Dear You Art Project

Mail Art + Pen Friends = Dear You Art Project

Dear You Art Workshops

Patterns from South Africa!

2016, 4 years old, 5 years old, 6 years old, Dear You Art Workshops, South AfricaArlene TuckerComment

All the children were introduced to the theme during circle time. My teachers explained to the children that our skin is made up of cells and that our finger prints are all different. The children were asked to describe what they can see on their skin and fingers. Some children mentioned that we have holes in our skin were the hair comes out, others mentioned that we have lines and creases on our hands and feet. We told the children that their hands and feet are unique and the children compared their hands with the person sitting next to them in the circle.

The teachers explained that we are going to decorate a mask using the patterns we see on our skin, hands and feet. The children decided to use ear buds, sponges and the back of paint brushes to try and make up the patterns. We used food colouring/dye for this exercise not paint.

On the back of each mask is the childrens name, date of birth and Pink for girls and Blue for boys.

Lots of fun was had by staff and the children – we cannot wait to start the next project. The parents have been informed about the initiative in our weekly newsletter and are very supportive of this fantastic idea.

Kind Regards,
Rebecca

The 3-6 year olds at Oakdale Montessori School in Cape Town, South Africa are making and sharing art with the Tigers, 4-5 year olds from Just Kids School in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Vroom vroom chugga chugga beep beep

2016, 5 years old, 4 years old, Dear You Art Workshops, Finland, EstoniaArlene TuckerComment

It was fun!  The kids made wonderful vehicles.  I think they were very eager about it.  We used color paper, glue, scissors and pencils. 

Many kids adapted the task to their ideas about what kind of vehicles they would like to make.  There was even a human character- vehicle and a sweet princess carriage :).  Some kids followed the instructions, while others improvised.  I had a book about all kinds of transport and I showed it to everybody. 

Kristina Laine and her 4-5 year old artists at Kalinka Päiväkoti in Helsinki, Finland are making and sharing art with Evelyn Müürsepp and her 4-5 year old artists in Mooste Preschool in Mooste, Estonia.

The Tigers take a closer look at their world

2016, 4 years old, 5 years old, Dear You Art Workshops, Finland, VietnamArlene TuckerComment

What?! How can that be? Where did that come from? 

Things started to look very different when put under the lens.  The Tigers were explorers and made art inspired from their explorations.  The world may look different after some close inspection : ). 

The Tigers are 4 year old artists at Your School in Espoo, Finland.  They are making and exchanging art with the Puppies, 4 year old artists at Just Kids School in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Having fun on Kadripäev and Mardipäeav!

2016, 2nd Grade, 8 years olds, Dear You Art Workshops, Estonia, Austria, HolidaysArlene TuckerComment

The January Project was fun. In Estonia we have the days "Kadripäev" and "Mardipäeav" where we make masks. The children wanted to immediately start to draw. They were looking for patterns on their skin and clothes. Fortunately, the children were wearing very colorful
clothing and the masks are completed soon. It was a great idea.

Aili Vassil


The 8 year old artists from Mooste Põhikool in Mooste, Estonia are making and exchanging art with the 8 years from Evangelischen Volksschule am Karlsplatz in Vienna, Austria.

Tigers make it go!

2015, 4 years old, Collage, Dear You Art Workshops, Dear You Workshop Leader, Finland, VietnamArlene TuckerComment

See that flying car go!
See that monster truck go!
See that transformer go!
See that airplane go!
See that rocket go!
See that flying robot go!
See that walking bus go!

Where are they going to? To Vietnam!

The Tigers at Your School sure do know how to make these move.  We used geometric shapes to sketch out our ideas.  Next step is to make these drawings come to life!  I think the Tigers are a group full of inventors, engineers, mechanics, and definitely creative fun loving people.

With love,
Arlene and The Tigers

The Tigers are 4 year old artists at Your School in Espoo, Finland.  They are making and exchanging art with the 4 year old artists at Just Kids School in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Have you ever seen this before?!

2015, 5 years old, 6 years old, Dear You Art Workshops, Finland, USAArlene TuckerComment

What a wonderful imagination all the Monkeys at Your School have!  From simple shapes, they all came up with vehicles that could glide, fly, drive over all kinds of terrain.

J made a magic creature that can take you anywhere you want to. You just have to hop in and write where you want to go and then pull.

M's vehicle has a chimney.  It's name is One Wheel and it can fly.

N's submarine can go upside down!

M thought a sea monster could be a fun new machine to ride.

W's vehicle is operated by a Snow Man. It can travel anywhere you want to- even on air, ground, and water!

N's camper van can fly because there is a motor.  There are symbols for the driver to push. E=engine. S=snola. G=gas. M=motor.

I think it's true when E says, "Nobody in the world has ever seen this vehicle before!  Because it's imaginary.  It has oval shaped wings and a lot of buttons."

The Monkeys always have loads of questions from their Moonstone friends in Philadelphia, USA.

How hot is it there?
Are they having fun?
What do they like to do?

"We all love receiving your artwork and we hope you like our things too!"

With love,
Arlene and The Monkeys

The 5-6 year old Monkeys from Your School in Espoo, Finland are making and exchanging art with the 5 year old Full Moons from Moonstone Preschool in Philadelphia, USA.
 

Dynamic Dinosaurs at Açi Preschool in Turkey share their atmosphere

4 years old, 2016, Turkey, India, Dear You Art Workshops, Collective ArtArlene TuckerComment

We are finishing our 1st semester here in Istanbul, Turkey. So we’ve been busy all these weeks but of course children were excited to hear about the new project of Dear You Art Project.

When the teachers informed them about the new project, the children got excited in learning about atmosphere.  Some of the children drew some zig-zag lines, some of them drew curly lines and some of them did their own design on it. They also told many creative stories related to their drawing which were written at the back of their drawing by the teachers. We sent our work to our friends in India and are waiting for their work too! 

We enjoyed making this project and we hope you’ll like it as much as we do!

Take care,
Dynamic Dinosaurs

The Dynamic Dinosaurs from Açi Preschool in Istanbul, Turkey are making and sharing art with the artists from Praxis School in Mysore, India.  Both groups of artists are aged 4-5 years old.

Revving engines in Denmark for a Happy Holiday!

2015, 3rd Grade, Denmark, Dear You Art Workshops, FinlandArlene TuckerComment

Dear Arlene,

Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you and your dear ones .

These are pictures from the last Dear You Project "Let's go"with our friends from Finland.

My students worked with cardboard, primary and secondary colors and geometrical figures. They were very busy on how to construct their vehicles.

My Best,
Tatjana

Art teacher Tatjana Knudson and her 3rd grade artists from Korsholm Skole in Hinnerup, Denmark are making and sharing art with Dear You Workshop Leader Eliisa Sorvali and the 3rd grade artists from Viertolan Koulu in, Vantaa, Finland.

Environment Consciousness Week in our thoughts

2015, 4 years old, 5 years old, Collective Art, Dear You Art Workshops, EstoniaArlene TuckerComment

As there was Environment Consciousness Week right before the Atmosphere project, children drew air and land, polluted air and clean air. After taping all works together kids did not feel like adding anything.

So long,  enjoy holidays and time!

Best,
Evelyn

Evelyn Müürsepp and her 4-5 year old artists in Mooste Preschool in Mooste, Estonia are making and sharing art with Kristina Laine and her 4-5 year old artists at Kalinka Päiväkoti in Helsinki, Finland.

Let's Go to Finland from Canada!

2015, 6th Grade, Canada, Dear You Art Workshops, FinlandArlene TuckerComment

Here are the photos from the "Let's Go" project. We talked about being creative, and some of the basic ideas we knew of transporting items and goods. I showed them the basic shapes and left it very open ended. They were able to draw, cut and paste, anything. I asked for some labels to communicate their thinking and design choices. Some did more of that than others... :).

This was a really great opportunity for the students... I can't wait to do it again next year!

Have a Merry Christmas!
Kaarina

Kaarina Losey is the 6th grade teacher at Pioneer Park P.S. in Ontario, Canada.  Her group of artists are making and sharing art with the Päivi Huhtinen and her group of 5th graders from The English School in Helsinki, Finland.

Magic Clouds to Rainbow Machines!

2015, 3rd Grade, Dear You Art Workshops, Dear You Workshop Leader, Denmark, FinlandArlene TuckerComment

I have felt warmly welcome every time I have been to Viertolan Koulu's 3rd grade class! They are so happy, talented and positive kids and they are lucky to have such a good teacher: Maija Pitko. For a Christmas present I had lovely small concert from kids and Maija!  Also, we had Tatjana Knudsen´s wonderful class in Denmark as our pair in Dear you-project. Thank you for everybody! 

In the Let's Go! project we made inventions of all sorts! Check out the pictures of some of these ingenious ideas!

Eliisa

Eliisa Sorvali, Dear You Workshop Leader, and the 3rd grade artists from Viertolan Koulu in, Vantaa, Finland are making and sharing art with the 3rd grade artists from Korsholm Skole in Hinnerup, Denmark. 

Looking towards the horizon in Estonia

2015, 4 years old, 5 years old, Collective Art, Dear You Art Workshops, Estonia, GermanyArlene TuckerComment

Töös osalesid lapsed vanuses 4-5 aastat: 6 poissi. Tööprotsess neile meeldis. Eriti see, et sai valida mitmesuguste pliiatsijoonte vahel, millega pind täita. Vaatasime rühmaaknast välja ja leidsime oma silmapiiri - taevas ja maa. Sellest tulenevalt ka värvid sinine ja roheline. Laste jaoks oli põnev koht, et piltidest kokku tekkis justkui pikk maastik orgude ja kõrgndikega - meie Lõuna-Eesti maastik.

Ja meile õpetajatele, mulle ja Lissile, meeldib lastega kunsti teha ja seda protsessi kõrvalt nautida.

Aitäh meie igapäevaelu rikastamise eest!

Inge

***

Most of kids from our pre-school have viruses, therefore only half of the group is together. 6 boys, aged 4-5 years participated at the project. They loved the process. Specially, that they could choose between different pencil lines with what to fill the surface. We looked out from window and found our horizon- sky and earth. From there the colours: blue and green. It was also interesting for kids that pictures together made long spanning landscape, with valleys and heights- our Southern Estonian landscape. 

And for teachers, to me and Lissi, we love making arts with children and enjoy the process. 

Thank you for enriching our everyday life!

Inge

Thanks to Evelyn Müürsepp for the English translation!

There is the horse carriage, penny-farthing, and ...

2015, 3rd Grade, Dear You Art Workshops, Denmark, FinlandArlene TuckerComment

Here are a few pictures that show Tatjana Knudsen's 3rd graders working on their vehicles for the project titled Let's Go!. It has been an interesting process. 

Before my students worked on their own we talked about how our actual daily transportation from one place to another. We talked about modern transportation like busses, trains, cars, planes, bicycles, motorbikes, and mopeds, and older ways as horse carriage, penny-farthing, and horses.

Afterwards I told my students to sketch any sort of vehicle they could imagine to transport. I also told them to use geometric shapes and either primary colors  or secondary colors.

The pictures attached show the process, and some of the pictures also show discussion and cooperation, which I really like.

All my best to you, your family, and friends :)

Tatjana Knudsen

The 3rd Grade artists from Korsholm Skole in Hinnerup, Denmark are making and sharing art with the 3rd Grade artists from Viertolan Koulu in Vantaa, Finland.

Hip Hip Hooray!

2015, 3rd Grade, 5 years old, Dear You Art Workshops, India, TurkeyArlene TuckerComment

Hooray! We got a school in India and we sent our 2 projects today, we look forward to see our friends’ work in India.

Children were surprised to see the Pop-up cards and when we introduced them that they will make their own places for their puppets which they did before, they immediately start to think and ask questions about it. Some of the children wanted to choose 1 or 2 different house(s) and did their own decoration for the place. Some of them remembered that they made an animal as an imaginary friend so they preferred to do designed it by drawing the animal houses and the details.

We enjoyed making pop-up places for our imaginary friends and we hope you’ll like them as much as we do!

We wish you a “Happy New Year”.

Warm regards,
Dynamic Dinosaurs.

he 4-5 year old Dynamic Dinosaur artists from Açı Preschool in Istanbul, Turkey are making and sharing art with the young artists from Praxis Foundation in Mysore, India.

 

I can see so many things from my backyard

2015, 4th Grade, Dear You Art Workshops, USA, FinlandArlene TuckerComment

The children used colored pencil to create a landscape of the view from the back of their house, the front of their house or the their school. They were told to blend the colored pencils and work quickly with big strokes and pressing hard. We wrote a quick message and folded them like a screen that could be put behind their puppet and pop-up stage. So the background drawing is the environment where they live.

Kathleen Finan

Kathleen Finan, the art teacher at Amy Parks Heath Elementary School in Texas, USA, and her 4th Grade students are making and sharing art with the 4th Graders from Viertolan Koulu in Vantaa, Finland.

Let's go to Texas! How are we going to get there?

4th Grade, 2015, Dear You Art Workshops, Dear You Workshop Leader, Finland, USAArlene TuckerComment

During our last session in Vantaa, we talked about how far Texas was, and what are different ways we can get there. We discussed how different types  of transport function, what are their essential elements - wings, wheels, steering, motor, etc, and what spaces they need - water, air, road surface. The artists suggested combining several vehicles to make the most efficient and environmentally friendly machines. From the cutout shapes, some with elements made from the leftover paper, the kids made hybrid submarines, steel traveling animals, and a jumping automobile, besides a few Finnair and one Emirates airplanes. Together we added important things like Start and Stop buttons!

Greeting from the Emerald Isle,
A xxx

Anastasia Artemeva is the Dear You Workshop Leader for the 4th grade class at Viertolan Koulu in Vantaa, Finland.  They are making and sharing art with Kathleen Finan's 4th graders at Heath Amy Parks Heath Elementary School in Heath, Texas, USA.

Kalinka artists share and care : )

2015, 4 years old, 5 years old, Dear You Art Workshops, Dear You Workshop Leader, Estonia, FinlandArlene TuckerComment

In the last workshop the Siilit group from Kalinka Päiväkoti in Helsinki, Finland made a collective image about their environment. This time we used very simple materials: pencil, eraser and white sheets of paper.

I think they are always eager about the workshops. During the workshop, kids are usually divided into two groups because some speak only Russian and some only Finnish. I think it would be nice to have a Skype call, so that the kids could see who they are sending their works to. Of course, they realize this, but I think it would be nice to see each other too.

The children liked a lot the received mail from their Dear You friends in Mooste, Estonia. I showed them the works of Mooste Preschool's kids.

Kristina Laine

Kristina Laine and her 4-5 year old artists at Kalinka Päiväkoti in Helsinki, Finland are making and sharing art with Evelyn Müürsepp and her 4-5 year old artists in Mooste Preschool in Mooste, Estonia.

The Tigers work together to create a beautiful atmosphere!

2015, 4 years old, Dear You Art Workshops, Collective Art, Finland, VietnamArlene TuckerComment

Together we connected the dots to draw lines that created a collective piece of art.  We first asked each other, "What can be found in the ocean?" "What can be found on land?" "What can be found in the air?".  From that we let our imaginations go and painted all the possibilities.

Afterwards when we put all of our individual paintings together to make one long Shared Atmosphere, we got out the Pop Up Homes and Puppets that the Puppies in Vietnam had made for us.  We were coming up with some great stories of why our friend lives in their home and how their environment can make them feel happy, sad, or silly!

Thank you, Puppies for making and sharing art with us.  We hope you like our artwork too!

With love,
Arlene and The Tigers

The Tigers from Your School in Espoo, Finland are 4 years old.  They are making and sharing art with the 4 year old Puppies who are artists going to Just Kids School in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Inquisitive Monkeys!

2015, 5 years old, Dear You Art Workshops, Dear You Workshop Leader, Finland, Pre-School, USAArlene TuckerComment

One great thing about making and sharing art is that is brings out the inquisitive side in us.  We can surely see that it has for the Monkeys at Your School in Espoo, Finland.  During the November project, Shared Atmosphere, so many questions came up about our friends at Moonstone Preschool in Philadelphia, USA.

The Monkeys would like to know from the Full Moonstoners:

Is your country nice?
What is your favorite food that you get in school?
What are you favorite colors?
How much do you like to be in school?
Do you like our pictures?
Can you write something about your picture?
How cold is it in Philadelphia?
What do you like about your school?
What are your teacher's names and are they nice to you?
How big is Philadelphia?
Do you get any free play?

These questions came up whilst we were painting our atmosphere.  We got into smaller groups and divided our landscape into ocean life and land and air.  You'll find all animals, vegetation, and ways of getting from Helsinki to Philadelphia!

Thanks for sharing with us!

With love,
Arlene and The Monkeys