Blog Posts

Year of the Rabbit

5/21/2023

2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. The US post office has celebrated by issuing one of its unique Lunar New Year stamps. For the past 4 years, an American illustrator named Camille Chew was chosen to design these unique Chinese New Year stamps: https://www.risd.edu/news/stories/grad-student-creates-artwork-for-usps-stamp

During the 2023 Spring Session, Blue Church Art students drew and painted all kinds of wonderful rabbits! The youngest students used crayon and watercolor marker to create their bunnies:

click on any image to enlarge it

Gabriella C.

Jordan F.

McKenzie B.

Leah S.

Maddy W.

Hazel S.

Lucy L.

Eshani D.

Lennon N.

Hailey C.

Older Blue Church Art students created their bunnies using a variety of media: graphite pencil, colored pencil, watercolor, watercolor pencil, and chalk pastel:

Evan J.

Cindy J.

Loraine K.

Shayla W.

Liliana B.

Grey F.

Seanna B.

Ava R.

Gunnar S.

Paige B.

Luke F.

Cora S.

Keegan L.

Patricia S.

Sadie L.

Baron L.

Alexa D.

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Owls

4/23/2023

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owl by Jenna W.

Blue Church Art classes are back after a three year hiatus. We had to put off meeting because of Covid, but now we seem to be back to normal in this corner of Pennsylvania. It's wonderful to be back with my students. I really missed them, and I missed seeing them create amazing artworks in class.

click on any image to enlarge it

Gianna S.

Jenn L.

We started the session by drawing and painting owls. This was a great subject. There are about 250 species of owls in the world. They live on every continent except icy Antarctica. The official term for a group of owls is “a parliament.” The students at Blue Church Art have captured the personalities of a great variety of owls in the parliament of owls gathered in this blog post!

Gale G.

Diane P.

Jeri M.

Leidon C.

Cindy J.

Grace R.

Ashlee K.

Kim R.

Heidi R.

Sam B.

Cole B.

Kaitlyn S.

Patricia S.

Tondy H.

Seanna B.

Rissa S.

Evan J.

Cecilia D.

Alexa D.

A number of students created their owls using black colored pencil and artist's graphite powder. They painted the moon and the stars, and other highlights with silver gouache.

Ava R.

Ryan S.

Luke F.

Grey F.

Baron L.

Sadie L.

Keegan L.

Gavin C.

Paige B.

Cora S.

Liliana B.

Gunnar S.

These K-3 students' owls were created using a variety of media: watercolor, crayon, markers, and colored pencil.

Gabriella C.

Mckenzie B.

Jordan F.

Leah S.

Maddy W.

Hazel S.

Eshani D.

Hailey C.

Lennon N.

Lucy L.

Last but not least:
One of my adult students brought me this very cute owl gift! He's called "Ollie Owl" and he's a 100% edible treat for the birds~ made with seeds, raisins and berries. (If our squirrels discover him, he'll probably disappear fast!)
Thank you, Kim! 😘

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Kyle

5/10/2022

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I am on a “Covid hiatus” right now, but I hope to start classes again before too long. I miss my students and the creative energy that abounds when we're together in the Blue Church Art classroom. They create wonderful artworks, and we have lots of fun in the process.

I’ve taught hundreds of students over my 17+ years of teaching, watching many of them grow up. It is a pleasure to see how their artwork matures as the years go by. When a student who has been coming to class for many years graduates from high school, I am happy for them, for passing this important milestone. But graduation means they won’t come to my classes again. I miss them when they’re gone.

It’s a delight to hear from a former student (or a parent) who writes to tell me about an artistic achievement. One of my favorite students, Kyle, is an example. He started coming to my classes in 2009 when he was in 2nd grade. Kyle was a great student. I delighted in the artworks he created. One early class project was to draw and paint a cake. Kyle asked if he could draw a wedding cake for his parents’ anniversary gift. What a great idea! He drew the cake, with his parents in the foreground. I found a pre-cut mat to frame his masterpiece. Lucky parents, to receive such a precious gift (and to have a son like Kyle!)

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colored pencil toucan by Kyle

the family cat, Bailey (2020)

Kyle came for classes all through elementary and middle school, but after 7 years with me, he had to give up Blue Church Art when he entered high school. He had too many other activities! I was pleased that he enrolled in art classes at school. He wrote to me and sent photos of the projects he was working on.

Kyle drew and painted all kinds of things, but he especially liked drawing animals. During his senior year in high school he sent photos of his drawings of western landscapes and wildlife, rendered in colored pencil. The drawings were inspired by a 2019 family trip to Alaska, to visit an aunt. I love these drawings.

mountain goat

Moose in winter

Porcupine Caribou

Caribou in autumn

Dall sheep

Wolf pack by river

Grizzly Bear family in Spring

SLHS graduation, 2020

Before he graduated from high school, Kyle and his dad dropped in at the Blue Church one afternoon to visit. Kyle was now taller than his father! He still had the sweet, kindly expression on his face that I remembered. Kyle is a very nice person, and his sensitivity can be seen in his lovely artworks.

Now Kyle is enrolled in the Department of Landscape Architecture at Penn State’s main campus in State College. I am thrilled that he continues to send me photos of his work! It’s so interesting to see what he’s doing, and the intricate designs he creates for his projects are impressive. Kyle uses Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator applications to draw wildlife for these projects- new artistic skills.

In October, during his first semester in the program, he sent me images of a design for a saltwater marsh walk. He illustrated the concept with beautiful digital drawings of the marsh and of the creatures who would inhabit it. Beautiful.

For another project, Kyle digitally illustrated the plan for a city “meadow garden" of native plants.

He has created detailed black & white drawings for his landscape projects, many done by hand.

Kyle sent me this lovely colored pencil drawing of a squirrel that he created last December. It shows that he hasn't lost his talent for drawing with colored pencil:)

This past April I received another email from Kyle that contained images of his latest project, an intricate design with the title "Using Wildlife Corridors to Facilitate the Movement of Large Mammals in the Spring Creek Watershed.” He told me that his favorite graphic of the project is the perspective of the wildlife bridge. It took him 8 hours to complete the drawing! That’s dedication.

wildlife bridge perspective

Kyle is pursuing a career that makes great use of his artistic talent. I am so proud of him, and so pleased that he continues to delight me with his amazing, wonderful creations.

❤️

In December 2022, Kyle sent me images of his work from the previous semester at Penn State:

Axon Community Design Drawing

Mound Winter Perspective

Meadow Planting Plan

Tree Plaza Planting Detail

Kyle created this beautiful colored pencil drawing of a lighthouse to give to his parents for Christmas. What lovely gift. ❤️

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Elephant Festival

3/27/2020

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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...

LISTEN to "Three Little Birds"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-b5IAt1FiA

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

Alivia K.

Hannah H.

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Valentine 2020

2/14/2020

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Corinne H.

It's Valentine's Day again, and the students at Blue Church Art are celebrating this LOVE-ly holiday by creating works of art that are sprinkled with hearts!

Jenna W.

click on any image to enlarge it

Snowmen:

Lucy L.

Brandon L.

Bicycles with heart-filled handlebar baskets:

Lindsey G.

Eli M.

Edward G.

Allie R.

Alaine K.

Arabelle K.

And two bikes with emoji-filled handlebar baskets:

Colton S.

Keegan L.

More snowmen:

Ava R.

Ryan S.

Cecilia D.

Holden C.

Anna G.

Gabrielle M.

A Valentine tree:

Baron L.

Candy in heart shaped boxes!

Sadie L.

Jami T.

Alicia H.

Alexa D.

Sofia D.

Emmy L.

Emilia W.

One very lucky mom was given this sweet collage card on Valentine's Day!

Avery M.

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Lions & Tigers & Bears!

1/30/2020

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Vanessa T.

Ava K.

Travis G.

We're starting off the winter 2020 session of Blue Church Art classes by drawing and painting LIONS, TIGERS, and BEARS...

OH MY!

Lions.......

Brandon L.

Lucy L.

click on any image to enlarge it

Ryan S.

Anna G.

Gia R.

Gabrielle M.

Ava R.

Haley H.

Gracie C.

and tigers...

Emmy L.

Timmy S.

Cecilia D.

Hailey H.

Allie R.

Alexa D.

Sofia D.

Alicia H.

Jami T.

Maeve G.

Vanessa T.

Riley B.

Alivia K.

There were rare WHITE tigers in the art room, too!

Vivian S.

Sam B.

and lots of bears: black bears, polar bears, koalas, and pandas...

Cole B.

Delaney L.

Lauren S.

Madelynn Z.

Serena L.

Madeline H.

Keegan L.

Eli M.

Arabelle K.

Alaine K.

Colton S.

Lindsey G.

Katie D.

Paige B.

Gianna S.

Ava Z.

Heidi R.

Jenna W.

Sophia K.

Sofia N.

Sophia W.

Abby M.

Grant H.

Corinne H.

The red panda (also called the lesser panda) was once classified as a member of the bear family- but more recent genetic research now has them in their own family, called ailuridae. Like the giant black and white pandas, red pandas mostly eat bamboo. This cute little fellow is licking his lips after a delicious bamboo meal!

Travis G.

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Christmas Star

12/24/2019

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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: