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Category Archives: blogging

Best Art Materials for the Elementary Art Classroom

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Art supplies arranged around a sign that reads 'Best Art Materials,' with 'Art Ed Blogger's Network' logo above.

We all have our favorite art supplies.  What are your MUST-HAVE art supplies for an elementary art classroom?  Here are some of my favorites!  (Amazon Affiliate links have been used in this post at no extra cost to you.) Kwik Stix.  Oh, how I love these paint sticks! They go on smoother than oil pastels, they have such bright, vibrant colors and they are so easy to use with low mess!  They come in metallic, regular and neon. On this … Read more… →

Blogging with Students: A Guest Post

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Illustration of a ship on waves with three figures aboard. Text reads "The Logonauts" around the circle.

Hi friends!  I have a treat for you today.  My very intelligent and dedicated co-worker Katie McEnaney is guest posting for Art is Basic today.  She was previously our 3rd grade Language Arts/Social Studies/Drama teacher and this year she moved to the 6th/7th grade level.  She also created the blog The Logonauts, which focuses on a variety of literature related topics. Many readers have asked me for advice about blogging with students.  Since my time is so limited with my students, I … Read more… →

How to Get Traffic to a Blog: Blogging Basics, Part Four

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How to Get Traffic to a Blog: Blogging Basics, Part Four

  Are you interested in starting a blog?  Here are some tips for you! If you missed the other posts in this series, be sure to read: Blogging Basics Part One:  Why Blog and How to Choose a Platform Blogging Basics Part Two: Choosing a Blog Name and Getting Ideas Blogging Basics Part Three:  How to Write a Blog Post People will Read A big concern from new bloggers is “how do I get anybody to read my blog??”  That … Read more… →

How to Write a Blog Post that People Will Read: Blogging Basics, Part Three

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How to Write a Blog Post that People Will Read: Blogging Basics, Part Three

If you missed the other posts in this series, be sure to read: Blogging Basics Part One Blogging Basics Part Two So, you started a blog, picked a name and have a great idea for your first post.  Here are some tips you need to know. 1. Pay Attention to Permissions & Copyright Before you write your blog post, think about whether or not you got your idea from somewhere else.  Did you learn about this technique at a conference?  … Read more… →

Blogging Basics, Part Two: Choosing a Blog Name and Getting Ideas

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Blogging Basics, Part Two: Choosing a Blog Name and Getting Ideas

  If you missed the first post in this series, check out Blogging Basics for Teachers and Other Creatives, Part One.  In that post I share reasons to start blogging and how to choose a blogging platform. In today’s post, we will talk about how to choose a blog name and where to get ideas for your blog.   My blog was originally called Vivid Layers (raise your hand if you read my blog back then!).  The header is the … Read more… →

Blogging Basics for Teachers and Other Creatives: Part One

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Top-down view of a desk with a laptop, notebook, and watercolor set. Text reads "Blogging Basics for art teachers and other creatives."

So… you want to start a blog about teaching or art?  One of the questions I get asked frequently is how do you start a blog?  I asked the experts (other popular art bloggers) to share advice about getting started with blogging.   The bloggers, in no particular order: Me from Art is Basic, of course Lee Darter, from Art Room Blog Phyllis Levine Brown from There’s a Dragon in My Art Room and The Artful Advocate Don Masse from … Read more… →

Art of Ed Blog of the Year Finalist

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Finalist 2015 Art Ed Blog of the Year Contest banner featuring colorful text and a splash paint effect.

I am so thrilled to be a finalist in the Art of Ed Blog of the Year contest!  What a honor!  There are a lot of awesome blogs in the line-up and I know it will be stiff competition.  I’m just happy to be included in the top 9 for elementary art.  If you have found my blog valuable, please consider voting for ART IS BASIC at the voting page.

How to Use PicMonkey to Make Photo Collages for a Blog

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How to Use PicMonkey to Make Photo Collages for a Blog

Today I am going to show you how I use Picmonkey.com to make header images for blog posts (like the one shown above.)  I make these headers because it’s visually appealing, it makes it clear for the reader what the post is about and these images are great for getting traffic from Pinterest. I figured out how to add a voice narration! Hurray. I love learning new things. If you are reading from a blog reader or email, you may need … Read more… →

Photoshop Tutorial: How to Create Photo Collages for Your Blog

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Golden-themed graphic titled 'Photoshop Tutorial: How to use Photoshop Elements to make blog pics' with colorful artwork below.

Nora asked, “Hi Marcia,  I love how you lay out photos on your blog! Could you please tell me how you do this? Thanks! My blog is http://www.waitsfieldart.blogspot.com” I use either Photoshop Elements or Picmonkey to create the collages of artwork for my blog posts.  If I want to share several examples of artwork I often shrink them down and place them side by side or in a grid layout, like this: I also create photo collages as a “header” … Read more… →

Reflections on Intentions

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A colorful display of student artwork on shield-shaped banners arranged in a row on a wall.

I was honored to be included on a list of recommended blogs from Art Mouse House.  I have just recently started following Art Mouse House and it is a very new blog.  It already looks like it’s going to be a wonderful blog with lots of fresh ideas and clear explanations. I read her post about setting an intention and found myself nodding my head in agreement the whole time.. thinking, yep, that’s totally what I believe too!  I’ve been … Read more… →

Featuring Magazine.. new issue is almost here!

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Hi!  Happy Summer! When I am not teaching art to little kiddos, I spend some of my free time writing articles and submitting them to various magazines.  I am a contributing editor for Featuring magazine, which is a relatively new international art magazine.  I am so proud of our magazine and I wanted to share our latest issue with you. Wowza, Issue #4 is almost here!  We’ve been working really hard on this issue and even though we’ve had many … Read more… →

Cardboard Creations and a Blog Layout Review

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A cardboard model of a building with yellow windows and a photo of a person’s face on the wall.

Hello all! Wow, summer is almost here! It’s hard to believe, right? I entered a blog giveaway to receive a free layout review from a web designer. I won! She posted the review on Blacksburgbelle’s blog. Bottom line: reduce the clutter.  I think it was very useful and gave me a lot to think about! Maybe you will get some ideas from her review. This will be a little project to work on during the summer. Building with cardboard and … Read more… →

Google Reader ENDING! Try Feedly as an alternative

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Google Reader ENDING! Try Feedly as an alternative

Did you hear the news? My heart sunk. Tears were (almost) cried. Google is ending GOOGLE READER! On July 1st, Google is discontinuing the reader because of diminishing use.  Say what? What to do with the hundreds of blogs that I follow?  Yes, hundreds.  (I do a lot of skimming.)  I flip through blogs on my Google Reader app on my phone.  I know many of you also probably use Google Reader and Friend Connect. Well, after doing a bit … Read more… →

Versatile Blogger Award

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Green and black text on a floral background reads, "The Versatile Blogger Award - Poems, Stories, Musings, Essays.

Rule #1: Thank the person who gave you your award.                 Thanks to Mini Matisse for giving me this AWARD.  Wooh!  I feel so special.  I didn’t know anyone had actually been reading seriously.  Her blog has lots of great art lesson plans too. Rule #2: Share 7 things about yourself                     1.  I have been married since 2006 to my wonderful husband Andrew, who is a radio news reporter.  We met in college in Illinois.                    2.  We have a 10 1/2 month … Read more… →

  • Banner with colorful artwork promoting an art shop featuring kindness coloring pages, artist activities, and resources for teachers.