The After-School Art Club's Art Show Ten Days Ago

I had meant to blog about my students' art show earlier, but time got away. (Some weeks are just like that.)

First, I'd like to thank University Art Supplies Store for hosting the students' art reception on Saturday, March 12th to kick off the exhibit, which will be displayed in the window for the rest of March and all of April.

University Art is a marvelous art supplies store that provides several programs for young people, as well as classes for all ages. They are located at the corner of 26th Street and J Street. You can learn more about their products and programs HERE, (and please "like" them on Facebook HERE. )

Next, I'd like to thank the South Natomas Community Center for being so supportive of the after- school art club. They purchase materials for me and store them at the center. All I have to do is go in and teach, and students already love art before they ever come in. The center offers a variety of services and classes for the community. You can learn more about their programs HERE 

Now -- on with the Second Saturday art reception and exhibit. For those who don't live in Sacramento, "Second Saturday" each month is when  art lovers go from gallery to gallery, enjoying  receptions for new art exhibits. The receptions often feature wine and munchies, but our artists served punch and cookies. Below are the 17 pieces of art displayed, along with pictures of some of the students and their families. Enjoy.

A

            Students range in age from 6 to 14, although the class is mainly set up for 8-to-12-year-olds. But some are returning students and go farther with the lessons, and some have older siblings in class, which keeps the class from becoming geared to 1st or 2nd-graders: The younger ones simply keep up and constantly amaze me with their grasp of what are basically lessons for older kids. Below are pictures of some of the students who came to the reception (in shifts, between noon and 2:00 p.m.) and their proud families. It got pretty hectic at times, so I didn't get a chance to photograph everyone who came.

This artist is seven.

Her cousin, artist on the right, is nine.

The artist on the left just turned eight.
Hopefully her brother will join one day.

Another seven-year old artist.

This artist just turned seven.

The artist on left is ten. Shy sister on
right is too young for the class.
Her thirteen-year-old sister, a fine
  artist, was sick and couldn't attend.

Two artists, sisters; the one on left is
seven; the one on the right is eleven.

                 

I  didn't get a photo of these two artists
 before they left, so this is last year's
photo: The artist on the left is nine
this year; on the right, fourteen.

The artist, eleven and dedicated,
is almost hidden by her two
younger siblings in this picture.

Being involved with these students gives me a special boost each week. I always come home rejuvenated by their energy. We have two more classes this year, and then the art class is over until November. While I have other projects that need tending to, I'm going to miss them. 

How about you? Are you an art lover? Do you do any volunteer projects that give you special enjoyment?

The Student Art Show - At Last

          I promised pictures of my students' art exhibit, and here they finally are. The exhibit went up March 14th, and it's coming down tomorrow so that I can pass back the art pieces Thursday (our last class this year.) The art club is one of the great joys of my life, and I am especially grateful to the South Natomas Community Center on Truxel (Sacramento) for supporting these classes, and to University Art Store on J and 26th Streets for holding the exhibit this year. We had a little reception on the opening day (punch and cookies) and whole families turned out to see it. The students are normally 8-to-12-year-olds, but this year I had one 7-year-old and two 13-year-olds.    
          Enjoy: (I've only named the artists - all others are "sib", "sis", parent, etc.)

Danielle, Edgar & their father

Claire (center), mother & grandm.

Karla (center) with sib & friend

Yaritza (right) w. mother & sibs.

Antonio (2nd fr.  left) w. parents & sibs.

Kailee (right),  mother & sis

Maya (in red), Ella ( in pink), parents 

Brennan and mother

Angeline (center), parents, sibs,
and grandmother

Savannah (center), mother (right), and
Emily (left) 

Miranda and mother

Madison (2nd from right) and mother
(next to her), grandmother & sib.

Kiley and mother

Ian (left), sis, and father.
(Older sis, Kate, artist, was absent)

Erica (in red), Vanessa (in front of her),
mother (right) grandmother (left) and
youngest sister.

Kiley (left), Emma, (middle),
and Madison (right)

Alyssa and father

Reina (right) sisters and mother

And that's it -- for another year.

I hope you enjoyed
meeting them and
seeing their work.

The June Art Show and Reception at Art Ellis

Families looking in the window

As promised, I am bringing my after school Art Club's June Art Exhibit to you by way of this post. Saturday, June 1st was the reception, and the exhibit showcases work by students, ages 8 to 12. For those of you who live in the Sacramento area, the art will be on display at Art Ellis for the whole month of June. Art Ellis is an art supplies store at 2508 J Street in Sacramento's bustling Midtown. It's owned by Sharon and Jim Tanovitz who have kindly supported our art exhibits for many years.

Enjoy the 15 pieces of art, and, since art is subjective, I'll be interested to know which pieces caught your fancy and why. After the 15 art pieces, I have pictures of the reception. A happy time for all.

Julia Benson, Age 12
"Mother Nature's Toddler"
Watercolor

Daniella Bishop, Age 9
"Flowers in Abstract"
Watercolor

Ayla Adjari, Age 9
"Red Riding Hood"
Acrylic on Canvas

Ethan Bland, Age 9
"Kitchen Flowers"
Oil Pastel

Kaitlyn Bland, Age 11
"A Resting Cheetah"
Acrylic on Canvas

Erica Cruz, Age 10
"Still Life"
Oil Pastel

Hannah Cunningham, Age 10
"Butterfly on the Branch"
Watercolor

Ella Diltz, Age 8
"Music"
Oil Pastel

Maya Diltz, Age 11
"Pretty Lady"
Oil Pastel

Jamin Dunlap, Age 8
"Boys Rock"
Charcoal

Neviah Dunlap, Age 10,
"Bluebird and Poppies"
Watercolor

Bethany Huff, Age 12
"The Woodpecker"
Soft Pastel

Miranda La Torre, Age 8
"A Christmas Present"
Watercolor

Trisha Nagin, Age 9
"Sunset"
Acrylic on Canvas

Justice Olivier, Age 10
"Village Girl"
Oil Pastel

Ethan and Kaitlyn Bland; Grandmother,
Father, & Mother

Julia Benson, back row, to your right
Father, Mother, in back row; cousin,
sister in front row

Erica Cruz, Center with red blouse,
Father, Uncle, Grandmother, Mother;
Cousins in front row

Hannah Cunningham
and  Mother

Here are some of the families who were able to come to the reception.

They enjoyed punch and cookies, as well as browsing around inside the store and buying some art supplies.

Ella and Maya Diltz and Mother
(Sharon Tanovitz in window,
marking a piece of art "Sold")

Bethany Huff and Mother

Justice Oliver, Mother and Sister

Trisha Nagin and Father

Miranda LaTorre, Grandmother,
Mother, and Father

Neviah and Jamin Dunlap,
Father,  Younger Sisters

And that's it for this year. Hope you enjoyed this little art show.