Coloring and Activity Sheets

Click here for pages from the Arts and Craft Blog.

These include:
• coloring pages of Gurudev and Guruji
• "Color by number" pages in Sanskrit

Likhita Japa (and Charkha Spinning)

Summer Camp 2010 (Grades 4 and up)
This week we will introduce the importance of keeping a journal for likhita japa. The children will be encouraged to express their japa in a very personal and creative way,  using color and spontaneous writing on the page. The goal is to encourage the child to connect with their mantra while enjoying the process.

For older children (grades 4 and up): Please note that after Week 1 we will continue to set aside the first 30 minutes of every art class (each week) for Likhita Japa or Book Charkha spinning  (click here to view info on the charkha.) The child can decide on each day which they prefer to do, but they must choose one!

We will start our Week 1 with a challenge:  The children will each be given 3 different colored pens and told to choose only one to begin their writing with. However, once their mind begins to wander from their mantra, they must put that pen down and pick up another color to continue writing with. This process will be repeated until our pre-determined time has ended.  Our goal is for each of us to end up with only one color on the page by the end of the week! 

To view any of the photographs enlarged, click on the picture.

Photographs are copyrighted. 2010

Color Study

Summer Camp 2010 (Grades 4 and up)
This week we will be learning about colors and how they communicate with each other. We will begin our lessons by creating a simple color wheel and discussing all of its different components. The children will be exploring color "moods" as well as primary, secondary, tertiary, complimentary and analogous colors. The children (grades 4 and above) will be working with water-soluble color pencils and gouache paints.

Bookbinding

Summer Camp 2010 (Grades 4 and up)
This week the children will learn about the anatomy of a book and some different structures. We will focus our studio efforts on creating two completely different styles of books: 1) the Japanese accordian and 2) a traditional European Pamphlet Binding with Boards. If time permits, we will will encourage the children to illustrate their pages — either using a favorite quote from Gurudev, likhita japa, or a poem.

Printmaking

Summer Camp 2010 (Grades 4 and up)

Our project this week is making a Sanskrit Animal Book with a really fun printmaking technique. By using only one oval sized sponge and some tempera paint, the children will create 13 different animal pictures. Once all of the prints have been made (and the details drawn,) the kids will then mount their images into a hand-sewn book, along with writing the name of each animal (in Sanskrit) on each page. By the end of the week each child will have made their very own unique Sanskrit Animal Book — from creating the individual art work to binding the pages!

Thanjavur Art

Summer Camp 2010
On Weeks 6 and 7 (Jul 26 through August 6) Meena Ajith will be teaching Thanjavur art techniques from the state of Tamil Nadu. This class is being conducted for both age groups. More information will be posted shortly.

Mosaics with Paper

Summer Camp 2010 (Grades 4 and up)

Now that the children have learned about colors and their "personalities," we will expand our exploration into the world of paper and mosaics. This week the children will start off by designing "color moods" with 1 inch square pieces of decorative paper — using their experience with color theory from the week prior. If time permits, we will end this art session by making a rangoli pattern.