Have you ever heard of Flow Learning™?

It’s a technique that Joseph Cornell from the Sharing Nature Foundation developed to help children channel their natural tendencies and curiosities into focused learning.

A fellow Sparkler, Chandi Holliman, shared this approach with me and I was immediately intrigued. In this episode of Art Made Easy, Chandi shares how she used this approach with her pre-school and young Kinders in the art room.

Chandi is a brand new Sparkler and is our featured Sparkler Spotlight for May. What I love about Chandi is her calm, intentional approach to children’s art making and her vigorous passion for arts, children and creating new opportunities.

This episode is for anyone who is interested in how meditation, yoga and calming practices help children grow into keen observers and makers.

Here are the basic tenets of Flow Learning ™:

1. Awakening Enthusiasm: how to introduce a lesson through warm-up exercises, reading a story, or playing a game.

2. Focused Attention: Using details from the warm-up to concentrate their focus.

3. Direct Experience: Handing out materials, pairing the right set of children together, playing music, moving from a silent flow into the main art lesson, or by asking for a calmer classroom.

4. Shared Inspiration: Asking students to share their experience and asking questions.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

- How Chandi went from being a Nanny to building her own school

- Why she incorporates yoga and meditation with her children

- How awakening enthusiasm builds engagement

- The reasons why literature can be a main source of inspiration

- How business decisions are easier to make when guided by a powerful mission

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES

Joseph Cornell, Sharing Nature

Best Practices for Acrylic Paints: AME 091

Charge What You're Worth: AME 093

Ananda Sangha

The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life

I Am Yoga 

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Today on AME, I'm talking all about money...specifically how it applies to art teachers who run classes or workshops or have a product to sell. I'm revealing my strategies for determining how to set the right price for your product service.

After 10 years of running an online business, I've learned a thing or two about what price to charge for products. And although I didn't always get it right, I did learn that business - any business - has 3 main components:

1. Business strategies are the easiest to implement as they are things you can learn: management systems, email list, software, websites, marketing, social media, etc.

2. Personality is what frames your offer. This is the what and who you are. This is the energy and style you bring to whatever you are selling.

3. Limiting beliefs are literally what holds you back. It's the stories you tell yourself that have a DEEP impact on any type of business you run: big or small. Identifying your limiting beliefs will help you answer your money questions.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

- Why people expect your products to be available for free

- The three main facets of running a business

- What's a beta project and how it can help you when you are first starting your business

- What charging low prices might look like to your potential customers and why premium pricing is beneficial

- How to look at competition and build a spark for your customers

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES

James Wedmore's Mind Your Business Podcast

How to Know When It's Time to Open Your Art Studio: AME 086

Best Practices for Acrylic Paints: AME 091

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Today I'm talking to an art teacher who confesses to being focused on the end result.

Before you judge, listen to how Britt Curley, from the blog, Art Room Britt, sets her intention with her students as they work through mediums, learn techniques and create a beautiful piece of art in the process.

Britt puts a lot of attention on a finely tuned finished product. Craftsmanship, neatness and detail are integrated into her art classes and children respond with enthusiasm and confidence.

Britt shares how she came to teach children in her home, growing from one class with only a couple of children to sold out classes and waiting lists.

You can learn how and what Britt does in her art class during our Draw, Paint, Make Summer Workshop in July. Her presentation, Cultivating Craftsmanship takes a deep dive into setting expectations for children, best tips for creating nuanced, layered art and a walk through how she does one of her most detailed projects. You can learn more HERE.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

This show is perfect for anyone who is interested in hearing how teaching techniques and introducing mediums within a structure class environment works in a small group environment.

- How Britt built her art business from the basement of her own home

- What Britt did to organically grow her business

-  Britt's approach to introducing mediums and techniques to her students

-  The benefits of having high expectations of her students

- How jumping towards an art career opened the door for new and exciting opportunities

- What Britt does to engage the children in her classes

- Why her art is academic-based and product-oriented

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES

Art Room Britt Blog

Art Room Britt Instagram

Join Britt and other artists at the Draw, Paint, Make Art Workshop....click for more details Draw Paint Make Online Summer Workshop

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Today I'm talking to acrylic artist Anna Bartlett about all things acrylic paints, art studios, paint parties and how to make the easiest sketch books ever. Anna is an artist from Queensland, Australia and the owner of Shiny Happy Art. We met through Instagram and instantly connected over our shared love of bright colors and happy art.

Anna shares her journey of transitioning from an accountant to art studio owner and how she positions her business as a premium service. For anyone who struggles with charging enough to run a profitable business, Anna's thought process just might convince you to start charging what you're worth.

Anna is a presenter at our online summer workshop, Draw, Paint, Make. To learn more, click the link in the show notes down below.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

- How Anna started her own art business and evolved it into a successful career

- How Anna uses positivity and The Law of Attraction to help shape her business to what it is today

- The importance of choosing whether to become a premium product

- The benefits of using good quality acrylic paints with your students

- What strategies Anna uses with her scrapbooks and notebooks

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

In the show, Anna shows me the sketchbooks she uses to map out certain projects. While I couldn't find the same sketchbooks or plastic covers in the United States (I believe they are only available in the UK and Australia), you can make a similar scrapbook.

I was so excited to use this inexpensive type of scrapbook for my own personal use, that I created my own. Simply take 8-10 12" x 18" sheets of white sulphite paper and fold in half. Make the crease strong by running a ruler along the fold line. Using a long arm stapler, staple the pieces of paper together at the crease.

Use Gesso to paint the front and back cover. this make the cover strong and feels like a real sketchbook. I'm using my hand-made sketchbook for Anna's 15 Flowers Acrylic painting class. I already completed the Sunflower and Lily and next up is the Daisy.

These are the acrylic paints Anna loves...

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Save $40 using  the code DEEPSPACESPARKLE on the 15 Flowers e-course from 26 April - 30 June 2018

Shiny Happy Art Website

Shiny Happy Art Instagram

Shiny Happy Art YouTube

Golden Acrylic Paint

Crayola Acrylic Paint

Mont Marte Studio Acrylic Paint Set

Painting Party: Acrylic Painting for Beginners

Tempera vs. Acrylic Paint

Join Anna and other artists at the Draw, Paint, Make Art Workshop....click for more details Draw Paint Make Online Summer Workshop

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Sally Haughey Fowler brings absolute wonder to her students through the Waldorf environment. She walks into an art room with intention, passion and enough drama to rival a Disney production. In this episode, Sally discusses her 10 tips for teaching art to kids with emphasis on the Waldorf approach to art. She shares her three art teacher superpowers that reveal exactly how children think.

Sally was a featured presenter at the Deep Space Sparkle 2017 Art Workshop in Santa Barbara. I loved her workshop presentation so much that I wanted to share it with you and the Art Made Easy audience. Click down below to download Sally's information packed slide deck so that you can waltz into your art room and share your superpowers with your kids.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

- Sally's top 10 tips for successful classroom management

- How Sally came to realize the ways to speak to young children most effectively

- Sally's key "superpowers" for managing young artists in the classroom

- Benefits of storytelling in your classroom and ways to bring life to art materials

- The power of the "Rule of 3" for successful learning retention in young children

DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATION SLIDE DECK

To get Sally's presentation slide deck, click on the yellow button below. Add your name and email and we’ll email it to you.

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Draw Paint Make Online Summer Workshop

Sparklers Club Waitlist

Fairy Dust Teaching

How to Engage, Inspire and Create Art Room Magic with Sally Haughey: AME 042

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Wonder what it's like to step into the art room serving 500 kids a week after being in a classroom for 20 years? I was curious too, so I asked Crissy Harvey if she would share what that experience was like for her.

Crissy is a Sparkler in The Sparklers Club. What she was sharing in our private Facebook group was blowing me away. As a first-time art teacher, I was amazed at the attention to detail, the variety of lessons and the courage to tackle painted paper for the first time.

Deep Space Sparkle selected Crissy for our Sparkle Spotlight in April and as a featured member, she asked me a few questions. We talk about:

What art supplies are must-haves in your art room

How to teach 30 Kinders and 1st graders without going crazy

What to do when kids miss art class

This episode is for anyone who is a first time art teacher, teaches hundreds of kids a week and is interested in being the creative lead in a school production.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

- Crissy's biggest transition going from classroom to art teacher

- How Crissy's school has allowed her to craft a curriculum

- How Crissy decides which projects to do with her class

- The logistics in creating a school production while running an art class at the same time

- Tips for working with younger kids and suggestions for children who have missed class

- Which art supplies is recommended for longevity in the art room

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Draw Paint Make Online Summer Workshop

Sparklers Club Waitlist

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CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT WORK FOR YOU: AME 088

Wouldn't it be nice if we could step into our art rooms and spend the entire session creating art? Not likely, right? Managing behavior, creating management plans, enforcing rules and asking children to stop talking consumes most of our energy.

And when our classroom management plan is no longer effective, any effort is literally exhausting. It's easy to say, do this or do that and your problem will be solved. Managing the behavior of your students, your art room, your community requires a highly individualized effort.

Kaitlyn Edington knows this feeling well.

As a first year art teacher at a rural Title 1 school in South Carolina, Kaitlyn had to forget all she knew about management and create a system specifically for her unique group of students.

Today's episode shares what she did and how she did it...

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

- The effects Kaitlyn's elementary school art teacher had on her future art career

- How Kaitlyn connects and builds trust with her students

- Why positive reinforcement is more impactful than disciplining students

- How to incorporate sketch books in the classrooms

- Kaitlyn's top 3 classroom management tips including her amazing points system using popsicle sticks

- How Instagram has successfully impacted Kaitlyn's career

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

LINKS & RESOURCES

Draw Paint Make Online Summer Workshop

Sparklers Club Waitlist

Kaitlyn Edington's Instagram

Dirty John

Ted Radio Hour

How I Built This with Guy Raz

Classroom Management: A Step in the Right Direction

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Michelle Gifford, a second-grade teacher from Thousand Oaks California, confessed to failing miserably with her first attempt at teaching art. She had followed her school's purchased art program but never felt confident that she was giving her students the best art experience.

After a miserable open house, where parents expressed disappointment with her art attempts, Michelle plucked up the determination to learn how to teach art. After learning all she could, Michelle went all in with her art education and is now known as the teacher who does "all the art".

This episode is for anyone who doesn't consider themselves an artist or fears they don't have the skills or resources to teach art to their students.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN

- How Michelle was able to become a confident classroom art teacher

- Why supplies can make a difference in the pleasure and experience of a project

- How Michelle benefits from practicing art projects before teaching them to her class

- How support from parents can go a long way

- Ways she improves her classroom by tying in lessons from other subjects

- How to keep your creative cup full by staying educated and informed

LISTEN TO THE SHOW:

Want to brush up on your art skills?

Summer is the perfect time to get in some PD hours especially if it involves creativity.

I invite you to join me and 7 artists and art teachers as we present inspiring ways to take your teaching to a new level.

This one-day online event focuses on learning the techniques that engage students on a richer, deeper level so that they can become more aware of craftsmanship and their own connection to their art.

For teachers, we want students to be engaged, to take pride in our work and often that starts with us...showing them what's possible and what's really exciting.

You'll learn printmaking, watercolor, using tempera paint in unique ways, how to make colors pop, how to make dynamic projects with just crayons, using colored pencils and markers and so much more.

Make sure to enroll before April 13th to secure your early bird registration of only $119. Regular price $147.

If you're a Sparkler, please make sure to use your special Sparkler link to grab your Sparklers-only price.

Check out the details in the show notes down below.

Regular fee: $147  Early Bird Fee: $119 until April 13th

Draw Paint Make Online Summer Workshop

LINKS & RESOURCES

Sparklers Club Waitlist

Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers

Creative Bug

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If you've ever wondered if opening your own art studio is the right path for you, today's guest, Arielle Goddard from Art Camp, will share what factors played a significant role in her decision to transition from an art teacher to creative entrepreneur...

Arielle will share how she transitioned from a program director and teacher of an art academy to a sole entrepreneur of her own art studio. She will share how she transformed her home to an inviting creative space, how she determines her fees and what triggered her decision to step out of what was comfortable to the great creative unknown.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

- The differences in teaching art to adults versus children

- How Arielle used art as a healing modality for herself and her students

- All the logistics for your first home workshop

- How the idea of operating a mobile art studio came to be for Arielle

- The way Arielle recommends dealing with perfection as a creator and entrepreneur

- How to determine pricing

- Arielle's strategy in curating a stunning Instagram feed

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Art Made Easy listeners will recieve a 20% discount on any Art Camp's Art Box. Use code SPARKLE at checkout.

Art Camp LA Website

Art Camp LA Facebook

Art Camp LA Instagram

Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes

The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Monart

Keith Haring

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Do you have a dream that you've been working towards? The goal that when accomplished, will fill your bucket list and give you permission to say, I did it?

What if, after working tirelessly for years on this one dream, you decide to abandon it...give up.

What would that say about you?

Are you a quitter?

In this episode of Art Made Easy, I'm sharing my book publishing journey...how it started, what I learned and ultimately, how different my dream looked in the end.

This episode is for anyone who wants to pursue writing a book and how the process looked for me.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

- How a childhood passion became the catalyst to my ultimate dream

- Why learning all you can about your chosen path leads you success

- How it feels to let a dream go and allow the universe take over

- How to know if your hard work will pay off

- When to know if you are trying too hard

- Alternative ways to view "giving up"

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES

A peek inside my Greenwood School Binders

My post about my Oprah weekend

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

Outlander book series by Diana Gabaldon

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Pre-order Draw, Paint, Sparkle: 25 Creative Projects from an Elementary Art Teacher:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Indiebound

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