Thumbprint Art

When I was a kid I adored the book by Ed Emberley.   This cover was the one I remember, but there are several new versions, too.  Thumbprint art is fun and inexpensive.  It doesn't require fancy materials or extensive set up or clean up.

Now I have a son who also enjoys thumbprint art!  Here is work he recently  created on his own.

How could we use this in the classroom?

• Illustrations for a writing narrative
• Reviewing characters in an animal story
• Creating a character to write about
• Illustrations for math number stories
• Art component for science unit on animals

Other possibilities include:  greeting cards, indoor recess, free choice center, art or creative expression, and creative thinking.

Some tips:

• Have a moist paper towel close at hand
• Don't have colorful stamp pads?  Use washable markers.
• Pintrest has many examples
• Have examples younger students can recreate and model the process, and then the rest can be independent

Happy thumbprint creating!

Two Cool Workshops for Teachers and Other Humans

I'm guiding two great workshops this month at ACoT.  They are perfect for teachers!  You can use what you learn with students of for your own creative expression.  They are open to EVERYONE--so bring your sister, neighbor, kids, best friends!


July 28, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., PAPERMAKING

Enjoy the process of making your own paper from recycled scraps using a dip method.  This paper is great for collages, book arts, cards, and other creative endeavors.  It's fun to make with children in a classroom, too.  After a demonstration you will be able to create and experiment and make as much paper as you like during this workshop.  $20   Sign up HERE

Creative Workshops For Teachers and Other Humans

7/9/2015 18:05:43

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I'm guiding two great workshops this month at ACoT.  They are perfect for teachers!  You can use what you learn with students of for your own creative expression.  They are open to EVERYONE--so bring your sister, neighbor, kids, best friends!


July 28, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., PAPERMAKING

Enjoy the process of making your own paper from recycled scraps using a dip method.  This paper is great for collages, book arts, cards, and other creative endeavors.  It's fun to make with children in a classroom, too.  After a demonstration you will be able to create and experiment and make as much paper as you like during this workshop.  $20   Sign up HERE

July 30, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m, BOOK ART


Have you ever wanted to make cook books for sketching or journaling or gifts.  This is the place for you!  We will learn simple book techniques that even young children can make.  I will show you a variety of samples of various cutting and sewing methods, and then you will create until your heart is content!  Most students will make 3 - 6 books or booklets.  $40, all materials are included.  Sign up HERE

A few samples I've made for our workshop!

I look forward to sharing these workshops with you!  It would be extra fun to make paper at the first workshop that you use to create books in the second workshop!  Do you have questions? Contact me

Dream

What are you dreaming about today?

A career move?
Warmer weather?
Better health?

Whatever it is, dreaming is a healthy and important part of living a full life.

If you're a dreamer (or wish you were) HERE is a blessing for you today.

Today for February Defrost I've posted a little painting titled "Dream" at my etsy shop HERE.

Whatever you may be experiencing today, KEEP DREAMING!

February Defrost

I feel like I've been silent for so long, but life has continued to hurry along.  There have been many changes in family and schedules, school, and what not.

One thing has not changed--February always feels like winter may never end!  This seems especially true this year.  So I've decided to have a little fun with some of my little paintings.

I am making one original mini canvas available at my etsy shop each day this month.

Today you will find "Be The Change."  Enjoy!

What are you doing to chase the cold desolation of winter away from your spirit?

Fun For All: Rock Painting

I've had loads of fun this week painting rocks with my son.  It's so simple.  And so fun.

All you need are some rocks--try landscaping and gardening places.

Acrylic paints and brushes and newspaper to cover your work surface {and a spray sealant if you're leaving them outside}

Enjoy!

Here are some of our creations this week:

Sam's smiling head and mommy's help with body!

You can see other art I made this week HERE

What have you been creating in your corner of the world this week?

Plein Air Painting

I'm recovering from an amazing weekend!  I got to spend time by the lake with my dad and brother.
And I got to spend a couple days painting by the lake.

I'm proud of myself for the courage it took to put myself and art out there!

Here's a glimpse into my weekend:

I hope your weekend had glimpses of beauty, too!

New Brave Art Blog

I'm so pleased to present my new art spot in the blogosphere:  Brave Art By Mim Daniel.  You can see the work I've done this spring and summer.  It also tells you when you can find me painting and where you can purchase these original pieces.

I hope you'll check it out.  I would also be so grateful if you would spread the love and tell everyone who might be interested.  Enjoy!

Today's Paintings

Today I worked at Miss Mercedes in Marblehead, Ohio.  I met some amazing people.  I also got to paint!  That makes me happy deep in my heart.

Here's what I did today:

Impatient Impatiens 

Dancing Flowers of the Field

I sing because. . .

I hope that whatever you did or didn't do today left you happy deep in your soul!

Painting Up A Storm

Last Tuesday, I was able to spend time while I worked at Miss Mercedes at the Marblehead location {413 Main Street, Marblehead, Ohio}.  It was so fun to sit out on the deck and just imagine what should happen next on a few canvases!  I met some delightful customers and visitors.

Eventually a little rain storm arrived, chasing me back inside!

I'm sending you a special invitation to join me, this Tuesday, July 2, at the same location for a day of shopping and enjoying life near the lake.  I will be painting off and on between 11 am and 5 pm.  I can recommend some yummy places for lunch or ice cream and other local sites.  To my friends back home, this would be a great one tank trip!

What's new?

Sam at Lakeside over Memorial Day Weekend

I've been really quiet here during most of this school year.  You might wonder what is new.  The answer is A TON!

As of June 9, I will be a certified yoga instructor.  This has taken a major time investment this year, and it has been so worth it.  I have been forever changed.  I've also started instructing a weekly class this spring.  {We will be on hiatus until September.}  I'm planning and looking forward to starting a child and parent/caregiver class this Fall, too.

Candles and twinkle lights set a calm stage for yoga.

I have started to explore presenting my art to the world in the form of whimsical and fresh acrylic paintings.  {I'm doing this in part with the goal of being able to send my son to private school in another year.}  I've had 2 pieces shown in juried shows, and I'm very pleased to say my original art is available exclusively at Miss Mercedes in Lakeside, Ohio, and her new location in Marblehead, Ohio!  See more of my paintings in the Brave Art Gallery.  {I will soon be making prints available.}

Joy-full Overflow, acrylic on canvas, 2013, original size 11 x 14

My family dynamic took a radical turn this year, and so I have been learning how to be what has felt like a mostly single parent.  This has taken a great deal of energy and strength and patience to manage a spirited 4 year old every day after school until bedtime.  {Frankly, his bedtime often was my bedtime!}

I'm so excited to be able to take Sam to Lakeside for the entire summer.  No matter how wonderful that it--and it is WONDER-FULL--there are plenty of challenges and extra planning on both ends to make such an adventure work.

I'm learning more about how to be a better teacher and navigate my way into Common Core and the new Ohio Teacher Evaluation System.

It's been a long season of change and becoming.  I've been all over the place.  I can say that this has been a real season of internal growth and shifts.  I'm looking forward to being able to share more creativity and tales of my life as a teacher and mom and human being.  I'm looking forward to how everything is going to shake out.

How are things going for you?

Amazing Akron Artwalk

I LOVE the monthly Akron Artwalks!  I probably only make it out 4 - 5 times a year, but I'm always inspired by what a creative community Akron is.  I also love that it's not stuffy, but really quite friendly.  You get to meet loads of artists and art lovers from our area.

These events happen the first Saturday of each month, and it's FREE!  You can get the schedule for tonight HERE. It has details about what galleries, shows, and studios are open.  It's a great way to expose kids to a wide range of art.  {I even took a 3 year old to a couple places last year.}  There is also a trolly running between venues.  It's also a great chance to try a favorite or yet to be discovered downtown restaurant.

Flowers of the Field 

details from Flowers of the Field

I'm especially pleased to say I have a painting at the BOX gallery, which is presented by The Artists of Rubber City.  It's another fantastic juried show, and my painting is a part.  You can find this painting in the "Little BOX"--behind the main BOX gallery.

If you can't make it out tonight, the next Artwalk will be June 1, 2013.

What are you up to this weekend?

Art Show Opening

I was super excited to have my art in a juried art show.  I was even more excited when I got to see all the incredible art in the show.  There was my little old art among a stunning array of pieces and work.

I love going to art openings, but I rarely treat myself to those sort of events.  I also loved taking Sam, who was completely taken by assemblage sculptures.  {Maybe this is why he likes legos so much!}

I felt so shy and uncertain.  {I'm surprised by how much courage it takes to put my work out there!}  It was all in all a great experience.

When have you been shy about putting your work out there?

What You Do Around The Edges

I just saw this quote again on someone's FB page, and I was reminded of two things.  First, I love and believe this quote on a profound level.  Second, this quote is being manifest in my life--all around the edges.

Sometimes I get lost/stuck in the reality that school does not work the way I believe it should or want it to be.  At times I am consumed by that.

At those times I'm not able to look out into the periphery--where some really rich stuff abounds.

This weekend the stuff around the edges came into focus, and it was rich and beautiful.

I had two noteworthy experiences:

1.  My art was accepted into my first every juried art show!

Here's a piece of my little painting.  I can't wait to see the exhibit!  You can find out more about it HERE.

2.  I took a leap and started a little gentle yoga class at my house on Sunday evening.  There's always that feeling of doubt that anyone will even show up, but there were 9 yogis packed into my living room and dining room.  It was amazing and a treat to spend the time with such incredible women.

If you might like to join us, email me, for details!

As I reflect, it just seems perfect to say, "Let the beauty you love be what you do!"  (Rumi)

That's just resonating in the deepest heart center of who I am this evening.

What's resonating with you right now?

Adventure Kits Are Here

Adventure Kits are here!

I'm so excited to finally to able to share these amazing kits! They are going to inspire you. Uplift you. Challenge you. Invite courage into your life. Give you some hope. Inspire the push you need to make it to the end of the year.

Here's the really cool thing. . .

When you click the purchase button for any of the 3 Adventure Kits you will see a suggested price of $14 per kit, HOWEVER you get to choose the price. Yep, you read that correctly. You can change the price to whatever feels right to you!

I am so confident that these kits are such a good thing, that I want you to have them in your hands as a tool, a resource, and a beacon of hope.

Each kit will come to your email box as soon as you pay in the form of a full color PDF. How cool is that?

It is a colorful and artsy kit filled with ideas and inspiration from my heart and life just for you!

Go ahead and check out the Spring Fling Adventure Kits. What do you have to lose?

The rest of this week I'm going to be previewing each of the kits over at Brave Teachers.

And Shell and Anonymous who left comments for me about which kits you would like, if you email me (BraveTeacherMim@gmail.com), I will have those kits to you for FREE before the day is over!

My Little Project

I always have a project brewing. It's just how I'm wired. For the past couple months my little project has been Brave Teacher Adventure Kits. I'm so excited about them that I just had to spill the beans a little bit ahead of schedule.

You know how as a teacher you have points in time during the school year when you feel tired or overwhelmed or like you just might spontaneously combust and never be heard from again? For me this always happens to some degree during the month of February. Sometimes I just get really sick, but usually I move forward with fatigue in my body and a heavy heart. So how do I get past it?

I usually end up making something (not for my classroom) or writing (or ranting) for a few weeks in a journal. These are the two best ways I've regained sanity and forward moment. It always looks a little different, but it always works.

That got me to wondering--am I the only one? Is everyone else a-okay, while I'm in this dark little space? Me thinks not. So I decided to share a piece of myself and the fun stuff--it really is fun and gentle and non-judging--that I do to beat these bouts of self doubt and overwhelm.

I've combined a little lesson, some inspiration, and projects to offer some hope, healing, and empowerment, for all brave hearts who might need this. There are 3 Adventure Kits that will be available around March 15. You can catch a brief glimpse here.

You can also receive The Grateful Teacher Adventure Kit FREE for signing up for the Brave Teacher Community--where I let you know more about what's going on and coming up.

Brave Teacher Play Day Is Coming!

Calling all teachers!
I'm inviting you to an amazing day--a Brave Teacher Play Day!

It's a chance for courageous teachers to meet together
and create amazing projects
NOT for their classroom.

Make some heART projects just for your heart! Take care of yourself. Sign up HERE.

January 16, 2012
9:30 am - 3:00 p.m.
Lunch and all art materials are included
Brave Mim's House

I will provide 4 projects for you to choose. You can do as many as you have time to complete. You might choose to do one super in depth or start 3 or 4 and then finish them later on your own.

I have designed 4 fabulous projects for the Brave Teacher Play Day. You can choose one, two, or all four--depending on how much time you want to commit to the projects. Here are the possibilities:

~Brave Teacher Affirmation Cards--I provide the materials, and you decorate the cards and choose or write the affirmations for your heart.

~Mini-Vision Boards--I provide the art trading cards, glue, scissors, and magazines. You create mini collages that inspire your heart

~Things on Rings Quote Set--I provide the perforated business cards, printing, paints, ring, and ribbons. You decorate and assemble the set in the way you want.

~Word of the Year--I provide a lovely hand drawn set of worksheets that help you choose a word to inspire and motivate you. I ask the questions and you do the journaling!

Sign up here.

Please invite your teacher friends!
You're welcome to stay for part or all of the day.
It's going to be a very casual format.
Enjoy the company of courageous educators and let your heart play!
I know this will be a feel good day of rejuvenation and strength!
This makes a great gift for you or another brave teacher you know!

Grab space for you and/or friends HERE.

Three Worlds and What Is Art?

This spring my little family went to an amazing M. C. Escher exhibit at the Akron Art Museum. My husband and I both enjoyed one piece titled, Three Worlds. We purchased an inexpensive little print, framed it, and have it in our house.

And then that little print had a bit of a powerful momentary impact on me. We were hiking, and I saw a turtle in the water, some leaves on the water, and the reflection of a tree in the water. I instantly thought of the piece by Escher. I also thought about what the role of art in the world is. I believe that one part of the role of art is raising our awareness to the world around us. That's exactly what happened to me. I would never have seen those 3 items when I looked down toward the water. It makes me so grateful for art and the awareness it gives me.

What impact does art have on you?