Classroom management is one of the hardest elements of being an art teacher. If you don’t have a plan, philosophy or strategy then art-making takes a back seat.

I believe it’s all about creating an environment in which your students look forward to coming to your class and equally important, creating an environment in which YOU want to come to class.

Here are my 6 factors to consider when making your classroom management plan.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

Why the environment in the art room is so important to consider

How I used my own energy as a basis for my art room environment

Why inspiring lessons are so valuable

Why you don’t need to overthink the structure of your lessons

How I set the expectations in my art room

How your ego can work against you and take away perspective

Why having trust with children is so important (and how to maintain it)

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

SHOW NOTES

Jess Lively's Think About It

The Intersection of Rational Mind and Intuitive Guidance with Erin Loechner

Smart Classroom Management

Painted Paper Art

AME 016: 5 Mindset Shifts That Made A Difference In My Life

AME 042: How To Engage, Inspire And Create Art Room Magic with Sally Haughey

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (affiliate link)

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle (affiliate link)

When it comes to painting techniques, most of us think about watercolor paints. There is so much you can do with these watery colors: resist, wet-on-wet, salting, etc. But if you use liquid tempera paint for most of your art projects, you may feel like you’re stuck with a simple stroke application. For me, tempera paints offer kids the chance to explore paint mixing and achieve bold blasts of color.

This podcast explains why I love using tempera paint, what type of brands are best, and how to get the most out of using tempera paints.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

Why tempera paints are great to use in a classroom or home setting

How not all tempera paints are high-quality and what to look for when choosing brands

Why double loading your paint brush allows for a beautiful application of color (and saves you time)

How the scratching technique can be tricky, but fun if you keep the shapes abstract

How smoothing works to encourage children to use more even paint strokes

Why it’s beneficial to use as little water as possible with your tempera paints

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

 

SHOW NOTES

Double Loading Painting Technique (with video)

3 Techniques to Try with Tempera Paint

Smoothing Painting Technique (with video)

As the school year starts to wind down, now is a good time to consider your summer plans. I hope they involve a deck and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc but if your mind is wandering towards earning some extra money, this episode is for you.

I want to give you permission to finally say YES to your dreams of hosting a summer camp, starting your own studio or paint party class. Whatever it is, operating a small, part-time business that features your talents can be the most rewarding thing you’ve ever done.

This is not a checklist of how-to items: this is your call to action. To dig deep and figure out why you want to teach kids art in your off hours and why now is your time.

Ready to dive in?

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

How anyone can start a business with the right motivation!

Why you shouldn’t give your stuff away for free and how even getting paid minimally for your work gives you the capacity to do more

What is beta testing and how it works

Why you should always consider what fills you up and gives you energy

How to promote your camp without spending money

Why setting expectations is the most important thing that you can do

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

 

DOWNLOAD YOUR SUMMER CAMP ART GUIDE

SHOW NOTES:

Episode 018: Host Your Own Art Workshop

Episode 002: Painting Parties and Overcoming Obstacles with Heidi Easley

Episode 039: Success Secrets of a Process Based Art Studio with Meri Cherry

https://www.creativebug.com/

Today’s episode is special. Deep Space Sparkle member, Gloria Mathews is the quintessential Sparkler: creative, sharing, and kind. She is always the first one to comment, cheer on and celebrate other’s success in their journey as an art teacher.

Gloria is a retired classroom teacher who transitioned to teaching art a couple of days per week to her group of students in grades K-2.  Hear how she designed an art program that suited her lifestyle and goals and how you can do it, too.

Gloria and I chat about what makes a children’s book successful, how to get started writing your own children’s book and how letting go of one dream allows you to find the space to achieve another dream.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 

How Gloria designed her life after retirement and how you can, too.

How text and illustrations play off each other when writing children's books

What is SCBWI and how it serves people who have an interest in writing children’s literature

Why it is so hard to publish a picture book

How having a tribe of like-minded people fills you up

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

SHOW NOTES: 

Gloria’s Facebook Page 

Eric Carl Website

Peter Reynolds Website

Oliver Jeffers

Peter Brown

Chris Silas Neal

www.scbwi.orgDraw with Joan Miro

Rachelle  Doorley & Tinkerlab

It's Never Too Late to Begin Again: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond by Julia Cameron (affiliate link)

With the deadline of my first book approaching, I have uncovered a few differences between teaching art in a small group setting and teaching art in a classroom. Having a series of private workshops for the kids who are helping me with my book has allowed me to witness first hand what a private or small-group based art-making experience is like for parents and studio owners.  I'm able to explore paint options and drawing techniques that I might have avoided in a traditional classroom setting but seems really natural with a small group. While the distinctions will be featured in my book, today's episode will identify my initial reactions to the differences.

Today’s episode is an informal chat about what I discovered and how it will impact my book.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 

How I use workshops in my studio to help write my book

How the projects in the book differs from lessons plans found on Deep Space Sparkle

The differences in teaching for specific grade levels as opposed to a range of children’s ages

The benefits of leaving one part of an art project structured and leaving the rest to a child's creativity

What art supplies are great for small groups but not suited for large classroom settings

How children react differently in a classroom setting versus a small group setting

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD A FREE LESSON FROM DRAW, PAINT, SPARKLE

SHOW NOTES: 

My book deal and writing a book proposal

Join The Members Club waitlist

Marisa is a former K-8 art teacher from Georgia who was one of over 500 people who applied for a job as a standards writer for Deep Space Sparkle last Spring. Marisa helps teachers all over the world by providing documentation for all of the DSS lessons inside The Sparklers Members Club.

Life has changed a lot for Marisa, who went from working as an art teacher to staying home with her newborn so she could work from home. It’s not always an easy transition but she moved through it beautifully. Her positive approach to life has allowed her to make the decisions that have been right for her family.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: 

How Marisa stuck with her love of teaching art, against the advisement of others

What grades and ages were more challenging for her than others

The various challenges of grading children’s artwork

Why Marisa always chooses to do what she loves (and how to see the value in that)

How your goals and dreams can change with different seasons of your life

How taking risks led her to her happiness

Why finding time to create art for yourself is so important

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow by Marsha Sinter

Marisa’s Instagram

To see what a K-2 rubric looks like for one of our lessons inside the membership, feel free to  DOWNLOAD this FREE LESSON from THE MEMBERS CLUB:

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE SPARKLERS MEMBERS CLUB?

Public enrollment happens in August and January but occasionally, we have a VIP enrollment period for those on our wait list. To add your name to the waitlist, CLICK HERE.

TO HEAR MARISA IN PERSON, join us at our DSS LIVE! event on June 23-24th in Santa Barbara.

You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram

Patty Palmer At Home Instagram

Did you go to school for one thing only to end up doing something entirely different?  Most often these types of career pivots happen to us once we discover that we need to create. If you yearn to create art full-time but are in a job you know isn’t meant for you, Gina’s story will resonate with you. Gina shares what moved her to create art, how she got published in magazines and how it all lead to a book deal.

Gina shares practical tips on how to keep inspired and how to work through obstacles.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

How Gina used art therapy with her patients

Why it's important to allow yourself to be a sponge for inspiration

When Gina does her best work

Why Gina loves watercolor paint and the secret benefits of painting with watercolor paints

What gave Gina the bravery to pursue her artwork submissions

Why it is important to carve out creative time

How clutter can effect your creativity

How Gina curates her studio space so that she is ready to create

How organizing your supplies can re-acquaint you their purpose

Why there is power in series work

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Subscribe to Art Made Easy and receive new episodes directly on your phone via your podcast App. 

Note: If you have an iPhone, subscribe in iTunes. If you have an Android phone, subscribe in Stitcher.

LINKS:

Lisa Congdon & Kamala Chambers Thriving Launch podcast

Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine

Hidden Brain from NPR

Abby Glassenberg’s While She Naps podcast

How I Built This from NPR

Brains On! from NPR

Planet Money from NPR

How To Be Amazing with Michael Ann Black

Before Gina became a nurse, she took her first watercolor class at a local community college while working at a corporate job. She continued her watercolor obsession and taught children, youth and adult watercolor workshops as a volunteer for the Audubon Society. She continued to teach as a nursing student.

Gina is currently working on a watercolor and mixed-media book which will be out February 2018 (NorthLight Publishing).

Create with Gina!

Join us at the Deep Space Sparkle Workshop.

Connect with Gina

Gina's website

Gina on Instagram

Gina's Twitter Account

Whenever I find myself stuck for inspiration, I always turn to books. Picture books are a secret passion of mine. I love looking at the exquisite illustrations as it puts me back in touch with why art is important.

Children learn much about the world through books and as educators we can use books to help children understand what we are teaching.

This episode shares my list of favorite art books not just for the art room but for everyday inspiration.

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Subscribe to Art Made Easy and receive new episodes directly on your phone via your podcast App. 

Note: If you have an iPhone, subscribe in iTunes. If you have an Android phone, subscribe in Stitcher.

Books Referenced in Show

Laurence Anholt's Art Series

Illustrator Veroniqué Massenot Website and Instagram 

Octavia Monaco's Website

The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau by Michelle Markel and Amanda Hall

Child's Introduction to Art: The World's Greatest Paintings and Sculptures by Heather Alexander and Meredith Hamilton

Modern Art Adventures: 36 Creative, Hands-On Projects Inspired by Artists from Monet to Banksy by Maja Pitamic and Jill Laidlaw

The Museum by Susan Verde and Peter H Reynolds

Dianna Hutts Aston Books/website

A Rock Is Lively

A Nest Is Noisy

Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal

Over and Under the Snow plus project on Deep Space Sparkle

Botanicum: Welcome to the Museum curated by Katie Scott and Kathy Willis

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle

Ladies Drawing Night: Make Art, Get Inspired, Join the Party by Julia Rothman, Leah Goren, Rachael Cole

A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes: From Alaska to California

Not discussed in the podcast, but this book is a new discovery!Above and Below by Hanako Clulow

Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life by Todd Oldham

NOTE: these links contain affiliate links

SHOW NOTES

Deep Space Sparkle Summer Art Workshop (June 23-24, 2107)

Become a Sparkler! Click HERE to sign up for the waitlist.

Todd Oldham's Product line at Target

Are you wondering what STEAM based art education is all about?  Art teacher Amy Zschaber will shine the light on what’s possible for art educators.

Quite honestly, I was never a fan of replacing studio arts with anything digital or math related. Now I realize how short sighted I was. Amy describes an art curriculum that is rich in both creativity and discovery.

In this episode, Amy shares her journey as an art educator, how she went from confused to confident and strategies to make the best in a struggling school environment.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 

How Amy designs lesson plans to fit with the environment she’s teaching in

How having the proper credentials gives you a new sense of confidence

How a STEAM project differs from other art projects

Tips on how art teachers can work with general education teachers in regards to lesson plans

How overcoming limitations, like lack of supplies, can be the foundation of really great lessons

The importance of changing your mindset for the children

Subscribe to Art Made Easy and receive new episodes directly on your phone via your podcast App. 

Note: If you have an iPhone, subscribe in iTunes. If you have an Android phone, subscribe in Stitcher.

SHOW NOTES:

Amy's blog Artful Arts Amy

Piskel App

Faces iMake App

Moma Art Lab App for iPad

Digital Art Specialist Tricia Fuglestad  

Christopher Sweeney Ultimaker Website

Amy Zschaber is an award-winning Art teacher from California. She began teaching in 2005 after discovering she had a “knack” for putting steps to elaborate art-based projects as a summer camp instructor.

Her blog, Artful Artsy Amy shares her most popular STEAM based Art Units with teachers.

Have you ever felt defeated when teachers receive more recognition than you? Do you wonder how others get more followers on social media or why some speaker's sessions are packed?

If you ever felt that awful feeling of comparing yourself to others, this episode is for you. I share my business journey from when I started my blog to how I ended up in a mastermind that launched my full-time business. And believe me, I fell into the comparison trap plenty of times!

It’s not always easy to avoid comparing yourself to others, especially in this online world, but my three tips will get you thinking about how to reframe your thinking.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 

How comparison with others has changed since technology has developed

How most people will choose their best work to show others

How Facebook groups have taken the place of blogs

Why you need to be mindful of what you are comparing yourself against

Be confident and learn as you grow and be clear on your business culture

Why reflection is an important component of defining your success

Why you need to constantly improve yourself by learning new skills

How a mastermind group transformed Patty’s business

Why you don’t have to utilize every social media platform that’s available

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

Subscribe to Art Made Easy and receive new episodes directly on your phone via your podcast App. 

Note: If you have an iPhone, subscribe in iTunes. If you have an Android phone, subscribe in Stitcher.

SHOW NOTES:

Cassie Stephens

Marketing & Business Experts/Podcasts:

Pat Flynn's Smart Passive Income

Amy Porterfield's Online Marketing Made Easy

James Wedmore and his Video Marketing School

Marie Forleo's B-School

Nic Hahn Art Made Easy 035

Brené Brown Daring Greatly