Saturday, September 29, 2007

Doing Waldorf Children’s Watercolor with Ellen SpringWind

I took a wet-on-wet watercolor painting K-3 course with Ellen SpringWind. It was very inspirational and full of great tips. The main things to keep in mind are:

1) Work with a color experience .
2) You're creating inner pictures out of the feeling life.
3) Become familiar with the character of each color.
4) You must be in tune with how a color lives, breathes, moves, and the interrelationships between the different experiences from yellow to blue.
5) Paint every picture before you present it to your children.
6) A painting lesson should be a sacred experience.
7) Begin simply with first one color, then two in various combinations, and then three primary colors.
8) Usually each lesson suggests the next one (notice techniques that need to be worked on and sense special interests)
9) Warm colors in the fall. Cool colors in the winter. Clear, bright, and shinning colors in the spring.
10) The form always coming out of the meeting and blending of the colors.
11) It's best that children learn to regulate the amount of liquid on the brush by watching your techniques and imitation.
12) The fewer words the better. Paint slowly and be very conscious of each brush stroke.
13) Whenever possible present the lesson as a simple color story, in which the colors live and move and speak. For example:

Today Red, the magician, is going around,
Very soon the Yellow he's found
And made him orange without a sound

Well, you get the idea.

Supplies
Paper - at least 12" x 8"
Paints (Stockmeyer water colors or Grumbacher tubes)
Brushes --good ones in the beginning. It's works the results. Use broad flat hair burshes (Nos. 16 or 18)
Newspapers to put your paints, water and wipe burshes on
Water containers - jam jars and yogurt containers
Rags - 8" x 8" white Cotton (old t-shires work fine)
Boards - Masonite works well
Sponge
Baby food jars (for paint)

Colors to Start With:
Prussian blue
Ultramarine blue
Lemon yellow
Golden yellow
Vermilion
Carmine
Redviolet
Green (Thalo or Viridian)

Mixtures:
Gold and Vermilion make a good Orange
Lemon Yellow and Prussian Blue make clear, bright Green
Carmine and Ultramarine make a possible Purple

1) Mix the paints the day before (use the smallest amount possible)
2) 1 pt. paint to 2 parts water
3) Soak the paper well ahead of time (sink or bathtub work fine)
4) Children can help set up the work space (you help transfer the wet paper to their board)
5) Blot with a clean rag laid on the paper (avoid rubbing w/sponge). You should see no puddles.
6) The lesson can begin with a verse.
7) Light a candle to set the mood of reverence and keep an atmosphere of quiet.
8) Tell a 'color story' while you demonstrate painting the picture.
9) Give instruction in a whisper.
10) Never allow a child to destroy a painting and help them make something of it (teaching conservation and perseverance).
11) When all are done, have the children help clean up.
12) Never leave the brushes in the water. Always lay them down on the newspaper.
13) Relax and enjoy the process!

Color Verses
Colors shine around us
From earth and sea and sky,
Pale and light, deep or bright,
They show the glory of the universe and earth's might.
(to use in kindergarten)

The rainbow colors gleam in the sky above,
They can shine also from our papers,
If with the heart's warmth and hand's skill.
We place them there with gentleness and care.
(to use in early grades)

Other resources: http://www.waldorfwithoutwalls.com/books/painting/

I hope this helps you start to water color with your children at home or inspires you to continue.

Best wishes,
Elisabeth

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