Now that we were back from Hervey Bay we had 1.5 weeks of lockdown holidays to fill. No where to go. James was still working upstairs so the upstairs space wasn't going to be used much (compared to last lockdown where we used it a fair bit around James' work). We started with getting Daniel's bike from Mum and Dad's place so that the kids could enjoy riding around on the road. We then checked if Alexander wanted to move up to Daniel's old bike. He was nervous about riding on the pavers but I am proud of him for having a go and he was able to do it! Winner. So the yellow bike headed to Mum and Dad's place and the red bike stayed.
Knowing that we were going to be in lockdown for a while, the kids and I decided that we'd put together another art gallery. After all the last one was quite successful and enjoyed by many. Also, it would keep the kids happy and occupied instead of fighting together.
The first artist that we learnt about was Piet Mondrian. It was cool to see how he helped change the concept of art and really simplified it. Also loved the use of primary colours. (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k_t8eAca9CU)
We then watched this art lesson which guided the kids in how to make their own Piet Mondrian artwork. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=zIMzAIKIKDc The kids did a pretty good job at drawing their lines and then keeping it simple as they coloured them in. I do love how each of the artworks the kids have done start with the same concept but then become such unique and individual artworks.
Drawing the straight lines
Using oil pastels to colour in some of the rectangles
As predicted riding on the road was a very popular activity for the kids. Alexander was going awesomely on his red bike and Daniel was going great on his mountain bike.
The kids then headed to the back room to do their paint pages. They started with yellow and blue to make green.
Daniel enjoyed using a fork to create texture in his paint
Next up they used green and red to make a brown colour.
Then thinking about what picture they wanted to make, they could paint some more pages of paper to have that colour.
Daniel mixed yellow and red to make an orange for the sun
Eliza did blue and red for purple
She then wanted orange as well
We had to wait for the paint to dry so left it until the next day to complete them. That afternoon we went for a ride/walk around the block.
Friday morning the kids made their own Rembrandt Self Portraits. We watched this video that told us a little bit about him and also had instructions in how to draw a face. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=2VTu9aiPFO8)
We then headed to the backroom where I set up a mirror for them to look at to see what features they needed to include to make their own self portraits. They drew it step by step with their pencils. They then used crayons to colour in some parts of their faces and make the outlines stand out. Then the kids used watercolour paints to paint the rest of their faces. They did a pretty good job. Self portraits are tricky.
Eliza wanted to make her hair out for the portrait, even thought it was up. And also wanted to have different earrings on
Daniel wanted to paint the background like they did at school
Checking out the similarities
Looks exactly like Alexander
Totally Daniel
There's Eliza with the trampoline behind her
I made a portrait snack for the kids for morning tea.
Pear hair, blue berry eyes, slice nose, berry mouth
In the afternoon the kids got working on their Eric Carle inspired artwork. They rewatched the lesson and then we discussed the animals they wanted to make. Daniel was keen to make a rhinoceros beetle, Alexander a caterpillar and Eliza wanted to make a grasshopper. Daniel pulled out one of the insect books that we had so he could look closely at the shapes he needed to cut out. Alexander looked at the Very Hungry Caterpillar book cover to help his design and Eliza used her mind to come up with her grasshopper. The kids then drew the shapes they wanted to cut out on the back of the paper and cut them out, gradually making their collage bug. Eliza also wanted to make a setting for the grasshopper with grass and flowers, while Daniel enjoyed making the sun and grass and Alexander added some grass.
Planning and cutting
Daniel started with his sun
Alexander did one body part for the caterpillar and the legs at a time
Busy room
Looking at the features of the rhinoceros beetle
Making some adjustments
Getting the right amount of legs
Gluing down the pieces once happy
The beetle looks heaps good!
So does the grasshopper
And the caterpillar
The kids then used watercolour paints to add the sky, as well as the extra pieces of paper to make the sun and grass
The finished pieces look so very cool!
Eliza then decided she wanted to draw some portraits of our family members. She started with Alexander. He had a lot of fun modelling for her.
We then made our own Pop Art using Andy Warhol's idea of repeating the same picture but then colouring it in with different colours that make it pop. Each kid came up with a picture they wanted to colour in. Daniel chose burritos, Alexander chose donuts and Eliza chose ice cream. They each drew a simple outline of the food. We then scanned the drawing and I made it so that there were 4 pictures on the one page. I printed off 2 copies for each kid. They then used oil pastels to colour in their pictures using bright colours. They then stuck them down next to each other to make their Pop Artwork.
Alexander's hand got tired and he wasn't heaps motivated to colour them in so Daniel kindly helped because he had finished all his burritos.
Arranging his pictures
I really love the bright colours!
It would have been Grayma's birthday today too so we enjoyed our little tradition of having pink finger buns to celebrate her. I messaged Nana and Poppy, Auntie Jenny, Uncle Howie and Oscar and Auntie Sue to ask if they wanted to join in and it was so lovely because they did (well Auntie Sue didn't because 4 finger buns would be a lot of have for her but she loved the idea). I miss Grandma.
In the afternoon the kids learnt about John Olsen. Nana J has a beautiful artwork up on her wall that was Boompa's parents (it's actually an old scarf). While we were in Hervey Bay we enjoyed sitting and looking at it, trying to see what hidden things were in his artwork. It was like a bit of a journey. So I thought it would be cool to come up with our own John Olsen artworks. We watched this video to learn a bit about John Olsen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=LedODbdC-SU
We looked at Nana J's artwork to see the different shapes that John Olsen used for the background and discussed different features that we could see. It's such a stunning artwork!
John Olsen, Make Sure The Sun Wipes Its Feet
The kids each decided what sort of landscape they wanted to make and they used watercolours to make that background. We then left it to dry.
On Sunday we then watched this guided lesson in how to make a John Olsen styled painting.
The kids were excited to be able to draw over the top with their oil pastels, textas, crayons, pens. Whatever they wanted to use. It was a bit of an abstract art so they did find it a little bit tricky, especially Alexander, but they came up with some cool artworks in the end.
Moments like this have happened more through the slower pace of lockdown. The kids will read together or lie in bed and listen to music together. Don't get me wrong, they sure do fight at times, but they are also enjoying each other's company a bit more than normal too.
On Sunday 4th July we were able to put up our art gallery. This year we dropped a letter into our neighbours' letter boxes asking them if they wanted to contribute some artworks to the gallery. I had no idea if anyone would make anything but thought it would be worth giving it a go. Harry, Matilda and Jack were overseas so they couldn't make anything but hopefully some others would. I was very excited when Sophie and Eve brought up some artworks and also Kathy brought around some pictures that her daughter Isobel did when she was in high school. The amazing ballerina charcoal drawing is one of them! It was absolutely stunning!
The kids with the art gallery
We felt it was important to write an acknowledgement of country for the art gallery this time too.
We included the NAIDOC week artwork and the blurb about it too.
We also hung a sign at the end of the street for people walking past to know that there was an art gallery up that they could go and see.
With the slower pace and being holidays each kid was able to decide on a dinner that they wanted to cook/help cook. Daniel chose his favourite meal - burritos.
First time using a grater. I get nervous about their fingers but James was confident in Daniel. Daniel loved using it!
Eliza got creative and decided to make her own miniature art gallery (which didn't really take off but it was a great and creative idea).
We had many visitors to the art gallery. Some who we knew (like Nana and Poppy and Auntie Sue) and some who we didn't know. The kids were still so excited to see random people coming and looking at the art gallery. One day the council library van drove down our street to deliver some books to someone. Daniel saw them stop at the gallery and take a photo on their way out of the street. Pretty cool. It was exciting to see Nana and Poppy. Poppy encouraged and taught the kids to climb up the pole. Eliza did an amazing job and was able to reach the top!
Showing Nana and Poppy their artworks
Daniel got half way
Eliza made it all the way
Showing Auntie Sue their art gallery
Daniel got into making his birthday lego.
Chilli found a nice, sunny place to rest.
Eliza's dinner of choice was from her cookbook from her birthday from Elodie. She chose to make minestrone soup. It was really tasty!
Checking her recipe
Daniel decided to build upon Eliza's miniature art gallery. He made a road for it and then made little toilet paper people with Eliza's help. It was a very cute idea.
This lockdown we have gotten into Cooking with Donna Hay. She put on a zoom cooking class this Tuesday so we decided to tune in and have a go at cooking. Being at 4:30 we watched her cook and then had a go ourselves. She makes it look so very easy!
We started with the spaghetti and meatball recipe. The kids loved making it. Then for dessert they made mini muffin cinnamon donut balls (well muffins). They were so tasty! And so easy! A very dangerous recipe to have I think.
Watching in the kitchen when I thought we might try and cook along, then thought twice about it
Writing messages in the Q&A
Mixing the ingredients
Rolling the meatballs
While the meatballs cook, getting the muffin tin doughnuts ready
Yum, meatballs!
Dessert time!
Over a couple of days we had a couple of extra artworks added to the art gallery. Judy kindly gave us her grand daughter's picture of a kookaburra and Ava dropped around her painting of Jack and the Beanstalk's house. It was awesome having some neighbours contribute to the gallery, but it did also add to the stress of looking after it all.
For lunch on Wednesday the kids made quiches Donna Hay style after our zoom cooking show. They chose what fillings to put into them and they tasted really nice.
The kids LOVED that the eggs made a smiley face
That night Alexander also made dinner for us - spaghetti carbonara. It was really tasty!
Trying to twist the pasta Donna Hay style
Happy with his meal (minus the peas that Mummy made him put in)
On Monday 12th it was Poppy's birthday. Being in lockdown we couldn't see him but we did still celebrate. I made cupcakes for the kids and we zoomed Poppy to sing Happy Birthday to him, blow out the candles and eat our cake. I then dropped around a couple of cakes for Nana and Poppy to enjoy too.
I also made braised prawns for dinner because Dad loves that meal. Nana stole my idea and made it for him too. A nice little way to celebrate Poppy's birthday even though we couldn't be with him.
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