Showing Off Glue Print

An Arts on The block apprentice showing off a print he pulled from a plate created using glue on cardboard. The design consisted of fine linework of a butterfly and was very successfully executed.

Marketing for Artists

I attended the Teaching Artist Institute's Fall Quarterly Workshop on Marketing in Baltimore today.  We learned about  marketing strategy, target audiences, effective marketing pieces and marketing tools. The four speakers were very informative and presented their area of expertise in a poignant and succinct way.

Sketching and Desiging

A teen is sketching out tshirt designs at Arts on the Block. Each student had to come up with 3 designs. The goal was to communicate in a creative way the essence of the organization that targets creative teens and gives them job training skills

Clip, Cut, Paste

A sixth grade student views my display of books and illustrations

I started my new student centered residency today through the Kennedy Center's DC Partnership Schools Initiative. The residency I created called "Clip, Cut, Paste: Piecing Our Stories Together" was designed to explore the art of collage, bookmaking and creative writing. 3rd and 6th graders will work with me over a period of 10 weeks.

Sticky Lines

High school students in the Arts on The Block program for gifted teens sketched designs of butterflies and hearts in their sketch books and then meticulously drew the image on cardboard using glue. After drying, the cardboard plates will then be inked up with a brayer and printed on cards.

A Book of One's Own

We're coming to the end of my 6-week Kennedy Center Residency at The School Without Walls. The residency "Clip, Cut, Paste: Using Technology as a Bridge to Creative Writing" was designed for 9th and 10th graders. Most of today was spent reflecting on what we did over the past weeks including narrative writing, creating blogs, e-books and collage portraits from recycled paper. Everything will be compiled in a collaborative book and distributed on the last day during a reception.

Arts on the Block

I'm now working with the non-profit, Arts on the Block in Montgomery County Maryland assisting mosaic artist Carien. I'm very excited to be working with such talented young people in this jobs training through the arts program.

Write Your Heart Out

6th, 7th and 8th graders at Takoma Elementary School worked with me on improving creative writing skills during my artist residency in October. I shared the works of prolific writer Jacqueline Woodson and other contemporary writers.