"Hello, My name is Kirial. I would first like to thank you for stopping by to see my... well, whatever it was that brought you here! There is usually a good bit of diversity in my projects, so I cant possibly at this point anticipate just what you will be seeing even a couple weeks from now.
While I do consider myself both an artist and a crafter, I lack the dicipline to maintain only one area of expertise. Therefor I am always experimenting with a new field of art or working to make new mediums for talents I already possess.
As of late, one of my biggest passions has been for teaching others how to both create the mediums and use them. I was fortunate enough to recieve an invitation to work with Special Needs children (ranging in age from 4-17) to teach them the joys of art. My students came with several different diagnosis, from severe adhd to low functioning autism.
When I accepted this challenge I took it upon myself to look up the list of banned art supplies, as you cant always count on a special needs person being able to read and obey label directions. I was shocked to see so many harmful, or just simply dangerous to the uneducated, mediums on that list. Thus, I was given no moral choice but to Make all of the supplies for the course myself, to ensure that they contained no sneaky unlabeled chemicals or harmful additives or fumes. I used commonly available household items, many of them straight from the pantry, to create several different supplies that would suit the grasping abilities of the different disabilities, and ensure no harm on the accidental ingestion of the item.
The program was a raving success, with even the autistic children enjoying themselves, (one little boy went so far as to refuse to turn over his giant crayon and break into tears when the assistant took it from him.) The remaining supplies were then donated to the department for future use.
Many of their parents called me after they recieved the pictures drawn by their children and requested that I make them some of the supplies for use at home. I have since that time been happy to supply both individual families and the local school's Special Needs Department with art supplies. "
While I do consider myself both an artist and a crafter, I lack the dicipline to maintain only one area of expertise. Therefor I am always experimenting with a new field of art or working to make new mediums for talents I already possess.
As of late, one of my biggest passions has been for teaching others how to both create the mediums and use them. I was fortunate enough to recieve an invitation to work with Special Needs children (ranging in age from 4-17) to teach them the joys of art. My students came with several different diagnosis, from severe adhd to low functioning autism.
When I accepted this challenge I took it upon myself to look up the list of banned art supplies, as you cant always count on a special needs person being able to read and obey label directions. I was shocked to see so many harmful, or just simply dangerous to the uneducated, mediums on that list. Thus, I was given no moral choice but to Make all of the supplies for the course myself, to ensure that they contained no sneaky unlabeled chemicals or harmful additives or fumes. I used commonly available household items, many of them straight from the pantry, to create several different supplies that would suit the grasping abilities of the different disabilities, and ensure no harm on the accidental ingestion of the item.
The program was a raving success, with even the autistic children enjoying themselves, (one little boy went so far as to refuse to turn over his giant crayon and break into tears when the assistant took it from him.) The remaining supplies were then donated to the department for future use.
Many of their parents called me after they recieved the pictures drawn by their children and requested that I make them some of the supplies for use at home. I have since that time been happy to supply both individual families and the local school's Special Needs Department with art supplies. "
A quick follow up note! Because of the recent legislation regarding lead testing, and after consulting a local branch of the better business bureu, I feel I am no longer able to provide you with either to the supplies, or the plans to make them with. Despite all my formulas using only food grade materials, they would still have to be tested, and I simply cant afford to do so, nor could I afford the lawsuits that could occur following the the recipes.
So sorry to have to drop all the planning work and time spent experimenting, especially when the reward is so great. Perhaps the laws will see more exceptions after a few months in effect.
Well, thanks for stopping in! Hopefully I'll have something worth a read later this week or so.
~Kirial
