The Great Christmas Disaster

We've all read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and probably seen Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” at least once or twice too. I am sure you are familiar with all the characters that run through these tales and more, like the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, Rudolph, the Grinch and even jolly old Santa Claus. Have you heard of "The Great Christmas Disaster" though? What about "Gabe Strikes Again"? They are one and the same and if you are still shaking your head, I'm not surprised. This Christmas drama is an original by Kim Stark, but it pulls on many already familiar Christmas themes. In fact, as the play unfolds, you will see one mixed-up angel having to set several Christmas stories straight with the help of a couple of angelic friends.

You haven't seen this play before, but you will want to catch it this year.

On Friday, December 21^st at 7 pm and Saturday, December 22^nd at 2 pm, 17 children will be performing their version of this Christmas play. Kim Stark has spent the last month or so teaching the kids tips, tricks and techniques for how to dazzle an audience with the help of the new Budding Artists space. With Kim directing these children, aged 5-15 years, they are finally ready for the curtain to go up. Now is their time to shine.

So without further ado, Budding Artists presents “The Great Christmas Disaster” to showcase London’s newest theatre troupe, at their new location at 944 Western Counties Rd, behind Parkwood Hospital. Please contact Budding Artists for tickets, as space is limited at the venue. Suggested donations are $8 per adult and $5 per child. These budding thespians would love your support, so please make a point to come out and cheer them on as they present “The Great Christmas Disaster (or Gabe Strikes Again)” to you.

Countdown to Christmas

With the arrival of Santa Claus in London, Ontario this past weekend, the countdown to Christmas is on! Only 42 days to be exact. If you are itching for something festive a little sooner though, there is a Christmas event that falls a little closer on the calendar. On Saturday, November 24th, 2012 from 10 am - 3 pm the doors will be opened at 944 Western Counties Rd (Bruce Pavilion behind Parkwood Hospital) for the Budding Artists Open House & Christmas Sale! That's right, Budding Artists wants to celebrate the season in their new location and YOU are invited.

Wondering what you have to look forward to? The scent of Christmas will be in the air with hot drinks and snacks on offer. It wouldn't be a Budding Artists affair without crafts for the kids too. Plus, get a sneak peek at all of the new programs that Budding Artists is running at the new location, like Free Drama Workshops on Mondays, Eco Tots Exploration, Creative Writing Classes, Toonie Tuesdays, and Friday Craft Night Fridays. And of course you can get some shopping done as well, with 10% off all of our eco-friendly arts products, plus Budding Artists Keepsakes! No Scrooges here either - NO Tax!

In fact, the Drama Workshops are going to have a decidedly Christmas-y feel to them too, as Budding Artists are gearing up for a Christmas Play this year. The first audition will be held tonight, so hurry on down. Workshops are held on Mondays, from 4:30-6:30 pm with Kim Stark (former Principal of the Sitting Tree School) presiding. We can't wait, but you will have to, so we'll be sure to let you know when the performance will be held!

Don't forget that we'll be running a PD Day Camp this Friday, November 16th, 2012 at Wesley Knox Church from 9 am - 4 pm too! Sign up today!!

See you soon! HO, HO, HO!

Reach Out and Touch Someone

It takes a village to raise a child ~ African Proverb

The meaning behind that of course is that many people influence a child's life. The same holds true for everyone in fact. We do not exist in a bubble. Every day we touch family, friends, acquaintances, business associates and even stranger's lives. From the grocery clerk, to the gas bar attendant, to your spouse at home, the people in our world shape who we are and how we view our place in it. That goes for how we raise our children and even how we interact in business settings. You cannot walk through life entirely alone, nor should you.

The same holds true for Budding Artists. While Maria Calleja might be the founder of the business, she is not the sole person involved in the company. Everyone from her children and husband, to friends and family encourage her and support her in her endeavour to bring art alive for children. There have been many faces that have assisted in art workshops, fundraisers, and certainly more than one special event. There are also many other companies that Budding Artists could not do without. Take for example, these companies that create wonderful products that Budding Artists promotes and whole-heartedly supports;

Glob

Clementine Art

Artterro

Eye Can Art

Crazyoleez Crayons

Barefoot Books

Without them, Budding Artists would be a little slimmer in scope and a little more hard-pressed to present creative ideas to our clients. Not that creativity comes from a company, but quality products go a long way in producing beautiful and artful pieces. And inspiration comes from sources far and wide, including people of all ilks and stripes. The creative minds that lie behind the Budding Artists logo are only stepping stones for the imaginative ideas that spring forth from the children that we touch every day in the hope that we promote a brighter, more artistic future.

Today, we recognize and thank all of those who help to ensure that Budding Artists exists and thrives. Without you, we would not be here today.

So I cannot help but turn around and ask you. Who do you touch in your every day life? Who has influenced your imagination and creativity? Who can YOU reach out and touch today?

Eye Can Art: A Project with the Layered Wax Drawing Kit

On a lazy, damp Sunday with nothing to do,
a Budding Artists art kit is pulled out with a big Yahoo!
Not any old art on this soggy day
but an EYE CAN ART kit to chase the blues away.

So we opened the can and looked inside
to see what goodies our creativity could guide
Joy, oh bliss, in a small wood frame
"and a set of pastels to decorate it!", we exclaimed.




The girls set out with a vision in mind
their colours were brilliant, all combined
A landscape emerged, a tree I see
with flowers in a row, how pretty!




The last touches added,
and it was ready to go!
One last glimpse
before into the oven, it was stowed.

Just add beeswax

overtop

 

Watch the bubbles

til they stop!

Out it came
all hot, hot hot!


Till it cooled
and the wax did clot

One last task

Before we were through

To decorate on top

and add more colours anew!

My vampire girl

was ever so pleased

with her Eye Can Kit

and the artwork she conceived

~

Big thanks to Maria & Budding Artists

for the fun Layered Wax Drawing Kit 

that filled our Sunday afternoon

with some creative fun!

It was as easy as...

draw, melt, cool, colour a little more

and hang on the wall to enjoy!

Find more creative art projects online 

or in one of the new Budding Artists workshops

as highlighted below;

A Look at Sculptor David Smith

We are into the last week of June and that means that this week will be Budding Artists last children's art workshop at the London Farmer's Market. We love our space and hope to return in the fall. If you haven't had a chance to attend previous art workshops, this weekend is a must! Workshops are held Saturdays at 10:30am and 1pm, running 90 minutes of fun and creativity. Children learn about the featured artist, discover a little art history, and get the chance to create some take-home artwork in the style of said artist. The kids always leave happy and you parents get a break for 90 minutes to do whatever you need or want to do! Register today! And as far as next year goes, you will certainly be the first to hear about what we have planned for the 2012/2013 Budding Artists schedule!

September might seem like an awfully long wait to keep your kids interested in art though. If you are worried about how to keep your children entertained this summer, note that Budding Artists will be hosting two week-long summer art camps this year. Back by popular demand, Maria Calleja and Nancy Clarke will be inspiring your children to reach to the stars with their artistic endeavours. Barb McGill will also be joining the Budding Artists team to add a little musical inspiration to the weeks. The summer camps run the weeks of July 23-27 and August 27-31, 2012, between the hours 9am-4pm. This year the camps will be held at the Wesley Knox Church at 91 Askin St., so contact Budding Artists today to secure your child's spot.

Ah, but we haven't mentioned who our featured master artist will be for this weekend's Children's Art Workshop yet! I will keep you in the dark no longer. This week, sculptor David Smith will grace your children with his influence, as they discover his many metal works. A man of little formal training, he still managed to climb his way to the top of the art world and is now considered one the most important sculptors of his generation. And it all began on March 9th, 1906 in Decatur, Indiana.

Reclining Figure - 1933

Smith entered the world with nothing earth-shattering to inspire his artistic creativity. His mother was a teacher and his father managed a telephone company, while on the side fashioned himself an amateur inventor. He moved with his family to Ohio in 1921, where he graduated from high school. He attended Ohio University in 1924-25, but dropped out of the University of Notre Dame the following year after only two weeks, due to the lack of any art classes. He spent the summer working at the Studebaker automobile factory, getting exposed to the materials that he would ultimately come to use most during his later artistic career. That career got its foothold when he moved to New York in 1926.

Head - 1938

Where art had always held an interest for Smith, it wasn't until he settled into life in New York that he was able to fully explore this medium. He became a member of the Art Students League of New York, where he met his soon to be wife Dorothy Dehner. He studied painting and drawing from artists John Sloan and Jan Matulka. It was through these painters that he was introduced to the artwork of Julio González, Willem de Kooning, Mondrian, Kandinsky and most notably, Picasso. While he never received any formalized education in sculpting, Smith absorbed all that he was taught and took the leap to realize that the only difference between sculpture and painting was the third dimension. It was this leap that he now took, when he began to forge sculptures out of metal and other found materials.

Hudson River Landscape - 1951

In 1929, Smith and his wife bought a run-down farm in Bolton Landing. A small art community there had enchanted them and by 1932, Smith had bought a forge and anvil for the studio at their summer home. Around the same time, he began renting out a space in a Brooklyn welding shop (Terminal Iron Works), where he began creating relief plaques and increasingly abstract sculptures. In 1938, he was honoured with his first one-man show of his drawings and sculptures at Marian Willard's East River Gallery. By 1940, he had tired of the New York art scene, so permanently relocated to Bolton Landing and renamed his studio after the welding shop he had left behind. Ironically, it was at this time that his artwork began to receive more notice, as he had a travelling exhibit featured by the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art. The outbreak of World War II found him neglecting his new found art though, as he took a job welding at the American Locomotive Company.

Cubi XVIII, Cubi XVII, Cubi XIX - 1963-64

With the war over, Smith had an outpouring of creativity. He took the skills he had learned welding, and devoted himself full-time to his art. His stint at teaching with the Sarah Lawrence College gained him the further respect he desired. That was followed by the Guggenheim awarding him two Fellowships, which meant that he could financially continue to focus whole-heartedly on his artwork.

During the '50s, with his increased recognition and financial means, his artwork began to grow in scale. He experimented with new drawing techniques and began to construct numbered series that continued til the end of his life. Sadly, his was a life cut short, as he died in a car accident in 1965. Over his 59 years though, he managed to create a new style of art through his metal- work that took Cubism and Surrealism to a new height. Never before had any American artists created work like his, but that legacy did not die with him (Artist Anthony Caro was directly influenced by Smith's work). In fact, exhibitions of his work are still on display around the world. And of course Budding Artists will be resurrecting him this weekend as well at our last children's art workshop of this session. Please join us!

Spotlight on Alexander Calder

How about a spotlight on an artist with a slightly different take on art? Let's take a look at Alexander Calder and his claim to fame; his sculptures and mobiles. He was born in Lawnton, Pennsylvania on July 22, 1898 to artistic parents; his father was a sculptor and mother a painter. With parents like that, it is no wonder that young Calder ended up falling into the art world himself. And that he did from a young age. From the age of eight, he was always provided with a workshop in the family home. He rewarded this encouragement by presenting his parents with his first sculpture in 1909. A 3-D brass dog and duck was their Christmas present that year.

Despite his early interest in art, Calder originally decided to go into engineering. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology and spent the next few years dabbling in various jobs related to the field. It wasn't until 1923 that he decided to return to the world of art. He moved to New York and enrolled in the Arts Student League. In 1926, he took his interest in art a step further and moved to Paris, where he enrolled in the Académie de la Grand Chaumière. It was there that he began to further develop his skills and tinker with kinetic art. One of his earliest experiments with kinetic art was in his creation of his Cirque Calder (inspired from a two-week stint spent researching the Ringling Brother Circus for the National Police Gazette in 1925), which he designed and performed for people throughout France and the US, as seen here.

Lobster Trap & Fish Tail - 1939

While Paris was good to Calder, introducing him to the likes of Joan Miró, Marcel Duchamp, Jean Arp, Fernand Léger, Piet Mondrian and his future wife, Louisa James, he decided to return to the United States in 1933. He brought back with him his "mobiles" and continued to show them, but he also began to experiment with larger outdoor sculptures. While they would eventually turn into more significant pieces, these first sculptures were nicknamed "stabiles", to differentiate them from the mobiles that could gently twist in a puff of air. 

Man - 1967

As Calder's artwork got bigger, so too did his scope of work. He designed jewellery, toys, tapestries, made drawings, paintings and eventually was commissioned to create several public sculptures around the world (like "Man", that was commissioned for Expo in Montreal, QC, 1967). His pieces were often a monotone of colour (mostly black, but with occasional reds and other primary colours) and certainly abstract in nature, but by the time he died in 1976, they were sought after the world over. The Whitney Museum has one of his largest collections of works, but MOMA in New York, Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and of course the Calder Foundation all have permanent exhibits from this master artist.

While Budding Artists cannot boast to have any of his stabiles or mobiles, we are honouring Alexander Calder's life and works this Saturday, June 23, 2012 during the weekly children's art workshop at the London Farmer's Market. Register your kids today and bring the world of kinetic art alive for them in 90 minutes of fun and adventure through the eyes of this master artist. Workshops are held at 10:30am and 1pm, with the cost of materials included in the price. They will thrill at the experience of creating their very own kinetic art and you will too, when you see that spark of creativity come alive. See you Saturday!

Spotlight on Vincent Van Gogh

Self-Portrait - 1889

Ears, shmears! Who needs them when you can paint?! Vincent Van Gogh certainly didn't. Well, at least he felt that he could do without part of his left ear, but what he could do with a paint brush was miraculous. This Post-Impressionistic painter is certainly one of the world's finest Master Artists and is the focus of this week's Budding Artists children's art workshop at the London Farmer's Market. The workshops are 90 minutes of fun, art history and a few lessons in technique in the vein of the master himself - Van Gogh. Let's take a look at what Van Gogh accomplished in his short 37 years.

Windmills at Montmartre - 1877

Vincent Van Gogh was born in Groot-Zundert, the Netherlands on March 30, 1853. He was the son of a pastor, and hailed from a long line of artists and art dealers. He became interested in art at an early age, and flourished in Middle school when he received lessons in drawing from a successful artist there. By the time he was 20 years old, he had obtained a job as an art dealer in London, with the help from an uncle. One of the happiest periods of his short life, he sketched and drew in his extra time, when he wasn't dealing in Art. After being transferred to Paris in 1875, he fell on the outs with Goupil & Cie, the company he had been working for, and left them to return to London.

Coalmine in the Borinage - 1879

Disillusioned with the world of art dealers, Van Gogh turned to religion. He had always had a strong religious faith, but by 1876, he felt the urge to devote himself to the Church. He entered the school of theology in Amsterdam, but it quickly became apparent that he would not flourish in this path. He dropped out of school, then failed an admission test to enter a mission school in Laeken. Undeterred, he applied to a missionary post in Borinage and tried his hand at bringing religion to the people there. While his zeal was almost fanatical, the powers that be were not impressed. After only six months, they dismissed him from his post. Despite this, Van Gogh remained in the area for over a year, trying to help the residents of the impoverished area and himself, both living a life of poverty. Ultimately, via suggestions by his brother Theo, he left Borinage behind. With a failed marriage proposal to his recently-widowed cousin, he also left his religious faith as well.

Woman Sewing,
With a Girl - 1883

It was at this point that Van Gogh reacquainted himself with his cousin Anton Mauve. Mauve introduced him to the world of watercolours and oils and ignited in him a new passion. With a career as Artist in sight, Van Gogh flung himself into this new occupation. It was at this time that he also met Clasina "Sien" Hoornik. An alcoholic, pregnant prostitute with a young daughter in tow, Van Gogh fell in love with his dear Sien. Their rocky relationship was marred by poverty and much fighting, but he was devoted to her children and often used Sien as a model. Van Gogh's family was not impressed though and they demanded he leave her. After spending three weeks in hospital, due to a case of syphilis and gonorrhea that he contracted from Sien, he was finally swayed.Van Gogh left her in 1883, after spending just over a tumultuous year together.

The Potato Eaters - 1885

Disheartened by another love lost, Van Gogh returned to his family's home in Nuenen and devoted himself once more to drawing and painting. He spent two years there, often-times sketching peasants. It was during this time that he painted one of his most famous works "The Potato Eaters", although it wasn't until long after his death that it received public attention. Struggling emotionally, financially, and artistically, he decided to move to Antwerp and studied the works of Peter Paul Rubens, as well as Japanese artwork. While his exploration of colour theory helped to broaden his colour palette, his locale only served to deteriorate his health. By 1886, Paris beckoned and Van Gogh moved in with his brother Theo.

Starry Night - 1889

The last few years of this troubled artist's life were incredibly productive, but also fraught with much strife. He lived with his brother Theo for most of the two years he was in Paris and during that time met the likes of Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro and of course Paul Gauguin. The bright colours that were rampant in the Impressionist movement influenced Van Gogh's own palette and suddenly his dark pieces disappeared, replaced by the bright colours that he is most famous for. The break from excess (drink, smoke, poor diet) that he hoped to achieve with a move to Arles, sadly did not improve Van Gogh's lot. While he continued to paint and draw, his health spiralled out of control. He committed himself to an asylum, but even that respite was not enough to save him. On July 27, 1890, the world lost an incredible artist, when Van Gogh shot himself in the chest. Two days later he was dead, from complications during his treatment. Despite the mental and physical illnesses that he struggled with throughout his life, he left behind a legacy of art behind. He painted nearly a thousand paintings, over a thousand drawings and sketches, as well as enough letters (mostly to his brother Theo) to document his incredible journey through life. While he only sold one painting during his lifetime, they now go for upwards of $100 million. Quite the feat, and one that has influenced a myriad of artists since then.

Perhaps its time that your child discovers the magic of this tragic master artist. See you June 16th!

Louise Nevelson: Sculpting Her Vision of Art

"I believe in my work and the joy of it. You have to be with the work and the work has to be with you. It absorbs you totally and you absorb it totally. Everything must fall by the wayside by comparison." ~ Louise Nevelson

And in this vein Louise Nevelson led her life. Over the 88 years that she walked the earth, she worked at creating her own unique version of artwork and was absorbed by it every step of the way. Born September 23, 1899 near Kiev, Russia, Nevelson's life began in a rocky way. Her father Isaac emigrated to the United States in 1902, leaving young Nevelson and the rest of the family behind. Once he had established himself in the lumber industry in Rockland, Maine, the rest of the family relocated in 1905 to join him in the USA. While these stresses brought the family closer together in some ways, they did not make for an easy beginning for Nevelson. That was not enough to keep this up-and-coming artist down though.

Untitled - 1950

When Nevelson came across a plaster cast of Joan of Arc in the Rockland Public Library at the age of nine, she knew that art would be a part of her life forevermore. She began her art career by studying drawing in high school. In 1920, she married Charles Nevelson and moved to New York, where she further studied painting, drawing, singing, acting and dancing. From 1929-30, she studied at the Arts Student League under Kenneth Hayes Miller and Kimon Nicolaides. When her husband moved the family out of the city, she became disillusioned with marital bliss and by 1932 she separated from her husband. Recognizing the importance of this focus on herself, Nevelson flew to Europe to further explore different styles of art. While there, she studied under Hans Hofmann in Munich, as well as worked as an extra in films in Vienna and Berlin.

Sky Cathedral - 1958

Nevelson returned to the US in 1932, where she once again studied with Hofmann. She was introduced to Cubism and collage, which influenced her greatly throughout her career. The following year she met Diego Rivera and worked as an assistant to him on his "Portrait of America" murals. The further she delved into the art scene, the more she embraced a style that was all her own. She began to teach mural painting at the Works Progress Administration in 1935. Despite this, money was tight. Perhaps because of this, the materials she collected for her sculptures were often found pieces, like castoff lumber.

Royal Tide 1 - 1960

It wasn't until 1941 that Nevelson had her first solo exhibition, held at the Nierendorf Gallery. While this helped to bring attention to her Modernist sculptures, success was still slow in coming to her. By the 50s, her reputation had grown and the Museum of Modern Art purchased one of her Sky Cathedral pieces. She travelled to Latin America and the Mayan artwork she came across was soon evident in her newest creations as the decade came to an end, with gold and white taking over from her previous all black pieces.

Dawn's Landscape XXIV - 1975

Finally achieving the fame she sought, the size of her pieces grew into monumental displays. Nevelson's name became synonymous with sculpture, but she also became a figurehead in women's art as a whole. She  challenged the idea that only men could become great artists. The fact that her estate was worth over $100 million when she died in 1988, seems to support the fact that women too could crack that gender bias.

IN YOUR HANDS: A Focus on Sculpture

Sample Masterpiece Created
Via the Help of 2 Hands Clay

Budding Artists has a very special treat for you this weekend during our Master Series children's art workshop. Not only will we be featuring Henry Moore on Saturday, June 2, 2012, but the workshops are going to be run by our friends at 2 Hands Clay! They go to birthday parties, classrooms, into the homes of seniors, folks with special needs, and to pretty much any group that desires to play with clay (think church groups, mom & tot groups, women's groups and more), but this week they will be at the London Farmer's Market at 10:30am and 1pm sharing their clay creations with Budding Artists and a lucky group of children. How cool is that?!

Moore's creative process

So why do you think we asked 2 Hands Clay to help out with this week's children's art workshop? For those of you who suggested it was because Henry Moore was a sculptor, you'd be correct! In fact, Moore was well known for his drawings, textiles and graphics, but it was his sculptures that helped to propel him into the role of Master Artist and brought him fame around the world. Just as Budding Artists hopes your children are, he too was interested in sculpture and art from an early age. After briefly serving in World War I, Moore attended Leeds School of Art where he excelled to the point of winning a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London in 1921.

The creative process of a child

This experience helped to start a career in the arts for Moore that we hope your own budding artists can aspire to as well. The folks at 2 Hands Clay provide the materials and a few ideas to spark some creativity, but the process is all in the hands of the creator. Just as Moore molded his creations from the influences of the world around him, as well as a vision in his mind's eye (plus a maquette or two), so too will your child, under the guidance of 2 Hands Clay, create their own masterpiece. Have clay, will create!

Reclining Figure

Moore created thousands of sculptures over his 88 years, but this weekend the process is all about your kids. Where Moore specialized in fluid forms, African motifs, female figures and family groupings, what form do you think your children will pull out of the clay? His figures were often seen reclining and featured piercings that gave an abstract air to the sculptures. Your child will have an opportunity to mold the piece of clay they receive into a form that works for them, adding colours as their creativity fancies them. With a little more encouragement, perhaps one day your child's creativity and future sculptures will grow larger, just as Moore's did when the demand for his public art commissions increased.

Only time will tell, but giving your child an opportunity to explore is the first step. What do you think your little artist can create in 90 minutes of fun and clay adventure with the help of 2 Hands Clay? Sign your kids up today and watch their vision sculpt the future. See you Saturday!

2 Hands Clay Adventure

Pop! A Look at Art Through Andy Warhol's Eyes

Do you think anything interesting ever happens in Pittsburgh? Well, back on August 6, 1928 Andrew Warhola was born (he would later drop the 'a' from his last name and go by 'Andy'). Son of Rusyn immigrants, the third child of Andrej and Julia might not have taken the world by storm in his earlier years, but things were destined to change. The name "Andy Warhol" would be known the world over and his new brand of Pop Art would take the art scene by storm. And it didn't take long.

In The Bottom of My Garden - 1956

From a young age, Warhol was interested in art. When he became sick and frequently hospitalized in his youth, that love of art and pop culture sustained him. While his illness created a paranoia about hospitals and doctors, it also gave him the time to explore drawing, DC comics and celebrity magazines. These interests remained with Warhol for the rest of his life.

Marilyn Monroe

After graduating from high school, Warhol enrolled at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. By 1949, he had a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. This paved the way for a career as a commercial artist and the work seemed to flow to him effortlessly. He relocated to New York and soon found himself working for the likes of Columbia Records, Glamour Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, NBC, Vogue and more. He began to turn to painting and drawing, and later incorporated photographs into his work.This drew the interest of a variety of museums as well. Warhol had his first exhibit at the Hugo Gallery. The Museum of Modern Art couldn't help but notice this up and coming artist as well, and featured his work in a group exhibit in 1956.

Campbell's Soup - 1968

By the 1960s, Warhol began to embrace what he is now most famous for; some of his iconic pop images. He took everyday images, such as a can of Campbell's soup and immortalized the image in the world of Contemporary Art. Celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Mohammed Ali and Elizabeth Taylor all graced the images that he created. During this time period, he also began working with silk screening. Warhol was not content to stop there though.

As Warhol's fame continued to grow, so too did the mediums he worked in. In 1963, he recorded his first of many films at "The Factory", his aluminum foil and silver-painted studio. He created such avant-garde films as "Sleep", "Empire" and "The Chelsea Girls", which remain cult classics for many. The year 1968 shattered Warhol's rocket rise to fame when he was shot and nearly killed by a minor figure in "The Factory" scene. While he recovered and continued to create many more films, paintings, album covers and more, his view on life was dramatically altered forever more. Now he saw life as through a television.

It is hard not to still see Andy Warhol's influence on Contemporary Art. He had short films featured on "Saturday Night Live", a guest appearance on "The Love Boat", he co-founded the magazine "Interview", as well as designed album covers for bands such as "The Velvet Underground" and "The Rolling Stones". So how can Budding Artists not recognize this modern-day superstar that was ahead of his time when it came to the world of art and social networking? If you want your child to learn more about Pop Art and Andy Warhol's influence on it, sign them up for this week's children's art workshop with Budding Artists at the London Farmer's Market. Workshops run for 90 minutes at 10:30am and 1:00pm. With a Master Artist like Andy Warhol to draw inspiration from, who knows what your kids will bring home this week!

And finally, I leave you with a sampling of, but one of Warhol's films; Edie Sedgwick's Screen Test.

Inspiration: Picasso

Pablo Picasso

The man was a Master Artist. He was a legend that changed the face of art. He influenced the likes of Piet Mondriaan, Diego Rivera, Joan Miró and a whole host of other artists during his lifetime and beyond. His style spanned Cubism and Surrealism, and he worked in such mediums as oils, ceramics, sculpture, copperplate etchings and more. He challenged the art world that he was born into and constantly morphed his style until he died in 1973 at the age of 91 years old.

Budding Artists will be featuring Pablo Picasso this Saturday, May 19th, 2012 at the London Farmer's Market during our Master Series Children's Art Workshop. Workshops are held at 10:30am and 1:00pm, and run 90 minutes in length. Children, aged 5-12 years, will get a chance to learn some art history, discover art techniques that Picasso favoured and take home their very own Picasso-esque artwork made by themselves. What better way to inspire creativity in your child than by learning about how the Masters have made it to fame themselves?

And whether your children make it to the workshop or not, make a point of pulling out some art materials for them to get creative with, as Budding Artists wants to see what your kids can create. Think Picasso and create a masterpiece and you and your family might be on your way to the Art Gallery of Ontario to see the Picasso Exhibition. One lucky winner will win a Family Pass, just by sending in your best Picasso inspired artwork to Budding Artists. Will it be from Picasso's Blue period, Rose period, African inspired period or his claim to fame of Cubism? You are the Master. Budding Artists will be the judge. Contest is open now and runs through to June 25, 2012.

If you need a little more inspiration, watch this short video of Picasso in action. As you can see, his confidence is what makes the pieces he creates. A few brush strokes can be all that is required to bring a piece of art to life. It isn't always about the colour, texture or fancy materials used, rather the artist's eye for the piece they are creating. Picasso was a master at creating art in collage forms, from found objects and as shown here,  with little more than some white paint and a piece of glass. Given a little encouragement and inspiration, think what your child could achieve. Let them follow their heart and create artwork from their soul,  and stand back to see what beauty emerges.

Regional Art in Our Backyard: A Look at Greg Curnoe

Self-Portrait - 1992

We have travelled the world, unearthing Master Artists from all corners of it, but today we look no further than our own back yard for the next installment of our Budding Artists Children's Art Workshops. Our featured Master Artist for Saturday May 12th, 2012 will be none other than London, Ontario's very own Greg Curnoe. At 10:30am and 1pm at the London Farmer's Market, Budding Artists will gather children round to explore this local artist, who made his community and its influence on his art, a priority in his life. This lesson, as well as a few other artistic ones, will be explored in 90 minutes of fun and games, art technique, and a little local history as well.

Have you heard of Greg Curnoe? Keep reading to learn a little more about this interesting, local artist!

Greg Curnoe was born in London, Ontario on November 19, 1936. Local Londoners won't find it surprising to hear that he attended Beal High School, which is well known across Canada for its Arts Department. Curnoe followed this up with a short session at Doon School of Art in Kitchener, ON. He then attended the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, ON from 1957-1960, before returning to his hometown.

View of Victoria Hospital,
Second Series - 1969-1971

After leaving the OCA behind, Curnoe moved back to London. He had a passion for art, but this passion was rooted in what he termed Regionalism; which is the belief that Art can and should be found at a local level. He did not believe that it was necessary to move to a big city centre in order to achieve a measure of fame. And he consequently set about to prove that. Along with Tony Urquhart, Murray Favro and Jack Chambers, they established a local art scene that began to turn some heads. This was highlighted by his co-founding of the magazine "Region" in 1961, which ran for nine years, followed  by the establishment of the "Region Gallery" in 1962. By 1973, he had helped to establish the Forest City Gallery as well, which still serves the London and area arts scene. Curnoe even had a voice in the creating of Canadian Artists' Representation (CARFAC) in 1968.

Nice Day, Bad News - 1986

Along with his conviction that art need not be based on a movement, Curnoe also believed that it did not have to fall into a set perimeter of style. He painted the everyday objects that inhabited his world, whether it be the written word, a portrait of his wife or one of his hand-built bicycles. As Curnoe was an avid cyclist, this last object repeated itself frequently amongst his artwork.

Yellow Mariposa

Sadly, his love of bicycles also signalled his demise. While on a group ride in St. Thomas in 1992, a distracted driver plowed into the pack of cyclists.  Several riders were knocked down, with Curnoe numbering one of them. He subsequently died of his injuries, leaving the London area with one less local artist. Even worse was the loss of his strident voice for the artistic community. This week, Budding Artists remembers Greg Curnoe and celebrates all that he did for Canadian art and the Canadian art scene.

Seurat Vases

Georges Seurat was best known for pointilism. So it made sense that our art project focussed on creating points.  Since our participants were mostly 6-8 year olds, we gave them a small piece of paper.

They first sketched out their design with pencil. Next time, I think I would use a yellow peice of chalk to avoid pencil marks.

The kids used the bottom of their pencil as the "point". We quickly switched over to cotton swabs.

It retains the paint better and it goes much quicker. We also have them a small piece of paper to work with. Any larger, the kids would have lost.  We gave them 5x7 card.

Another option to try next time is bingo dabbers. The only problem with them is the limited number of colours available (or at least at our local dollar store).

Once everything was dry. I scanned the artwork and printed it on water slide paper. I love water slide paper. I use this for attaching images to anything smooth such as candles, lamps and soaps
Water slide paper is like a tattoo.

First you must print it on a laser printer. Make sure your printer has been printing before you print on water slide paper. The printer needs to be super hot.  Once you have successfully printed your image, cut it out and place in lukewarm water for 30seconds and 60 seconds. Time will depend on how warm the water is.

Then quickly slide it off the paper and adhere to your product.  I usually add glue form a glue stick on the surface in order for the "tattoo" to stick. Make sure you smooth it over to remove any air bubbles.

I bought some cheap dollar store  vases and quickly slipped the image on to the vase. You can also add a candle and use it as a hurricane lamp. Either way, aren't they precious! I think there will be some happy Mothers. Happy Mother's Day!