Photography is Art

Why not hang family photographs in a child's room as an introduction to the art world? A casual, as well as a more formal, image can work beautifully. The kids can be involved in choosing the picture, as well as picking an appropriate mat and/or frame. My four year old grandson makes marvelous photographs......his eye view is just right for capturing unique angles. His father took fantastic photos of Pompeii when he was the same age. No one had quite captured the ruins from such a low, but powerful angle before! Photography is art, after all, and now is a great time to make wonderful memories, as well as honing your young photographer's eye.

Wear a Peg Wednesday! What a great Idea!

Pegs are clothespins, and the deal is to decorate one with your kids, and wear it on Wednesday, December 23rd, to remind the world to be a nicer place. The poster from Well H. Teddy explains it all.

Mr. X is Gerald Thornton

Gerald Thornton is a man who deeply cares about history, equality, his family and art. When he lived nearby, he was always working on an art project of some kind. He signed his work "X" to align himself with the nameless slaves who were ripped from their families and their culture and brought to a new world. Mr. Thornton used materials which were at hand and many of his most magical works had elements of collage worked into the art. Gold and silver foil was used for the medals of Haile Selassie, a powerful painting that I still cannot get out of my mind after not seeing it for decades!

But if you ask your parents to take you to the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, you can see his "Flag Funeral", which proudly takes it's place among other masterpieces in the show, Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Happiness, curated by Roger Manley. The somber widow and her child fall in step behind the flag draped coffin, while an invisible jazz group leads the way to the cemetery. Mr. Thornton is a man who continues to celebrates life, and he now lives in a new town with his new wife, and continues to make wonderful art. This lovely painting is available for sale and will be released in a year when the show comes down.

Real Art for Real Kids!!!!!

Bird houses equal art in England! A Challenge....

In exploring the bird houses created by genius designer, sculptor, painter and " inky wings" herself, Judith McNicol, kids can learn that art can be found anywhere. They might even be motivated to try it themselves, which is a splendid reaction to this whimsical and refreshing sculpture by one of England's most imaginative artists. And the birds which approach such houses, well they too poke at the imagination of kids and parents alike. Could you, would you Sam I am? Try making houses out of twisted grapevines, bittersweet, sunflowers, or what have you. And send me pictures at Beverlyskaye@aol.com. I'll post the best on this blog!

Philosophy and real art for kids.........

Amy Leask has a spectacular site whose mission is to "introduce kids (and the adults they run with) to the wonderful world of Philosophy." It's called kidsthinkaboutit

Children are challenged to think about:

• What is real? What exists?
• What makes a human? Is it our minds, our bodies, or a combination of the two?
• How do we gain knowledge and understanding? Is it with our senses, our minds, or something else?
• How can we be sure that something is true?
• What is the difference between the good life and the bad life?
• How can we decide on the right thing to do?
• What does it mean for something to be beautiful?
  Ahhh, now you get why this link is on my site! I, too, ask kids to try to figure out what beauty is, in it's endless forms, and to decipher which of those forms they relate to the most. It's a wonderful steppingstone to communication and reasoning and enlightenment.
  (The image above is an antique scale/fortune telling machine, which is now considered a form of folk art! Discuss amongst yourselves!

Paul Pitt redux.....barn discoveries

Paul Pitt's charming folk art paintings grace the walls of quite a few museums, as well as private collections. His paintings bring to mind Grandma Moses and times gone by. The paintings are gems, filled with detail that surprises you each time you look. So much to see which coaxes a smile to your face. A forage into a barn on his Connecticut property unearth a few vintage works, when his style was just emerging. These paintings are lovely and available for sale through the gallery here

Ivan Koota is a self-taught painter, but a retired pediatrician as well! He illustrates scenes from his beloved Brooklyn, NY heritage and relies on both memory and historical photographs for fodder. His charming paintings illustrate a time gone by, and will pull at the heartstrings and memories of all who have experienced this same past. Here's a bit from the painters own voice.....

"Most of my paintings focus on neighborhoods and the “simple” events of daily Brooklyn life like shopping, children at play, sports, family entertainment, etc. Simple yes…but it’s the stuff that made special the vibrant and nurturing family neighborhoods of Brooklyn either before or during the 25 years I lived there and happily continue to the present. My work also includes prominent Brooklyn sites like parks and important buildings.

In April, 1996, I had my first solo exhibit at the Frank Miele gallery in NYC. Since then I have been in several solo and group shows. In 1998 my painting of Ebbets Field titled “Before the Game” was exhibited at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY."

Dr. Koota's list of honors is great, but the paintings tell the better story for children of all ages. I hope you enjoy these extraordinary paintings.

Real art for and by real kids......

Kieron Williamson is a six year old child from the UK who paints like a pro. Your own children probably also have turned out a masterpiece or two. Why not honor one of the best with a lovely matt and frame? Real art for real kids, by real kids! The encouragement will go far, and who knows what lurks in the heart of kids? Click on the title to read more about this amazing young artist.

Sandy Mastroni charms all ages.....

Sandy Mastroni, who used to paint furniture, now devotes all her time to painting wonderful, whimsical and some what mysterious artworks. Although she is in permanent museum collections, her works are still very accessible for young and old alike. There often are cats......Sandy has given home to a variety of them and they are very prevalent in her work. She also is drawn to Alice in Wonderland type characters so there are plenty of queens, bunnies, and the like. All of them are charming and if you click on the title of this piece you will see many more new works recently posted on my website, www.artbrut.com.

Gardening with kids and art?

This summer is a great time to teach the kids to eat local, and what better way than in their own garden. Radishes come up immediately, and lettuce and tomatoes, peppers and eggplant follow in rapid succession. My own kids loved anything which grew on a vine, and pumpkins over took our lawn. Recycled sculpture made from old car and tractor parts coupled with old tools is the finishing touch!

"Alexandra Huber in America"......kiddies love her art....

Alexandra Huber's art attracts the kids because they get her and she gets them as well. She has never lost her childhood love of color and line, nor have the rules of art stifled her creativity. You know....the color inside the lines rule, and the grass is green rule, etc. Huber's work is exuberant and joyful, and very very collectable. Considering the fact she is an international star, the work is also very affordable. Recent European shows were close to sell outs despite the economic climate they are suffering as well. There are many pages of her works illustrated when you click on the title link. Ask your kids to tell you what they see and enjoy the viewing!

Junk yard sculpture....the kids love it!

The lawn was filled with horses, dancers, musicians, a moose, giant sunflowers, robots and tin men, all made out of recycled trash. Old car parts, pieces from motorcycles, tractors and tools were morphed into this visually stunning collection of sculpture at the annual Sculpture in the Garden Show in CT. The kids loved it and so did their parents!

Paintings to grow up with........

I just picked up these charming paintings by Sandy Mastroni. Her work is in the Hurn Museum and she's represented by many top galleries in the US. And yet most of these works are priced at under $325. They will be cherished for years to come. Within a few weeks they will be posted on my website.....you get a first peek!

The road to Brimfield......

Cher Shaffer from Appalachia, not only paints wonderful portraits, she also creates dolls which are sophisticated and charming. Here are three which might show up at the Brimfield Show next week in Massachusetts. If you've never attended, this is a show for the entire family. Over 6,000 dealers in farmer's fields stretching over 1 1/2 miles along Route 20 in Brimfield, MA. show up three times a year for a week of antiques, folk art, pottery, jewelry, furniture from all periods, collectibles, and stuffed chickens, I kid you not! Everything under the sun is displayed here, and many collections have been built from discoveries in these fields. One of my cousins, whose home has been featured in county living books, filled her rooms over the years with Brimfield finds. You and your kids will love this adventure. Bring water, hats, cell phones, a bag to put treasures in, and wear comfortable shoes. Sturbridge Village is 5 miles away....another must stop for the family. Let the collecting begin!

American Indian pottery.....a wonderful start

Traditional Pueblo Indian pottery is a fascinating collectable, which captures the imagination of children as well as their parents. Clay collected from the individual pueblos in New Mexico, is then refined by mixing with water, dried, and mixed again. Old broken pieces called shards are crushed, both for stability and  tradition, and incorporated into the clay. Then the process of coiling begins  and the pots take shape. After they have dried, paint made from color taken from special local rocks and vegetation, is applied, dried, burnished with a smooth rock, and fired over dried cow dung. Primitive, filled with spirit and history, and beautiful results are pulled from the fire, and are cherished for a lifetime. Most traditional Pueblo Indians are buried with a pot to this day. Here are three examples which might appeal to kids, and many more are available if you click on the icon of a pot here at Beverly Kaye Gallery.

Ship's Return for little sailors

This stunning painting called "Ship's Return" is perfect for a nautical room. It's another gem by Theresa Prokop, retired nurse, turned painter. The piece measures 16" x 20", oil on canvas, and priced at $650. Theresa's work is widely collected and she is a very respected Folk Art painter. In an earlier post you can see a childhood slate bordered painting of an African American rural scene, which is also available. Her works never get old, and compliment period as well as contemporary homes. All this work is available through Beverly Kaye Gallery in Woodbridge, CT and on-line at http://www.Artbrut.com
Click on the green title above and you will come to this page.

A lovely game of marbles and memories......

This artist, with childhood memories intact, traveled with his family, sharecropping their way through the South, and finally landed in Connecticut. Willard James, Sr. has a wonderful portfolio illustrating this hard, but honest life, working through fields and orchards, and the joy inherent in each of his painting is obvious. 
"Steelee Man" is acrylic on board, 16" x 20", at $650 and brings me back to the days when my Dad reminisced about marble games in the schoolyard. Some things do change........and are worth capturing.

Owls, Jacks, Pixies, and Fairies

Karl Mckoy is a wondrous artist as well as a master gardener! His owl begs for a child's wall, but would be savored for a lifetime. The next image reminds me of jack in the pulpit puppets in a storybook scene. He is a magician with both earth and paint and no one knows what will sprout next in the garden of this fertile mind.

Music for ears and eyes..........

How about a musical instrument which could hang on the wall, as a truly amazing work of art, and be taken down to play by an intelligent, music loving kid or that kid's fortunate parents?  Any of Peter Huiras's creations fit the bill. If you have a lot of them.....bills that is.......$5,000 to $10,000 apiece, but worth every nickel.

Forget Basquiat and Dubuffet, try Huber

Although I dearly love Basquiat and Dubuffet, not many budgets can afford them anymore. But, Alexandra Huber's engaging paintings are a different story. Her very affordable original works are not just for kids, but kids love them. Her art is in museum collections in Germany and many private collections in the United States. They have take 2009 art fairs by storm, even in these trying economic times. These delightful, childlike  25.5" x 19.5" mixed media pieces make quite an impact, and will be treasured for posterity. She also is well known for her 6" x 6" pieces which work well alone or in groups. Huber has had many one woman shows, and she's been published in many catalogues and as well as Folk Art magazine and Raw Vision magazine. One of my most popular artists at Beverly Kaye Gallery. Within the next month, new works will be posted on the site, but I always have a large portfolio of her works available. See much more of her work here

Asking kid questions about art.........

This is part of an interesting article by Cindy Carson about children and art. Enjoy!
Children love art. Art helps a child’s imagination and creativity. It can help develop their fine motor skills, cognitive skills and problem solving abilities. It provides a calming activity. It can be used as an emotional outlet to express feelings. It develops manual dexterity (through using hands to create) and it increases sensory awareness.......
Visiting an art museum occasionally is another great way to foster a love of art.
When viewing artwork, ask kid questions about the paintings they see, like “what time of day is it in the picture?” If there are people in the painting, ask “what are they doing? And, describe the mood: are the people happy? Sad? Angry?” Talk about the colors, and how the picture makes your child feel. Explain the media used to create the artwork (i.e. oil paints, bronze for sculptures, acrylics, etc). Talk about when the artwork was created and who the artist was. Parents should study art also, so they can be prepared for any questions.
Parents can show books showcasing fine art to their little ones, such as the Come Look With Me, Enjoying Art with Children series by Gladys Blizzard, or the Child’s Book of Art, by Lucy Micklethwait. Kids might also enjoy an art class, or even entering an art contest.
So start introducing your kids to the world of art. Who knows? Your little one might be the next Rembrandt, Van Gogh or Picasso.

Skating With Nuns!

Where are the two little running friends? Clue: One of them always wears a red scarf! They are hidden in plain sight and are the artist's signature in every one of Paul Pitt's charming paintings. This one is called "Skating With Nuns" and measures 32" x 26", oil on canvas, framed, $1400.
Paul's luscious paintings bring us back to a simpler time, filled with a strong sense of community and extended family. Even if we have never personally experienced his subject matter, it rings a responsive chord. However, these are not memory paintings. A church steeple or the architecture of an old barn or via duct will catch his eye, and in month's time, a new painting has come to life.
The work is meticulously and compulsively repainted up to six times before Paul is willing to pronounce the piece done. Within each large scene, there are many small stories unfolding, each with their own considerable charm and humor.
Because the pointillist backgrounds and constant repainting are so time and labor intensive, there are rarely more than twelve new paintings available each year. Folk art enthusiasts love Paul's work, and a large body of his paintings has been included in several important collections. Hampton Museum acquired an example in 2001, and four of his paintings have graced the cover of the Craft Digest magazine. Recently his work was in the opening exhibition of the Baron and Ellin Gordon Galleries at Old Dominion College. He has also been published in Folk Art Magazine and Raw Vision Magazine.

An Idyllic view of childhood....

Picnics. sailboats, harbors, country scenes all filled the canvases of Theresa Prokop when she started to paint. After a career as a nurse for many years, painting became a priority and her popular work became quite well known in the folk art world. I have several fine examples and the first one is called "God Bless America", which is oil on stretched canvas, with painted edges, needing no frame, 18" x 24", and the price is $750. It has a wonderful ABC border, resembling children's slates of earlier times, and is an idyllic view of a joyful African American community at work and at play. A work of art for the whole family and perfect for a child's room.

Sandy Mastroni, from painted furniture to Museums.....

How delighted would your kids be to know that a painter, who used to decorate furniture, and who is now in the Hurn Museum, could also be featured on a wall in their room? Jonas Brothers posters come and go, but real art lasts a lifetime. "The Lady in a Red Chair" is stunning in primary colors and perfect for a cat lover, as well as a child who appreciates bold colors. "My Cat Knows" will be published shortly in a book about Self-taught and Outsider artists, and "Red Hat, Yellow Vase" is subtle but smart. Consider real art, your children will thank you! Click on the title and you will be brought to more original paintings by this very popular self-taught painter.