Perusing Family Rooms & Daniel Moritz Oppenheim 🛋️ 🖼️

This week, Little Ashcan students explored the concept of Family Rooms.

Inspired by the artist Daniel Moritz Oppenheim, who celebrated Jewish culture through his depictions of family life and valuable objects, our students created their own interpretations. 🎨✨

This week, Little Ashcan students explored the concept of Family Rooms and how objects in our homes hold personal and cultural significance. Inspired by the artist Daniel Moritz Oppenheim, who celebrated Jewish culture through his depictions of family life and valuable objects, our students created their own interpretations. 🎨✨

About Daniel Moritz Oppenheim

Daniel Moritz Oppenheim's work, which often depicted Jewish life through objects of cultural and personal significance, inspired this project by encouraging students to illustrate meaningful items from their own family rooms, reflecting their unique cultural backgrounds and personal stories. Just as Oppenheim used objects to tell deeper narratives, our students did the same through their artistic interpretations.

The Return of the Jewish Volunteer from the Wars of Liberation to His Family Still Living According to Old Customs (1833–34)

Project Overview:

Each student illustrated six objects from their family room that hold special meaning. Whether it was a treasured family heirloom, a favorite sofa, or an old photograph, the goal was to reflect on what makes their space unique and important. 🌟

Students used watercolor and color pencils to bring their objects to life on bristol paper. The combination of watercolor's fluidity and color pencil's precision allowed the students to capture the details and vibrancy of their chosen items. 🎨🖍️

The final pieces were filled with personal stories, from heirlooms to everyday objects like chairs 🪑 and tables 🏠, each telling a different tale of family and culture. It was amazing to see how each student brought their family room to life in their own creative way! 🏡💫

Project Materials

Bristol Paper

Watercolor

Color Pencils

Schedule a Trial with Ashcan!

Contact us:
📞 718-819-0004
📧 infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

Exploring Abstract Art through the Lens of Robert Motherwell 🎨🇺🇸

At Little Ashcan, we believe in inspiring creativity by diving deep into both art history and personal expression. This week, our young artists are learning about abstract art and how American culture has influenced the art world, with a special focus on one of the key figures in Abstract Expressionism: Robert Motherwell. 🖌️✨

About Robert Motherwell 🖼️

Hollow Men’s Cave, 1986–89/ c. 1990

Acrylic and charcoal on canvas

72 × 84 inches. Private Collection, Minneapolis

Robert Motherwell was an American painter and printmaker, celebrated for his contributions to the Abstract Expressionist movement. As one of the youngest members of the New York School—a group that also included the iconic artists Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko—Motherwell became known for his bold, emotive works that explored the power of color and form. 🎨💥 His influence is profound, and it’s essential for our Little Ashcan artists to understand how American artists shaped and were shaped by their environment. 🌍💫 By engaging with Motherwell's work, students not only connect with an essential part of art history but also learn to translate emotions and experiences into abstract forms.

Creating Abstract Art Inspired by Objects 📸🎨

For this project, we’re encouraging our students to look at the world around them through a new lens. Using iPads, the students will take zoomed-in photographs of various objects—ranging from natural elements like leaves 🍃, stones 🪨, and flowers 🌸, to man-made items like tools 🔧, fabric 🧵, or architecture 🏛️. These close-up shots will serve as inspiration for their abstract acrylic paintings. 🎨

But it’s not just about taking a photo! We’re asking students to really engage with their subjects. We want them to focus on patterns, textures, and any sense of movement they can observe within the object. Perhaps they’ll notice the repeating patterns in the veins of a leaf 🍂 or the swirling movement of paint on a painted surface 🎨. The goal is to make them aware of how different sections of an object or the way it interacts with light can suggest something dynamic, even if it’s not immediately obvious. Just like Motherwell did with his own work, students are encouraged to abstract these elements and use them as a springboard to create their own unique pieces of art. ✨💡

Abstract art is a powerful form of self-expression because it removes the need for literal representation. It encourages the viewer (and the artist) to focus on the feelings, emotions, and ideas behind the work, rather than the subject itself. 💫 For our students, this project is an opportunity to experiment, explore, and interpret their world in new and exciting ways. By connecting abstract painting to the cultural and artistic history of America 🇺🇸, they gain a deeper understanding of how art can reflect both personal and collective experiences. 🌟

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Let your child’s creativity flourish at Little Ashcan.

If you're interested in our programs or would like to learn more about how we nurture young artists, feel free to contact us at 718-819-0004 or email us at infolittleneck@ashcanart.com. 📞📧

Exploring Ink Through the Art of Nasreen Mohamedi 🖋️✨

This past week, our Little Ashcan students dove into the world of modern art with a special focus on the legendary Indian artist, Nasreen Mohamedi. Known for her stunning line-based ink drawings, Mohamedi's work has become a significant part of the modern art movement in India. 🌍🎨

Mohamedi’s minimalistic approach to ink and her use of abstraction made a lasting impression on our students. Her predominantly black-and-white work, which includes both detailed landscapes and abstract pieces, served as the perfect inspiration for our latest project.

The Project: Sketching Elephants & Landscapes 🐘🌿

For this week’s project, our students got to work on sketching an elephant, a shy, majestic creature that they brought to life on hot-pressed paper using delicate lines. The challenge was to create an accompanying landscape to support the elephant’s story. 🌾🖋️

The Process: Ink Washes & Abstraction 🌑💧

Students used ink washes to add depth to their elephant illustrations, which brought the animals to life in dynamic, thoughtful ways. The varied tonal values helped convey the gentle nature of the elephant and the vastness of their surrounding landscapes. As they progressed, the students also added abstract elements to their backgrounds, mirroring Nasreen Mohamedi’s ability to balance realism with abstraction. The result was a collection of thoughtful, emotional, and creative artworks that were all their own!

Stay tuned for more creative projects at Little Ashcan!

If you’re interested in learning more or enrolling, feel free to reach out to us at

📞 718-819-0004

📧 infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

Exploring the Legacy of William Ellsworth Artis: Little Ashcan’s Clay Sculpture Project! ✨🎨

This week at Little Ashcan, our young artists are diving into the world of sculpture while drawing inspiration from the incredible William Ellsworth Artis! 🖌️👏

Who is William Ellsworth Artis?
William Ellsworth Artis was a renowned African-American sculptor born in North Carolina. 🏞️ In 1927, he moved to New York, where he studied under legendary artists like Augusta Savage and Selma Burke. 🎨 His work is celebrated for its ability to capture the depth and emotion of his subjects, often portraying them with somber and reflective expressions. 🖤

Our Project: Sculpting with Emotion
Inspired by Artis’s style, our students are creating self-portrait sculptures using air-dry clay. 🧑‍🎨👩‍🎨 Instead of smiling, they’re encouraged to embrace a relaxed, somber expression, just like Artis did in his work. This helps them explore the power of emotion and expression in art. 🎭

Once the sculptures are complete, they’ll be painted with earth-toned acrylic paints, adding a timeless and natural feel to their creations. 🌍🎨

Stay tuned to see their amazing creations! 🖼️✨

📞 Contact Us: 718-819-0004
📧 Email: infolittleneck@ashcanart.com
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Little Ashcan Explores Contrast: Bamboo Baskets & South African Art

Last week, our Little Ashcan students embarked on an exciting project exploring contrast through the lens of South African culture! 🌍✨ Inspired by the intricate craftsmanship of bamboo baskets and the expressive charcoal work of William Kentridge, students practiced their observational drawing skills using a striking black-and-white technique.

Who is William Kentridge?

William Kentridge, a renowned South African artist, is known for his powerful charcoal drawings, animated films, and prints, often addressing themes of colonialism, history, and memory. His immersive works are defined by beautiful line quality, deep shadows, and bold contrasts, making him the perfect inspiration for this project.

William Kentridge | An Embarkation (1988)

The Project: Drawing Bamboo Baskets with Contrast

Using black toned paper and white compressed charcoal, students illustrated sets of bamboo baskets, focusing on:
✅ Direct observational drawing – carefully studying shapes, patterns, and textures
✅ Light and shadow – using the white charcoal for highlights and letting the black paper form natural shadows
✅ Contrast – creating depth and dimension through tonal variation

Stay tuned for more creative adventures from Little Ashcan! 🎨✨

📍 Want your child to explore the world through art? Join us at Ashcan Studio of Art!
📞 718-819-0004 | 📧 infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

Little Ashcan Paints A Still Life 🎨🍊

Our latest Little Ashcan project was inspired by Marcos Beccari, a Brazil-based watercolor artist known for his hyper-realistic depictions of people and nature. 🌍🎨

The Project: Real Food, Real Art 🥕🍊

For this project, students used real food to create large-scale watercolor paintings. The challenge? Start with detailed sketches of red and green peppers, then bring them to life with vibrant watercolor techniques! 🖌️✨

The Process: Sketch, Paint, Observe 🔍

1. Observation & Sketching: Students closely examined their chosen angle, capturing every curve and detail.

2. Watercolor Experimentation: They played with techniques to represent textures, colors, and shadows. 🌈

3. Bringing it to Life: Finally, students added depth and realism, focusing on light and texture to make their peppers pop! 🍉

Stunning Realism ✨

The results were incredible! The students’ paintings were rich with detail, showing off their mastery of light, texture, and form—just like Beccari’s work. Each piece told a story and brought everyday food to life in a whole new way! 🍽️🎨

This project wasn’t just about painting peppers—it was about seeing the world around us with fresh eyes. At Little Ashcan, we believe in learning from nature and creating art that celebrates its beauty. 🌿💫

Join Us!

Inspired by this project? Come join our creative community! Reach out for more details on upcoming classes!

📞 Contact us: 718-819-0004
📧 infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

Celebrating the Year of the Snake 🐍🎨

This winter, our Little Ashcan students are diving into a fascinating project that celebrates the Chinese Zodiac, a unique system based on the lunar calendar, with each year being associated with one of twelve animals. This year, we’re focusing on the Snake, which symbolizes wisdom, growth, and perception—perfect traits for encouraging curiosity and exploration in the classroom!

The Art Project: A Watercolor Celebration 🖌️🎨

To bring the Year of the Snake to life, students will be using watercolor to create detailed and immersive snake portraits. This project will teach students a variety of important artistic skills, including how to capture the subtle beauty of scales, how to layer colors to create depth, and how to add intricate patterns that give life to their subject.

Learning the Techniques of Watercolor

Watercolor is a wonderful medium for this project because it allows for both delicate layering and bold strokes, making it perfect for capturing the unique textures of a snake’s skin. The students will be working closely with their teachers to perfect the techniques of watercolor painting, including:

• Wet-on-wet: For soft, blended areas in the snake’s body.

• Layering: Building up layers of color to create depth and realism.

• Detailing: Using fine brushes to capture the intricate patterns and scales on the snake’s skin.

• Color Theory: Understanding how different colors work together to create contrast, highlight details, and evoke mood.

By the end of the project, students will have developed their skills in watercolor painting while also learning how to focus on the finer details of their subject—whether it’s the way light reflects off a snake’s scales or the mesmerizing pattern of its skin.

Stay tuned for more updates on this project and others from the Little Ashcan Studio class. To learn more about our programs or sign up for our next class, contact us at:
📞 718-819-0004
📧 infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

Little Ashcan's Collage Creature Painted Portraits: Where Imagination Comes to Life! 🦄🎨

Collage Creature Painted Portraits

Our young artists unleashed their creativity by mixing and matching whimsical features to create one-of-a-kind creatures! 🦄✨

Sketching the Creature 🖊️👩‍🎨
Once they had their features selected, it was time to sketch! The students got to work, bringing their creatures to life on paper. They let their imaginations run wild, thinking about how their creatures would look and what they wanted to include. Some drew creatures with a bit of attitude, while others created sweet, whimsical beings—there were no limits to what they could create! 🐉💫

Adding Color with Acrylic Paint 🎨🌈
The fun really started when the students picked up their paintbrushes! Armed with bright, bold acrylic paints, they started bringing their creatures to life on canvas. Some students stuck to realistic colors, while others went wild with neon greens, pinks, and blues. We loved how they mixed colors and added layers, making their creatures pop with life and energy! 🎨💖

What’s Next? 🌟
This project was just one of the many ways we encourage creativity and self-expression here at Little Ashcan. We’re so proud of all the hard work and imagination our students put into their artwork this past Fall 2024—and we can’t wait to see what they dream up next for the Winter Spring 2025 Session! 💖

Interested in a Trial Class?
If your little artist are ready to dive into the world of art, we’d love to have you! Check out our classes and let’s get creative together! 🎨✨

📞 718-819-0004
📧 infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

Little Ashcan Blog Post: Observational Drawing & Styrofoam Insect Prints 🐞🎨

🌟 Last Class Project: Observational Drawing & Styrofoam Insect Prints 🌟

In our latest Little Ashcan class, we dove deep into Observational Drawing and explored the fascinating world of bugs through Styrofoam Insect Prints. 🐜🖋️ Here's a glimpse into what they learned and created!

Observational Drawing: Project Overview 👀

Observational Drawing is all about capturing the true-to-life appearance of a subject. They focused on details—the more they observe, the more realistic their drawing becomes! Students began by brainstorming locations where they might find bugs.

The Process 🔍✂️

1. Watercolor Painting: First, students used watercolors to create their bug “homes”—the places where insects might live, like an apple core or a crumpled up piece of trash.

2. Styrofoam Bug Prints: Afterward, we moved on to creating the bugs themselves! Using printmaking foam, students carefully carved out the details of their bugs, making sure every leg and wing was true to life.

3. Bug Stamping: Once the foam prints were ready, it was time to stamp the bugs onto the watercolor backgrounds, bringing their homes to life with beautiful, detailed prints.

The Results 🌟

The students’ final artworks were a mix of creativity and observation, showing their ability to capture the world around them with incredible detail and imagination. Their bug prints, each unique, were beautifully layered onto their painted scenes, bringing these little creatures to life in a fun and engaging way! 🦗🎨

💡 Want to Learn More or Join Our Next Class? 💡
Come create with us! Our next Winter Spring 2025 session will feature even more exciting projects for young minds to explore and grow in their artistic journey.

📞 Contact: 718-819-0004
📧 Email: infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

🎨 Little Ashcan: Complementary Colors in Organic Shapes 🌈

At Ashcan Studio of Art, our Little Ashcan artists recently completed a colorful and creative project that explored the fascinating world of complementary colors and organic shapes. This project was a perfect way to introduce young artists to color theory and new painting techniques while letting their creativity shine.

The Creative Process 🖌️

In this project, our Little Ashcan artists started by learning about the color wheel, which is the foundation of understanding how colors relate to each other. They discussed primary colors and how they mix to form secondary colors. The focus was on learning complementary colors, which create strong contrast and vibrancy when used together, making them a fun and engaging choice for our young artists.

Last week, our students explored organic shapes, which are free-flowing and natural in form, like those found in nature—think leaves, clouds, or waves. This week, however, we shifted focus to geometric shapes, such as squares, triangles, and circles. The students had the chance to experiment with these more structured forms, helping them balance creativity with precision as they built their designs.

The project combined these ideas using a variety of materials. The students used acrylic paint to mix and apply their chosen complementary colors to the organic shapes they created. To add an extra layer of creativity, we incorporated masking tape into the process. The tape technique allowed them to create sharp, defined edges around their shapes, adding an element of precision to their artwork. Once the tape was peeled away, the result was a beautiful contrast between clean lines and vibrant, blended colors.

A Burst of Creativity 🌟

This project was about more than just mixing colors and painting shapes—it was a wonderful opportunity to help our students understand color theory, contrast, and composition in a hands-on, approachable way. By using complementary colors, our Little Ashcan artists learned how to create energy and balance in their artwork. The technique of working with organic shapes also encouraged them to think outside the box and use their imagination to create something unique.

Beyond the technical skills, this project encouraged self-expression and problem-solving. Kids had to make decisions about how to use color and shape to convey their ideas, and they gained confidence in their ability to create beautiful artwork. As always, it was rewarding to see their growth not just as artists but as thinkers, collaborators, and creators.

Ready to join the fun?

If you’re interested in signing up for our programs or want more information, feel free to reach out to us!
📞 Call: 718-819-0004
📧 Email: infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

Little Ashcan Learns the Basics of Color Theory and Shape Exploration in Art Class 🎨✨

Exploring Complementary Colors with Organic Shapes 🌈

Last week at Little Ashcan, our artists took a deep dive into the world of color theory and shapes, learning foundational concepts that will help them as they continue to develop their creative skills. From complementary colors to organic vs geometric shapes, it was a class full of exploration, discovery, and lots of colorful fun! Here's a look at the exciting lessons our little artists learned:

One of the highlights of the class was learning about complementary colors—colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel. These colors, when used together, create stunning contrast and harmony in a painting. Our students had the opportunity to experiment with these vibrant color pairs, applying them to organic shapes—those that are freeform, flowing, and found in nature, like leaves, flowers, and waves.

By painting complementary colors on organic shapes, the students were able to see how colors like red and green or blue and orange could make each other pop! The result? Stunning, eye-catching artworks that truly celebrated the beauty of color and form. 🌟

Getting to Know the Color Wheel 🎨🔴🟡🔵

Next, we took a trip around the color wheel! Little Ashcan artists explored the three primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—which are the building blocks for creating all other colors. Then, we learned how mixing primary colors together creates secondary colors—green, orange, and purple. The kids had a blast mixing paints and seeing firsthand how these primary and secondary colors work together to create new and exciting shades.

It was amazing to watch our young artists experiment with different color combinations, and it really helped them understand how colors relate to one another and how to use them creatively in their artwork. 🌈

Organic vs Geometric Shapes 🟢🔲

The final lesson of the day was all about organic vs geometric shapes. Organic shapes are natural, flowing, and asymmetrical—like the shapes of plants or clouds. Geometric shapes, on the other hand, are structured, regular, and often symmetrical—think squares, circles, and triangles.

Students learned how to apply their knowledge of complementary colors to both organic and geometric shapes. It was fascinating to see how the two types of shapes could affect the way the colors looked when applied, and how the balance of organic vs geometric forms in a composition could influence the overall feel of the artwork.

From painting soft curves to creating sharp, clean lines, our young artists were able to experiment with different approaches, learning how to use shapes and colors together in fresh and exciting ways.

Interested in joining our next class or learning more about Little Ashcan?

Give us a call at 718-819-0004 or send an email to infolittleneck@ashcanart.com to find out how your child can get involved in our fun and educational art programs!

Exploring Complementary Colors 🍌🎨

At Little Ashcan Studio, we love to inspire creativity through exploration! Our latest project focused on Complementary Color in Still Life Painting, drawing inspiration from the iconic works of renowned artists Henri Matisse and Andy Warhol. Both artists masterfully utilized complementary color schemes to create their distinctive styles, and we wanted our students to experience this powerful technique firsthand.

What Are Complementary Colors? 🎨✨

Complementary colors are pairs of colors that, when combined, cancel each other out. This means they produce a grayscale color (black or white) when mixed, and they can create vibrant contrasts when placed next to each other. This project allowed our students to see how these contrasts can enhance their artwork!

The Banana-Themed Still Life 🍌

Our young artists dove into their projects with enthusiasm, creating banana-themed still life paintings. They experimented with various complementary color sets to depict different forms of bananas—peeled, in bunches, and as single pieces. The results were not only vibrant but also showcased each student’s unique artistic vision!

The Artistic Process 🌈

Throughout the project, students explored the following:

• Color Mixing: Understanding how to create shades and tones using complementary colors.

• Composition: Arranging their banana subjects in a way that highlighted color contrasts.

• Technique: Applying different brush strokes to bring their still lifes to life.

Join Us! 🎉

We’re thrilled with the creativity and talent displayed in this project, and we can't wait for our students to tackle even more exciting challenges in the future! If you're interested in enrolling your child in our art programs, contact us today!

📞 Contact Info: 718-819-0004
📧 Email: infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

Little Ashcan Artists: From Sculpture to Stunning Watercolor Portraits! 🎨✨

Last week at Little Ashcan, our young artists embraced their creativity by sculpting incredible figures. This week, they took it a step further by bringing those sculptures to life through watercolor painting! But before they jumped into painting, they had an exciting session of watercolor studies. Let’s dive into their learning journey! 🖌️

Mastering Watercolor Techniques 🌊

To prepare for their portraits, the students practiced essential watercolor techniques using swatches. Here’s how they got started:

Here’s how they got started:

Solid Washes: They began by learning how to create a uniform color wash across the paper, which serves as the foundation for their paintings.

Graded Washes: Next, they experimented with graded washes, gradually transitioning from a dark to a light shade. This technique adds depth and dimension to their work!

Drop Color on Wet Color: The students also explored the fun technique of dropping color onto wet washes, allowing the colors to blend and create beautiful, organic effects. 🎨

Wet on Wet Duo Tone: They practiced the wet-on-wet technique, where they applied new colors onto a wet surface, resulting in soft, diffused edges that create a dreamy look.

Masking with Tape: To maintain clean lines and shapes, the students learned how to use masking tape effectively. This technique helps create crisp edges in their portraits.

Dry Brush Technique: Finally, they experimented with the dry brush technique, adding texture and detail by using a brush with minimal water, allowing for expressive strokes. ✨

Creating Watercolor Portraits 🎭

After mastering these techniques, it was time for the main event: painting watercolor portraits! A portrait is a representation of a person, capturing their unique character and personality. Our young artists focused on translating the essence of their sculptures into vibrant watercolor portraits.

With their newfound skills, the students were able to express their creativity and individuality, resulting in stunning artworks that reflect their vision. The transformation from sculpture to painting was truly magical! 🌈

We’re incredibly proud of our little artists and their achievements this week. From sculpting figures to mastering watercolor techniques, they continue to grow and explore their artistic abilities. Stay tuned for more exciting projects at Little Ashcan!

📞 For more information or to enroll your child in our art classes, contact us at 718-819-0004 or email infolittleneck@ashcanart.com. We can’t wait to see what your child will create next!

Toy Design Inspired by Takashi Murakami 🎨✨

At Little Ashcan, we’re excited to dive into our latest project: Shape and Form: Toy Design with Shapes, & Observational Drawing with Texture! This week, our students have been exploring the whimsical world of Takashi Murakami, a renowned Japanese contemporary artist known for his vibrant sculptures and graphic style. His work not only captivates with its zany expressions but also offers a fascinating commentary on postwar Japanese culture. 🇯🇵🌟

Takashi Murakami Mr. DOB (2016)

Our students have been using styrofoam balls and colored clay to create their own toy designs inspired by Murakami's unique aesthetic. The emphasis on diverse shapes and bright colors encourages creativity and experimentation, allowing each student to infuse their personality into their sculptures. 🎈🎨

Sketching

So far, the students have been busy sketching their ideas and starting on their sculptures, and we are thrilled with their progress! It’s wonderful to see their visions come to life. 💖🙌

Before diving into their painting projects, our students are honing their watercolor techniques to prepare for the creative journey ahead. They’ve been experimenting with various methods, such as wet-on-wet, dry brush, and layering, to understand how water interacts with pigment. This hands-on practice allows them to explore blending colors and creating different textures, setting the stage for their upcoming portraits. As they master these techniques, we can already see their excitement growing for the vibrant paintings they’ll soon create! 🎨💧

Next week, we’ll take this project a step further with direct observational painting using watercolor. This will give our students the opportunity to capture the textures and forms of their creations in a new and exciting way. 🌈🖌️

Stay tuned for more updates, and we can't wait to share their stunning portrait paintings of these imaginative figures!

For more information about our programs, feel free to reach out:
📞 718-819-0004
📧 infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

Little Ashcans Learn About Shape and Form! 🎨✨

This past week, our Little Ashcans dove into an exciting lesson focused on Shape and Form! 🟦🔺

The students explored the fundamentals of art by studying 2D and 3D shapes, including the cube, cone, cylinder, and sphere.

What Are Value Studies?

Value studies are an essential technique in art that involve examining the lightness and darkness (or "value") of a shape. By practicing value studies, students learn to create depth, dimension, and contrast in their artwork. This week, our Little Ashcans applied these concepts to both 2D drawings and 3D models, helping them understand how light interacts with different shapes.

Why Focus on Shapes?

Shapes are the building blocks of all art! By mastering basic shapes, our students gain a solid foundation that will benefit them in every artistic endeavor. Whether they’re drawing, painting, or sculpting, understanding shapes enhances their ability to create realistic representations and develop their unique artistic voices. 🌟

As we prepare for the second part of our Shape and Form lesson, students are excited to take their knowledge further! This next phase will focus on Sculpture: Toy Design with Shapes and Observational Drawing with Texture. Students will use their understanding of shapes to create imaginative toy designs, while also learning how to capture textures in their drawings. 🧸✏️

We can’t wait to see what our Little Ashcans will create next! Keep an eye out for their amazing work! If you’d like to join us or learn more about our programs, don’t hesitate to reach out!

📞 (718) 819-0004
✉️ infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

From Lines to Sculpture: Little Ashcan Explores 2D to 3D 🎨🔗✨

This past week, Little Ashcan artists had the exciting challenge of taking Line Drawing to the next dimension by exploring 2D to 3D Sculpture! 🎉 Inspired by the abstract and playful work of contemporary artist Franklin Evans, our students learned how to translate lines into sculpture in a hands-on way. 🖌️➡️🗿

FF kingofthehill, 2007, watercolor on paper, 30 x 22

Featured Artist: Franklin Evans 🖼️🎨

Franklin Evans is known for his striking abstract paintings and art installations that often use overlapping, broken, and fragmented lines to create an atmosphere that feels dynamic, chaotic, and energetic. 🎇 His work emphasizes the importance of line quality, paired with bold color palettes, to evoke a sense of movement and playfulness. Whether you’re looking at his colorful paintings or his immersive installations, Evans’ work draws you in with its unpretentious and fun approach to line and form.

Inspired by Evans’ unique way of arranging lines, our students experimented with using line in a completely new way—turning 2D drawings into fully realized 3D sculptures! 🌟

The Project: From Flat to Fantastic! 📏✂️

Project Description:
Our Little Ashcan artists began by exploring simple line drawings, but instead of leaving their creations on paper, they transformed them into 3D sculptures using foam board as their base. 🖼️ They then used wire and pipe cleaners to create intricate lines and shapes that extend beyond the 2D world.

The beauty of this project is that it taught our young artists how to think in multiple dimensions, taking what is traditionally flat and giving it volume and space. 🎨🌈 The pipe cleaners could be connected together to create longer lines, mimicking the idea of broken or overlapping lines like Evans’ work, resulting in a dynamic, flowing composition.

We're proud of their creativity and can't wait to see what other explorations the next project will bring. 💥🎉

Stay tuned for more updates from Little Ashcan and feel free to reach out if you want to learn more about our programs! 👇

📲 (718) 819-0004
✉️ infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

Unleashing Creativity in Little Ashcan Class: A Dive into Line Drawing! 🎨🐚

This past week at Little Ashcan Class, we embarked on an exciting artistic journey inspired by the legendary Pablo Picasso! Our project revolved around his captivating series, Le Taureau, where we explored the beauty of line drawing through the transformation of a bull into its simplest form.

Exploring Picasso’s Vision 🐂✨

Students learned about Picasso's method of progressively refining the bull's image through 11 distinct lithographs. This process encouraged them to think about how lines can capture essence and simplicity in art. Under the guidance of our talented instructor, we discussed Fernand Mourlot’s insights!

Creating Our Own Masterpieces 🖊️🌈

After studying Picasso’s technique, the students picked up charcoal and pens to create their own line drawings, this time focusing on crabs & octopi! Each child embraced their unique style, producing fantastic interpretations that were vibrant and full of personality.

Join Us for More Artistic Adventures! 🌟

We’re excited about the creativity flowing in our class, and we can’t wait for the next project! If you're interested in joining our artistic community or learning more about our upcoming classes, feel free to reach out!

📞 Contact Us: 718-819-0004
✉️ Email: infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

Let’s keep the creativity alive—see you in the next class! 🎉🖼️

Little Ashcan Kicks Off the Fall Session with Franklin Evans! 🍂🎨

Welcome back to Little Ashcan! We’re thrilled to announce the start of our first Fall class, where our young artists are diving into the vibrant world of contemporary art through the inspiring lens of Franklin Evans. 🎉 Known for his captivating abstract paintings and dynamic art installations, Evans emphasizes line quality and color in ways that spark creativity and imagination. 🌈

Discovering the Art of Lines ✏️

In this session, our budding artists will explore the various types of lines that make up Evans' work. From straight and curvy to wavy, diagonal, and broken lines, we’ll build a rich vocabulary that enhances their artistic expression. Franklin Evans often employs overlapping and broken lines to create a lively, chaotic atmosphere in his pieces, and we’ll encourage our students to embrace that same unpretentious, playful spirit! 🎢

A Whirlwind of Creativity 🌪️

To kick things off, students will have the opportunity to experiment with different line styles as they create their own unique swirling designs. This hands-on experience allows them to express their creativity freely, and the best part? Once all their individual pieces are complete, we’ll bring them together to form a fantastic, whirling roller coaster on canvas! 🎠

Using acrylic paints, our young artists will learn not just the technical aspects of line-making, but also how to communicate their feelings and ideas through their art. The end result will be a collaborative masterpiece that embodies the fun and chaos of their imagination! 🌟

Join Us on This Artistic Journey 🚀

As we embark on this exciting session, we can’t wait to see how our little artists interpret the inspiration of Franklin Evans. We believe that every stroke and swirl will contribute to a vibrant tapestry of creativity, helping them develop both their skills and confidence.

Stay tuned for updates on our progress and the wonderful creations that will come out of this class! If you're interested in joining us for future sessions, feel free to reach out. 📬

Here’s to a fantastic Fall filled with art, exploration, and lots of fun! 🍁✨

For more information, contact us at:
📞 718-819-0004
📧 infolittleneck@ashcanart.com

🌸 Little Ashcan Learns How to Draw Flowers 🌸

As we wrap up our summer Little Ashcan classes, we're excited to share a glimpse into our last project of the season! This week, our young artists explored the beauty of flowers through a painterly style – a technique that celebrates loose, expressive brushstrokes and a more spontaneous approach to painting. 🎨✨

Project Overview: Our students embarked on a delightful journey of painting from direct observation. Here’s a peek into the process:

1. Underpainting: We started by applying a thin layer of watered-down burnt umber to map out the darker areas of our floral compositions. This initial layer sets the stage for the rich, layered colors to come. 🌿

2. Dark Sections First: Students then focused on painting the darker sections of the flowers, creating a strong foundation for their artwork. This step helps in establishing depth and dimension. 🌺

3. Mid-Tones: Next, we added the mid-tones to bring the flowers to life. Using a variety of brush sizes and even palette knives, students embraced the painterly style, adding texture and vibrancy to their pieces. 🖌️🌼

It’s been wonderful to see our artists embrace this expressive technique, and their work truly reflects the beauty of the flowers they observed.

Looking Ahead: As we bid farewell to summer, we're thrilled to announce that our Fall session begins this week! 🍂📅 Don't miss out on the chance to continue your creative journey with us. Sign up as soon as possible to secure your spot and join us for more artistic adventures!

Thank you for a fantastic summer, and we can’t wait to see you in the fall!

Sign Up Now! ✍️🎨

🎨 Little Ashcan’s Weekly Lesson: Mastering the Art of Drawing Hands ✋🖋️

At Little Ashcan, we are always excited to dive into new artistic techniques and explore the mastery of great artists! This week, our lesson is all about drawing hands—an essential skill for any budding artist. 🌟

Leonardo da Vinci, Study of Hands, 1474. Silverpoint and white highlights on pink prepared paper. 8.43 x 5.91 in. Royal Library, Windsor, UK. Wikimedia Commons

🌟 Inspiration from Leonardo Da Vinci & American Sign Language (ASL)

Our inspiration for this week’s lesson comes from the legendary Leonardo Da Vinci and the American Sign Language (ASL) guide. Da Vinci is renowned for his precision and anatomical correctness in his artwork. 🖼️✨ His detailed studies of human anatomy and his accurate depiction of light and shadow serve as the perfect guide for our students. ASL also provides clear, detailed visual references of hand shapes and movements, enhancing both anatomical accuracy and expressive capability in artistic rendering. It bridges the gap between form and function, helping artists capture the subtleties of hand gestures and positions.

🖌️ Project Description

In this lesson, students will practice their observational drawing skills by sketching their own hands. This exercise will help them understand the structure and nuances of hand anatomy while developing their artistic technique.

📞 Get In Touch!

For more information about our lessons and to learn how you can get involved, feel free to contact us. We’d love to help you explore your artistic potential!

📞 Phone: 718-819-0004

📧 Email: infolittleneck@ashcanart.com