Legacy Sponsorship Grants 2010: Plains, Trains and Barns

Tracy Public Library sponsored a two day historical art event with Don Houseman at the Wheels Across the Prairie Museum .

Don Houseman introduced himself and talked about the plans for the 2 days. He talked about his interest in the plains of our area, how important the trains were in moving product and people, and the barns. He had us walk around the museum grounds, pointing out how the eye plays tricks on us. We found our dominant eye and followed the lines as buildings seemed to get smaller as they were farther away from us.

Don showed us then had us use the colored pencils to shade from a dark through medium to light first using one color, then two colors, then three. He then introduced the paint brushes. We learned about the handle, foot and toe. We practised adding water to our shading.

Don sent us out to find something to draw. It didn't matter if we drew a straight-on view or drew something with a side view. Don walked around and offered help, and compliments. He called us together and handed out the journals. We had 30 minutes or so to write about our drawing, filling in the story that went with the pictures. Don offered assistance to those that asked for help. He kept stressing that it was our story not his so he wasn't going to change anything.

He did not force those that did not want to share the story with the class.
The majority took their projects home to work on them.
The second day we added more shading, and the water to the pictures.
Last step was to use a magic marker to drfine the outlines. Some shaded with the marker also.
Don worked on a drawing and he said he would finish it up and send it down with a story. The class is finishing up their pictures and stories and will bring them to the library to display on the wall.