Artists Day at Barnwell Elementary in Johns Creek, GA, on May 4, 2012
Turquoise with Veridian, 24" x 24", oil on canvas
Five classes of 3rd -5th grade students rotated through a classroom "studio" for a painting demonstration. When I found out I would be working with just the older students, I decided they might enjoy trying pallet knife painting with oils. It's like cake frosting or butter. We all enjoyed the experience.
Red and Turquoise, 24" x 24", oil on canvas
With each class of 30-40 students, I asked the students to give me 3 different starting colors. I put the paint on the canvas as if I was in my own studio and added white paint in the vacancies. I showed them how to use the pallet knife to spread the paint. Each student took a turn spreading and mixing the paint on the canvas. Some of the classes were more timid about the paint, and some had the whole canvas covered by the time it got back to me.
Frog, 24" x 24", oil on canvas
Before each class left, I finished covering the canvas and then switched to my smaller pallet knife to show them what happens when you change the marks and strokes. The wet paintings came home to my studio, and I worked on them over the next several days, painting out the edges and making them into finished paintings.
Running the Dog, 24" x 36", oil on canvas
Untitled - in process, 24" x 24", oil on canvas
(I'm not sure this one is done, yet.)
Some photos of the children working with the pallet knife.
