So the kids put in the work… the creativity… the fun…
They worked right up until the Friday end of camp. Painting underglaze colors.
So when the kids were gone, and camp was over, we sprayed all of their chess pieces
with a low-fire clear glaze. And then fired them to cone 06. All of the pieces just came
out of the kiln… all mixed up! So Brian and I worked today to separate them back
into their thematic sets… and pack them up for the kids top come back to pick them up!
And then… let the games begin!!! Chess games that is…

So last night was another wheelthrowing class… with more sweet treats!
Once again, Cam, one of my former students decided to drop off some handmade
goodies for the class. Always such a treat to find goodies waiting for me at the studio!!!
Double fudge-dark balsamic-sour cream-cherry brownies!!!
Yum, yum and more yum!!!

And then since we are so close to the end of the session, and it was another kind of
“demo-on-demand” night, my students asked to see how to make a plate. So I threw
a large platter with a dramatic swirl through the center. Later I will stamp the entire flange.

Today was my last day of Summer Camp.
Bittersweet.

But please don’t tell me that Summer is already over?!

So as to top off today’s final day of camp, one of my “favorite campers” from this week
brought in a special Thank You note she had made for me. It was very sincere,
very creative and so great to be thanked! So there’s a thoughtful note on the front
and well-drawn still life on the back. Thank You Maya!

Today was the final day of “Gallery Artists: Learning From The Masters.”
And as my kids worked frantically to complete their paintings, we started to
put together our “gallery exhibit” and “opening reception.” The kids were quite
excited and our “show” and it all came together nicely. So while some of them were
putting their handmade clay frames on their paintings… others were still painting
“in the style” of Georges Seurat. Using Q-Tips for the dots instead of paint brushes!

As 3:00pm was quickly closing in on us, the kids were putting their finishing touches up,
making signage for their exhibit and setting up their refreshment station. And then soon
enough, the kids had a roomful of guests admiring their hard work & masterpieces!
Including “in the style of” paintings ala Georges Seurat, Piet Mondrian, Jackson Pollack
and Andy Warhol… just to name a few!

My little artists were all very excited by the turnout. We had a lot of kids from other
Lillstreet camps stop by, as well as some of the adult students. But I think they were most
proud when their family & friends came to view their works. They welcomed their guests
and showed them around the instant “gallery.” Everyone was so excited & pleased
with their masterpieces!

And hopefully, they all learned a little something along the way…
Whether about themselves, a new technique or a famous artist in history!

Today.
The kids continued to work “in the style of” some more famous artists!
Including Georgia O’Keefe, Piet Mondrian, Georges Seurat… and practically
every kid’s favorite… Jackson Pollack. They even worked on memorizing some more
famous artists like Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol, M.C. Escher, Jasper Johns, Frank Stella,
Norman Rockwell, Peter Max, Wasily Kandinsky and even Theodor Seuss Geisel…
yep, Dr. Seuss!!!

Tomorrow.
We will be celebrating the end of their “Gallery Artists” week of summer camp
with a “gallery-style” show & reception to highlight their new masterpieces.
Today they decided to call their show “ARTAPALOOZA” and made show posters!
If you are available tomorrow afternoon, we would LOVE to have you stop by
Lillstreet at 3:00pm to share in the festivities on the third floor in Painting Room C.

Back at summer camp, the kids are focusing on some of the master artists they saw
during their field trip to the Art Institute on Tuesday. I created a beautiful still life
for the kids to work from. We first had them draw the still life in their own style.

Then, we had a great discussion about some famous artists. There were ten new names that
we discussed and the kids started memorizing some good art history. All the while thinking
it was just fun… and not an art history class! We covered classic masters like Pablo Picasso,
Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Georges Seurat, Salvador Dali, Paul Gauguin… as well as
more contemporaries like Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keefe, Piet Mondrian & Roy Lichtenstein.

After sharing some art history & anecdotes, the kids switched to their first painting
“in the style of” Georgia O’Keefe. So we discussed some of the identifiable characteristics
of an O’Keefe painting… and then they started off sketching & painting their own version.

More artists… and more painting tomorrow…

So it’s another week of Summer Camp (my last for this summer)…
and this time it’s a week all based on famous artists & famous paintings!
Throughout the week, the kids will all be making their art “in the style of”
famous artists. It’s going to be a crash course in art history… they’re going to learn
a lot this week, and they’ll never see it coming!!!

Today we all took a field trip to the Art Institute downtown… after too many Mr. Pibbs!!!
So my busload went downtown, spent some time in Millennium Park, visited The Bean,
and ate lunch in the park. The into the museum to expose the kids to a LOT of art!!!
Many of them were surprised when they finally realized that everything in the museum
was “real” and not a fake… as well as how old many of the pieces are!

Just a quick “thank you” to the broken Coca-Cola machine just outside the room
where I’m teaching my summer camp this week.

And I would just like to “thank” them for giving us a broken machine!
Let’s just say the kids love it more than I… as every time they buy a can of Pibb Xtra
(yes, that’s extra sugar & extra caffeine) the machine gives them TWO cans!!!
Yes, two cans for the price of one!!!

Just what the summer camp kids need… more caffeine & more sugar!!!
Especially when we were headed off to the Art Institute for the day!

And I will once again be teaching the Beginning & Advanced Beginning Wheelthrowing
class on Tuesday nights from 7:00pm-10:00pm. Whether you’ve thrown on the wheel
before, or you’ve never touched clay, this is the class for you. You’ll be surprised at
how quickly you’ll be making handmade pottery… with ten-weeks to “perfect” your skills.
Plus, this session will take you right up to the holiday season. An ideal chance to start
making your own handmade gifts for the holidays!

The new 10-week Fall Session will begin on Tuesday, September 13th.
But sign-up today to guarantee yourself a seat in my class… it usually fills up fast!!!
Stop by or call Lillstreet… or register online at www.lillstreet.com.
Plus, sign-up before August 29 and receive $20 off your class enrollment!