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Children in Art

1/29/2023

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​Hello family and friends. How is 2023 going so far for you? It has been extremely busy for us. We're excited about the new creative products that are in development for our online catalog. These products will continue to help you upgrade your creative space.  In developing these products, we also realized how much we enjoy works of art that feature children at play.

​Playtime is such a vital part of a healthy regimen for young learners. Keep reading to discover some fantastic depictions of children enjoying playtime along with ideas on how to use them as sources of inspiration.  


​Photograph Children
Playing Dress Up

 We love this vintage photograph  taken by the great photographer, James Van Der Zee. Young learners can play dress up, perform and photograph each other doing it. They can use traditional or digital cameras and edit their photos with simple editing apps.
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Untitled Photo of 5 Children taken by James Van Der Zee


​Spot the Difference Activity

Can you spot the 5 differences between the original painting by Varnette Honeywood featured in the top image below and the slightly different replica of the painting under it?  Click here to visit our "Homeschool Art" page to discover how young artists can create their own version of this fun game.
​( Click on each image to see an enlarged view. See the answers below.)
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Varnette Honeywood, Double Dutch, 1984 cut paper collage 41 1/2h x 120w in 105.41h x 304.80w cm Framed: 47h x 67w in 119.38h x 170.18w cm VARNH006
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difference_answers_vhoneywood_art.pdf
File Size: 404 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Draw or Paint
​Children Having Fun

The pool series of paintings by Derrick Adams is vibrant and joyful. Have young artists create a painting or drawing of themselves doing a fun activity with a friend or family member.
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Derrick Adams, Floater 96, 2020. © Derrick Adams. Courtesy of the artist and Rhona Hoffman Gallery

Explore More Creative Ideas

We have a variety of art resources featuring the artists mentioned in this post. Begin exploring with these products and share one of your favorite art subjects below in the comments.

Swimming Pool Collage Art Lessons

$7.50

Celebrate summer with these art lessons inspired by the art of prolific artist Derrick Adams and the children’s picture book Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall. While the lesson was designed for young artists in grades PreK-1 and grades 2-5, they can be tailored to use with different grades. Explore our website to find more great art tips and resources.


This Resource Includes:

  • Lesson Prep/Tips
  • 2 Swimming Pool Collage Art Lessons (with step-by-step photos)


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Soft Portrait Art Lesson

$3.99

Inspired by the prolific artist Varnette Honeywood and the children's book Jamilah Loves to Talk About Art by Alicia L. McDaniel, this lesson was designed for young artists in grades 3-5. Feel free to tailor this lesson to use with younger or older students.

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Great African-American Artists Coloring & Activity Book 2.0

$19.99
Our latest coloring book features another group of amazing African-American visual artists. This resource is a great way to introduce students to artists such as:

Nancy Prophet
Edward Mitchell Bannister
Robert Scott Duncanson
Vivian Schuyler Key
Beauford Delaney
William H, Johnson
Gordon Parks
Margaret Taylor-Burroughs
Norman Lewis
Charles Alston
Varnette Honeywood
Carl Owens
Eugene Grigsby
Allan Crite
Annie Lee
​
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5 Gift Ideas For Creative People

11/30/2022

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Season's Greetings! We hope this season of celebration is going well for you all. We are very thankful for another opportunity to share joy with our family, friends and creative community. If you're looking for some great gift ideas that you can give throughout the year, make sure to explore our website and the amazing products included in our list below. Click on each image to purchase and learn more about the product.

1. Colorful Tees

Artistic Creative Soul Name Unisex T-shirt

$24.95 - $28.95
This t-shirt is everything you've dreamed of and more. It feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It's comfortable and flattering for all.

• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US
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2. Original Art

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Our creative friend Faith Rivers, owner of Majestic Hue, is an amazing artist who creates vibrant original works of art.

3. Travel Photography Book

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World traveler, Jessica Nabongo has visited every country on the planet. This book is filled with spectacular images from her adventures.

4. Krayoni Sticks by Sis Art Supply

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SIs Art Supply has wonderful high quality art tools that you definitely want to add to your art supply collection.

5. Coloring Book

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Owner and artist, Anika of New Africa Designs has a lovely selection of products that features her work.
Also, if you spend $5 or more on our website until 12/4/2022, you'll be entered to win a free Kwanzaa Art Lesson. Share your favorite gift ideas in the comment section below. 
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Color Theory & The Divine 9

9/30/2022

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Happy Fall 2022! It's a great time to explore color theory with young learners.   Recently, college graduates from HBCUs celebrated and highlighted their alma maters. The first Black collegiate fraternity was founded at Howard University; it was also one of the first members of the Divine 9. The Divine 9 is a nick name that refers to a specific group of Black collegiate sororities and fraternities who are a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

If you are a member of one of the Divine 9 organizations or like me, married to a member of one (Omega Psi Phi), then you know how important the colors are for each group. Each group wears their color duos with great pride. In this post we'll share some simple art resources/activities that you can use to create a color theory lesson which explores the Divine 9 color combos.
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The Divine 9 Sororities & Fraternities


​Create a Conversation About Color

Use the color pairs of each organization to begin a conversation with young scholars. You could ask questions such as:
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  1. Which color duos are your favorite color combinations to wear?
  2. Which color schemes do you like to use the most when you create art?
  3. Which color duos express a happy and cheerful mood? What mood would you associate the other colors with?
  4. Would you use any of the color schemes to decorate your bedroom? Which ones? ​
​
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​Create Designs Using the Color Duos

Color mixing is exciting for younger creatives. As they learn how to mix secondary and tertiary colors using primary colors, they usually express joy. As they learn various color terms, you can use the Divine 9 color duos to explore color mixing. They can create tints, shades, and tones with the color schemes.

​We created a value design using the color duo of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta sorority. Student  artists can practice mixing the colors with paint and then use the sigma template from our Divine 9 Color Theory Activity Set to trace the letters. Finish the design by mounting the painted sigmas on the complementary color sheet of paper.
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​Create A Color Matching Game

Secondary art students can curate a collection of works by Black visual artists that display predominate color palettes similar to the color duos of each group. (Avoid  works that feature the sororities and fraternities.) Moreover, you can use the works below to  begin a collection of art that could be tuned into a matching game. This game could be played by younger artists as well. Which color duo(s) are  reflected in the  the predominate color palette of each piece?

You can also use each original work of art as a source of inspiration for young artists to create a similar piece. Peruse our website to learn more about each artist represented below.
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Charles Ethan Porter, Pansies (Photo Credit from PaintingStar.com- Click on image to order a print)
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Norman Lewis, Untitled (Sea Change Series) 1978, Oil Pastel on Paper, 55.9 x 76.2 cm
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Gwendolyn Knight, (1913-2005), The White Dress
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Richard Mayhew, Delusions, 2000
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Elizabeth Catlett My right is a future of equality with other Americans 1947, printed 1989

​The products below feature some of the artists mentioned in this post. Comment below if you're a member of (or know a member of) one of the Divine 9 organizations and share what you like most about your organization's colors.

Renowned Black Visual Artists Coloring Book

$21.99

Our newest Black visual artists coloring book by Alicia L. McDaniel features another collection of phenomenal artists for learners of all ages to enjoy. Each coloring portrait sheet includes a few biographical details that educators can use to develop art history lessons and activities. Explore our website to discover more great art resources related to several of the artists included in the book.


This Digital Resource Includes the Coloring Portrait Sheets for:


  1. Shirley Woodson                     
  2. James Lesesne Wells                
  3. Norma Morgan                        
  4. Richard Mayhew                       
  5. Joyce J. Scott                            
  6. Richard Hunt                            
  7. Phyllis Stephens                         
  8. Ashley Bryan                             
  9. Gilda Snowden                          
  10. John Woodrow Wilson             
  11. LaToya Ruby Frazier                 
  12. Jeff Donaldson                          
  13. Amy Sherald                             
  14. Alvin D. Loving                         
  15. Bisa Butler                                
  16. Charles McGee                         
  17. Simone Leigh                            
  18. Robert Colescott                      
  19. Lorraine O’Grady                     
  20. Phillip Freelon                          
  21. Julie Mehretu                           
  22. Glenn Ligon                            
  23. Vanessa Brantley-Newton        
  24. Radcliffe Bailey                          
  25. Carolyn Mims Lawrence            
  26. Titus Kaphar                             
  27. Sonya Clark                              
  28. Kadir Nelson                           
  29. Betty Blayton                           
  30. Deb Willis                               
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Prominent Visual Artists Unisex t-shirt

$24.95 - $28.95

Everyone needs the perfect t-shirt to complement an everyday, laid-back look that also showcases prominent Black visual artists. The ideal top for so many occasions, this lightweight cotton tee will keep you comfy and looking smart.


Featured Artists:

  • Augusta Savage
  • Chales White
  • Elizabeth Catlett
  • Jacob Lawrence
  • Lois Mailou Jones
  • Romare Bearden
  • Selma Burke


• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)

• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²)

• Pre-shrunk fabric

• Side-seamed construction

• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping

• Blank product sourced from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US

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Divine 9 Color Theory Activity Set

$4.99

Our Divine 9 Color Theory Activity Set was designed to reinforce basic color theory knowledge for young artists. Inspired by the color schemes of Black fraternities and sororities that are members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, this resource is great for young artists ages 10+. Feel free to tailor the activities to fit your curriculum.


This Resource Includes:

·       Prep/Tips for Using the Worksheets

·       Color Wheel Review Activity Sheet

·       Divine 9 Alphabet Design Coloring Page

·       Greek Letter Templates

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The Art of Coiffure

7/7/2022

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We hope you're experiencing a safe, fun and relaxing summer. Recently there has been some attention surrounding  H.R. 2116 or the Crown Act. In fact on July 3, 2022, some organizations cited and celebrated the day as National Crown Day.
 
In the Black community, hair is one of the most significant ways we visually express our heritage, personalities, spiritually and style. Visiting the beauty/barber shop for us is more than just enjoying the service of a professional stylist; it's a time of bonding and sharing with other members in our community. 
​ 
Hair adornment is an interesting cross-curricular subject and cool way to  explore the elements/principles of design. Read further to discover some colorful resources you can use to develop some wonderful art lessons and activities.

Hair Animations

The animated features below tell heart-warming stories centered around coily textured hair. In addition to discussing the basic meaning of the story, young artists can compare the styles of the  animations and create a simple flipbook animation featuring hair.


​Picture Books That Celebrate Textured Hair

Fortunately, there are a wonderful selection of vividly illustrated children's picture books featuring characters with a variety of  hairstyles/textures and adventures related to hair styling.  Young artists could create a drawing and story about their own hair experiences.
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​Works of Art Featuring Cool Hair 

Use the collection of fine art below to begin a conversation about how visual artists feature hair styles in their work. Young artists can choose one of the works as a source of inspiration to create their own work. Or they can curate a collection of works of art that display interesting hair styles. Click on each image to learn more about the artist and their work.
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Elizabeth Catlett, Madonna , 1982 lithograph, 53 x 40.5 cm. (20.9 x 15.9 in.)
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Kevin A. Williams (WAK), Still on My Mind, (detail)
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Sonya Clark, Hair Wreath, 2002, Human Hair and Wire
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Laetitia Ky is a young artist and aspiring fashion designer from Ivory Coast, in West Africa
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Andre D. Wagner, "I’ve been photographing Cedric for probably over 8 years now. He’s 16 and going into his sophomore year of high school. It’s an honor to witness this young man grow and I can’t wait to see what he does over the next few years."


​More Art Resources to Explore

Click on the products below to discover more creative ideas related to hair styling and expression. Comment below to share your favorite hair story, lesson and/or product.

African Comb Sculpture Art Lesson

$3.99
This lesson is a great way to introduce young artists to African culture and help develop their sculpting skills. Inspired by sculptural African combs and Adinka symbols, this lesson will enhance your overall multicultural art curriculum.

This Resource Includes:
-Teacher Prep Tips
-African Comb Sculpture Art Lesson with step-by-step photos
-Adinkra Symbols Sheet
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Red Rose Portrait Art Lesson

$3.99
This cool art lesson is inspired by the picture book, A Sweet Smell of Roses written by Angela Johnson and illustrated by Eric Velasquez. While it is designed for young artists in grades 6-12, it can be tailored to use with younger students. 

This Resource Includes:
1. Lesson Preps/Presentation
2. Red Rose Portrait Lesson with step-by-step photos
3. ​Simple Rose Tutorial Sheet
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Barbershop Sign Father's Day Card Art Lesson

$5.50

Thanks for purchasing our Barbershop Sign Father’s Day Card Art Lesson. Inspired by the hand painted barbershop signs from West Africa, this art lesson is a great tool for young artists in grades 3-8 to practice their portrait drawing skills.Explore our website to find more great art tips and resources.


This Resource Includes:

  • Lesson Prep/Tips
  • Barbershop Sign Father's Day Card Art Lesson (with step-by-step photos)
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Creative Favs for Mother's Day

5/1/2022

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Happy Spring 2022! As we approach Mother's Day this weekend we wanted to share a few of our favorite creative resources and products that you can use to celebrate the special mothers in your life.

Note Cards & Greeting Cards

Choosing a greeting card for Mother's Day can be a bit overwhelming. With so many designs to choose from, finding the perfect sentiment can be challenging. We have a great solution. Our line of handcrafted note cards and print-on-demand greeting cards allow you to customize the interior with a personal sentiment. You can give them for Mother's Day, a birthday or just because.
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Mother's Day Card for Aunts by Alicia L. McDaniel
Mother's Day Card for Aunts by Alicia L. McDaniel
by AliciaMcd1FineArt
Lilly Mother's Day Card by Alicia L. McDaniel
Lilly Mother's Day Card by Alicia L. McDaniel
by AliciaMcd1FineArt

Keepsake Paper Flowers

Use the flower drawing video below to create a keepsake paper flower bouquet or flower crown for Mother's Day. You can add glitter, stickers and paper gemstones to embellish your creation.
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After cutting out the paper flowers and gluing them together, we added a 2.5" x 14" pink paper strip to the back of it. We glued a piece of ribbon to each end and tied it together to complete the crown.

Coloring Books

We offer a variety of coloring books for people of all ages. Coloring promotes mindfulness and relaxation. Click on each title to purchase the book.
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Make sure to explore our website to discover more creative resources. Share some of your favorite ways/products to celebrate Mother's Day in the comments below.
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Spring Into the Art of Fashion

4/13/2022

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While Spring seems to be a bit hesitant this year about warming things up, we are ecstatic that it is officially here. Over the last year we've been presenting ideas about how to create art units that connect to different visual art careers such as animation and puppetry.  ​Today we want to share some tips and resources related to fashion design that you can use to build or add to a fashion unit in your art curriculum. 

Fashion is such an important part of our everyday lives. Adding a fashion unit to your curriculum can be as simple or developed as you'd like. Young artists really seem to enjoy exploring the art of fashion because they connect to this subject personally. 

Picture Books

We love using picture books with younger learners in our creative space. Ann Lowe was a visionary fashion designer and seamstress who owned her own designer dress salon during the mid-20th century. Her dresses were worn by wealthy clients including first lady of the United States, Jackie Kennedy. The beautifully illustrated children's picture book below written by Deborah Blumenthal and illustrated by Laura Freeman is a great resource to introduce young artists to her beautiful work and story of perseverance.
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Black Fashion Designers

Learning about current fashion designers can help young artists make connections  to the real world; they can also discover a potential career path related to visual art. There are a dynamic group of Black fashion designers working today that can be referenced in your lessons. Here are two contemporary designers who create beautiful clothing that can also be easily connected to the Elements of Art. 

​Native Detroiter, Tracey Reese is a prolific fashion designer who has been in the industry for over 20 years. Her creations are colorful and vibrant. She recently developed a line of clothing made from more sustainable materials.

Christopher John Rogers was born in Baton Rouge, LA. He recently designed the dress worn by Vice President Kamala Harris at the presidential inauguration in 2021. This award-winning artist continues to create eye-catching designs that inspire people from diverse cultural backgrounds,
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Fashion Designer, Tracey Reese
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Fashion Designer, Christopher John Rogers

Fashion in Fine Art

Fashionable clothing has been and continues to be an important subject for painters and photographers to include in their portrait renderings. We selected several works of art that display figures wearing stylish clothing. Feel free to develop your own collection of works. Initiate a conversation with young learners about the fashions the subjects in each piece are wearing.  Here are a list of questions you can ask to begin a conversation:
​
1. What place or event do you do you think the figures in the paintings are going to or coming from? Explain.
2. Would you wear or do you own an outfit similar to what the individuals in the works of art are wearing?
3. If you were a fashion designer, which outfit would be similar to the kind of fashions you would design?
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William H. Johnson, Street Life, Harlem, 1940, Oil on Canvas
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James Van Der Zee, Wedding Photo of A Black Couple
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Amy Sherald, A Clear Unspoken Granted Magic, 2017, Oil on Canvas

More Fashion Art Resources To Explore

A few more art lesson/activities you can add to your fashion design unit include:
  1. Design a new cool school t-shirt or uniform.
  2. Create a drawing of what people will wear 100 years from now.
  3. Share with the class, a classmate or friend your favorite outfit to wear and then paint  or draw a picture of yourself wearing it. 
  4. Create a digital fashion magazine featuring photographs that you take of your family members and friends dressed in colorful clothing.​
Make sure to take a look at the resources below as well as our blog post about developing a fashion club for artists in grades 6-12. Who are some of your favorite fashion designers? Comment below.

Abstract Fashion Design Art Lesson

$5.99

This multimedia art lesson is a great way for young artists in grades 4-12 to explore fashion illustration and learn about the prolific artist, Amy Sherald. Explore our website to discover more fashion themed art lessons and resources.

This Resource Includes:

  • Lesson Prep/Tips
  • Abstract Fashion Design Art Lesson (with step-by-step photos
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Fashion Design Art Lesson Bundle

$13.99

This is a great set of lessons to explore art related to fashion design and textiles. Inspired by prominent artists including Kehinde Wiley and Ellis Wilson, feel free to tailor the lessons to fit your curriculum. Explore our website to find more great art resources inspired by amazing Black visual artists

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Wedding Dress Design Art Lesson

$5.99

Inspired by the children's picture book, The Wedding written by Angela Johnson, this art lesson was designed for young artists in grades 3-12. Explore our website to discover more great art resources and tips.


This Resource Includes:

  • Lesson Prep/Tips
  • Wedding Dress Design Art Lesson (with step-by-step photos)
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Black Artists Depicting Black Artists

2/1/2022

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Happy Black History Month 2022! Even though our website is dedicated to highlighting Black art history all year long, February is one of our favorite months. This year we're taking a look at Black visual artists who created works of art featuring other Black visual artists.
​

Gwendolyn Knight & Augusta Savage

Talented painter Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence was mentored by renowned sculptor Augusta Savage at the Harlem Community Center during the Harlem Renaissance. They both created works of art of one another. Mrs. Savage was dedicated to her students and community. Mrs. Lawrence was also a dancer and amazing partner to her famous artist husband, Jacob Lawrence.
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Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence (U.S.A., b. Barbados, 1913–2005), Augusta Savage, 1967. Oil on canvas. Gift of Dr. Herbert J. Kayden and Family in memory of Dr. Gabrielle H. Reem. © 2018 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York, 2013.91.
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Augusta Savage, Gwendolyn Knight, 1934–35. Courtesy of the Walter O. Evans Collection of African American Art.

James Van Der Zee & Basquiat

At age 95, prominent photographer James Van Der Zee photographed 21 year old self-taught artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Van Der Zee spent his career capturing the beauty of Black people and culture using photography. Basquiat was a dynamic abstract painter who experienced world-wide acclaim while he was alive.
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James Van Der Zee (American, 1886–1983), Jean-Michel Basquiat , 1982, gelatin silver print, 10 x 7.87 in. (25.4 x 20 cm.)

Laura Wheeler Waring & Alma Thomas

Laura Wheeler Waring was a prominent portrait painter of distinguished African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance. She was also an educator who enjoyed a long teaching career. Alma Thomas was also a committed educator who prioritized her teaching career above exhibiting her exciting abstract paintings for many years.
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Laura Wheeler Waring, Portrait of a Lady, 1947, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Vincent Melzac, 1977.121

Beauford & Joseph Delaney

Beauford and Joseph Delaney were artistic brothers who garnered attention in New York during and after the Harlem Renaissance. While both artists painted a large collection of portraits, Beauford explored abstract expression in his work. He also lived in Paris and developed a close friendship with famed author, James Baldwin. Joseph taught art in New York and later became an artist-in-residence at the University of Tennessee.
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Image of a portrait of Joseph Delaney by Beauford Delaney in Amazing Grace: A Life of Beauford Delaney by David A. Leeming (Discovered on http://lesamisdebeauforddelaney.blogspot.com)

​Take a look at the art resources below to learn more about these artists. What do you think of this collection of images? Which piece is your favorite? Comment below. 

Great African-American Artists Memory Game

$8.99
Using this game is a fun way to teach students in grades K-12 about prominent African-American artists who have contributed to the development of visual arts in the United States. 

This Set Includes:
• Lesson Ideas & Directions
• 26 Pairs of Artist Portrait Cards
• 26 Artist Facts Cards
• Back Side of Cards Sheet 

Featured Artists:

Alma Thomas
Augusta Savage
Clementine Hunter
Edmonia Lewis
Elizabeth Catlett
Faith Ringgold 
Gwendolyn Knight
Harriet Powers
Lois Mailou Jones 
Margaret Burroughs
Meta Warrick Fuller
Minnie Evans
Selma Burke
Aaron Douglas
Beauford Delaney
Charles White
Gordon Parks
Hale Woodruff
Henry O. Tanner
Horace Pippin
Hughie –Lee Smith
Jean-Michel Basquiat
John Biggers
Richmond Barthe
Romare Bearden
William H. Johnson
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Rainbow Shapes Collage Art Lesson

$3.99

Inspired by Alma Thomas’ Untitled Abstract paintings, this lesson is a way great to help young artists develop fine motor skills. While this lesson was designed for young artists in primary grades, it can be tailored to use with older artists. Visit www.artforthecreativesoul.com to find more art lessons, resources and tips.


This Resource Includes:

·      Lesson Prep/Tips

·      Rainbow Shapes Collage Art Lesson (with step-by-step photos)

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Great African-American Artists Coloring & Activity Book 2.0

$19.99
Our latest coloring book features another group of amazing African-American visual artists. This resource is a great way to introduce students to artists such as:

Nancy Prophet
Edward Mitchell Bannister
Robert Scott Duncanson
Vivian Schuyler Key
Beauford Delaney
William H, Johnson
Gordon Parks
Margaret Taylor-Burroughs
Norman Lewis
Charles Alston
Varnette Honeywood
Carl Owens
Eugene Grigsby
Allan Crite
Annie Lee
​
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Great African-American Artists Coloring & Activity Book

$19.99
 This newest release compliments the art lesson book, Great Art Lessons for the Creative Soul by Alicia L. McDaniel. Each artist is highlighted with a coloring portrait sheet, biographical info, research questions and a simple art activity. There are cross-curricular connections to music, technology, science, social studies and ELA. 

The Featured Artists are:
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Romare Bearden
Selma Burke
Elizabeth Catlett
Aaron Douglas
Minnie Evans
Meta Warrick Fuller
Clementine Hunter
Lois Mailou Jones
Gwendolyn Knight
Jacob Lawrence
Edmonia Lewis
Palmer Hayden
Sargent Claude Johnson
Horace Pippin
Harriet Powers
Faith Ringgold
Augusta Savage
Hughie Lee Smith
Henry O. Tanner
Alma Thomas
Laura Wheeler Waring
Charles White
Ellis Wilson
Hale Woodruff
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Alma Thomas Portrait Art

$6.99

Celebrate great women artists with our Alma Thomas Portrait Art Print by Alicia L. McDaniel. You can print this PDF formatted portrait art on your personal printer or take it to a print shop to print a different size. Explore our website to find more art education resources featuring Alma Thomas.

 

This Art Resource Includes:

·      Artist Biographical Info

·      Alma Thomas Portrait Art Print (Total Print Size, including border, is 8.5” x 11”)

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Cool Winter Art Resources

1/12/2022

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Happy 2022! We're almost halfway through January and just starting to experience mild winter weather where we live in southeastern North Carolina.  As the temperature drops, ideas for winter themed art activities go up on Pinterest, social media, etc. Read further to review a brief list of some cool winter themed art resources that you can start using today.


​Winter Paintings

Having discussions about art is one of the best ways to help young artists to develop visual intelligence. Start with these paintings from some of our favorite artists to initiate a conversation with your students. Ask questions such as:
1. Which painting looks similar to your neighborhood or home?
2. Which painting looks similar to a place you have a visited? 
3. Which painting is a great example of texture, value, color, etc.? Explain your answer. 
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Horace Pippin, "Maple Sugar Season, 1941
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Lois Mailou Jones, "1220 Quincy Street", ca. 1948-53, Oil on Canvas, 15 1⁄2 x 10 5⁄8 in. (39.5 x 27.1 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum
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Lois Mailou Jones, "Winter Night", c. 1950, Lithograph on Paper
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Jacob Lawrence, "City college is like a beacon over Harlem", 1943, Gouache on Paper, 53.3 x 35.6 cm. (21 x 14 in.


​Winter Picture Books

As you have perused our website, you have probably figured out that we love to use children's picture books as sources of inspiration for art lessons and activities. These colorful winter themed children's picture books are fun to read and great for your art library.  Click on the cover to learn more about each book.
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Winter Art Lessons

Create your own paintbrushes to do this colorful Skier Painting and purchase our Snowy Day Pajamas Art Lesson to use with The Snowy Day book. What types of winter themed art resources do you love to use? Leave a comment below.
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The Art of Puppetry

12/6/2021

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Season's Greetings!! As we move quickly towards the end 0f 2021, we hope you're experiencing a joyous holiday season. After the popular response to our No Sew Baby Sculpture video (which could also be used as puppet), we wanted to share more  thoughts about the art of puppetry. While puppets are a great tool for telling stories in the classroom and encouraging playtime with younger learners, they are even more exciting to create.  Here's a small sample of puppeteers, characters and activities to enhance the puppetry unit in your art curriculum.

Puppet Creation

Puppetry is such a fun unit to explore because you can use a variety of materials, techniques and styles to create one. Moreover, this unit can be used in grades Pre-K-12. They can be simple small finger puppets made out of paper or larger marionettes composed of wood and fabric. You can  also make a hand puppet with a paper bag or an intricately cut shadow puppet. 

​Puppets can be modeled after animals, people, or fictional characters from your imagination. Check out this simple hand puppet we made using felt fabric, a recycled sock, a low-temp hot glue gun, stickers, and puff paint:
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1. Grab a sock. 2. Cut the shapes for the puppet out of felt. 3. Use the hot glue gun to glue the shapes to the sock. 4. Use puff paint and stickers to add details to the puppet.

Black Puppetry Featured on TV

The iconic television show Sesame Street is a great example of how puppetry can be used to entertain, educate and inspire.  The puppetry featured on the show also displays great craftsmanship and creativity. While most of the characters on the show are not normally identified racially, there are a few puppets that have been used to represent Black culture throughout the history of the show:
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Actor Matt Robinson was the first black actor to voice the first Black Sesame Street character "Roosevelt Franklin" . Graphic from www.watchtheyard.com
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Segi appeared at the 2015 Sesame Workshop Benefit Gala, puppeteered by Geri Cole and voiced live by Naturi Naughton. Image from www.muppet.fandom.com

Puppetry in the Theatre

One of our favorite examples of puppetry is displayed in the phenomenal broadway production of the Lion King. We were mesmerized by the life-sized puppetry when we saw the show for the first time. Have you seen any other cool examples of puppetry used in a theatrical performance?
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Puppeteers in the Community

Black puppeteers are an important part of the puppetry community. We had the pleasure of seeing some of the amazing puppet creations of multimedia artist Tarish Pipkins in person. His puppets are fantastic and made using recycled materials. His work has appeared in several music videos and he facilitates workshops around the country. Visit his website to learn more about his innovative creations.
We are equally impressed by the performances of talented ventriloquist Megan Piphus. She has mastered the art of puppetry and is distinguished with being the first Black female puppeteer on Sesame Street.  Learn more about this phenomenal performerar on her website: ​https://www.meganpiphus.com
PictureVentriloquist Megan Piphus will perform at the “Living Objects: African American Puppetry Festival and Symposium.” (Photo: David Teran)
Who are some of your favorite puppet characters? Share in the comment section below and have a wonderful holiday season!

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Animation Fun in The Art Room

10/10/2021

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Happy October! Fall is such a beautiful and inspiring season. It's also a very contemplative time of year for us. We were recently thinking about the art of animation and how fun it is to explore.  Animation is a great art unit that connects with other subjects across the school curriculum. Here are some tips, activities and resources you can use to begin  building an animation unit for your art program.
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1. Character Development
Well developed characters are the heart of great animations. Share a list of some of your favorite  animated characters (as shown below) from comic books/tv shows/movies with your students and have them to make a list of theirs. Lead them in a discussion about the lists. Ask questions such as "What qualities do you like about the characters?" or "Which character has the coolest design?" Meanwhile, you can connect some of the examples that students share to the Elements and Principles of Art.
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Hair Love by Matthew Cherry, Sony Pictures
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Disney's, The Proud Family
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Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse, Sony Pictures

​After the discussion, they can create an original character. They can draw or paint the character  or use an iPad/computer to create it. Encourage young artists to keep their character designs simple. For artists in grade 3+, they can also design a movie poster highlighting their original creations. 
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2. Create a Simple Storyboard & Animation
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Todd Finnagan, Storyboards || Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse
Illustrating a story board is a great way to help young artists develop critical thinking skills.  After you share some examples of storyboard art with them, they can plan out a simple 4 frame storyboard with their original character. A storyboard is a visual organizer depicting action scenes in a story. You can also display examples of comic book/strip illustrations to further explore how storyboards work. 

Young artists can further use their characters to create a simple hand-drawn animation like a thaumatrope, flip book or stop-motion animation.  Here's a simple 2 Frame animation that we created with a simple character.

​3. Learn About Important Black Animators
While there are prolific Black animators who blazed a trail like Floyd Norman, Frank Braxton, Leo Sullivan and Ron Husband, there's a whole new generation of Black animators creating eye-catching stories with dynamic characters.
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Graphic depicting Bruce Smith, Taylor Shaw and Peter Ramsey for an article by Annalease Yip on www.cbr.com

​Creatives like Bruce W. Smith, Taylor K. Shaw and Peter Ramsey are adding their talents to a variety of exciting animated projects. You can learn more about these phenomenal artists by visiting www.CBR.com to read a fantastic article detailing the multimedia projects they are affiliated with.

There are many more art lessons that you can add to your animation unit including 2D/3D computer animations, animation in multimedia presentations, video game animation, animation careers. etc.  Make sure to explore our website to find more resources connected to this topic. and share below in the comments about how you explore the art of animation in your creative space.

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