Exploring Watercolor at Fairchild Botanical Gardens

On September 13, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Professional Development course at Fairchild Botanical Gardens. The workshop was led by Donna Underwood, one of the talented artists from the Miami Watercolor Society, who guided us through best practices in watercolor media.

Throughout the day, we explored new techniques and discovered engaging ways to bring watercolor into the classroom. We gained strategies not only to strengthen our own skills, but also to adapt watercolor projects in ways that inspire students. Since teaching art-on-a-cart often makes it challenging to use watercolors, I especially appreciated the thoughtful suggestions and practical ideas that make this medium more accessible.

We experimented with different techniques, discussed how watercolor can be incorporated into STEAM projects, and ended the session with everyone creating their own painting followed by an art critique. It was energizing to see how much creativity unfolded in just a few hours.

As an educator, I believe it is essential to keep learning and developing new skills. Experiences like this not only enrich our own practice but also allow us to bring fresh, engaging approaches into the classroom. I am excited to share what I learned with my students and encourage them to see watercolor as a medium full of possibilities.

Exploring Color Theory in Art Class

We’ve just wrapped up an exciting unit on color theory, and I couldn’t be prouder of my students! Over the past weeks, they’ve learned about the primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, the difference between warm and cool colors, and how artists use a color wheel to understand and combine colors in creative ways. We also explored concepts like complementary colors and monochromatic designs, and the students loved seeing how these ideas come to life in real artworks.

We also began working with oil pastels, and the students were absolutely amazed! They loved how vibrant the colors look and how smooth and soft the pastels feel when blending on paper. It was wonderful to watch their excitement as they explored this new medium, and I can’t wait to see how they continue to use it in their future projects.

Second & Third Grade Projects

For their project, students created imaginative robots using only the three primary colors. I gave them paper in red, yellow, and blue, along with simple shapes, and they amazed me with how inventive they were. After building their robot, they used a Sharpie to add the final decorations and details. The results were not only colorful but full of personality—you can truly see their creativity shining through in the pictures!

Fourth & Fifth Grade Projects

The older grades also studied the color wheel, but their challenge was to make their own version from scratch. Once their wheels were complete, they added a bold black figure in the center to create strong contrast. Each student’s wheel was unique, and they experimented with different media to bring their designs to life.

I am so impressed with the effort, imagination, and skill all my students showed during this unit. Their projects are proof that we have some real talent in our classroom!

The Van Gogh Moment: How Early Exposure to Art Shapes Young Minds

The other day, I wore my Van Gogh T-shirt to school, not thinking much of it—until my students’ eyes lit up. Some of them pointed at me with excitement, saying, “Look! It’s Vincent Van Gogh!” I was thrilled to see that many of them actually recognized him.

Several children began sharing their experiences—some mentioned their parents had taken them to the Van Gogh Immersive exhibit here in Miami, while others proudly said they had seen his famous painting Starry Night. Hearing this made me so happy. It showed me that even at a young age, children can make meaningful connections with great artists and their work.

Moments like this remind me how important it is to expose children to art early in life—whether by visiting museums, reading books about artists, or simply talking about paintings and creativity at home. These experiences not only spark imagination but also encourage self-expression, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation of the world around them.

Art is everywhere, and art is amazing. When children engage with it, they aren’t just learning about colors and shapes—they’re learning to dream, to feel, and to create. Let’s keep bringing them closer to it.