Here is the final Updated May 16, 2020.

I think with all the turmoil that is going on in the world right now I wanted to work collaboratively with my fellow people to share a positive message. I feel for those that are struggling. This virus is like nothing I have seen in my life. The closest is probably 911. It’s a time that leaves us uncertain of the future, but I truly feel that things will get better. This place we call the USA has so many great things going for it. I feel fortunate that my parents that were immigrants moved to this country for us to have a better life. I feel lucky when I became a US citizen.

My wonderful creative friends have come together to help out with a word in the message. They come from all over the United States. CA, NY, GA, and IL. There are probably more states, but it’s hard to keep track.

The message is “We may be apart but we’re in this together. Social distancing. Stay safe. We’ll meet again.”

I’m posting a template of what we have so far and I’ll update it as I get more of the words added. Please be well and safe.

I had the pleasure of meeting TeMika Grooms via the SCBWI Southern Breeze. She is such a generous and knowledgeable illustrator. I think her passion and kindness shine through in this interview. Here is a little about TeMika.

TeMika Grooms is an Atlanta-based artist, author, and arts advocate. Her interest in art and storytelling began early in life under the influence of her mother, an artist, educator, and librarian. Creative art practices provided TeMika with an outlet during challenging transitional periods as a military child settling in Columbus, Georgia. Under the direction of wonderful teachers, she was provided a well-rounded education that supported her artistic talent and ability to capture and animate the human form with strong, fluid lines and expressive movement. To expand on her traditional art-making skills, TeMika is exploring the use of technology in art by creating digital paintings and surveying new avenues to bring interactive art to the public.

TeMika was selected for the international 2008 Taller Norte Portobelo Artist-in-Residence program to work on an illustrated sequential art project and present an art workshop to Spanish-speaking children in Portobelo, Panama. Since that time, she has produced multiple books in children’s literature and community art programs to support creative initiatives. She currently works with the international organization Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) as the Regional Illustrator Coordinator for the southeast region and serves on Board of Advisors Equity and Inclusivity Committee to impact the inclusion of diverse voices within the children’s book publishing industry.

To see more of her art visit
http://www.temikatheartist.com/
Instagram TeMika Grooms Artist
Save the Crash-test Dummies

Listen to the interview at My Creative Life.

Happy Easter, and made this coloring sheet to celebrate the holiday and remind us to accept one another. Free to download and color. For little and big kids. Enjoy!

He is an NAACP Image Award Winner.
The 2013 Kwaanza Stamp designer.
A Caldecott Honor Winner A Six-time,
Coretta Scott King Honor recipient.
Has won many awards from The New York Times and Boston Globe.
An artist for a New Orleans Jazz Festival poster.
Has films on Netflix through Karyn Parson’s “Sweet Blackberry” projects.
He’s done many album covers including John Coltrane’s and Joe Sample’s.
One Billion people saw his artwork on the New York City subway cars in 2013.
He’s lived in many places including Sweden, Germany, Canada, and Australia

I got some amazing new brushes Windsor and Newton series 7. I got them in 6, 4, 2, and 0 sizes. I’m a fan of Beatrix Potter and decided I would try and do some botanical studies to test out the hotpress paper and brushes. I had never used hot press. I’m loving it for the pen and ink portion. I’m in the process of starting to paint. I’m sharing the JPGs of the images so you can print and try inking or you can go and paint in. Either or. I’m including the reference photos I took outside for the flowers. It is called Spiderwort. Pretty and it comes back each year in the Southeast.

Here is a link for more information on the flower. Spiderwort Flower Friday Article

I saw a post on another artist’s Instagram talking about how they find color schemes. Everyone is different about this. I’ve found color schemes on Pinterest, photos I’ve taken, artist’s work I like, and color wheel sites online. I’ve used the sites with my students as well.

I also provide a JPG for a free color wheel worksheet for students about basic color schemes. Feel free to download.

I made a video tutorial for teachers that need to create interactive worksheets for their students in Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint. Here are the video tutorials.

I made a video this past week for your elementary age kiddos for how to learn how to draw a cow. Something to try while in quarantine.

In this episode I had Sumam Azzam, a fellow grad student in the MFA program at SCAD. We had Digital Solutions for Illustrators together. He has some outstanding work in portraiture and concept art. He’s working on his thesis and took some time away from his busy schedule to talk about his passion for painting and teaching. If you would like to see his work check out his Instagram @sumamx.

Listen to the interview at My Creative Life with Nancy Miller.

I started uploading 5 products to test out Amazon Ignite. It was not too bad. There are some things I feel like they need to rework. I think Teachers Pay Teachers is still a better platform. TPT does better in many respects. My PROS and CONS list below. Lots of CONS so far.

PROS
• There is no membership fee
• You can have your products come up on Amazon
• Taking these resources and turning them into a book or ebook through Amazon’s other platforms

CONS
• When you list something the thumbnail has to be larger than 500 pixels by 500 pixels or it will get rejected.
• You can on specify 4 Grade Levels
• You have to type in the Author/Brand Each time
• Primary Audience you can only select one
• Though there is no membership fee there is a 30% commission fee. I prefer the membership model of TPT
• 2 days to post resources
• UI is limited on the platform
• They started in Dec 2019. I have not seen them advertise anything.
• I did not see options for followers, just a feedback tab.
• It rejects the files if you offer it in another language like Spanish
• Will not accept links to outside sources

I have no idea if teachers really look at Amazon for this kind of resource. I have no art teacher friends that do. The audience is probably very limited.  This platform is missing a lot, but I figure I give it a try and post some of my resources to test the waters. As far as getting approval for the Amazon Ignite it was pretty easy. I will post more to let anyone that is interested know about how it goes.

Many of us are searching for online resources to put together for online classrooms for elearning for our students. I’m sharing my 4 pack of grid drawing sheets for free on my TPT store. This would be equal to 5-1 hour class sessions of work. Students can print and then use a pencil. Now if they do not have a printer at home, but they have an ipad, or smartphone they can use Pixlr app for free to draw over with a finger. Works on iOS or Andriod. I’m having my students do these from home. I’m posting a link to the resources. Please feel free to share. Be safe and be well. I hope that all of this does further impact anyone in our communities.

Video of a speed drawing on a worksheet

Messy Art Teacher 4 Pack Grid Drawing Sheets

Pixlr App