The Museum Mom

Artist of the Week- Michelangelo

2016-06-06T09:56:00.001-07:00

Michelangelo

What did he paint?

Very detailed paintings and sculptures of the human body.

What do you like to draw?

What can I learn from him?

High Renaissance- Before the Renaissance, Painting went from looking like this:

To This:

See the difference? After the Renaissance the faces looked more real.

Now you try it!

Draw a picture of something and put as much detail in it as you can.

See more Michelangelo paintings here

Artist of the Week- Claude Monet

2016-05-31T11:17:00.002-07:00

Claude Monet

What did he paint?

Haystacks- Haystacks are piles of straw. Straw feeds farm animals.

What do you like to draw?

What can I learn from him?

Impressionism- He used small brush strokes to capture light.

See how he painted the haystacks above capturing the light of the four different seasons. See if you can guess which picture above goes with summer, winter, spring and fall.

Now you try it!

Place an object somewhere in your house or backyard. Look at it during the morning, afternoon, and evening. See how it looks different during different times of the day! Now try to draw the colors you see.

Artist of the Week- Edouard Manet

2016-05-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

Edouard Manet

What did he paint?

Pictures of everyday life. He painted people do ordinary things; like going on picnics, going out to dinner, and just being themselves.

What do you like to draw?

What can I learn from him?

Impressionism- He wanted to capture light and movement in his paintings.

Now you try it!

Draw a picture of a certain time of day. And try to draw something moving!

You can see more Manet paintings by clicking here!

Artist of the Week: Georgia O'Keefe

2016-05-16T13:03:00.004-07:00

Georgia O'Keefe

What did she paint?

Flowers

What do you like to draw?

What can I learn from her?

American Modernism-She painted things from everyday life.

Now you try it!

What do you see around you? Draw it!

Click Here to see more Paintings by Georgia O'keefe

Artist of the Week- Mary Cassatt

2016-05-09T12:12:00.002-07:00

Mary Cassatt

This is a self portrait of Mary Cassatt. Self Portrait means she painted a picture of herself!

What did she paint?

She liked to paint pictures of mothers with children.

What do you like to draw?

What can I learn from her?

Figure Drawing- She liked to draw people

Now you try it!

Draw a picture of a person you know. Perhaps you can make a self-portrait. Draw a picture of yourself!

Click here to see more pictures by Mary Cassatt

Artist of the Week-George Seurat

2016-05-02T09:49:00.002-07:00

George Seurat

What did he paint?

This painting called "A Sunday Afternoon on the the Island of La Grande Jatte," or "Sunday in the Park," is made entirely of tiny dots of paint applied to the canvas to make a picture.

Can you see the dots?

Here they are very close up!

What do you like to draw?

What can I learn from him?

Pointillism- Small distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image.

Now you try it!

Make a painting or drawing by just making dots on your paper. You can use a pencil, crayons, paint, marker, or pen.

Artist of the Week: Edgar Degas

2016-04-27T12:14:00.001-07:00

Edgar Degas

What did he paint?

Dancers- He liked to paint ballerinas in motion.

What do you like to draw?

What can I learn from him?

Impressionism- He liked to paint movement.

Now you try it!

Draw, Paint, or use clay to make a figure in motion!

Click Here to see more pictures by Edgar Degas

Artist of the Week- Jackson Pollack

2016-04-18T12:57:00.002-07:00

Jackson Pollack

What did he paint?

Drip Paintings

What do you like to draw?

What can I learn from him?

Action Painting. You can dribble, splash or smear paint onto the canvas, rather than carefully apply it.

Now you try it!

Drip paint onto your paper using a tool or directly from your tube or paint pot.

Click here to see more Paintings by Jackson Pollack

Artist of the Week - Henri Matisse

2016-04-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

Henri Matisse

What did he paint?

Very colorful paintings, drawings and paper cut outs

What do you like to draw?

What can I learn from him?

Collage-Using pieces of paper to make shapes and paste on paper to make colorful pictures.

Now you try it!

Find colorful paper. Cut pieces and paste on paper to make a collage.

See more colorful paintings by Matisse by clicking here!

Artist of the Week: Vincent Van Gogh

2016-04-05T15:36:00.000-07:00

Vincent Van Gogh

What did he paint?

Bright and bold paintings based on his feelings.

What do you like to draw?

What can I learn from him?

It's fun to draw from your feelings.

How does this painting by Van Gogh make you feel?

Now you try it!

Draw a picture about how you feel.

Click here to see more paintings by Van Gogh

Artist of the Week- George Inness

2016-03-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

George Inness

What did he paint?

Landscapes- Landscapes are pictures of nature; trees, flowers, and fields. Sometimes they have animals and people in them.

What can I learn from him?

Tonalism- George Inness used only a few colors to paint his pictures. What colors do you see in this picture?

Now you try it!

Make a picture using only 3 colors.

Click here to see more

Paintings by George Inness

Adopt The Arts

2012-02-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

An old classmate of mine, Matt Sorum, became a drummer for well known rock bands, and is now giving back through a non-profit call Adopt the Arts. adopthearts.com He is working with other celebrities to encourage and promote the arts in public schools. Please support this incredible cause. The arts are so important to children's healthy development, well being, and learning! In Matt's case, music helped him through a tough emotional time as a child. Taking the arts out of the schools hamstrings a child with the rest of their learning. It makes no sense. My son's teacher could no longer use art in her classroom because it was not directly related to improving test scores, not even to support academic subjects. This kind of circular reasoning is short of insanity. Please support the arts in public schools by supporting organizations like Adopt the Arts, or better yet, get involved with your local PTA and help your school keep the arts alive.

Cacophony not for Kids

2012-02-12T12:00:00.000-08:00

The current exhibit at the Fullerton College Art Center in Santa Ana features The Cacophony Society. A group of "artists" who like surrealist sabotage, gluing toasters to light posts, filling teddy bears with cement and placing them on actual store shelves, and this is just the tame part of their activities. The exhibit itself is disturbing. The overtones are violent, depressing, destructive, and brutal. There is no positive energy in the exhibit. Just immaturity. One of the featured exhibits shows members in a bathroom rubbing what looks like excrement on themselves and others. We'd like to hope our kids stop playing with their poop by two years of age, not twenty! This society seems comprised of adults who do not want to grow up. Whereas the rest of us realized we must grow or die, this groups philosophy seems like they'd rather die then grow.
Keep the kids away from this one. Adults who feel nostalgic for their crazy adolescence can probably get a kick out of it.

Help me Start Something That Matters!

2011-11-21T16:59:00.000-08:00

I've just finished reading Blake Mycoskie's amazing book, Start Something That Matters. Some of you may know Blake from his unique company TOMS founded on a simple principle of buy one, give one. Every time you buy a pair of TOMS shoes, a pair is given to a child in need. (He has since expanded into eyewear which applies the same principle.) TOMS has inspired me to start my own non-profit for the arts. After watching the Haiti Earthquake on TV a couple of years ago, I saw images of children lying in hospitals. Their immediate survival needs were taken care of but they were missing one essential secondary need every mother knows. Crayons and Paper. Art Heals the Soul. As they languished in hospitals or camps, boredom is the next obstacle to overcome. I would like to start a non-profit to simply give kids crayons and paper. How can I start? Whoever gives me the best suggestion will receive a free copy of Blake Mycoskie's Start Something That Matters.

Priceless Art Treasures in Downtown Santa Ana

2011-11-09T15:57:00.000-08:00

Two statues by famed artist Raymond Kaskey, the designer of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington DC are featured in front of the Ronald Reagan Federal Building in downtown Santa Ana! I couldn't believe it. I was walking around the art district downtown and stumbled upon these beautiful statues. Raymond Kaskey is responsible for most of the beautiful statues you see in cities on the East Coast. I knew his work from living in Charlotte, North Carolina where his works are prominently displayed in the down town square. These are the only works by Mr. Kaskey in the lower Western United States. The only other west-coast statue is Portlandia in Portland Oregon. Portlandia is second largest bronze statue in the United States, the first being the Statue of Liberty. Just think, Los Angeles doesn't have them, San Francisco, nor San Diego, but downtown Santa Ana!

Let Your Art Fly !

2011-10-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

The John Wayne Airport is holding it 22nd annual Student Art Contest.
If you are in K-12 you vcan submit artwork. The theme is "Silent Flight". You can bring your art to any Orange County Public Library before 4 pm on November 2.

Two winners will be selected. K-6 and 7-12. The winners will be on display Dec. 9-Jan. 16 in the Thomas Fr. Riley Terminal.

Winners will compete at state, national, and international level of competition. Everyone receives a certificate and winners will receive prizes.

You can pick up materials at any Orange County Public Library or click here for airport website:

This "Trash" Is Not Garbage!

2011-10-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

On October 15, The New Children's Museum of San Diego will feature a new exhibit titled TRASH. Featuring Artists from around the world, this exhibition is designed to re-think how we view and feel about "trash".

There will be a Street Festival and Public Opening | 10am–4pm

Free admission sponsored by ScholarShare College Savings Plan!

This is worth the 2 hour drive down to San Diego! The artists featured for this event are world renowned, and the museum itself is a sight to behold. The museum is for children of all ages.

Celebrate the opening of TRASH with an action-packed street fair, featuring award-winning talent, kid friendly entertainment and special trash inspired art projects. Families will enjoy food truck fare, experience interactive demonstrations and learning opportunities, and explore the new exhibition.

Isamu Noguchi at Laguna Beach Art Museum

2011-09-21T16:48:00.000-07:00

Now through October 2, 2011, Isamu Noguchi an internationally celebrated Japanese-American artist and designer is featured at the Laguna Beach Art Museum. Noguchi: California Legacy is comprised of three parts that examine the impact Noguchi had in California. California Scenario: The Courage of the Imagination based on Noguchi’s South Coast Plaza sculpture garden commissioned by Henry T. Segerstrom thirty years ago; 2) What is Sculpture? Akari from the Venice Biennale, from the 1986 Venice Biennale exhibit in which Noguchi, that year’s United States Representative, exhibited his Akari light sculptures; and 3) Noguchi at Gemini G.E.L., consisting of the sculpture multiples that Noguchi created in 1982 at atelier Gemini G.E.L. in Los Angeles.
According to the Laguan Beach Independent, the exhibition encompasses models and drawings pertaining to “California Scenario,” a popular sculpture garden in Costa Mesa and “Noguchi Plaza,” another plaza-like installation in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo. Modeled on an Italian piazza, the latter surrounds a sculpture (“To the Issei”) dedicated to the first generation of Japanese immigrants who paved the way for following generations.
In the densely developed blocks around South Coast Plaza and the Segerstrom Performing Arts Center, “California Scenario” is a tranquil oasis and a powerful monument to the grandeur of California’s natural endowments that include redwood forests, mountains and deserts and a flow of water. The pyramid placed in a corner of the plaza alludes to the diverse cultures that have shaped every facet of California history.
“It took 30 years to realize Noguchi’s vision,” said Laguna curator Grace Kook Anderson. “The garden looks no longer barren. Today the rocks are weathered, vegetation is mature and it’s a popular visiting spot. It’s exactly as Noguchi had envisioned since he believed that people activate space,” she added.

Drop-In Family Art Inventions at Bowers Museum

2011-09-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

On Friday, September 30, 2011, 10 AM- 4 PM Bowers invites you to create innovative and unique cultural art projects. Each weekend will feature new techniques and material. Recommended for ages 5 and up; parents and grandparents welcome, too! Free to members; free with paid admission; $8 single. You can check out their website here

Fine Art at D23

2011-08-23T17:08:00.000-07:00

Disney had it's third annual D23 convention and it was a delight not only to Disney fans but for appreciators of fine art. There were numerous fine artists featured, displaying their works with a Disney theme. My favorite had to be the folks at Acme Art. Their tonal quality and color really captured the essence of Disney characters. Marvel comics made it's debut with a wonderful presentation by the head of Marvel talking about it's history and it's future with Disney. The one person I really wanted to see, John Lasseter, was impossible to view unless you stood in line for hours. He was speaking on the new Cars land in California Adventures. The equivalent of watching Thomas Edison talking about the light bulb. Or Walt Disney himself talking about his upcoming theme park. I was sorry to miss him.
What I thought most interesting was the Disney Corporate display that featured the incredible community work Disney participates in. There was a opportunity to send letters to servicemen and women. Build a box for the red cross amongst other service projects.
D23 comes around every two years, so make your reservations now for 2013!

Visit Italy in San Diego

2011-08-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Now through September 18, The Timken Museum in San Diego is hosting works by artist George Inness. a 19th century American artist who fufilled his desire to paint Italy. Mr. Inness is credited as being one of the founders of "tonal" painting. Tonal means on a scale 1-10, White being 1, Dark being 10 painting all shades in between. So essentially it's painting in shades of color. It's beautiful!! You can see an example of his work here

Waves of History at International Surfing Museum

2011-08-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

Want to bask in the after-glow of last weeks US Surfing Championship in Huntington Beach? Go to the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum off Main Street. It's a must see for anyone interested in surfing or surf culture. I remember as a teenager going to the US Surfing Championship where a couple hundred people sat on the beach listening to a single loud speaker narrating the action. Now with thousands of people attending surfing events, the Surfing Museum captures the sport's essence in simpler times. The museum has several exhibits including early pioneers of surfing featuring the man who started it all, Duke Kohanamoku. "The Duke" captivated fans through his Olympic fame to popularize surfing. Past surfing champions both local and international are predominately featured including the current US Surfing champion.

The museum shows the development of the surfboard, featuring a circa 1919 solid wood board illustrating surfboard's progression from it's long board beginnings, with limited maneuverability, to it's modern shorter version which allows tricks.
The music section pays homage to music associated with surfing. The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, and of course Dick Dale, showcasing his original guitar.
There is a fun display featuring sand from beaches all over the world inviting visitors to contribute sand collected.
My favorite exhibit is the continuous running of the iconic surf movie Endless Summer. If aliens came to this planet and wanted to know about it's culture, this movie would be my choice.You cannot watch it and be depressed. Its esoteric premise following surfers while they search for the perfect wave is brilliant in it's simplicity and aesthetics. You are transported into a serene state of being. The fact that the original camera used to film that masterpiece sits in the corner is a thrill.
The Surf Museum is located at 441 Olive Avenue in Huntington Beach. Admission is free. Check the website for day and open times. click here for museum information

Laguna Beach Art Festivals

2011-07-03T22:41:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and so are the Laguna Beach Art Festivals! Yay! Two of the most child friendly festivals are Sawdust and Art-A-Fair. Art-A-Fair is better as it does'nt require an entrance fee for families to participate in great art projects hosted and taught by some of the greatest artists in the world! Go to the front entrance where a tent is set up ready for your budding artists! If you'd like to look around in the festival, you can enter for free if you patronize Tivoli Too, the restaurant in the back of the venue . If you don't want to spend money for lunch, get an ice tea and enjoy what I think is the most amazing art in Laguna Beach.

Opening Day Celebration at OC Museum of Art, April 10

2011-03-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

OC Museum of Art is haveing a special opening day celebration for Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art: Form, Balance, Joy.
This event is Free!!

Taking a Closer Look at the Mona Lisa

2011-02-17T20:13:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting story on the recent analysis of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. It's amazing how different individuals view art. Art's true value is in the impression it gives the observer. In other words, how it touches you. It's the same principle as taking a beautiful flower and dissecting it. To an artist, the beauty is in the flower outer appearance. To a scientist, its beauty is in it's inmost parts. To a philosopher, it's what it represents. How do you view the Mona Lisa? What is most interesting about it to you?
Click Here Mona Lisa