Blog Posts

Christmas Star

12/24/2019

A homeschool group called Providence Hybrid Academy holds classes a few days a week at the Blue Church. I've gotten to know some of the very nice kids in their program, and I offered to teach a special Christmas art class for them. These delightful drawings were created using colored pencils: shepherds tending their sheep, and Wise Men bearing gifts. In the background of each masterpiece, heavenly beams from the Christmas Star shine down on the birthplace of Jesus.

click on any image to enlarge it

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Thanksgiving 2019

11/28/2019

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Sophia W.

The Mayflower was an English ship that carried English Pilgrims from Plymouth, England to the New World in 1620. There were 102 passengers, with a crew of about 30. These pilgrims established the first permanent New England colony.

click on any image to enlarge it

Emma W.

Grant H.

Many Mayflower ships sailed out of the art classes this month!

Harper C.

Quinn C.

Alexa D.

Sofia D.

Sadie L.

Timmy S.

Jami T.

Hailey H.

Emilia W.

Alicia H.

Baron L.

According to what traditionally is known as The First Thanksgiving- the 1621 feast between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag at Plymouth Colony- the guests ate waterfowl, venison, ham, lobster, clams, berries, fruit, pumpkin, and squash- but no turkey!
The colonists hunted wild turkeys during the autumn of 1621 and since turkey is a uniquely North American bird, it gained traction as the Thanksgiving meal of choice for Americans after President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.

Linda H.

Erin M.

Madison C.

Corinne H.

PreK through grade 3 students created these beautiful turkeys:

Cora S.

Hazel S.

Paige B.

Allie R.

Dasha A.

Mila A.

Keegan L.

Lindsey G.

Arabelle K.

Alaine K.

Mila M.

Tavia M.

Jacob W.

Cecilia D.

Ryan S.

Anna G.

Gia R.

Evelyn H.

Audrey H.

Ava R.

Gabrielle M.

Lauren S.

A popular Thanksgiving decoration is the cornucopia, a horn-shaped basket filled with fruits, vegetables, nuts, and flowers. It is a symbol of an abundant harvest, for which the Pilgrims gave thanks during the first Thanksgiving.

Patricia S.

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Beautiful Bugs

10/25/2019

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Diane P.

There are more than 1 million species of insects in the world. They are the most diverse group of organisms on earth, and insects are some of the most beautiful creatures on the planet! The students at Blue Church Art celebrate the colorful insect world with their drawings and paintings of Beautiful Bugs.

Kinley K.

These colorful "rainbow" grasshoppers are common throughout the Great Plains and southward to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas:

Kaitlyn S.

Grace Y.

click on any image to enlarge it

Linda H.

These little green grasshoppers look more like the ones we see around here:

Grant H.

Alivia K.

A cute grasshopper closeup:

Blaise C.

This amazing closeup was made using colored pencil and pastel:

Travis G.

These mesquite bugs get their name from the mesquite trees that they feed on:

Riley B.

Reese K.

Sophia K.

Tondy H.

Erin M.

Sophia W.

Cole B.

Serena L.

These drawings show why mesquites are called "leaf footed" bugs

Hadley G.

The praying mantis gets its name from the way its front legs are bent in a "praying" position. Here are two lovely mantises in silhouette against the setting sun:

Makenna P.

Lauren S.

Two praying mantises who look like they're dancing...

Ava K.

Vivian S.

Three unique "fantasy" bugs created with colored pencil:

Laney L.

Ethan S.

Patrick B.

"Shield" bugs:

Ella M.

Sam B.

Tondy H.

Jenna W.

Elena J.

...and a beautiful insect called a "Picasso" bug!

Jenna K.

Everyone's favorite- the ladybug!

Patricia S.

Abby M.

Another favorite- a firefly, a.k.a. lightening bug:

Addison B.

The Spotted Lanternfly has invaded our part of Pennsylvania big time. It causes serious damage to trees and is just a general nuisance, swarming in huge numbers. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful bug, and one of the Blue Church Art students created a very nice drawing of this most unfavorite bug:

Madison C.

Another unfavorite bug, the cockroach! A not-so-beautiful bug.This one is hanging out in someone's kitchen:

Jill M.

Not sure what type these bugs are, but they are gorgeous!:

Maeve G.

Gianna S.

Rissa S.

Avery M.

"Wasp" moths have translucent wings:

Ashlee K.

Ava Z.

Emma W.

A lovely grey and pink "Hubbard" moth:

Loraine K.

A delicate damselfly:

Vanessa T.

...and two bright blue winged insects:

Heidi R.

Jamie K.

The Greenbottle Blue Tarantula:

Gracie C.

Evan J.

Last but not least, a colorful caterpillar that will turn into one of the most beautiful insects of all- a butterfly!

Madelynn Z.

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Beautiful Bugs II

10/25/2019

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Pre-K through grade 3 students created these beautiful bugs using crayon and watercolor:

click on any image to enlarge it

Arabelle K.

Keegan L.

Mila A.

Lindsey G.

Allie R.

Alaine K.

Hazel S.

Cora S.

Dasha A.

Paige B.

These beautiful bugs were made using colored pencil
on blue paper:

Alicia H.

Mila M.

Tavia M.

Jami T.

Gia R.

Ava R.

Gabrielle M.

Evelyn H.

Audrey H.

Harper C.

Quinn C.

Timmy S.

Baron L.

Jacob W.

Emilia W.

Anna G.

Hailey H.

Alexa D.

Ryan S.

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Taj Mahal

9/27/2019

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The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. It stands on the Yamuna River in Agra, India. The word Taj Mahal means “Crown of the Palace.”

portrait of Mumtaz Mahal by Linda H.

The emperor Shah Jahan had the Taj Mahal built as a tomb for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. She died in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child. Construction began in 1632 and the Taj Mahal was finally completed in 1643. It was constructed of white marble, and it is decorated with at least 30 types of gemstones. Over 1,000 elephants were used to haul the construction materials!

Each year between 3 and 4 million people travel from all over the world to see the Taj Mahal. Blue Church Art students in the kindergarten through grade 3 classes created beautiful drawings of this famous building:

click on any image to enlarge it

Hailey H.

Timmy S.

Alexa D.

Alicia H.

Harper C.

Quinn C.

Tavia M.

Jami T.

Baron L.

Ava R.

Gabrielle M.

Audrey H.

Evelyn H.

Gia R.

Mila M.

Ryan S.

Jacob W.

Emilia W.

Anna G.

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Fabulous Fruit!

4/26/2019

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Patricia S.

Blue Church Art students have created some delicious fruit artworks in the last three sessions.

click on any image to enlarge it

Watermelons...

Sophia K.

Gianna S.

Gracie C.

Jenna W.

Alivia K.

oranges and lemons...

Sophia K.

Travis G.

Lauren S.

Jenna W.

...and an orange with a kiwi!

Ashlee K.

Some perfect pears:

Sam B.

Ava C.

Vanessa T.

Callie L.

Jill M.

Gale G.

Lori B.

Cole B.

Fruit collage: a pear and half of a grapefruit...

Riley B.

Laney L.

Apples and bananas!

Dot L.

Blaise C.

Scrumptious strawberries!

Madison C.

Corinne H.

...beautiful blueberries

Linda H.

Rissa S.

Vivian S.

A peach of a peach, and some tasty pineapples:

Sophia B.

Cindy J.

Emma W.

...a pomegranite! Lots of seeds to draw and paint:)

Reese K.

A basket of grapes...

Kinley K.

...and a lovely bowl of fruit:

Leah H.

And an avocado spinning a HULA HOOP!:)

Emily C.

Grade K-3 students created these beautiful fruit bowls:

Evelyn H.

Jamie K.

Addy B.

Mila A.

Gia R.

Dasha A.

Ryan S.

Ava R.

Anna G.

Gabrielle M.

Addison G.

Soveida M.

Quinn C.

Baron L.

Alexa D.

Amelia K.

Kayla B.

Timmy S.

Blue Church Art's spring session of classes is over- now it's time for a long summer break. At the end of her last spring session class a student made this delightful drawing of the two of us:)

Have a good summer!

Soveida M.

SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!

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Dragonflies

3/30/2019

1 Comment

Loraine K.

Dragonflies were some of the first winged insects to evolve, and they've been around for 300 million years! Modern dragonflies have wingspans of only two to five inches, but fossil dragonflies have been found with wingspans of up to 30 inches. These amazing insects are masters of flight: they can move straight up or down, fly backwards, stop and hover, and make hairpin turns, at full speed or in slow motion. Full speed can be 30 miles per hour!

Colorful dragonflies have come to life in
the Blue Church Art classes this session:

Travis G.

Patricia S.

Lauren S.

Kacey P.

Jenna K.

Madelynn Z.

click on any image to enlarge it

Erin M.

Rissa S.

Leah H.

Cole B.

Hadley G.

Tondy H.

Alivia K.

Kaitlyn S.

Dragonflies don't sting and they don't generally bite people. One of the best things about this amazing insect is that they eat a LOT of mosquitoes- up to 100 in a single day!

Ava M.

Emily C.

Linda H.

Ava Z.

Sophia K.

Madison C.

Jessica S.

Vivian S.

Ava K.

Anna M.

Jill created the most unusual dragonfly!

Some of the youngest students asked if dragonflies will sting. I assured them that although dragonflies will bite (but only in self defense, and a dragonfly bite won't break your skin!) they don't have stingers. They are harmless to humans, and having a dragonfly land on your head is considered good luck.

PreK- grade 3 students created these delightful dragonflies:

Harry K.

Lindsey G.

Alaine K.

Avery E.

Brady C.

Hayes C.

Rylan M.

Davis C.

Kyla L.

Grant H.

Alicia H.

Nina D.

Lucia D.

Katie D.

Arabelle K.

Brady M.

Paige B.

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Year of the Pig

2/5/2019

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Alivia K.

2019 is the Year of the Pig. In traditional Chinese culture, a pig represents luck, overall good fortune, wealth, honesty, and general prosperity. The pig is a lucky symbol in other cultures as well.

marzipan pig

Pig decorations and illustrations on "good luck" and "best wishes" cards are common in Germany. Candy pigs made of marzipan are handed out as gifts for the New Year. They are called called Glücksschwein, which translates as "lucky pig."

The pig is also a symbol of wealth, and the piggy bank is a worldwide tradition that has been around for many centuries! The first known piggy banks (terracotta banks in the shape of a pig, with a slot in the top for depositing coins) were made in Java as far back as the 14th century.

To celebrate The Year of the Pig, young students at Blue Church Art painted these cute piggy banks:

Paige B.

click on any image to enlarge it

Harry K.

Lindsey G.

Alaine K.

Audrey H.

Brady C.

Sadie L.

Avery E.

Emilia W.

Rylan M.

Brady M.

Hayes C.

Davis C.

Kyla L.

Katie D.

Alicia H.

Grant H.

Lucia D.

Nina D.

Older students drew pigs for the Chinese New Year, too:

Riley B.

Corinne H.

Gianna S.

A flying pig!

Laney L.

Dragons are a symbol of China's culture, and they are believed to bring good luck to people. Here are lucky dragons drawn in colored pencil by some of the K-grade 3 students:

Gia R.

Jamie K.

Kiki C.

Graham S.

Soveida M.

Gabrielle M.

Ava R.

Ryan S.

Anna G.

Allie R.

Addison B.

Kayla B.

Isabella K.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

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Inuit Igloos

1/31/2019

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1865 engraving of inuit igloo community

Inuit people live in the far northern areas of Alaska, Canada, Siberia, and Greenland. Non-Inuit people sometimes refer to Inuit as Eskimos, but Inuit is what they prefer to be called. Because traditional home building materials such as wood and mud were not easy to come by in the tundra areas where they lived, in the past traditional Inuit summer homes were made of animal skins stretched over whale bones or driftwood. In winter they built igloos from blocks of hard packed snow. (the Inuit word igloo means home). Today Inuit people live in regular homes, but they still build igloos for winter hunting trips. Students at Blue Church Art built their own community of igloos, backlit by the northern lights. Instead of snow blocks, they used crayons, markers and watercolor!

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