Creatively Speaking

“Today let us, as Americans, honor the American soldier. It is their valor that has given renewed hope to the free world, that by working together in discipline and faith our ideals of freedom will always prevail.”

~ Admiral Forrest P. Sherman

Tomorrow we celebrate Armed Forces Day.  Armed Forces Day was first observed back in the 1950′s as a way to honor those who serve in our military.  It is celebrated with parades, air shows and other festivities across the country.  Attending these events is a great way to show your support for all that our military does to protect and serve us each and every day. Read the rest of this entry »

“Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever”

~ Unknown

Sunday is Mother’s Day! For all that our mothers do for us, it is important to take time on this special day to celebrate our moms. If your child is still looking for that perfect gift to give to mom or grandma on Sunday, consider some of the following creative ideas: Read the rest of this entry »

“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”

~ Henry Ward Beecher (1813 – 1887)

This Sunday is Cinco de Mayo, a day to celebrate the Mexican Army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla. This holiday is celebrated in various areas throughout Mexico, and across the United States it serves as a way to reflect on Mexican heritage and culture.

In celebration of this holiday, we would like to highlight twentieth century Mexican artist, Diego Rivera. Rivera strived to create art that was a reflection on life in Mexico. He became famous for the murals he painted throughout Mexico and the United States, and was the driving force behind the creation of the Mexican Mural Movement. Read the rest of this entry »

“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children”

~ Native American Proverb

Today is the conclusion of Earth Week here in the United States. What used to be a single day each year spent focusing on environmental awareness and protection, is now celebrated for an entire week. The ultimate goal is that this environmental awareness becomes second nature, and a part of our daily lives. At Original Works we try to live by this model, doing what we can to help the environment and help those in our community. We encourage you to join in these efforts. Read the rest of this entry »

“You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new.”

~ Steve Jobs

One of the most exciting, and potentially rewarding tasks we undertake at Original Works every year, is developing new products. The process typically starts 12-18 months ahead of a final product release, and begins with brainstorming sessions, where no idea is too far fetched. Then, through an ongoing process of discussion and evaluation, we slowly pare down the choices to those we believe have the best potential to appeal to our schools, and ultimately to the parents and students we serve. Read the rest of this entry »

“Many people, myself among them, feel better at the mere sight of a book.”

~ Jane Smiley

I love books. I love to read, love to explore, and love to learn. There is nothing as special as spending quiet moments with your child, reading and sharing these experiences with them. Looking for something fun and creative to do with your family? Read the rest of this entry »

“Every child is an artist.”

~ Picasso

What a wonderful journey this month has taken us on! Youth Art Month is about to come to a close, and by now I am sure that you have made all sorts of wonderful creations with your family and students. Last week we looked at ways to organize and display these masterpieces in your home, and this week we will be offering ideas for showcasing your artwork in the classroom or at an event such as an art show. Read the rest of this entry »

“Art doesn’t have to match the couch”

~ Unknown

In the past few weeks we have highlighted different aspects of Youth Art Month. We discussed the history and offered a few project ideas to help jump start your creativity. By now you hopefully have a growing stack of artistic creations, and you might be wondering how best to display your artwork. This week we want to provide you with some suggestions for storing and displaying artwork in your home. Next week we will do the same thing for the classroom. Read the rest of this entry »

“One does not seek creativity, it finds you.”

~ Picasso

In last week’s blog we discussed the history behind March being Youth Art Month. This week we thought we would share some ways in which schools and entire communities celebrate.

If you are still looking for ways to incorporate Youth Art Month into your classroom, take a look at some of these creative ideas found around the web. Read the rest of this entry »

“A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others”

~ Salvador Dali

This month we celebrate Youth Art Month!

Celebrated every March for over fifty years, Youth Art Month (YAM) strives to gain public support of art programs across the country, and stresses the importance of art and art education in the lives of our children. The following are a few of the key goals of Youth Art Month: Read the rest of this entry »