Magical Minds Studio

What now?

2011-12-19T22:29:00.003-06:00

So much goes on at the studio, from Friday movie nights to Art Around the World classes. We build, draw, view, grow, learn and have fun!

Celebrating Birthdays

2011-12-19T22:24:00.003-06:00

We were delighted to partake in the birthday celebrations for two special little boys! Both turning 3 and both very sweet :-)

Updates, updates, read all about them!

2011-12-19T22:08:00.003-06:00

Eagerly anticipating our updated blog...but for now this will have to do.

Here are some pictures of our Passport 2 Preschool Program from Halloween.

Here you can see we've been feeling the holiday spirit!

YIKES!

2011-10-25T00:00:00.003-05:00

With the Google conversion I lost access to our blog for a while. Now that I have access again I plan to make some changes. Our new After School Program and our Passport 2 Preschool
Program will have their own separate blogs. Our focus will be on enhancing those programs as well as providing some classes in the early afternoons and on weekends. Oh, and don't worry, we are still hosting Birthday Parties!

More to come!

Summer camp comes to an end...

2011-08-04T22:15:00.005-05:00

We've had a lot of fun and have one more week of fun! Recycling fun that is.

The last I posted we were on Food Week, well we got through a whole lot more: Artists Around the World, Robots (marching down Harrison Street) and Dance to the Beat of Your Brush. Here are some pictures of these fantastic days of camp.

Food Week!

2011-07-15T01:03:00.006-05:00

We traveled to Mexico, Italy, China and Germany. Can I just say that these kids can eat! They mixed, diced, chopped, smashed and ATE. From rice and beans to pig in a blanket (soy of course :-) they ate pretty much the whole time they were at camp.

The best thing about this week was the chef's tasted everything, I mean they were eating fresh cilantro as they were chopping it! Even the mustard dill didn't go untouched.

Sculpture Week!!

2011-07-15T00:54:00.002-05:00

Okay, this was by far the best week we had. These kids really pushed the bar with their imaginations. They made games, castles, ponds, bridges, the list goes on.

They had so much to say about their pieces that I thought it fitting for each of them to "present" to the class. Needless to say we were impressed with how they articulated their art and it's function, not to mention they were all very interested in each others works!

More of Art Camp

2011-06-25T14:48:00.004-05:00

Texture week is always so exciting. We provided the artists with fabric for tapestries and yarn along with some beads for a splash of embellishment. We ended up with mountains made from denim and flying fish in the sky...that was just one piece.

For the other projects they worked with yarn, felt, some wire and canvas pillows and messenger bags.

The best thing about this week was the look on their faces when they saw their finished pieces. Some of them worked on their project for 3 to 4 days! Keep in mind some of this artists were 4 to 5 years old.

Next week, my favorite: SCULPTURE!

Summer Camp

2011-06-21T21:09:00.003-05:00

I am so behind with our studio blogging and we are already in our second week of Summer Camp!

We knocked out our nature week with a very impressive bunch of artists. Making dream catchers out of beans and vases out of sticks, we talked about the world around us and what we like the best. Some favorites were: bird watching, fishing, crafting with sticks (loved that one), playing at the beach, planting flowers and...drum roll please...RECYCLING!!! Yes, these kids live in Oak Park! Just wait until our last week of camp, we are going to recycle their little hearts out :-)

Here are a few pictures of the busy artists at work.

PLAY! LEARN! LAUGH!

2011-04-26T15:20:00.002-05:00

Today was the second day of our Mini Session for Passport 2 Preschool. We have a handful of new faces and many returning Magical Minds alumni.

I was so proud of the new artists, they braved the fear of parental separation and embraced the studio and their new friends.

We encourage play in addition to creating art, the two go hand in hand. Today we discussed the many differences and similarities we share. We also talked about things we liked about on another and things we like to do...

As you will see, our cute little wooden chairs have been turned upside down and we hosted (or rather the children hosted) an indoor playground! Slides anyone?

Afterward we broke out the clay and they all ran to the table to start building...a cake, a bridge, a sky...

It was a great day!

Building, Inventing, Team work, Cooperation - FUN!

2011-04-12T21:38:00.003-05:00

Every session we utilize our l,500 square feet of space and let the kids really move around. But first, we talk about what they are about to do. This week:

BUILD and PAINT. HELP ONE ANOTHER. PROBLEM SOLVE.

We introduce new topics each week and base it on a book or various examples. A lot of discussion comes about and our project grows. So when you look at these pictures of kids painting boxes, moving boxes and using rollers it doesn't stop there. At the end of the class they have mastered stacking, balancing, painting with adult rollers, working as a team and cooperating. They also learn that they can build beyond paper, crayons and markers.

A transformation occurs and it's Magical!

Recycle...

2011-04-05T21:23:00.003-05:00

We want to thank all you wonderful recyclers for filling our storage room up with materials! You will see the results of our hard work during summer camp.

Summer camp is just about full and our regular class schedule will be up soon, I promise!!

Here are a few pictures to hold you off until camp!

Comic Book Drawing

2011-02-28T11:15:00.004-06:00

Most of you know that we offer a fantastic Comic Book Drawing class :-) I say that because I get rave reviews from parents and kids alike. I'd like to give credit where credit is due, so I'd like to thank Anne Marie and Robert for their combined efforts in making this class something special for the kids.

Not only do they love to teach comic book drawing, they go beyond the teaching and provide pure joy. They've published a comic book for their students and it was a hit! Imagine seeing your comic in magazine format? Take a look...

Why is it so Magical?

2011-02-17T20:58:00.006-06:00

Today I found myself wondering why I take on so much at once. I mean did I really need to open an art studio? My children are still so young and I find myself always juggling things, running around, rushing, rushing, rushing! My life has changed since Magical Minds Studio was born. But really, how can I have regrets when I see all the bright eyes and smiling faces. When I hear the giggles and the "oh wow," "look what I did!" Those words and sounds are so familiar to me, they were first heard at home. My children are my inspiration. Art is helping them nourish who they will be tomorrow. Who they can be if they are confident and secure and above all CREATIVE!

My son is in Kindergarten and was lucky enough to have his school selected to host an artist. I was thrilled when I saw the name on the sheet that came home. Sallie Wolf, a local artist and children's book author. Every time Sallie demonstrated watercolor he would come home and describe in detail how they did it. She read to them and talked about many subjects, he has requested we purchase all her books. This was all wonderful but what really impressed me and warmed my heart was that he wanted to give her something back. "She made me have a really good day and she said she really liked my colors." I don't think we realize how important those words can be for a young child. When my son came home from a public school, sharing his special moment I had new hope. I wish more opportunities like that can be offered to schools. Those experiences are invaluable. Thanks to the Oak Park Educational Foundation for their Art Start Program and understanding the value of art.

We will now be working on a "book of birds" for Sallie along with a bird house since she loves birds (according to my son). I'll post pictures when it's all done. We'll be hand delivering her gifts to Calypso Moon Studio, where her studio resides, right down the street from Magical Minds. He also wants to invite her to his birthday party so she can run a workshop!

Thank you Sallie, for not only inspiring my son to be kind, but for sharing your gift of art and love of literature. We are fans.

Summer Camp

2011-02-12T15:46:00.002-06:00

Dare I say "summer" when there is still snow on the ground? Why not, it's something to look forward to right? Spring Break is just around the corner and school will be out by the second week of June. Many of us have started planning already.

We are looking forward to seeing familar faces along with new ones this summer. Make sure to register now for summer camp. You can send me an email at haj@magicalmindsstudio.com or give us a call: 708-948-7934.

Check our website for details on summer camp

Winter Classes are in Session

2011-01-19T20:46:00.003-06:00

Wow! This has been an incredible session so far. Classes are filled up to the point where we were turning people away! Could it be that people have realized we are not just an 'art studio' that uses paint, markers, glue and such? Whatever the case, we are happy and pumped to try out more cool lessons with our artists.

We've been experimenting with color and texture, next we'll venture into musical instruments, honing in on our sense of sound. It's all about how we fit into the world and how it works for us. The closer we get children to exploration the better they become at dealing with new situations and experiences.

So when you think about Magical Minds Studio, don't think its the art your kids get at preschool, or elementary school. Because it's not. It's art kids get from the real world, the world they get to embellish and create. We nourish the foundation of our future scientists, mathematicians, architects, doctors, astronauts...this list goes on!

Winter Camp Begins

2010-12-22T23:28:00.002-06:00

I can't believe we've already finished our first week of Winter Camp! From building houses to making paper it's been action packed, creative fun. These children really know how to push the bar, and it's always so much fun for us to see them take an idea and run with it (in some cases they really ran with it!) It's hard for them to leave any art behind but we had a few kind souls that were willing. We also have pictures!

Special thanks to Josephine and Jonathan! We all worked so hard and we look forward to next week.

In the picture I have posted, you will notice the house that was built was actually a tribute to Magical Minds Studio. You can imagine this made my day. Thanks A!

Happy Holidays to All!

Winter Camp Sign up!

2010-11-26T21:11:00.006-06:00

Greetings to you! Is it cold out there or what? I can't say I'm ready for the cold but I will say I'm ready for Winter Camp! Don't let your kids miss out on our camp this year. We'll have plenty for them to do. Details below.

Art Camp is designed for students 3 to 10 years; children will be grouped according to age, just as summer camp.

Winter art camp will introduce a different medium/project each day with various techniques for each project. In addition, an artist will be discussed and studied with examples of their work provided either from imagery or on our projector. Classes are 3 hours long and cost includes materials. Please send a light snack with your children.

Monday: Fabric Art/Beading

Tuesday: Collage/Paper making

Wednesday: Wood/Building

Thursday: Papermaking/Printing

December 20th – 22nd
Days: Mon-Wed

Hours: 9 am -12 pm

Cost: $78.75 for all 3 days ($5 off 3 day cost for siblings)

$27 per day

December 27th – 30th
Days: Mon-Thur

Hours: 9 am -12 pm

Cost: $105 for all 4 days ($5 off 4 day cost for siblings)

$27 per day

Minimum 8 students/Maximum of 14

Black Friday - November 26th!

2010-11-18T22:22:00.002-06:00

Bring the kids to Magical Minds Studio for a creative outlet after Thanksgiving! We'll keep them busy with projects, games and lots of fun.

Details on our website!

Happy Haunting and Happy Anniversary!

2010-10-28T21:19:00.005-05:00

We are thrilled to be celebrating our two year anniversary at Magical Minds Studio! Why not help us celebrate with some spooky kid friendly fun?

Come on out Saturday October 30th. 2pm - 6 pm - All Ages
Admission $2 per child, children under 2 and adults are free.

Jennifer Gimpert Photography will be there to photograph your little ones if you so desire. Crafts, games, scavenger hunt, raffle and more...

Enter our raffle for a chance to win a FREE 10 WEEK SESSION!

Register for classes that day and get $30 off your session!

Proceeds from this event will support the Irving Schoolyard Project. Don't miss a chance to support this great project and have fun while you're at it!

Things are changing...

2010-10-08T12:26:00.011-05:00

Fall is one of my all time favorite times of the year. But the best thing about it is HALLOWEEN! My son has inherited my love for this day. Everyday there is a conversation about costumes, parites, decorations, you name it.

This year I've decided to host a "Haunted Studio" on October 30th from 2 pm - 6 pm. Since there isn't much for the younger crowd I felt it was appropriate to give that age group a little spooky fun. We'll have games, a scavenger hunt, prizes, a raffle and a chance to have pictures taken by Jennifer Gimpert, a professional photographer. Dress up if you want!

Admission is $2 per child, adults and children under 2 are FREE. Proceeds will help support the Irving Schoolyard Project which is the school my little goblin attends.

I'd also like to note we have some special things going on at the studio:

Recycle and Save: Bring in up to 10 items listed on our website and we'll knock $10 off the cost of any class.

Refer a Friend: If you refer a friend and they mention your name we'll take $5 off your next class. The more referrals the more you save!

Open Studio: We've lowered the cost of Open Studio to $10/hr per child. $5 on the days District 97 is closed. Check our schedule for open studio times.

New Classes: We have added some new classes and themes and we hope your children can benefit from the concepts!

Prehistoric Art: For those that love prehistoric times, the dinosaurs will be brought back to life along with the saber tooth tiger and woolly mammoth, not to mention many more prehistoric animals.

Art Around the World: Visit various countries around the world with suitcase in hand. Children will learn about cultures, geography and a special craft known from that country.

Exploring Artists: Children will visit the lives of many famous artists. Learning about their technique and creating their own version of a masterpiece! With this class the young artists will walk away with a portfolio of work you will want to frame!

Fall Session is in place...

2010-09-02T20:48:00.002-05:00

Speaking of places and faces we've been busy building tube cities and drawing self portraits. I see future architects, surgeons, mathematicians and more. Our studio is the breeding ground for learning and these artists know exactly what they want and how to go about making it.

New Classes

2010-08-13T14:25:00.003-05:00

Autumn is coming and with it we've provided some pretty awesome classes!

Comic Book Drawing (5 weeks, one day a week, 1 hour per class: ages 8 and up). Students will learn the basic fundamentals of comic book drawing. Each artist will be encouraged to think of a story and capture the characters on paper. Using ink, pencil and paper their characters and the story will come to life. Cost of the class is $120 which includes a $20 material fee.

Art Around the World (10 weeks, one day a week 1 hour per class: ages 4 and up). Students will be able to explore other cultures in this class, exploring art from countries all over the world. Class will include geography, using the world map to identify and locate a different country or region each week. Students participate in multiple stations that focus on painting, drawing, weaving, and sculpture. Regions include: Japan, France, Morocco, Brazil, Australia, and India and many more! Class is offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Cost is $198/10 weeks, $105/5 weeks.

Art Workshops (5 Weeks, 2 hours per class): (8 years +)
These classes introduce and enhance the principals of drawing, painting, sculpting and print making. Students will gain working knowledge of these four subjects by creating a finished piece of art in each medium. This course will also introduce students to narrative and collaborative conceptualization. Cost, $120, which includes material fee.

Check out our class page for more details!

Something Old

2010-08-12T12:46:00.006-05:00

Artists love to create. We love to provide them with the tools...in this case utensils.

I decided to go to an estate sale with my sister (very strange to go through other peoples belongings when they are no longer present). Nevertheless, I thought, what better way to honor someone than to have young children, full of life, make art out of their utensils. The very utensils that aided in the nourishment of their once living bodies. Maybe too much information for you? Oh well, these wind chimes have meaning...

The End of Summer

2010-08-07T11:40:00.003-05:00

We are nearing the end of Summer and with that the end of Summer Camp. We've had some fun and now we are ready for one of my favorite seasons! I love the Autumn breeze and the natural colors that begin to surround us.

New classes will be offered too, be sure to check our website out for details. Especially for older artists, we've listened to your requests and are now offering Comic Book Drawing, Art Around the World and an extended day option for Passport 2 Preschool!

Here are a few pictures of the artists at work.

Summer Camp is in Session

2010-06-27T17:09:00.005-05:00

We love the summer but most of all the fact that the children have a chance to break loose and really get creative! From creating from marbling to learning about the seasons we cover a lot of topics. I'll be posting images based on each week's project. For now here are some random shots.

What a Mess!

2010-05-21T23:59:00.004-05:00

Our last class of the session had to end with a huge mess. Don't worry, we always make a mess at the studio just not to this extent. I wanted to dive right in myself but I'll save that for another day. Instead I watched the artists go to work. From squeezing paint out of bottles to squeezing it out of balloons filled with paint it was a blast. Children also had a chance to play with liquids like slit, made from clay and water, gooey cornstarch and water with a dash of food coloring. Oh and let us not forget the Popsicle art on the light table. It was an eventful week. Now we're just about ready for summer camp!

So many things!!

2010-05-14T14:17:00.005-05:00

We've gotten ourselves into all sorts of stuff this month: Bugs, Beads, Marbling, Sculpture, the list goes on.

Summer Camp is just around the corner in addition to our Regular Classes. We are also thrilled to be able to offer a 5 week Spanish Art class taught by Mrs. Christine Ramos. If you intend to sign up please do so as we are filling up!

We are offering workshops on Tuesday and Thursday for children 8 years and older. The workshops will include painting, drawing, sculpture and printmaking. We look forward to the coming months!

Catching Up!

2010-03-25T11:51:00.004-05:00

Dare I say I'm too busy to update our blog?? Well, I said it but here I am at just about noon, my youngest sleeping and my oldest at preschool. I should be eating lunch but THE SITE MUST BE UPDATED!

Before I go on I wanted to apologize for our website being down for a few weeks. As it turned out we got hacked into! Why on earth anyone would want to hack our site is beyond me, however there are some pretty bored people out there...

Our Spring session is now running and Summer Camp will begin June 4th. We are now taking registration for Summer Camp. Check out our website for more details:

Happy Birthday Volcano Style!

2010-01-25T20:26:00.004-06:00

We host birthday parties as most of you already know. Lately we've been booking up and we couldn't be more thrilled.

Sometimes we do open studio, sometimes we have a theme. This weekend we had a theme and it was volcanoes! All the children were able to work on it together and afterward we had a real eruption. Don't try this at home, unless you want a huge mess of glitter and foam everywhere!

Happy Birthday "J"!

So much going on!

2010-01-22T20:50:00.006-06:00

These days I can't seem to catch up with all that the children are doing. From making Q paintings, to designing their own food art they keep busy. Our Passport to Preschool program is filling up quickly and we are almost at our capacity for Mondays! I'm so proud of this program, it's such a needed option for parents.

The rest of our regular classes are sprouting lots of creativity too. I've taken a bunch of pictures for your viewing pleasure.

After a little sand play we mixed some colors to make purple. This is always a fun project because the children are a part of the process. They learn about going from solid to liquid form and what two colors make purple.

Time to dye more rice!

The rewards are priceless

2010-01-20T23:30:00.006-06:00

One of the best feelings is when I see how happy a parent is with our studio. Because they wouldn't be happy if their child wasn't. I always say it's all about the child and it IS, however, I know we're doing something right when the parent takes the time to tell us how happy their child is when they come to Magical Minds Studio.

With that said, I want to thank all the parents that have been praising our studio, spreading the word, hosting birthday parties and most of all trusting us with your most precious gifts. We plan to only make our studio better because there is always room for improvement.

Parents Night Out = Fun for your kids!

2010-01-20T23:20:00.002-06:00

Parents Night Out runs every week rotating between Friday and Saturday. It's a pretty affordable night at only $25 for 3 hours and food for your child ($45 for siblings).

Last Saturday Edelweiss was hosting and she had saved up paper bags especially for that night. Check out the fun the kids had while their parents were having a night out.

Drawing Class

2010-01-20T23:11:00.003-06:00

By popular demand we now offer a drawing class for ages 8 and older. These classes are offered Tuesday evenings at 6:00 pm for 5 weeks.

It was wonderful to see these artists get right into it! Elizabeth teaches this class and as always I get lots of praise on how well she relates to the students. Here are a few pictures from the evening class.

The next 5 week session we'll be offering a painting class for those of you that are interested!

Making Music

2010-01-07T16:40:00.003-06:00

Children love music and it's even more fun when they make their very own musical instrument. This morning we made shakers and added all sorts of colorful objects to our bottles. To make the perfect sound each child selected a certain amount of bells to add to our shakers. Afterward they put on their own little dance. Let's just say there was a whole lotta shaking going on!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-07T15:56:00.003-06:00

The year 2010 is now upon us and the children have turned our studio into a home. Each morning we are greeted with eager faces awaiting their chance to dive into something new. Our lessons are fresh each session, repeating some of our favorites and enhancing some of the others. As many of you know we document our lessons so we know how the children relate to each subject matter. As always they lead the way in exploration.

We've made many wintry creations to acclimate ourselves to the climate. Penguins made our list with recycled water bottles. We always use some sort of recyclable material in our work. Ice scenes were created on our light table with watercolor and we added real snow to the water table...with a little food coloring to spruce it up.

Picture Mosaics

2009-12-13T21:35:00.003-06:00

Our Magical Creations Level 3 class did a wonderful job with this project. Recycled cardboard food boxes was the main material along with glue. The students were able to find an image they liked and recreate it using pieces of cardboard.

Passport 2 Preschool Week 11 and 12

2009-12-13T21:08:00.006-06:00

Jelly Bean Art! It was tough to work with jelly beans and not eat them but these students showed impressive will power. We did let them have a few after their hard work. Counting the jelly beans was a group effort as was feasting on them :-)

Jellyfish were also discussed and once again recycled materials were put to use making jellyfish out of 2 liter plastic bottles, paint and string. The children got a kick out of these jellyfish and asked us to tie bells on them so they can jingle!

We also talked about the jungle and people and animals that make up that wild place! Some students decided to draw pictures of tribes and other to decided to make animals in hiding. Lot's of growling took place this morning...

Week 12

Koala bears, kites and kaleidoscopes! There was a lot to do with "K" today and we had fun with this letter.

Stained "Glass"

2009-12-10T21:06:00.004-06:00

There's something exciting about making stained glass. Perhaps its the glossy look of the finished artwork. Or maybe it's the clear material that gets painted with various colors. Whatever the case, it's fun and the children went home with some very cool pieces. We used clear adhesive, recycled water bottles and colored cellophane sheets.

Printing take two!

2009-11-28T22:58:00.003-06:00

We revisit printing often at the studio since there are such variety of materials that can be introduced with this technique. Large scale is always best for the little ones and smaller tools for the older children.

As always we love the outcome as much as they do.

Black Friday!

2009-11-24T00:02:00.002-06:00

Bring the children in to paint, print, draw, build and explore the many materials we have to offer. We are offering a special on November 27th - BLACK FRIDAY! Each child is $12 per hour from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm.

Go out and shop or just relax while your children have fun with us!

Food Pantry Donations

2009-11-16T21:24:00.003-06:00

We are happy to be apart of the Oak Park Art District Business Association. Together we have collaborated to collect non perishable food for the local Food Pantry.

We are hosting Parents Night out this Friday and Saturday (Nov. 20th and 21st) from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Bring in a food item and receive $5 off the price of the $25 cost of a child.

Also, on Friday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm we are hosting an open studio. Again bring in a food item and receive $5 off the $15 cost of an open studio hour.

Join us in our drive and let your children benefit from giving and from the joys of art!

Cheers!

Stars in Space

2009-11-16T21:14:00.005-06:00

This week our lesson was about Space and the stars that make up constellations. We had some interesting conversation about the images in the sky and what they could be. From a frog to a robot to a lake with fish coming up for air. The imaginations were running wild. Moon rocks were created by generously layering them with glittered paint. Some children decided to make their creations with colored ice cubes at the light table. A favorite activity for a lot of students as the colors become really vibrant on the light table.

Passport 2 Preschool Week 9 and 10

2009-11-16T20:56:00.007-06:00

We had a special visitor today. One of our Magical Explorations students who decided he wanted to skip his preschool class and come to our studio instead. Yes we were honored and very excited to have him this morning. He fit right in as we knew he would and we started with the letter "H". We read books about hot air balloons and talked about how heat rises.

The day involved self made air spinners, a parachute, more cutting, and cloud painting.

Week 10

This week we became more familiar with the letter "I". We talked about inches and measuring, the state we lived in and made a puffy map of Illinois. Then we hammered large ice cubes to make ice chips. We experimented with melting colored ice in water and painted with it too!

The children also examined insects and made insect mobiles which they loved sharing with their parents at pick-up time.

Splatter Art

2009-11-12T21:35:00.004-06:00

Our Monday evening Magical Creations L2 class got busy with some splatter painting. They really enjoyed mixing the colors and as you can see they did really well with their combinations.

Passport to Preschool Week 7 and 8

2009-11-02T21:58:00.009-06:00

"F" is for things that FLOW! We incorporated our gravity lesson with P2P this week for a group project. Between globs of paint covered objects rolling downhill to water changing colors we had a very busy morning.

Afterward we made some Flowers and because it was such a windy day (yet very warm!) we ventured outside to feel the wind blowing and watch the leaves falling from the trees.

Then it was back to work on our color...RED! Using colored pencils the students drew on their color page. Once one child got hold of a sharpener it became a sharpening frenzy. We let them go to town since it's such a great fine motor skill. They actually did this for a good 10 minutes! Ask your child if they can now sharpen a pencil, I bet they're great at it.

Week 8

Things that GO! Our students were very busy this morning. From making cars to building roads to painting buildings we had them moving. They were very excited to be able to write with chalk on the floor. Our pumpkins were put to good use as cones for construction sites! "G" was a hit!

Gravity Revisited!

2009-11-02T21:08:00.007-06:00

This lesson was a hit last session so we decided to revisit it with all it's mess! Paint, balls coated with paint, toy cars, anything that rolls and of course the watercolor balloons hung from the ceiling. It was a blast as usual but the most rewarding part was that the children with sensory issues got the messiest and had the most fun! We ironed out many sensory bumps this week.

For the older children we mounted their finished pieces on foam core board. They were pretty proud of their work, as they should be.

Paper Making

2009-10-22T11:38:00.008-05:00

We are always thinking of projects the children can work on with recycled material. Paper is so dynamic and continues to inspire new ideas. With some glue, water, scraps and a blender we went to work on paper making.

This technique required a lot of skill from these children but as you can see they mastered the steps in little time.

At first when they saw the tub with gray water and particles floating inside they wanted nothing to do with it. We showed them some finished pieces and the frames they would use to scoop up the pulped paper. This captured their interest. We are now up to our ears in paper!!!

We also introduced bead making with paper. Again this required the polished use of fine motor skills. As these students continue to attend our classes we witness the mastery of their skills and the look of achievement on their faces is priceless.!
That's what we are all about.

Monsters...

2009-10-16T21:34:00.003-05:00

We all know about the monsters in our closets and what better way to expose them than to create them! We had a lot of fun this week making monsters. I guess we have that Halloween bug!

Passport to Preschool Week 5 and 6

2009-10-16T21:11:00.007-05:00

Owl Babies was our book this week and we explored shapes and colors along with printing and textures. I love reading this book to the children and watching their faces as they anxiously await for the Owl Mommy to come back.

With this lesson we also introduced cutting to the younger children. Children LOVE TO CUT! So we let them cut as much as they like with our supervision of course. This is a wonderful skill that enables them to manipulate their hand muscles. Great preparation for writing and hand eye coordination.

The children made the baby owls in the book and worked on there color and alphabet pages.

Week 6

E is for EARTH and that's where we live. We had the students make their own earth out of paper mache. The first day they placed the strips over the balloon and then once it was dry they painted land and water.

Just for fun and the practice of creating lines we read the Very Busy Spider. After the story we went on to make a spider web. Step by step they made their webs with glue, then they poured glitter over the lines and added a spider for the finishing touch. They were very busy...but not so tired afterward. When their parents came to pick them up they couldn't wait to show them their webs!

We had so much fun with the glitter and glue webs that we decided to make another type of web with yarn and paste. A very messy project and one that required a steady hand. After these dryed we removed them from the wax paper and they were stiff webs the children were able to hang.

Watch it go!

2009-10-07T22:21:00.008-05:00

This lesson explored movement with materials and marks, water and tubes. From watercolor with glue, paint and salt to floating boats, Lauren once again combined fun with learning and it was a blast watching the children go to work.

If you're wondering about the tubes we had the children make balls out of model magic then throw them in the tubes that they lined up all around the studio.

Let's Make Some Art!

2009-09-28T22:05:00.002-05:00

Monday nights the older kids get busy! Tonight we used multiple foam core and mounted them together. Then we placed various kinds of paper all over it to create a very cool 3D piece. A. and E. were very pleased with their work as was I. P.S. thanks to their Mom for the delicious Honey Crisp apples, I had one right after class, yum!

Passport to Preschool Week Three and Four

2009-09-28T21:44:00.007-05:00

We started our third week of P2P with two books, A Tree is Nice and The Giving Tree (one of my favorites). The children were able to sculpt their own tree with the boy in the book. We let them experiment with model magic. This is a great product because they can manipulate it, draw on it and glue things to it. As you can see from the pictures they were really engaged in sculpting these subjects. The story really came to life this morning!

Next was the letter B and the color blue. Children made their own blue pieces of art and then of course there were bubbles..

Week Four started with the letter C and the CRAZY elephant named Elmer. We also talked about rectangles and the color yellow! It was a busy week but these students were on top of it.

"it is fall"

2009-09-21T22:11:00.004-05:00

So it is Fall isn't it!? This evening we had a great deal of fun painting trees, making leaves out of crayon shavings and wax paper, using oil pastels to draw details on leaves and much more. Our Magical Creations L2 class did a great job assembling their mobiles with the leaves they created. Nice tribute to the season...

Passport To Preschool - Week One and Two

2009-09-16T13:05:00.010-05:00

This week we welcomed students to our new program: Passport to Preschool (P2P). All the children were busy making their own personal boxes, cube pictures, painting their forms, painting with watercolor ice cubes at the light table, and making moon sand.

We read some books that introduced us to our lesson and helped us all get to know each other better. Here are just some pictures from the first day. See you all next week!

Week Two:
We started with the letter A and began by reading The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni. A great book that teaching the idea of letters that make up words and words that make sentences. In addition our shape of the day was a triangle and color of the day was green. The children were so busy today time flew by! From making "A"lligators to making Green dough, we had a blast. Can't wait until next week!

Various work at the studio

2009-09-12T23:28:00.004-05:00

It will be our one year anniversary on October 22nd and we've accumulated a lot of artwork. I took some pictures to showcase the talent and creativity of the many children that grace our studio.

The end of summer or "The last fling" as we called it.

2009-09-12T23:14:00.004-05:00

Elizabeth thought it would be nice to have the children remember their summer experiences by painting what they did...with MUD! Yes, we painted with paint and mud and parents couldn't even believe it was mud. I don't advise you to try this at home, it can get pretty messy but the kids loved it. It also looked great with blue paint...here is a close up of a union of mud and paint.

We also had the children make abstract images by blotting paint onto the paper and folding it. You should have seen their excitement when they would unfold the painting to see their creation. Take a look!

Layers and the many forms

2009-09-12T23:04:00.004-05:00

This lesson touched upon many things. Layers are everywhere and shapes are too, we just need to look a little closer to see how they intertwine. The children enjoyed making felt from cotton balls and watercolor, they also made paintings with lines that weaved together and created patterns on the light table using colored tape.

Passport to Pre-School

2009-09-04T16:43:00.005-05:00

Children learn in various ways, whether it be visual, auditory or physical, art has proven to work with all types of learning. Join us on a journey through literature based art as we introduce and elaborate on color, shape, the alphabet, numbers and dabble with science projects. Our program helps children prepare for preschool and kindergarten through creative exploration.

We take each subject and explore it in different ways introducing familiar and unfamiliar tools for children to work with. Each morning children will gather together for a story and then be broken into groups; 2 to 3 year olds and 3 1/2 to 4 year olds. Each group will begin their lesson which will include method arts (printing, puppet making, watercolor etc.). A collection of their work will be captured in a box that the children will decorate themselves.

Program starts September 14th and runs for 16 weeks.

Select from mornings 1, 2 or 3 days a week or afternoons 2 days a week.
Mornings: Mon, Wed, Fri - 9:15 - 11:30 am
Afternoons: Mon, Fr - 12:30 - 2:45 pm

Cost:
3 day program: $820 + $50 material fee
2 day program: $620 + 40 material fee
1 day program: $310 + 40 material fee

Call to reserve your child's spot: 708-948-7934

What to do with paper??

2009-08-26T21:32:00.002-05:00

We end up with lots of paper at the studio, it comes in all shapes, colors, texture and so on. This week Lauren decided to make a lesson out of various things to do with paper.

So the children made their own paint brushes with newspaper.
Collage pieces from cut up pieces of "retired" paintings
Placemats with paper towel pieces and watercolor....and whatever else the kids came up with. More pictures to come.

Parents Night Out - Saturday August 29th

2009-08-25T21:06:00.002-05:00

We are looking forward to another night spent with laughter and creative juices flowing throughout the studio. It's a fun time for all and the best part is the parents get some time to themselves.

Right down the block we have a few great restaurants that parents can walk to. But they have 3 hours anyway so they can travel a distance if need be.

Saturday August 29th
From 6pm to 9pm
Food served at 6:15
For children 3 to 12

Starting next month we will be hosting this event Fridays and Saturdays, rotating each week.

Printing our way

2009-08-19T18:48:00.002-05:00

There are many ways to introduce printing to children but the most rewarding is when they do it their way. We created three different stations for them to make there own prints. The results were some pretty neat art and they were thrilled with their outcome.

Farewell to Hsuan-Hsiu, Hello to Edelweiss!

2009-08-09T22:40:00.004-05:00

We said goodbye to our dear Hsuan-Hsiu this month. She returned to her native Taiwan where her family is so happy to have her home. Hsuan-Hsiu has had a lot of influence on the studio and her presence remains in the projects and the trees she has painted on our walls. There is no doubt we will see her again.

In her absence we'd like to welcome Edelweiss. Currently a student at the Art Institute of Chicago majoring in painting, printing and drawing! She is an asset to have around and her creativity will provide the children with hours of interesting and artistic projects. Edelweiss is also a friend to Hsuan-Hsiu and when I interviewed her I had no idea! Small world. Welcome Edelweiss!

Robots!

2009-08-09T22:30:00.005-05:00

This week and next we'll be making Robots out of recycled items. The best thing about having the children make Robots is listening to what they talk about as they construct their very own machine. Some Robots clean their bedrooms, some eat their veggies, others play with them and some just stand there looking pretty.

Parents Night Out

2009-08-06T23:28:00.003-05:00

We are happy to offer parents the chance to get out and enjoy an evening without the kids! We on the other hand would love to have them, feed them and get them nice and tired for you to pick up and put to bed. We end the evening with a book to get them in the right bedtime mode.

We will host Parents Night Out the first Friday and last Saturday of every month. You can pre-pay (didn't even think of that until a parent asked me).

Give a call to book your night out! 708-948-7934

Summer Art Camp

2009-08-06T23:10:00.006-05:00

Lot's going on at the studio for Art Camp! From home building to maks making these children were busy. Robots will wrap up the final week before the next session begins! I'm looking forward to teaching some classes and getting messy!

Making music...making instruments!

2009-06-22T21:15:00.003-05:00

The sound of rice shaking around in a bottle, the clacking of wooden sticks colliding. Making instruments was a hit, Elizabeth designed the lesson around recycling and the children enjoyed the sounds of their own creations.

We even added colored water to the light table and had the children tap it with spoons and describe the sound. It was lots of fun!

Puppets come to life!

2009-06-22T21:05:00.002-05:00

Art Camp is running through August and so we decided to have the children make their own puppets and put on their very own show. Hsuan-Hsiu crafted a lesson that enabled the children to use several different materials to create their own puppet.

The children really had fun with this project and some couldn't wait for their puppets to dry before taking them home.

Let's make dough!

2009-06-22T15:50:00.003-05:00

Making dough is an activity children never get tired of creating. This week Lauren had the children make beads out of their dough mixture. After the dough hardened we had the children paint them and string as necklaces. Boys and girls went home with self-made adornments that they were really proud of. I actually noticed a child wearing their Magical Minds Studio creation at Whole Foods a few days later. It was very inspiring to know these children are building confidence with their art explorations.

Printing Time

2009-06-10T21:12:00.003-05:00

There are many fun ways to learn about printing. Elizabeth decided to guide the children on a larger scale. We turned our banquet table into a painting canvas and let the children explore various colors of paint and tools to create lines, designs and prints!

Grand Opening Celebration and more...

2009-06-10T20:56:00.002-05:00

Although we opened last October we thought it would be best to celebrate our grand opening in the summer. We had a blast with the children and we think they did too.

Congrats to those of you that won our raffle prizes! Thanks to Chris Fascione for his talented juggling act and storytelling skills. Also to Jim Hapenstal for his guitar playing, the children really enjoyed dancing.

Below are a few pictures from that day...including a picture of my newest family member, Leo Wilson. He arrived the Wednesday before the grand opening!

Trees and their importance to our environment

2009-05-15T12:59:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite things to introduce to children is anything having to do with trees. This lesson focused on trees and what might live in them. We let the children come up with ideas of their own but offered them tools to make birds, nests, insects, plants and leaves. Books were used to guide them on the many different types of trees that surround us as well as how to calculate how old a tree really is. They loved counting the rings that went around the tree trunks. Thanks to Forest Park Tree Removal for donating the tree trunks.

Our light table became a nature zone with tree bark, leaves, small tree stubs, incased insects, butterfiles and more. With a mural of tree trunks on the wall they added branches and their creations. The little birds made from recycled egg cartons were a hit with parents too. They were mighty cute if I do say so myself.

Transportation around the city and beyond

2009-05-15T12:27:00.004-05:00

We thought it might be fun to continue with the building boxes since the children had so much fun with them. Lauren decided to create a lesson that expanded the city theme so she came up with a really cool transportation lesson. We turned our water table into Lake Michigan too!

Some children decided we needed a bridge, boats, some thought tunnels, it was fun to see them get on the floor and use chalk to draw cars and landscape scenes. They were able to conceptualize their own town in the process which brought the exploration closer to them. One of the things we strive for - making it about them, and helping them find their place in this world.

Building a City

2009-04-27T19:59:00.006-05:00

Team work and lots of physical activity were the forces driving this lesson. Taking all they know about the tools the children went to work coloring on the light table, painting and stacking boxes to create a city of their own. Some were so proud of their buildings they built separate ones to keep intact and other ones to knock down! What a way to start rainy Monday morning, makes me wish I was a kid again!

Your senses!

2009-04-27T19:51:00.002-05:00

This week we approached the children with the 5 senses. They were able to walk through some silky fabric and feathers, make gooey dough, add scent to their paint and play music with handmade instruments...what they saw was colors and fun all week long!

Planting

2009-04-18T17:36:00.005-05:00

Spring is here despite the weather and we wanted the children to know it. This week we decided to bring them closer to the season and the earth. We provided organic dirt, shovels, pansies and cups that they could decorate. Each child went home with a flower in their self decorated pot.

We also setup the water table with rocks, foam cut lily pads and fake plants so the children could arrange a pond.

Invisible, Transparent, and Disappearing

2009-04-18T17:18:00.003-05:00

Some things are not as they seem. This week Lauren decided to have the children experiment with invisible painting on our light tables with lemon juice and a brush. Afterward we ironed the secret message/design and it was revealed.

We also had them use white crayons to draw and then handed them squirt bottles full of watercolor to once again reveal their design.

Finger painting on wax paper was also provided and created a beautiful stained glass effect.

It's Gravity Week!

2009-03-30T18:20:00.004-05:00

Oh the things we can drop! There's nothing like getting really messy and learning while your at it. This week the children experience gravity as it slides down a ramp, sprinkles out of water color filled balloons and travels through tubes at our water table.

Eric Carle Week

2009-03-27T17:39:00.007-05:00

We decided to celebrate the work of Eric Carle since his books and stories have visited just about all our children's lives. We provided sponges for painting and many children decided to use their hands.

We also had them collage the different animals and objects that appear in the stories with pre-cut, pre-painted paper. At the clay table they made food and pretended to serve it to one another. We had the projector showing images of the many animals that appear in all the books.

We even had some children decide to make their own stories with family members in their drawings.

Van Gogh

2009-03-27T17:27:00.004-05:00

This week the children were able to venture into the world of Vincent Van Gogh. Textured lines, fast movement and many colors.

We showed them images and provided many different paint brushes for a variety of strokes at the painting station. Then we explained to them that lines and textures can also be made in 3d form so the clay station became another canvas. In addition we had the children arrange different shapes of shinny paper in the water...an activity they love doing!

Revisting Color

2009-03-09T19:32:00.005-05:00

We are surrounded by color everyday and children who visit us know about it. This lesson was about recreating color. We used powdered paint, melted crayons, regular crayons, colored paper and more. We hid colored objects in the sand table and had the children dig and sort them out.

Mobiles and the artist Emery Blagdon

2009-03-09T18:32:00.002-05:00

Children love colorful and natural objects. This lesson was about making mobiles with various materials, all selected and designed by the little Magical Minds that visit our studio. Emery Blagdon was the inspiration behind this project and we had a slide show of his work playing in the background.

Cave Painting

2009-02-23T20:33:00.003-06:00

This week we paint caves! Children were pretty excited about being able to go inside the caves and paint. Today was the first day of the lesson so keep an eye out for more pictures as the cave evolves into a work of art.

Happy Birthday Alyssa and Jahan!

2009-02-22T19:31:00.006-06:00

We celebrated Alyssa's birthday today with lots of laughter and princess crowns. The children had fun decorating their crowns, making wands and painting. Others took a break from the fine art and ventured to the sand table for some sensory fun.

Alyssa's mom made the best gluten free cupcakes I've ever had. I couldn't tell the difference. If anyone is interested she can provide cupcakes for your party needs. Just ask and I'll put you in contact with her.

That same day we celebrated Jahan's birthday - Dinosaur style!

The children decorated volcano's dinosaurs and played with them in the sand. They also made masks and sculpted them out of model magic. It was a blast and the children were happy with their creations.

Henri Matisse Recreated

2009-02-20T21:36:00.004-06:00

This week we took the children to the world of French artist, Henri Matisse. We know Matisse for his use of color and multiple use of tools to create 2 dimensional masterpieces.

For this exploration we exposed the children to various tools such as our own handmade stamps for printing, paper and foam paper for collaging, 3D tubes for recreating scenes in a painting "The Fish Bowl". We guided them to paint with sponges, brushes (self-portraits were inspired) and arrange shapes on the light table. All age groups really enjoyed this dynamic theme and kept making more masterpieces by the minute!

Valentines day and a few other things...

2009-02-13T21:11:00.007-06:00

I took my son to the studio this afternoon so I can prepare for tonight's lesson. Needless to say he doesn't mind coming with me to work. He had fun playing with the jelly hearts in the window, arranging them as he now loves to do.

As I was getting things ready I took a look around the studio and realized how happy I was that things are coming along as planned. We have 50 students and have only been open 4 months! Birthday parties are booking up and the feedback we get from parents is so wonderful. Although we still have a ways to go, I feel VERY blessed. Our staff, Elizabeth, Hsuan-Hsiu and Lauren have done so well with the children and coming up with the fun, messy lessons. I appreciate them always keeping me updated and sharing the details of their day with me...not to mention the clean-up they do! Hsuan-Hsiu has created a handmade, beautiful journal that we keep at the front desk. We document each day of class so that we can better understand how the children are relating to materials, lessons and stations. This gives us insight to future lesson modification. We all then collaborate later about what we've learned. You might notice a board on the wall near the reading area. We plan to use that as our documentation wall. It will consist of the children and the lessons we present.

Magical Minds Studio isn't just about art, but rather about providing and opportunity for creative growth. Everything impacts a child's world and to be able to have a place to express how they live in their world is something every child deserves. We don't just want them to draw or paint, we want them to explore the endless possibilities of doing and learning. Children need creative space to express themselves because later in life they may not get that chance.

With all that said I just want to thank the parents for supporting Magical Minds Studio. For re-registering for classes and spreading the word about our studio. Many of you are my friends and some my new found friends. Your children make our studio the warm colorful place it is and it was truly created for them.

We look forward to our 3rd session in March!!

Inside Out!

2009-02-13T20:54:00.003-06:00

With this cold weather our children are cooped up indoors way too long. The many things they love to do outside are out of reach until the weather warms up. Well, not this week!

Anyone up for blowing bubbles? How about with some color so we can make bubble paintings?? Not only did they do a fantastic job with their art, they had a blast blowing bubbles.

What about sidewalk chalk? Large squares of butcher block paper was set on the floor and a tub of chalk. The carpet was furniture free, allowing the children to lay on their bellies or sit while they drew.

Sand anyone? Oh yes, the sand table is always a hit and we added some water for a nice textured experience. Pebbles, plants and some digging tools were also present to allow for open ended play.

What would you like to eat?

2009-02-13T20:45:00.003-06:00

This week the children had a chance to make their own dough. They decorated dishes and then sculpted their food of choice. We had whale meat, ice cream cone with noodles on a watermelon plate, purple magic peanuts, we can go on.

After the sculpting was over they were able to create a dish using paper and dried food such as beans, rice etc. We also sliced up pieces of fruit and placed them in Ziploc bags for the children to explore at the light table.

It was a great project!

Marbling!

2009-01-31T12:46:00.003-06:00

We had a great time this week learning the marbling technique. The children were able to enjoy the benefits of their work. After every sheet was removed from the water we would here "wow, I want to do it again!" Take a look at these materpieces.

Kandinsky - Watercolor Week

2009-01-25T21:08:00.002-06:00

Almost every abstract artist has a technique that can be demonstrated and presented to our students. We decided to select Kandinsky this week for the abstract and yet obvious shapes his artwork depicts.

The materials were powdered tempera paint and squirt bottles to produce beautiful and rich watercolor designs. We also provided wet tempera paint with geometric and organic tools such as yarn, sponges, Popsicle sticks and more. The children were then able to have more control over their design and composition. The results brought lots of smiles and a sense of accomplishment for all.

Emotions in all forms

2009-01-18T17:15:00.003-06:00

We selected emotions as a theme this past week. We thought the children would like to tell us about their feelings as they did their dreams. Some of the children enjoyed using color such as warm and cool to express thier feelings. We also had the children make masks out of paper for the younger ones and plaster strips for the older ones.

Making puppets and exploring clay

2009-01-11T19:26:00.002-06:00

For our shadow lesson some of our students decided to go 3D and make self-portrayed puppets.

We introduced the children to terracotta clay this week and they were very interested in the color, texture and smell. A lot of manipulating with the clay took place and it served for some very relaxing mornings.

Friday Night Live (shadows continues)

2009-01-09T22:10:00.004-06:00

Our Friday night class is always so much fun. I look forward to new stories the boys tell us and the imagination they share with us.

When they walked in to the studio they were amazed at the fact that they were able to act out scenes in shadows. As you will see from these pictures they had a blast...as did we laughing and encouraging their acting skills. We had tabla music playing in the background and the screen was projecting positive and negative images as well as shadows. This turned out to be a great multi-media project.

We also had the light table setup with images they could create to understand positive and negative space.

Me and my shadow...

2009-01-06T15:53:00.009-06:00

This week we explore shadows, positive and negative space and our relationship to it all.

We incorporated multimedia this time, using our projector screen to show the children the many shadows people, animals and objects make. We dimmed the ceiling lights and turned on the spot light. With a big white sheet attached to the poles the children were able to form human shadows. Without much direction they created props of their own using their imaginations to act out scenes.

They were also able to make shadow collages with black paper and white forms. They used white chalk and crayons for drawing. Thanks for taking these Lauren!

Dreams

2008-12-31T17:44:00.005-06:00

This week we talked to the children about their dreams. We created an enclosed area out of cardboard and hung some colorful fabric and welcomed them to the space. We read a book about dreams and asked them what they saw in their dreams.

The results were paintings on the inside of the cardboard panels. Many of the children enjoyed talking while they painted.

We enjoy changing up the studio so the children can see the many different ways we can create a new environment. We are lucky to have such a large space and moveable furniture.

Happy New Year Everyone!

New Session and New Happenings at the Studio

2008-12-30T18:23:00.006-06:00

We are ready for our next session and are happy that we'll have returning students. This first session has been wonderful. As a new business owner these past months have been encouraging considering the state of our economy. It's been refreshing to know our community and parents find value in the arts and investing in their children. I also want to thank all my friends that have signed up for classes and supported us from the start. I feel like you're all my extended family growing with us as each session goes by.

We want to get to a point where we can start giving back. On the agenda for the new year we plan to host a variety of events centered toward families and artists. Below are a few ideas we have, I would love to hear from you about ideas or experiences you might have had with vendors or other events.

Magical Minds Studio belongs to everyone with a love for children and art.

Ideas for Events:

Family Craft Night
Parenting Speakers
Artist Exhibits
Craft Fair
Puppet Shows
Music/Concerts
Music and Art Day
Magical Mess Day (VERY MESSY PLAY)
Movie Night
Adult Craft Night
Story Time
Kids Fashion Shows
....still thinking of things!

Birthday Bash

2008-12-29T21:08:00.003-06:00

YES, we host parties! We have a blast and so do the kids. This party was early this month and it was a jungle theme. One of the birthday girls is a student at the studio and so it was even more fun to have her celebrate with us.

We had over 20 kids and they all left with paint on their faces and glitter in their hair, on their clothes...you get the picture.

Until the next party....

Building!

2008-12-29T20:58:00.002-06:00

My interest in art came from a need to work with my hands. I love sculpting and this project was sort of close to my heart. We presented the children with all sorts of materials to paint and build objects with - on the ground. I had saved the cones that came with all our cabinets forever and they are now getting put to use!

Here are a few pictures of the finished pieces and one of our artists at work!

Books, stories, pictures

2008-12-29T20:50:00.004-06:00

This week we decided to continue with the "me" theme and supplied the children with tools and materials to make their own story books.

We ended up with books about plants, eels, visits to far away places, people, food and more. It was great to see them select their paper, then draw as they told their story.

Art by our Artists

2008-12-12T10:29:00.004-06:00

All our Facilitators are Artists themeselves. Some of you are curious as to what they create. I've posted some of their works and you will find them all at the studio. If you would like to purchase any of these pieces feel free to contact us.