Art Teacher Talk

Happy back to school, everyone!

I know a lot of you are in the same boat as I am, and that means getting ready for that first day! Though I LOVE summer,  I am excited to get back and see all of the students and staff. I hope all of my young readers will be discovering lots and lots of great books and art this year!

In the mean time, I launched a new blog out there for art teachers! It is called "Drawn to Teaching". (Get it???)

Click here to visit this blog!!

This art ed blog is something I've thought about doing for a while since so many people ask my advice about teaching and art projects. I'll be blogging about specific art topics, but also about things that any teacher might find helpful.  I'll also be sharing news about my art program. If you or anyone you know is interested, please check it out and share! I hope to post often (my goal is at least twice a month) but we will see what the year brings...

You can follow all of my blogs by email, check the right hand menu for the sign up form!

Monday Morning Fun Recap!

Monday Morning Fun on August 3 was, well, FUN! It was a beautiful day outside at the Fairhaven Visitors Center. The kids had a blast playing games, going in the bounce house, getting face painted, and hanging out with friends.

Story Time started at 10 and these were some awesome listeners! Special assistants held the special Floyd, Tiny and Larue stuffed animals for me. Then we made some puppets and I read the story again for more visitors.

It was great day! Thanks to Tourism Director Chris Richard for inviting me and his assistant for the day Ann Richard for setting up, helping with puppet making, and taking these great pictures.

Hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did!!

Special assistants hold onto the corgis during story time.

These kids were a great audience for Floyd and the Sparkling Seashell!!

More visitors listen to another reading of Sparkling Seashell.

Even Chuck E. Cheese hung out with Floyd and friends today!!

Helllooooo Summer!

Check out ALL of the Monday Morning Fun Events!

So this summer I have not been working on a book, but I have been recording a CD due out for Christmas, taking a summer online class in art curriculum, and catching up on some long overdue reading. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and keeping, well, not too busy!

I have one event planned for the summer so far and I'm very excited about it! On Monday, August 3, I will be at Monday Morning Fun from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m., at the Fairhaven Visitors Center, 141 Main Street.

I'll be reading Floyd and the Sparkling Seashell and will have a FREE Floyd craft activity for you!!

But that's not all! There will be a FREE bounce house, FREE lawn games all morning, and you can purchase lemonade or face painting if you wish for a small fee.


Hope to see you there!

Ahhh Summer!

I know many of us are still in "school mode" this year, but summer's right around the corner. Here's what's going on around KD Studio:

Just had a blast judging the Hastings Middle School talent show on June 4. I loved how it was visual art AND performance categories. Lots of talent, and so much fun connecting with old and new friends! Great job to the H.M.S. student artists and performers!

Today is the last day of the annual Acushnet Art Week Show where my middle school student award winners from the F.M.S. Festival of the Arts have a final special art exhibit among the grown-up artists from our community. Check it out if you are in town...

When school does get out this year, I'll be looking forward to some vacation time, but not before a few summer projects and events! First, when school gets out, I'll be doing an extra day at Freetown Elementary School visiting the first grade who featured little ol' me as in their author/illustrators unit this year. So excited to meet them!

CD cover art by Christopher Richard

Then I'll be rehearsing and going to Sounds Interesting Recording Studio to record my part of "Christmas Love", a CD to benefit the Olancho Mission in Honduras. The recording is due out in November 2015 and there will be a CD release concert on Thanksgiving weekend. Very exciting for me to be part of this project!

Mondays bring you down?? Not any more! Finally, in August, I will be at Monday Morning Fun Day from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m., program at 10:00 a.m. at the Fairhaven Visitors Center, 141 Main Street on August 3 with lots of Floyd fun!

Check out ALL of the Monday Morning Fun Events!

Stay posted for more events as the summer unfolds!

Summer's Around the Corner!

Some family events to look forward to in Fairhaven this summer! Every Monday the Visitor's Center will be hosting Monday Fun Days from 9-11:30 a.m. Join me on August 3 for Floyd fun and crafts:

Monday Fun Day-August 3, 2015: Author/illustrator Kristine Daniels will read her latest Floyd and friends adventure, "Floyd and the Sparkling Seashell". Then, join Kristine for some fun with clay and make a Sparkling Seashell ornament craft. Plus, bonus craft: Floyd and friends paper bag hand puppets! For more info about Kristine's books, visit http://www.kristinedaniels.net

Beach Bash This Friday!

It's been a looooong winter and a long time since my last post. The snow is melting, the birds are back, and it's starting to look like spring out there... Yay! I don't know about you, but I am ready for
some spring and summer!

So, today I'm very excited as I prep for a fun night on Friday, March 27, 2015 at the Acushnet Elementary School: I'll be guest reader at the P.T.O.- sponsored Beach Bash Reading Night! This event is a special event for A.E.S. students only.

Join me for a reading of "Floyd and the Sparkling Seashell", PLUS I will be sharing a super fun seashell craft (it's a secret) (but there might be some CLAY)! I'll also have official Floyd coloring and activity pages to take home for some extra Floyd fun.

A scene from "Floyd and the Sparkling Seashell"

It will be a blast, so if you are an A.E.S. student in grades 2-4, make sure you bring in your flyer and sign up for this event.

I will also have a limited number books for sale at a special event price, and a portion of each book sale will go to the P.T.O. I will be happy to sign books for you, too! FYI-- If I do sell out of books, I will take orders at the event and deliver your orders to A.E.S. as soon as they arrive from my publisher.


PS-- I love events at A.E.S. since I have some great memories from when I was a student there a LONG time ago! Here's a pic that was actually in the New Bedford Standard-Times of me, my mom and my sister Karen at the school's art show circa 1975. I was only 4, but I couldn't wait to make some art in school even back then!

Hope to see lots of Acushnet friends on Friday night!

Draw More This Year!!

Happy 2015, everyone!

Do you have a New Year's resolution? I think a great one is to DRAW MORE!!!

Grab a sketchbook and any materials you like to use for drawing. Then, check out some of these fun drawing challenges for all ages:

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source: charliv.deviantart.com

source: andrewsketches.deviantart.com

source: thewitchatsu.deviantart.com