Illustrating A Book Workshop In Danville California
Last week I shared my painting knowledge with the members of the Book Club at Danville library. Young readers, grade 4 and 5, met to read a book Planting The Trees Of Kenya: The Story Of Wangari Maathai by Claire A. Nivola. It delivers a true story about a winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Wangari Maathai who returned to her home country of Kenya and helped to save the farmland by planting the trees.
I was presenting a workshop: How To "Plant" The Trees On The Paper. For my lesson, I have chosen several techniques to show to the kids.
First we did a background in wet-on-wet technique and later on (when paper was bone-dry) we planted a Whimsical Tree, full of happy branches, swirls, and birds.
As you see, each tree was telling its own story:
Children also learned how to paint Fall trees using dabbing technique and even a sponge.
In one short session we probably "planted" one hundred of those trees. The Fall landscapes filled the room with the bright colors. I swear, if we didn't have so much fun that day, we could even hear our painted birds signing on the branches of those trees ;0)
And even though, not all the trees in Danville, California, were yellow, orange and red yet; our trees, on the paper, were surely indicating a beautiful Fall season in its full glory!
In Every Piece Of My Art There Is A Piece Of My Heart And A Sparkle Of My Soul
