Chefs & Artists Camp Week 2 projects, Recipes & Recap
Michelle had so much fun creating art with your children this week. This camp was full of such thoughtful art makers- they were great listeners who really delved deep into all our art projects. They also asked great questions, and were completely engaged with (and knowledgeable about) art making- it was a fantastic group of campers! It was a real pleasure to teach and make art with them this week.
Meredith and the campers spent time in the kitchen baking, making components of our lunch, and sampling lots of things. We got to play around combining flavors and creating new versions of some classic snacks and baked goods.
Here is what we were up to around the art table and in the kitchen this week (recipes are linked or follow at the end) …
Monday
Book of the day: Ish by Peter Reynolds (the perfect book for kids who don’t feel confident in their art making abilities).
Today we delved into the world of abstract art, specifically focusing on watercolors. We talked about inspiration and how we often become inspired and get ideas from our friends and classmates. We looked at the art work of friends Paul Klee and Sonia Delaunay, and discussed how Paul Klee was inspired by Delaunay’s work- particularly her use of squares and color. We used a few of Paul Klee’s square paintings as inspiration for our own watercolors- trying to fill a whole page with small squares of color. This led to a discussion about color theory and gave campers a chance to experiment and play with different color combinations.
Recipes: granola, hummus
Tuesday
Book of the day: Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter (a peek into how the limitations Henri Matisse faced while being ill and bed bound inspired him to create his paper cut art- which then became some of his most famous and memorable work!).
Today, we created collages and talked about how making paper cuts is like drawing with scissors. We looked at the paper cut art of Henri Matisse and the art of contemporary artist Myriam Van Neste. We discussed the different ways to use color (whether to use shades of one color, sticking to warm or cool colors, or using the whole rainbow). And then we went to town creating simple papercuts- some folks were inspired by nature, some by favorite objects and places, and some created colorful abstract work.
Recipes: breakfast scones, guacamole.
Wednesday
Book of the day: Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos (my favorite book for kids about Frida- it always fosters fun discussion about animals and pets, self portraiture, how limits can inspire creativity and how a person can make art no matter what the circumstances).
On Wednesday we created acrylic landscape paintings inspired by the vibrant art of painter and designer Carolyn Gavin. We discussed different ways a painter can use shape to represent objects and places, as well as how to use color and line to express feeling and emotion. They campers all created some really colorful and beautiful work!
Recipes: cheesy crackers, super power tomato sauce
Thursday
Book of the day: Mr. Cornell’s Dream Boxes by Jeanette Winter (a simple book about the artist Joseph Cornell and the art he created, which I thought would be inspiring for our dioramas).
On Thursday, we created dioramas partially inspired by the art of German children’s book author and illustrator Antje Damm (and a bit of Joseph Cornell too). We used watercolor to create the background, and then a variety of materials to create lots of little pop-ups and layers for their box. They created dioramas representing everything from scuba diving deep in the ocean, to camping, to their dream bedroom, to an ice cream truck! I always love seeing the different worlds everyone creates.
Recipes: pizza dough, changing color lemonade + popsicles, smoothies!
Friday
Our book of the day: Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy (a fun true story about an inspiring mural project in San Diego).
The kids were excited for the project today, as we had been discussing it throughout the week. Each camper came up with their own idea for a storefront they wanted to create. They then created the facade of the building, including fun details like chimneys, windows, rooflines, and doors and then added all the little details of the inside of their shops. We used a lot of different materials for this project including gel pens, brush pens, pastels, and colored pencils. I think a lot of kids could have kept going with their project, so I encourage all your campers to keep adding little details and bits of color to their shops over the summer!
Recipes: popcorn powders, pan pizzas
SUPER POWER TOMATO SAUCE
1 can San Marzano tomatoes (or any type you have on hand)
2 cloves garlic
1 glug olive oil
heavy pinch (4-5 kid pinches = 1 adult pinch)
1 bunch basil
any extra veggies you have on hand (we used some extra chopped tomatoes, peppers, broccoli & a bunch of spinach)
sauté the extra veggies until softened, add can of tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes
blend all ingredients in a blender or using an immersion blender
add in drained pasta with a bit of reserved pasta cooking water and enjoy!
PICKLE POPCORN POWDER
1/2 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, salt
1/4 tsp citric acid
1 tsp dried dill
Mix all ingredients in mortar and pestle and grind to a fine powder.
Sprinkle over popcorn!
