Art Credential

I am currently in the process of getting my credential in Single Subject Art. I am in my 2nd semester and loving every moment of it. I will post some of my teacher samples so you can see what I am working on. This semester I will be able to teacher to a class of 3rd graders every Friday. Every time I work with students my creative spirit is reignited and I am inspired to express myself with my own personal art once again. I am so glad I went back to school and I am having so much fun on this journey!

Kitchen Art

I decided to make use of some small canvases I had laying around. I had the idea of three lined up to create a word that corresponded to the kitchen, that word for me was YUM. I painted each canvas a bright color and then placed a sticker letter onto the canvas (got this ideas from other Pinterest postings). I then painted iridescent white paint over the canvas and letters and let it dry. When I peeled off the letters I was left with a subtle letter in the original canvas color. I think it adds just the right amount of a pop of color to the kitchen.

Food is art right?

My friend Teresa ( Wardrobe 911 founder ) gave me the most wonderful summer salad to make. I originally tried it at her house and I can say I was leary of the idea of fruit, veggies and meat in a salad. I am not one for a fruity salads, but as I have gotten older I have become more adventurous at trying fruty salads, and it turns out I usually like them. I'm not sure if she made this up or got it from somewhere but I am giving her credit for showing me how to make it.

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Chicken Salad with Nectarines in Mint Vinaigrette

DRESSING:

1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup white wine or rice wine vinegar

1 T. fresh lemon juice

¼ t salt

¼ t pepper

Place mint and sugar in food processor; process until finely chopped, scraping sides of bowl.  Add vinegar, juice, salt, and pepper and process 30 seconds to combine.

SALAD:

2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast (trader joe’s grilled chicken strips)

1 cup chopped seeded cucumber (2 cucumbers)

1/3 cup chopped Sweet & Spicy Pecans (TJ’s)

2 T minced red onion

4 nectarines, chopped

Combine chicken, cucumber, pecans, onion and nectarines in medium bowl.  Drizzle dressing over salad; toss to coat well.

¾ C salad = 241 calories

* I keep the pecans on the side in container so they are crispy each time I have a serving.

Adoptable Art Press Release

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                                                                                          May 1^st, 2012

Contact: Heather Norris

             http://www.facebook.com/AdoptableArt            

Local Art Helps Forgotten Felines Find a New Home

LONG BEACH – Cat-loving creative types are coming together under a new program called Adoptable Art, where artists are donating their time and talent to care for homeless cats in local shelters.

         It’s a win-win for both felines and fellow artists alike, says Adoptable Art founder Heather Norris. The Seal Beach Animal Shelter volunteer says while cats are getting some much-needed love and companionship the artists are creating a painting, photograph or sketch to donate to the shelter. The framed work is then hung on the wall until its furry subject is adopted – at which time both the cat and the piece of art are given a new home.

         Seeing how lonely these once-beloved pets were after being left behind – some due to the rash of recent housing foreclosures – is what prompted Norris to create Adoptable Art.

         “As a shelter volunteer I met many cats that had been in happy homes only to be banished to the shelter when people lost their homes,” she said. “These cats were so eager to have anyone pet or play with them.”

         And who better than an artist in need of a great subject, says Norris, who is not only the proud adoptive parent of Sophie the cat but also a graduate of California State Long Beach’s art program. “A cat can make a wonderful subject. Each one has a unique attitude and look to capture.”        

         Norris’ initial goal is to get more than 50 artists involved and as many animal shelters throughout Orange and L.A. counties. Ultimately she would like to see the Adoptable Art program adopted by shelters on a national as well as global scale.

If you are interested in learning more about Adoptable Art and want to get involved, please contact Heather Norris via http://www.facebook.com/AdoptableArt.            

          

Creative Courage

I have started an online e-course called Creative Courage. It is helping me get back in touch with my art and motivates me to actually pick up a pen or paint brush and just start creating. Art has always been my favorite hobby, skill and habit but as the years have passed I have lost my carefree attitude towards it and it has become something I have pushed to the side. This blog will be about tracking my progress into getting back into art as a hobby, career and life long habit again. I am pushing aside my fears of "I'm not that good at it" or "No one will care ot see what  I am up to" and I will be posting photos of everything (that means sketches and all) to my blog. Also I am planning on going to back to school to get my art teaching credential. I owe it to my future students to be in love with art and the process of creating art like I used to when I was a student. This is the start.

And so it begins...

Here is my first posting in my official artist blog.