The Elephant Festival is celebrated in Jaipur City in the northern state of Rajasthan, in India. It is held on the day of the Hindu Holi Festival (the festival of spring), usually in the month of March. The Elephant Festival begins with a beautiful parade of bedecked elephants, camels, horses, and folk dancers. The owners proudly decorate their elephants in vibrant colors, jhools (saddle cloths), and heavy jewelry. Female elephants wear anklets with bells on them, which tinkle as they walk! The elephants are also outfitted in ear danglers and colorful embroidered scarves to embellish their ears and necks. The Mahouts, (the elephants’ caretakers), decorate the foreheads of the animals with head plates and they hang gold and silver bracelets and rings on their tusks. Other events that take place during the festival include an elephant polo match and a tug of war contest, where the strongest elephant is chosen to compete against a group of ten people.
Blue Church Art had its own Elephant Festival in March! Students drew and painted colorful elephants in a variety of media.
 Gia R. |  Eli M. |
Younger students created colorful elephants using crayon, watercolor, and colored pencil.
 Gabrielle M. |  Ava R. |
 Holden C. |  Ryan S. |
 Katie D. |  Arabelle K. |
 Edward G. |  Colton C. |
 Anna G. |  Cecilia D. |
 Paige B. |  Allie R. |
 Alaine K. |  Lindsey G. |
Keegan L.
Older students created their elephant masterpieces using Japanese Masa paper. Students drew their elephants on the Masa paper, then went over their lines with black sharpie, filling in any areas of black with the sharpie too. The next step was to wet the paper thoroughly, then crumple it, straighten it out, crumple it again, then flatten the paper out and paint onto it while it's still wet. The crinkled Masa paper created an interesting textured background. After letting the paper dry thoroughly, students could apply gouache in bright colors, and silver and gold, to finish these beautiful elephants.
 Ava R. |  Madelynn Z. |
 Sofia N. |  Cole B. |
 Grant H. |  Sophia W. |
 Haley H. |  Laney L. |
 Vivian S. |  Blaise C. |
 Leidon C. |  Zoey H. |
 Jenna K. |  Allison K. |
 Natalie H. |  Riley B. |
 Avery M. |  Lydia S. |
 Linda H. |  Serena L. |
 Tondy H. |  Corinne H. |
One student used a combination of gouache and collage to create her wonderful elephant:
Kaitlyn S.
I've invited some non-elephant Masa paper paintings to our Elephant Festival! Four dazzling peacocks, a beautiful sunflower, a wolf howling at the moon, and a happy sun/moon combination:
 Gianna S. |  Sophia K. |
 Loraine K. |  Heidi R. |
 Jenna W.  Madison C. |  Lauren S. |
Last but not least...three little birds. Which reminds me of my favorite song. A song that is especially comforting during this strange timeout from life as we know it.
"Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley:
Rise up this mornin'
Smiled with the risin' sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Saying', (this is my message to you)
Singing' don't worry 'bout a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing' don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright...
Rise up this mornin'
Smiled with the risin' sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Saying', (this is my message to you)
Singing' don't worry 'bout a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing' don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright...
To all my precious students...
Please stay safe and healthy during this bad dream we are living!
I miss being with you. Happy memories of the beauty and joy that you've created in the Blue Church Art classes is helping me cope with the crazy, scary current situation. I thank you for this.
❤️ BIG HUGS ❤️
Ms. Helene
Ms. Helene
Alivia K.
Hannah H.
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