In.spir.ed

2 Year Anniversary of Joplin Tornado, Facing the Disaster in Moore, OK.

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:51:00 -0500

Here it is 2 years from Joplin’s EF-5 tornado, a day that Southwest Missourians will never forget. Driving through the streets soon after the storm, it was truly a wonder that the death toll wasn’t much higher than it was. It was complete devastation. Now, driving through the affected area, the only remnants of the storm are empty lots, sparsely rebuilt areas, and trees that are slow to recover. A new hospital is going up in a new location to replace the one lost before. But it’s all but over for many current and former Joplin residents, as many are still trying to get back on their feet. And, for all too many, their minds will never fully recover from the terror and loss experienced that day.

As we remember Joplin, we must remember all of the help and support that flooded in from around the country and around the world. In the face of disaster you TRULY get to see the good of humanity.

Now it’s time to help out our neighbors a couple hundred miles west in Moore, Oklahoma. We know what the devastation looks like, we know how hard it is to rebuild, but most of all, we KNOW that good people are willing to help, and now’s our time to be one of those good people.

As both a parent and a teacher, my heart breaks for the schools in the path of the storms. I can only imagine having to face such a disaster, and pray that my school will never have to. It certainly makes me even more thankful for the basement here at school and our shelter at home.

Pray for Moore, and help in any way you can. Trust me, there are many people that will appreciate even the smallest gestures.

Live Brightly- Created as an example for the abstract portrait...

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:30:50 -0500

Live Brightly- Created as an example for the abstract portrait collage I did with my 6th graders.

The Art Teacher Lady

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:41:28 -0500

The Art Teacher Lady:

My classroom site is back up and running! Now’s the perfect time to subscribe, I’m recapping the year’s best projects (since I missed the year in blogging!) and I’ll be posting freebies as I begin to build my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Come check it out!

Page of affirmations for Lifebook 2013 (by Shawsha)

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:35:00 -0500

Page of affirmations for Lifebook 2013 (by Shawsha)

My stained glass-style journal page created for Lifebook 2013....

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:30:51 -0500

My stained glass-style journal page created for Lifebook 2013. It was inspired by one of my earlier paintings.

My Muse and Symbol by Shawsha (Created for Lifebook 2013)

Sun, 12 May 2013 21:40:36 -0500

My Muse and Symbol by Shawsha (Created for Lifebook 2013)

Musical art journal page by Shawsha (photo of woman is from a...

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:30:33 -0500

Musical art journal page by Shawsha (photo of woman is from a magazine)

Looking through my first art journals...

Wed, 08 May 2013 08:46:48 -0500

I can really get a sense of how far I’ve come artistically since last year, but that doesn’t make me any less embarrassed to claim that artwork than the day I made it. It doesn’t make me feel good to look at it, but it makes me see that putting sincere effort and time into a skill really produces results. Should I keep it for documentation purposes, or destroy it?

“You are here” by Shawsha- A map of the US with...

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:30:34 -0500

“You are here” by Shawsha- A map of the US with numbered explanations of personally meaningful places around the country.

Art Calendar by Shawsha

Mon, 06 May 2013 14:30:31 -0500

Art Calendar by Shawsha

“Dear Spring” by Shawsha

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:30:42 -0500

“Dear Spring” by Shawsha

“The Good Life” by Shawsha

Sat, 04 May 2013 14:30:28 -0500

“The Good Life” by Shawsha

The pink/purple part is some pieces of the print I made from the...

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:30:48 -0500

The pink/purple part is some pieces of the print I made from the plexiglass piece that I tried to substitute for a Gelli plate. I guess it didn’t turn out terrible, but it just doesn’t have the creative awesomeness of a Gelli Plate.

Take that global warming!

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:07:30 -0500

I had to scrape 3 inches of snow off my windshield this morning. In extreme southern Missouri. In May.

2 days ago it was 85 degrees.

Art journal page by Shawsha for Lifebook 2013. From the lesson...

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:30:46 -0500

Art journal page by Shawsha for Lifebook 2013. From the lesson “Bottoms Up!” Very nice ink technique.

Quirky Birds accordion page for my Lifebook 2013.

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:30:55 -0500

Quirky Birds- Cover to accordion book

Quote from "Tuck Everlasting" by Natalie Babbitt

The accordion book folded out

One of the quirky birds up close... the quote is from Tuck Everlasting (although it's hard to read in this picture).

Quirky Birds accordion page for my Lifebook 2013.

Testing out the new art supplies.

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:10:25 -0500

Testing out the new art supplies.

“Brave” by Shawsha- From Jane Davenport’s...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:14:21 -0500

“Brave” by Shawsha- From Jane Davenport’s Lifebook 2013 lesson.

Plexiglas Just Doesn't Cut It.

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:56:21 -0500

If you’re an art journaler or mixed media artist (among others), I’m sure you’ve heard about Gelli Plates for monoprinting. I rolled my eyes and went to buy some clear acrylic glassy stuff, which I was sure would work just as well and for only a couple of bucks at Lowe’s. Well… I did end up getting some neat prints, but the surface doesn’t take paint as well or accept masks as well or even clean up as well (surprise to me). So I broke down and ordered the Gelli Plate. I’ll be posting some pics soon. :)

“Under the Surface” by Shawsha

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:30:51 -0500

“Under the Surface” by Shawsha