A full day's work

Lots of work.
art. work.
building and finishing four new frames.
getting caught up on my cards again.

Starting work on a longboard for my friend jon.
handywoman skills being put to work.
removing hardware
goo-gone-ing like crazy to get the grip tape stickyness off
a quick sanding.
an acrylic base - and it's ready to paint!


a summer full time job.
art all day.

drawings, inspiration, summer.

goodbye, room.

 my art room looks huge with all the furniture pushed to the sides, and the materials tucked away in the closet.

 My final project for the room was to repaint the ugly brown, tan, and grey file cabinents. I painted two turquoise and one bright yellow. they really brighten up the room! and now just a little planning for next year, finishing cleaning, and then goodbye art room. until next fall.

a day for...

working on my latest cards.
slowly building up a stack of frames for the cards.
teaching my last full day of school for the year. it feels like summer now.
also feels like summer because it was 100 degrees today.
and I rode my bike in the hot hot heat.
so stopped to cool off at a coffee shop. and started a list of summer goals (still in progress..)
and am now inside. listening to the new death cab for cutie album.
while making henna. and painting.
and smiling to myself. because i have a nice life.
and i get to escape to Michigan this weekend.

colorific friday

 it's downpouring, thundering, and gloomy outside, so color is on the agenda for today.  First, these new paint pens that I am super excited to use. the colors are good enough to eat.

 the kiddos are finishing up their murals, and they're looking great!

and since the kids are working together, I'm having them cut and collage their murals when they're done so each of them can take a part of it home.  This guy is my favorite. he's like a lego sailor with an amazing visual thought bubble. i was tempted to steal this one and sneak it home with me, but I refrained. good teacher.

 Kindergardeners made these watercolor ice cream cones.  We were talking about our favorite flavors, and one kid said his fav was "superstar" ice cream, and it was red, white and blue.  I asked what flavors they were, and he said:

red is lava.
blue is water.
white is snow.

woah. really? I said - and he nodded, along with most of the class, who affirmed that this was correct, and was a really great kind of ice cream, and I should try it.

the end is near.

 We have just over a week left of school, so it's time to break out the super fun projects - like making a paper lizard friend. I saw this on an art lesson website, and I was excited to try it out with some of my students. It turned out to be pretty easy, fast and fun - a great combination for the end of the year! cause lots of us are "checked out" and the kids are getting crazy... one perceptive first grader asked me during a particularly rowdy class this week, "Miss Rokos - would you like me to make you a "do not disturb" sign and tape it on your back?" yes, I wanted to say. yes. that would be nice.

 All the art from the art show is finally off the walls - and the school looks all institutional and colorless now. but I have this amazing tape ball that is coveted by many.

"so, Miss Rokos, I guess you love tea, huh?" yes, kid. I do love tea. and I also love the 3D movie glasses you left in my room with the lenses taken out: the ultimate fake smart glasses.

what does it MEAN??