Art in a shopping cart inspires value girls

I'm always trying to introduce new kinds of art to my Littles. I barely know what I'm doing, but that's the beauty in art,

there are no mistakes. 

Here's a little recap of not so long ago... 

The first day of  "Art in a Shopping cart",  the students completed some nice drawings.

I complimented them and shook their hands and told them to keep drawing.

I really felt joy in their art, I was sincere. I took a picture of all of them with their drawings.

I can't post their faces, but here are some of their drawings.

During the next class they asked me what I draw???

I told them I sew, I decorate, I create meals, I take pictures, and I write, but I don't really draw.

I told them that being creative and finding a way to do so is very important to me, and that is why I'm here,

with them, to help encourage them to create and find joy in the process.   

 

I told them I didn't have any formal training, and that I just teach my Littles as I learn about new art mediums, but most are just simple techiques.

My Littles love art and that I wanted to share that with them and the National PTA Reflections program was a great way to bring art back to the school and try to make a difference.

I told them I'm creating something for them with this gathering afterschool. 

 

Organizing a time and a place for them to create. 

and trying to find others to support me and them....

I made many phone calls, reached out on Facebook, and at church and with the parents at the school.

I asked people to volunteer to teach, visual arts, photography and creative writing. 

 

I actually got a warm response from everyone I spoke to even though not everyone could say yes and commit to the dates I needed, but I made connections. Artists, Art docents, Art co-ops and galleries, art students anyone who would listen to me and most of them I never even met. I ended up with 3 photographers and one author, but no visual arts instructor. 

 

So, I gathered my thoughts and the simplicity that I knew and came up with crayons, watercolors and mixed media collage work. 

 

 

Then I had to find a place. Luckily the principal was all for this idea and let me use the cafeteria, library and the outside courtyard.

 

Cafeteria 

Library  

In good weather, just outside under the big oak tree.  there were actually four tables here and this is where we did the most of our collage work, each table having a different element.

I started collecting materials from my home... 

 

First it was just paper and cut outs, then cereal boxes, lots and lots of cereal boxes and napkins and jars...

 

Little Em, always with me...always....lugging this stuff back and forth.

And then.....the magic began when  I found the used shopping cart!!!

That's how ART IN A SHOPPING CART was born!! 

Then anyone willing to give I'd come get. I even drove 20 minutes to pick up these matting boards . 

 

 

{I can't help but think we get more joy out of this than anyone. See the butterfly...there were dozens...we stayed for awhile. }

After a lot of phone calls and meeting up with the director of the after-school program director....I had stuff.... 

{Old new, used, recycled - whatever, I'll will take it. -still :)}

   {I feel like a really happy bag lady. ;)}

All this, so they can create, find joy, and maybe a passion that they can keep always and forever. 

Well the next day, after the question....

 

What do I draw  was asked, I decided instead of just sitting and watching my Littles paint, I would try and do it too. 

Paint brush to paper. 

At first it felt a but awkward and then a little character was there staring at me... 

I call her lovely lady lips and told Em this is to remind her that words should be spoken with love. 

and then this little girl appeared.

 

and then this one....

 

 I called her Pearly Patience.  This time I told Em how we should be patient with others. 

and then I went to my sisters to babysit for 5 days!!! 

I brought all my art stuff with me and everyone painted. 

I didn't have a lot of paper.

 

Em drew a green scribble on the last paper I laid out for myself.

 

Well, I picked it up instead of throwing it out, and decided to make something out of it. 

 

and this little girl appeared...

The next day I went to Walmart and bought more paper. 

I started to draw flowers and then imagined a crown full of flowers on a girl.

 

and this girl was born.

Setting the painting aside...

I prepared dinner for 8Littles.

 

My mind began to dance with these girls....then I thought of the values they could posses....and then, being that it was General Conference weekend for my church, I started to think about the 8 values of the young women theme.  

                            

      {and Saturday night after all this was cleaned up I gave them all names. }


Let me Share the YOUNG WOMEN'S THEME>>>>

“We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will ‘stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places’ (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, Integrity and Virtue. 

I looked at the pictures I drew, and felt a value matched each of the girls. 

{Then when I got home, and had more time, I actually looked up the colors and thought I should change them to the color they fit. }

Faith (white): I am a daughter of Heavenly Father, who loves me. I have faith in His eternal plan, which centers in Jesus Christ, my Savior (see Alma 32:21).

Divine Nature (blue): I have inherited divine qualities, which I will strive to develop (see 2 Peter 1:4–7).

Not done yet will insert later. :)

Individual Worth (red): I am of infinite worth with my own divine mission, which I will strive to fulfill (see D&C 18:10).

{I know it's not red, maybe I'll paint the background red. But I wasn't referencing the colors when I painted it.  I just painted and this. To me, it was individual worth.} 

Knowledge (green): I will continually seek opportunities for learning and growth (see D&C 88:118).

Not done yet will insert later. :)

Choice and Accountability (orange): I will choose good over evil and will accept responsibility for my decisions (see Joshua 24:15).

 {these are Little Em's eyes. ;)}

{I think this is what Em would like as a Young women, everyone says it looks like me?}
 

Good Works (yellow): I will help others and build the kingdom through righteous service (see 3 Nephi 12:16).

Integrity (purple): I will have the moral courage to make my actions consistent with my knowledge of right and wrong (see Job 27:5).

Virtue (gold): I will prepare to enter the temple and remain pure and worthy. My thoughts and actions will be based on high moral standards (seeProverbs 31:10).

Not done yet will insert later. :)

I shared all these "value girls" with the children and explained briefly that they could aspire to posses these standards of excellent character.

 

So...these are my value girls.  

 

And from this I found the challenge of #100 faces.

I'm going to start this collection with these girls and continue to make them as often as I can. 

 

And through that collection, which others are doing on social media, namely on Instagram, 

I met a lady who just happens to be a new convert to the LDS church.

She was an art student, with much more training then I,  and is interested in starting an art program too,

 

So, this post is dedicated to her, Lisa, @Lisaandmylittles. 

 

 

From me to you w love, M, Mommer, michelle. :)