked on our project.  It's a bit messy to use, but lots of fun.

Next time we will be using charcoal again, but that time we will be using thick pieces, which I have been warned will be really messy.  Wearing black seems like a very good idea.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn and try new things.  I am also very grateful for the patience of my instructor, Alyssa Tauber.

Art Class

One of the great luxuries of being semi-retired is having the time to take an art class during the day.   I am also very grateful to have the Des Moines Art Center, which makes this both affordable and accessible.  Last fall I signed up for a class called Art for the Curious.  Each week we tried a different art form, drawing, acrylic painting, ceramics, mixed media, wire sculptures, and jewelry making.  

Ready to begin.

Currently I am taking Beginning Drawing.  I have learned so much already, and it is very gratifying to be trying new things and growing in my skills.  This week we learned about hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling to add value to our work.  Value is the lightness or darkness of an object.  I really enjoyed doing this.  

I am very grateful for my teacher, Alyssa Tauber, who guides us and nudges us to stretch are skills.

Art Class

Today was the first day of my new art class at the Des Moines Art Center.  This semester I am taking a beginning drawing class.  This class was a work out!  We started out making quick drawings which we worked on for just a minute each.  From there we went to 5 minutes per drawing, and the last hour, we spent 15 minutes on each drawing.  It was great exercise for both my brain and body.

Last semester I took a class called Art for the Curious. For that class we did something different each week.  One week was ceramics, the next print making, mixed media, etc.  I definitely would like to explore mixed media, ceramics, and jewelry making further.  My print making and painting skills left a lot to be desired.  Drawing is the basis for pretty much everything, so I decided to learn more and develop my skills in this area first.  It is also the same instructor I had last semester.  She is a great teacher.

Being able to spend my morning in an art class is one of the great benefits of being semi-retired.  I still substitute teach, I still volunteer and tutor students, but I have time to take a class and learn things that I want to learn.  That is a great privilege and I am definitely enjoying it!