as i tottered out of moss cottage i could see the morning streets were streaked silver with rain. a tiny stream of water flowed down the lane.
the smoke tree had been hung with diamonds. diamonds!
high overhead a few golden clouds followed me to chinatown.
this week we learned a bit about matisse and the children painted their watercolor versions of “the goldfish.”
a few decided to forego the bowl and table and just paint the fish!
“The Goldfish” Henri Matisse 1910
they did a few thumbnails in their sketchbooks before making their final piece on white paper for the bulletin board. actually they’re making 2, but they cannot be identical. i put one outside the classroom and one inside.
at the last minute i decided patterned paper around the outside of the paintings might look nice. they agreed, chose their strips, and glued them down.
it’s very difficult for me to restrain my enthusiasm when i see all of their paintings together on the bulletin board. a delicious feast of pattern and color.
in other, completely different news i caught up with sailing la vagabonde on youtube.
i cannot express what a joy they are to watch. their free-spirited sense of adventure. the beauty of the open sea. i was clapping and giddy while watching this video of them zipping off to france to rub elbows with yachting royalty.
i like wondering where in the world they are on any given day. thanks to one of you for alerting me in the comments to their channel last year. i do so appreciate the recommendations you send my way!
you’re probably bobbing around in your own sailboat. sailing the seven seas. stopping on tropical islands to crack open coconuts, swimming in blue lagoons. reciting poetry aloud to the wind. drinking big glasses of wine. do send me a postcard! xo
I just returned from Kyoto and Hiroshima and would love to send you a postcard. Email me your address and I’ll send you one. I love all the children’s interpretations of the Matisse painting. I bet the kids just love art time.
Karen
Absolutely Adore this sharing of your amazing artists’ Matisse inspirational golden fish. Each painting is bright, colorful, imaginative, original and brings a smile to all who see them. What an amazing teacher and cheerleader for your class. They must love coming to school each day.
I had a thought: perhaps someone in your community would print a poster size sheet for each artist. Or print cards your students can have at end of school year. Or if “allowed” sell to buy more supplies, plant a garden outside, get an aquarium for classroom fish or donate to an appropriate person/ group.
Your kid’s self esteem, blossoming minds have to be soaring this year. Kudos to you for being a teacher who gives her all to others. Smiles: Sharon
I always enjoy the class artwork… they are wonderful!
On a completely different note, I just discovered the photographer Daniel Kukla and his series on Joshua Tree National Park. I know you love the park and I think you might enjoy the following article and slideshow of 13 images:
https://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/23/life-on-the-edge/
I love the Matisse gold fish paintings! The patterned borders are perfect. You inspire your children and they inspire all of us. Thanks for sharing.
As a retired teacher who loved doing art with my students, your postings of your students’ art work brings joy! Lucky kids and lucky you. Thanks for sharing.
every time you post art work from your craft monkeys I am amazed by the talent that they show. they are amazing kids and sooooo lucky to have ms. moss for their teacher. my heart swells just looking at the pics of their work, I can only imagine how you must feel having it on your walls to look at. thank you for being such a generous teacher and then sharing the rewards with us.
What a joy to see their paintings. I would love to see the whole wall. You are such an extraordinary teacher and human. Thank you.
I agree with everyone else! These are simply amazing. You must have taught them so well to achieve such stunning results.
Lucky students and lucky you to see their art abilities emerge! Inspiring.
These paintings make me so happy! I want a wall of them. You really bring out the best in your students. Bravo!
I love the smiling goldfish! Really need that today.
I also like the ones with dubious looks on their faces. Of course, fish always do look sort of dubious, don’t they?
Advance warning of a wordy post. I really need an internal editor! Anyway, how beautiful are those precious paintings, and the washi tape surprises everywhere! Those children are just wonderful little beings. The goldfish with the frown was especially cute. And raindrops on smoke trees? You have a way with words, Miss Moss! Still waiting for your illustrated PUBLISHED book! I would buy in advance.
I can’t begin to tell you how delighted I am that you share my La Vagabonde addiction! Gotcha! I have watched every episode, and rewatched many. They are so beautiful and young and adventurous and talented, and yes, brave too! One of my favorites is the one where Elayna is trying to make lunch in a wildly pitching boat, and the food goes flying all over the cabin. I laughed til I cried. I commented to Riley on one epeisode that he should make a video of just him laughing, that totally infectious laugh of his. It is downright therapeutic! They are so full of life and adventure, and many live vicariously through them. I follow them on IG and FB too, because I don’t want to miss a thing. If they come to Seattle, I will for SURE attempt to meet them.
I have also become addicted to another “series” on YouTube. I found a video on FB one day of a young man who decided to document his mother’s journey with dimentia, to try to bring much needed attention to the cause. Her name is Molly. She was diagnosed with Lewy Body dimentia. The first episode I watched was number 6, where, for the first time, Molly didn’t remember that he was her son, and how devastated he was. Then, of course I had to watch all 20 episodes (so far). If you watch, you will absolutely fall in love with Molly, Joey and the family. People worldwide are now following the journey of Joey and Molly, and have even been on TV in some places. A team came from Germany recently, to make a little documentary about them. Joey has an appeal out to Ellen Degenerous currently as well, and I bet you will see them on her show🙂 Be prepared to smile a lot, laugh and cry within seconds of each other, and audibly say awww Molly! I adore her. I especially love her interaction with her youngest grandson. Here is the first episode link. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-QYL3PlMyII I warn you, it is also addictive.
I have been so busy due to second daughter’s wedding coming up in May. Best word to describe….ACKKKKK!!!!
Oldest daughter is coming over in a bit for art day. We try to do it every Thursday, and sometimes the stars align just so, and it works out. She has four children and a small farm, as well as being co-owners of a local eating establishment, amd landlords of a historic building with rental spaces in town, and she also works out every day, so she is always on the go! Don’t know how she does it.
I am off to feed the peacocks soon🙂 It is almost time for the return of the barn swallows, which will be bittersweet this year, since my horse is gone😭
I hope everyone has a Riley, Elayna and Molly (the good parts) kind of day.
Meant to say “diamonds on smoke trees”. The perfectionist in me is annoying at times.
Wow! What gorgeous artwork by your very talented students! Oh, what I would have given to have you teach me art in grade school. I attended a Catholic school and we were lucky to have an art class on Friday, taught by nuns who didn’t necessarily excel in the arts 🤔. Regardless, I LIVED for Fridays! Keep up your fabulous art teaching abilities…who knows how many little Matisse’s you are inspiring?! 👏🖌👨🎨👩🎨
I have to believe the painting practice you are planting in their hands and minds, and the goldfish in their hearts, will change these children forever. They are so lucky to have this exposure………….. Good work, Ms. Moss. V v good work.
Yes! You must be a fun teacher! I love all of those kids paintings!
Also, wanted to mention, you might like to read Little Ship of Fools, it’s a memoir about a rowing trip across the Atlantic. The author, a Canadian, visited our town (he mentions us in the book) twice. The first time we brought him in as an author with a northern Ontario connection and while here, he connected with a couple of people who were going on this excursion and got on board. It’s a fun read. Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Ship-Fools-Improbable-Tumultuous/dp/1553658787/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1490274746&sr=8-3&keywords=little+ship+of+fools
Anyway, as always, love your eloquent writing and your amazing photography. Thanks for sharing.
sounds intriguing! thanks for the link 🙂
I love these paintings, every one. What a delightful time these young ones are having in your class, it shows in every one of your posts. Lucky them, lucky you. Lucky US who get to see. I think I’d like a smoke tree in my yard (with diamonds)!
These are magnificent! Just the colors and patterns alone are beautiful but their forms seem quite advanced for such young children. They are so lucky to have a guide like you. I am sure every one of them has a real spark for visual expression that will forever be a part of them.
On another note, for a good read I suggest the letters of Vincent Van Gogh to his brother, Theo. I am currently reading them, as well as The Yellow House, about the time Van Gogh and Gauguin lived together in Arles, France. Both are fascinating and the letters show Van Gogh’s early thoughts about drawing and chronicle his journey to becoming a great painter. Thanks for your wonderful blog posts.
i enjoy reading letters of long ago. that book sounds good!
Oh my gosh! Each one is absolutely breathtaking! Lucky kids to have you, lucky parents to have kids that bring home those masterpieces! Each on deserves a frame! And I love that you have a Leonardo! Of course!
They are soooooooo wonderful!!!! I would have LOVED to have you as a teacher… Xoxox -kiki
Love love love the goldfish-makes me pine for my Esperanza days (Remember our Beatles dance number!!??). I am taking off tomorrow in my own version of a sailboat-my 1967 Lakeland Industry tin can camper! Heading to Nashville and New Orleans for a few weeks before getting my place ready to rent for summer vacationers! Miss our school days of mayhem and mischief!!!
oh natalie my love,
THE BEATLES!!! i remember lots of dance numbers. in the morning.
i wonder what alan’s doing right now…?
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
who loves ya baby?!
I love seeing the children’s art. Thanks for sharing.
I am floating around but on a little cruise ship. We are dicked in Broome, Western Australia today and will sail away, into the Indian Ocean, this evening. I am uplifted (NOT that my spirits are low, by any means) with all the joyous goldfish paintings! Thank you for sharing them. We have a sea day tomorrow and I think I just might do one of my own. Matisse would live the paintings your class did—they show the same joy and exerbuence as the original.
XO
“and will sail away into the indian ocean this evening”
OH… to be able to say those exact words.
mmmmmmm…
xo
You are so lucky,having this little treasures around . I will love to see this childs with open eyes and masters fingers ! Thanks for sharing your daily experience , as Always you put a smile in my face.
Really charming!
They are so lucky to have you and visa versa? ;o)
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing the children’s art. And I know without a doubt that they will remember you and think fondly of you all of their lives. You are giving them such a gift.
PS Did I say I LOVE these?!❤️️❤️️❤️️❤️️🤗
these kids are SO lucky to have you to introduce them to all the wonders you do. this work is such a delight! and of course you’re lucky as well to have such willing minds with whom to share your enthusiasms.
There are just REALLY great. Your kids are so talented! Congrats. You’ve done a great job with them.