Gourds and Shadows

February 16, 2022

I went to a little school and we sat out in the grass in the front of the school and I read to them my book Smile A While. It was a winter day but it was very nice to sit out on the grass. I read my book to the children and while I read it I showed them some of the original paintings used to make the book. I also told them about the shapes in the book and how my brain works to come up with shapes and things to do with the natural flowing patterns and shapes we see all around us. I brought some gourds and some luffas and some interesting pieces of wood. I held them up and let the sun make shadows on some paper I had rolled out on the grass. I painted out the shapes of the shadows. Then I cut out the shapes and we looked at them and talked about what they could be — in the shadows and then cut paper we saw birds and whales and pickles too. I plan on going back to the school after they make some shapes of their own and incorporating them into a painting we can work on together. I got a lot out of my time with the children and it really helped me turn my day around. It also help me think of some new ideas and ways to do things when I paint next time. Thanks very much.

See you soon,

Kyle BlackCatTips Brooks