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SEPTEMBER: Garden Impressions With Claude Monet Part 1

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If David Hockney prompted us to explore the minute details of the indoors last March, Claude Monet inspired us to look outside and enjoy the natural beauty of the outdoors throughout the month of September. The Garden of Monet at Argenteuil, 1900 Unfortunately, we didn't go walking in the woods or traipsing by a bubbling brook, as one would imagine Monet doing to get inspiration for his work back in the day. It would have been wonderful if we had but the girls and I could only go as far as the backyard garden. As city folks though, I actually feel that we are, in fact, quite lucky to Read More

August: Color & Expression With Alma Thomas

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Last month, the colourful, abstract expressionistic paintings of Alma Woodsey Thomas gave us life! Summer picked her as our featured artist for August and we enjoyed recreating her work. Alma Thomas in her studio, ca. 1968 In fact, if you are looking for projects that can put your mind at ease and cheer you up at the same time, Alma Thomas's work is the perfect inspiration. But before getting into the activities, let's get to know this legendary woman a little bit more. MEET THE ARTIST Alma Thomas has always been a creative child. As a little girl, she enjoyed making puppets, Read More

JULY: Imagine And Play With Joan Miro

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My 7 year old daughter Emma selected Joan Miro for July's Artist In Focus. We studied and took inspiration from his playful art style which has some similarities to Picasso's. They were both known to be the best Cubist and Surrealist artists from the early years after all and were also good friends. Joan Miro was not only a painter, he was also a sculptor and ceramicist born in Barcelona, Spain. It's understandable why his work appeals to children like mine. There is a very child-like and carefree quality about them that was, historically, revolutionary during the 1930s. He re-defined Read More

Garden Walk DIY Activity Zine

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These days, unable to explore and go on trips as much as we usually did pre-Covid, the backyard garden is a piece of heaven. There is an almost-too-small- swing which my kids always gravitate to. They sometimes set up a table and some chairs then pretend to have a tea party or they lay out a blanket where they relax and enjoy their snacks. I try to join when I can. When I do, my favorite thing to do is watch the birds flutter about the trees or spot the many different flying insects that circle the lawn. It's quite surprising to discover the variety of wildlife that thrive in and frequent this Read More

Raggedy Pocket Dolls

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My children often come to me with ideas for projects. Half the time, I simply help them get the materials together so they can get it done themselves, but there are times when they really have no clue how to go about it so they ask me for help. Sometimes, we run to Google and YouTube for tutorials but I specifically enjoy the times when we just figure it out together. Last week, Emma remembered about the tiny handsewn La Pomme soft doll I made for her when she was two years old. She seemed to have misplaced it and wished she could have a new one. So I suggested that we make a new rag Read More

MAY: Objects and Stories with Betye Saar Part 2

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In this second series of art activities inspired by Betye Saar, we work on whimsical projects using miscellaneous materials. These were a lot of fun for the kids to work on because they were given freedom to make use of almost anything they could find. PROJECT 3: BRIC-A-BRAC OUTDOOR MOBILE Materials: Sticks, string, random objects to hang such as dried flowers, fuzzy wires, muffin cups, bottle caps, felt, beads, bells, etc This project is similar to making an assemblage as it involves collecting objects to put together, but instead of building inside an empty box, they string them Read More

MAY: Objects and Stories with Betye Saar PART 1

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We are back exploring influential contemporary artists this month of May. We decided to skip April to give my girls some time off from structured art making and have more time for free play, which they spent with utmost enthusiasm. Now that we're back, I decided to introduce the girls to a more non-traditional artist who is known for making mixed media pieces. I wanted someone whose work does not primarily revolve around the painted canvas. Luckily, I came across Betye Saar in one of MOMA's At The Museum episodes. I read up on her life and work and was very much drawn to her eclectic art Read More

FIVE THINGS THIS WEEK: Take Care, Stay Safe

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Jumping right into it, here are five (more or less!) things/activities that kept me going the last seven days… 1. Online Craft Class I partnered with SkillSkout to teach a series of online craft classes for kids this month. To kick it off, we did a free FB Live craft session last Saturday making Tic Tac Toe sets out of household recyclables. I'm happy to be teaching again and even happier to see some of the finished projects by some of those who participated. The video is still on my Facebook Page if you'd like your kids to make their own (CLICK HERE). You can also sign up Read More

Five Things This Week: What Day Is it?

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I'm losing track of the days, to be honest. While writing this I checked my planner and, apparently, it's Day 56 of Metro Manila lockdown. It's quite amazing to think that we have not been outdoors for this long. Apart from the time we moved to my in laws house a couple of weeks ago, my kids and I have not gone anywhere else. I was browsing through my Insta Story Highlights last night and what I found equally amazing was how often we were out and about pre-quarantine. Our weeks were packed with places to go, people to see and activities to do -- museums, art shows, playdates, studio visits, Read More

MARCH: Being In The Moment With David Hockney Part 2

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In one of Austin Kleon's recent email newsletters, he shares about David Hockney being a quarantine icon. Reading this confirmed just how appropriate inspiration Hockney's work is for this lockdown season. It is worth mentioning, too, that David Hockney, while self-quarantined in Normandy, France, continues to make art and shares his work online. I love his recent painting of daffodils titled, Do Remember They Can't Cancel Spring, which is a cheerful and hopeful piece for these trying times. He even suggests that "...people could draw at this time...Question everything..." and continued to Read More