Had a great time at JERSEY COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL today speaking to Mrs. Scott's and Mrs. Goetten's classes. One of the best things about being an author is visiting schools and talking to students.  Thanks for a great morning everybody in Jerseyville!

ARTillus 1: When is a box not a box?

When it is transformed by your imagination!  The first book, I've chosen to explore is Not a Box by Antonette Portis.  With simple line drawings, a clever rabbit show us that a simple box can become anything.

  

While researching the possibilities using cardboard boxes, I discovered a wonderful website: “BOXDOODLE”.  http://www.neu-e.de/ Included on the site are numerous samples of transformed boxes.  A really exciting feature is “The Doodle Tool” where you can transform a virtual box using digital painting tools. 

I chose to explore the box doodle idea using traditional media: acrylic paint and markers. The wonderful part of this project for art classes is re-purposing cardboard boxes we usually throw away. 

Saving money + 

Helping the environment + 

igniting our student’s imagination = 

WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE?

The illustration I created was based on my box transformation. I used Derwent watercolor pencils and sharpie thin point markers.  This style is a radical change from what I usually do but I loved the freedom of stepping “outside of the box”.

Introducing "ARTillus"

The best laid plans of mice and men….gobbled up by my new addiction to PINTEREST.  Yes, I know the bad stuff BUT it’s the double whammy for me: an unending plethora of visual images and my prehistoric hunting/gathering nature kicking in big time.  Who doesn't need fifty-one pin boards ranging from cupcakes to Lincoln?  I have been inspired. I now know how to revive sharpie markers, make flowers out of marshmallows AND I have at least a year’s worth of u-tube videos to watch.  The biggest plus is I finally have a shadowy idea of what I hope will be the direction of this blog! (whoo, whoo)  I’m bringing together three of my favorite things: children’s books, art education and expanding my illustration muscles by trying new things. I’m calling it “ARTillus”….combining my love of art, art education and children's illustration.  I plan to post a beautiful/inspiring children’s picture book, an art activity for children based on the media, theme, or style of the book and an illustration of my own in a similar vein.  I hope you are as inspired, as much as I am, by children's picture books.

BUILDING BETTER READERS!

I was honored to be the guest “Artist/Author” for Family Fun Night at Mt. Olive Elementary School.  Title 1 Reading Teacher, Mary Griffel and I planned the event to co-ordinate with the book, IGGY PECK, ARCHITECT, written by fellow SCBWI-IL author, Andrea Beaty.  After the kiddos heard the story, they explored various architecture stations where, using mostly recycled materials, they created a variety of structures.  While the students were busy building, the parents attended sessions with the school's reading teachers who offered tips on how to “Build Better Readers”.  It was a wonderful evening. I’d like to thank the students, staff, teachers and volunteers who helped make the event a huge success!

Retro Recycled Christmas Placemats

Kiddos @ the library recycled Christmas Cards to create retro placemats.

Each child chose fifteen card fronts. Then, using a semi-transparent margarine lid as a pattern, they traced one circle on each card. (Each 12” x 18” placemat needs about 15 circles.) After the circles were traced, they were cut out and arranged on a template. When the arrangement had been chosen, a piece of clear contact paper was put sticky side up over the empty template. The cards were placed on top of the contact paper.  Then a matching piece of contact paper was sealed on top. A final trim close, but not touching the edges, was the final step.  As you can see, the group really enjoyed this fun and eco-friendly craft project.

The "HELP RALPHIE" Costume Challenge

 Do you remember Ralphie from "A Christmas Story"?  Ralphie's grandmother sent him a pink bunny outfit.  Ralphie does not want to be a pink bunny. Can you think of a way to make Ralphie's costume more interesting?  Maybe he could re-design it for his sister? Maybe he could add other costume parts to it, dye it, or trim it?

Can you help?  Draw your idea on a piece of plain computer paper, or download the template at www.louannmattesbrown.com under the "Creative Kids" tab.  Send your design to louannmattesbrown@hotmail.com and your new costume for Ralphie may appear here!

Here are some great costumes designed by kids at the Benld Elemetary School in Gillespie, IL:

November 1 is the Day of the Dead

In Mexico, November 1 is called the Day of the Dead.  This enchanting "Talking Skeleton Puppet" is easy to make. I designed it for our October library program.  It is fun to make the puppet, then dress it like the wonderful costumed skeletons you'd see in market places throughout Mexico. Here's a link for teacher info and downloads for kids about the Day of the Dead, Or Dia De Los Muertos:
http://www.squidoo.com/dia-de-los-muertos