Delicious Haiku * Describing through your senses

Matisse Cut Outs * Vibrant Color and Design

While confined to a wheel chair toward the end of his life,
Henri Matisse found a way to express his artistic mastery in a new art form:  Hand painted paper arranged in dancing, vibrant design.  Learn more at MOMA

Making a Peeps Diorama * Peepacheep's Victory at Sea!

Peeps!

Those adorable sugar coated chicks and bunnies that show up

every spring.
When I was a kid, we always found some in our Easter baskets. 

Do you recognize the story our scene is inspired by?

It's Peepacheep, named after the fearless mouse king

Reepacheep, from the Narnia books.

This battle is from "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader". 

My husband Mark and I made it

using Peeps plus stuff we found around the house.
Can you figure out what we used?

The sea monster is made of simple salt clay. 

 In order to have enough clay for the dragon (we only made 2 cups worth),

I built it's head over an empty glass jar I found in our recycle bin.

I baked it in the oven at 250 degrees for about 25 minutes.

I used foil for the armature in the

tail sections...

...and then covered them with clay. 

We found hot glue worked best for attaching the Peeps

to the paper "sun" that features Aslan the lion in the center. 

Have fun inventing your own Peeps diorama! 

Peeps Diorama! * Inspiration to Invent your Own!

Peeps Diorama!

Is there anything more fun than making

a fantastic scene using those adorable and delicious
Peeps?
Check out the winners from a recent Seattle Times Peeps contest

Spring! Painting Plum Blossoms * Sumi painting

Spring is here! 

Noticing nature unfurling her beauty

is a wonderful way to live large

during our confined situations. 

Try some sumi painting! 

Stop Motion Animation explained by Mashable

Here's a quick, fun summary of the 

history of "stop motion" animation.

We've been using this Stop Motion Studio app because it has a lot of features, and there is both a free version and a paid app with extra features (for about $5)
Check it out for Apple ipad:

Stop Motion Studio

Comic fun - Finish this comic!

Create your own comic story!

Start with this prompt - print it out and add words and pictures to complete the story.
What's your surprise ending?
OR

Go to this Jarrett Learner's site and choose a different comic to complete. 

Alexander Calder - Who is he? Kid fun at the Tate Art Gallery

Playful artist

Alexander Calder

Click here for tons of fun learning and art activities:

Kids Explore Who is Alexander Calder?

Alexander Calder performs his Magnificent Circus for you!

Alexander Calder was a wonderfully playful artist!

He created all of these characters, mechanisms and sets, and performed his circus many times 

to bring joy to viewers.
What creatures would you add to YOUR invented circus?

Fantastic Mr. Fox * Stop Action Animation by Wes Anderson

"Fantastic Mr. Fox"

is a stop action animation film made from Roald Dahl's book by the

same title.  Here's a 3 minute peek at the
making of Fantastic Mr. Fox.
The detail work in this production is incredible!