Carlsbad Art Farm is a Parents Pick Nominee

Well, almost. Actually we have been nominated to be nominated for a Nickelodeon ParentsConnect Parents' Pick Award as a desirable venue for kids in San Diego County. We're not sure who threw their hat into the ring for us with this nomination, but thank you! We are up against better funded name-brand nominees such as Chucky Cheese, so we appreciate every vote.

To vote for Art Farm (and time is running out, so now would be a good time) simply click on the link to our website, scroll to the bottom of the home page, and click on the logo that looks exactly like the one posted here. Hopefully this won't be a deal breaker, but they do ask you to register with Parents' Connect. You can always register, vote, and then unregister. Annoying, I know, but on the flip side you can be part of a grassroots campaign to put an independent, high-quality, childrens' art school up against the Goliath of shlocky kids venues.

Summer Camp enrollment is ongoing and will continue through the summer. For more information click the "Camp" Tab on our website.

Blogs for Younger and Older Artists

Art Farm has two blog list headings: "Blogs for Younger Artists" and "PG-13 Artists' Blogs".

These blogs, for the most part, are maintained by artists. I post blogs because they are wonderful resources for learning about art technique, being introduced to new art, taking glimpses into the wonderful world of keeping art journals (for example, Vickie Henderson, a birder, who keeps journals about bird watching), etc.

Another example is Artist Duane Keiser, pictured here with his painting of a giant PB & J sandwich. Keiser does lots of food still lifes and his blog explains his process. What I like about this, for kids, is that it shows them, much the way Andy Warhol did with his soup cans in his time, that the most mundane subject matter from everyday life can be the stuff of art. What I like even more is that it shows kids that not everything is done on Photoshop. This is done on a big canvas, with messy paints and a fistful of brushes, and the guy has to know basic perspective, composition, color theory, and how to paint and draw to get this accomplished.

My ratings guide for my blogs list come with this disclaimer: I cannot guarantee what will or won't appear on a blog from day-to-day (or even moment-to-moment). Blogs are maintained by other people. These people may post whatever they like whenever they like. What I have done is visited each site personally, looked through them, and posted them on my site because I believe these blogs are well-established, have artistic merit, and have educational value to my audience.

My rating system is based on what I would allow my 10-year-old daughter to look at. Every family is different, so you must use your own judgement.

Anything under "Blogs for Younger Artists" I would have no problem allowing my daughter to view unsupervised. Anything under "PG-13 Artists Blogs" I would view first before deciding whether or not to let my daughter have access (it's just like the movies, some PG-13 rated films are fine for younger kids. It's the parent's call).

If you find these blogs useful, please take a moment to let me know by commenting to this post. If you find a blog that you believe should be moved to the "PG-13 category", I would also appreciate a heads-up.

Introducing Art Farm Instructor Kris Finch

Carlsbad Art Farm has assembled some great talent for our Summer Camp program this year (to learn more about our staff, follow this link and click on instructors. Visit frequently for updates on visiting instructors).

Kris Finch will be teaching drawing and oil painting this summer. He has a wonderful low-key style of instruction that is appealing to students. Kris and I sat down one afternoon to paint my mini-Mule, Picasso, and I was fascinated by his technique and how simply he explained it while whipping up this spot-on portrait of my mule. Kris is a classically trained portrait artist, but as you can see from the painting here he’s adept in the barnyard as well.

To see more of Kris’ work, visit his website.

Now Showing: The Works of Lori and April Mitchell

Two Carlsbad Art Farm Summer Camp staffers are currently having shows in coastal San Diego.

Girard Gourmet, at 7837 Girard Ave. in La Jolla, is showcasing the illustration work of Lori Mitchell (see picture at right) now through mid-April. Lori will be teaching drawing, painting, and mosaic art this summer at Art Farm.

Lori's mosaic work is for sale at the wonderful Art N Soul On 101 Gallery at 633 South Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas. Art N Soul features whimsical high-quality arts and crafts for by local artists.

April Mitchell, who is joining Art Farm's staff this summer as a teacher's aide, has work on display through March at The Artist Space at Southfair Gallery, 2010 Jimmy Durante Blvd., in Del Mar, as part of Canyon Crest Academy's Senior senior art show.