I’m not particularly talented, except with words. I can draw stuff, but it looks pretty awful. I have done painting (I had a brief phase where I was painting a lot), but I suck. I can hold a tune, but my voice is uninteresting.
Thank God I can write. I’d love to make some sort of crappy metaphor about how “word are the clay with which I shape the world” but I’m gonna pass.
Moving on.
Charlie, however, is a brilliant illustrator making him the perfect person to sit down and draw with Tori. Tori – if I do say so myself, as the proud mom – has clearly inherited his talent (which you can see with the image there where a horse and her foal hang out under a tree), as well as a voracious appetite to CREATE.
This is something as a family that we really, really, want to nurture.
At Tori’s traditional public school last year she didn’t get to do art as often as she wanted to; this was sad, and while we supported her at home and Charlie helped, neither of us are art teachers.
Luckily at her new school Tori is able to create art whenever she wants to (once she’s become “certified” in using the different supplies). But as a new school that is still struggling to get on its feet, art supplies can be in short, well, supply.
I’m happy to see that Blick Art Supplies has created a great way to help school get their hands on needed art supplies. The Art Room Aid project offers teachers the ability to create a list of supplies they need or want for a project, like we did for Tori’s school here. For Tori’s school we decided to create a general list of supplies rather than focus on a specific project; since the school is all about self-directed learning, it’s more in pace with the school’s philosophy for the students to come up with projects themselves (although the school will support them in getting the instruction they need, obviously). Thankfully, Art Room Aid is set up to give the benefiting school (or community project!) the freedom to choose the supplies they need.
I hope you’ll go check it out!
Blick is donating $100 worth of art supplies to Tori’s school in exchange for me posting about it here. How cool is that?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Go Blick! That’s great. I think it’s wonderful you’re encouraging Tori in art. You might check out what sort of kids’ programs are available at your local art museum. Many places offer free activities for kids, and even if you don’t have a membership a lot of museums have free hours on certain days. We checked out the possibilities not long ago at our own museum: http://the-quiet-corner.blogspot.com/2012/11/art-of-life.html
I love it when people can use their voices to benefit local schools! Tell Tori I adore those funky horse shoes :)
Such a great idea! I think any extra can help and wonder if public libraries could benefit from this?
Thanks for sharing.
-r
What a cool program. Thanks for calling our attention to it! I am happy to hear you are supporting Tori’s artistic endeavors. I think the arts are essential, but I am a bit biased…
Blick used to be awesome. It is now the walmart of art stores. The quality of customer service is horrible. The packing is ridiculous. We ordered 30 water color sets and a gallon of gesso for my school. The materials arrived in one box with one blow up pillow, naturally smashed to bits. That is one example of many mistakes made by Blick over the passed few years. Out of loyalty I tried to give them a chance but they continue to mess up. I teach for Boston Public Schools and we are switching our business to our local Artists Craftsman and supplies located in Cambridge .