Summer's End....School Begins

It's that time again...school's back in session! It's been a great summer with Kelly Rae's class, Susan Tuttle's digital class, and having time to create art, but it's time to get back to the real world I guess. This is a busy time for me as I get my classroom together and lessons planned. I wish sometimes I could be two people (who doesn't?) so I could teach yet have time to create art.

I had to attend a workshop Tuesday that was very interesting. It was based on the book "Teaching With Love and Logic". The speaker had many suggestions that work with children that are uncooperative in the classroom. Sadly many children come to us from chaos. They are the "adult" in the family sometimes. So much in their life is out of their control that in order to establish some control they try to exert that in the classroom. There were many techniques offered that I plan to try that respect the child yet diffuse potentially volatile situations.

Unfortunately I have not had any time this week to get into my studio. I seem to be dog-tired when I get home, or there just isn't time. How do you all find time to create with all the other demands of life? I'd really be interested to know.

Hot, But Fun

That's the way I will always remember the summer of 2010. Summer vacation really agrees with me. I've started to feel that end of summer feeling though. The days just hover in the heat. There is something about summer itself that seems to want to hang on to the season like a child clutching his favorite blanket. Those dog days of summer.
However, the real world is calling me back next week and it will be time to greet the 700+ children I teach. Oh me, just saying that number makes me feel tired. I love what I do, I really do. It can be so joyful, frustrating, disappointing and delightful all at once.

I am having one more fling at fun while I can squeeze it in. I've been taking "Digital Layers" with Susan Tuttle. Susan is also the author of Digital Expressions. I bought the book first and I am glad I have Susan's help along the way with creating digital layers. Suddenly layers make sense! Well to me they do. Here are a few photos I've been working on in the class.

Heaven knows I have enough hobbies and interests so no I am not going to become a photographer. I though this might be a good way to play around with some ideas for painting/collage compositions. I've had a couple of ideas churning in my mind lately and wanted to get an idea of how it might look before I being the real thing. What do you do for yourself that makes summer fun?