Tag Archives: mural

Oct21

Community Garden 2019

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Community Garden 2019

I’ve always had a flower and herb garden. Occasionally, I would also grow eggplant, jalapenos, green peppers and cherry tomatoes in pots. This year, I wanted a community garden plot. Thanks to Barb Martin of the Forest Hills Farmer’s Market (located in Forest Hills, PA),  I contacted Hazelwood Initiative who gave me a plot in one of their community gardens. Hazelwood is only a stone’s throw from my neighborhood, Squirrel Hill/Greenfield. I grew cherry tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, eggplant,  zucchini and cucumbers.

The butternut squash seeds and pumpkin seeds which I saved from the previous season, were eaten by the birds. I planted the onion too late in the summer.

I learned a lot about gardening organically. I used compost and cuttings from my flower garden to serve as mulch. Garlic repels groundhogs as do red pepper flakes. Vinegar poured on weeds during a hot morning will kill those weeds. Beer in a shallow container kills slugs (I didn’t have any so I didn’t use it), and noisy objects like cans hung on string will scare off animals, too.

LOCAL RESOURCES:

http://www.foresthillsfarmersmarket.com

http://www.hazelwoodinitiative.org

https://www.visitpittsburgh.com

www.growpittsburgh.org

pittsburghpa.gov/events/farmers-market

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Jan12

Our Imaginations! Paper Cut-outs: Fall/The Four Seasons Mural

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Our Imaginations! Paper Cut-outs: Fall/The Four Seasons Mural

MATERIALS:

Paper

Scissors

Pencil/eraser

Tracing paper

Glue Stick

 

  1. Research the paper cutouts of Henri Matisse. These paper works combine symbolic and abstract shapes. “I have attained a form, filtered to the essentials,” Matisse once said and this sums up his philosophy as an artist. Study the paper cutouts for color and form; www.henri-matisse.net/cut_outs.html.
  2. There will be four panels or sections for the Four Seasons Mural. The fourth and last section will be fall or autumn. Plan the design for the season. The sample shown features falling leaves. There are other symbols for fall: pumpkins, apples, corn, and other foods of the harvest, corn stalks, scarecrows, etc. Sketch your design on tracing paper.
  3. The sample features five colors: orange, yellow, dark red, green and dusty pink. The background in the sample is brown like the brown of a brown paper bag. Colors that evoke fall are orange, dark reds, dark, purples, shades of green (especially dark and olive greens), browns, gold, etc. Limit the palette to five colors as in the sample. Use patterned paper if it compliments the design or use a paper bag.
  4. Decide the size of the paper cutout. The sample shown is 4” x 6.” Cut the background paper to the size you want for the paper cutout. Orange, yellow and dark red are the color choices for the sun and the sun’s rays.
  5. Sketch the design on tracing paper. Decide the colors for each part of the design. Blacken the back of the design and flip it over on to the papers you will use. Trace the outline of the shapes.
  6. Use embroidery scissors to cut out the shapes. Embroidery scissors enable you to cut inside larger shapes.
  7. Glue the shapes down and you have the fourth section of the Four Seasons Mural: Fall!
  8. Glue the four panels down on to a larger piece of paper to form the Four Seasons Mural.

 

 

 

 

 

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Dec28

Our Imaginations! Paper Cut-Outs: Spring/The Four Seasons Mural

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Our Imaginations! Paper Cut-Outs: Spring/The Four Seasons Mural
Spring Panel

Spring Panel Four Seasons Paper Cut-outs

MATERIALS:

Paper

Scissors

Pencil/eraser

Tracing paper

Glue Stick

 

  1. Research the paper cutouts of Henri Matisse which are a mix symbolic and abstract shapes. “I have attained a form, filtered to the essentials,” Matisse once said and this sums up his philosophy as an artist. Study the paper cutouts for color and form; www.henri-matisse.net/cut_outs.html.
  2. There will be four panels or sections for the Four Seasons Mural. The second section will be spring. Plan the design for the season. The sample shown features flowers. There are other symbols for spring: rain, butterflies, bees, birds, grass, etc. Sketch your design on tracing paper.
  3. The sample features five spring-like colors: white, peach, yellow, and two shades of pink. Other colors that evoke spring are pastel shades of most colors. Limit the palette to three to five colors as in the sample.
  4. Decide the size of the paper cutout. The sample shown is 4” x 6.” Cut the background paper to the size you want for the paper cutout. The sample shows a medium pink as the background color. Light pink, peach, yellow and white are the color choices for the flowers.
  5. Sketch the design on tracing paper. Decide the colors for each part of the design. Blacken the back of the design and flip it over on to the papers you will use. Trace the outline of the shapes.
  6. Use embroidery scissors to cut out the shapes. Embroidery scissors enable you to cut inside larger shapes.
  7. Glue the shapes down on to the background paper and you have the second section of the Four Seasons Mural: Spring!

 

 

 

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Dec22

Our Imaginations! Paper Cut-outs: Winter/The Four Seasons Mural

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Our Imaginations! Paper Cut-outs: Winter/The Four Seasons Mural
Four Seasons Paper Cut-out/Winter

Winter Panel Four Seasons Paper Cut-out Mural

MATERIALS:

Papers Scissors

Tracing paper

Glue Stick

  1. Research the paper cutouts of Henri Matisse which are a mix of symbolic and abstract shapes. “I have attained a form, filtered to the essentials,” Matisse once said and this sums up his philosophy as an artist. Study the paper cutouts for color and form; www.henri-matisse.net/cut_outs.html.
  2. There will be four panels or sections for the Four Seasons Mural. The first section will be winter. Plan the design for the season. The sample shown features barren trees. There are other symbols for winter: ice sickles, snowballs, snowflakes, snow-capped mountain peaks, mittens, scarves, knitted caps, etc. Sketch your design on tracing paper.
  3. The sample features three colors that evoke winter: black, silver and white. Other colors that evoke winter include shades of gray and cool shades of blue but mittens and other winter clothing come in a variety of colors. Limit the palette to three colors.
  4. Decide the size of the paper cutout. The sample shown is 4” x 6.” Cut the background paper to the size you want for the paper cutout. The sample shows black as the background color. Silver and white are the color choices for the trees.
  5. Sketch the design on tracing paper. Decide the colors for each part of the design. Blacken the back of the design and flip it over on to the papers you will use. Trace the outline of the shapes.
  6. Use embroidery scissors to cut out the shapes. Embroidery scissors enable you to cut inside larger shapes.
  7. Glue the shapes down and you have the first section of the Four Seasons Mural. Winter is here!

 

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