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|  WORKSHOPS  We began a series of on-hands workshops on different popular arts techniques. Popotillo or Little Straw Painting and Metal Embossing are currently available in this program. In the workshops we find audiences of all ages, race and gender; they really like these activies. Eventhough is not easy to master the techniques in the first meeting, after a while, they ussually get a hold of the thechnique. We've had a great experience in all the public libraries that have hired us in the last two years. Their staff and patrons are kind, smart, competitive and polite. These workshops are a greate after school activity program for students, parents and the whole community. We also would like to recomend these workshops to neighborhoods where people could gather together to create, have fun and perhaps sell their creations, this would turn this activity into a educational, recreational and why not, perhaps profitable experience. We have included a scholl project disigned to promote the visual arts, in particular the popular arts. This school project could be implemented in different grades; we recomend third grade and up. The material is safe, non-toxic key terms such as:recycling natural resources and social awarenesswill be introduced to our audience. These activities fall within the subjects visual art and social science; we hope for the activity to be useful and fun. We always like to mention Commerce Public Libraries in Commerce Ca, because they where the first ones that gave us the oportunity to share our artistic experience with their patrons. We really wish that our state and federal goverments would provide our communitues with the proper funding to promote artistic education, specially in our low income areas. A special gratitude to the East Los Angeles County Library for their support. We've had a great experience in all the public libraries that have hired us in the last four years. Their staff and patrons are kind, smart, competitive and polite. These workshops are a greate after school activity program for students, parents and the whole community. We also would like to recomend these workshops to neighborhoods where people could gather together to create, have fun and perhaps sell their creations, this would turn this activity into a educational, recreational and why not, perhaps profitable experience. We have included a scholl project disigned to promote the visual arts, in particular the popular arts. This school project could be implemented in different grades; we recomend third grade and up. The material is safe, non-toxic key terms such as:recycling natural resources and social awarenesswill be introduced to our audience. These activities fall within the subjects visual art and social science; we hope for the activity to be useful and fun. These happy artisan were happy to attend this wonderful workshop at the Huntington Park Branch on February 2010. Our deeply appresiation to Martin and of his wonderful staff. Popotillo Art Workshops Note: All of the pictures published in this website were taken with permission from patrons and library staff.  This happy camper really had fun at this event....... Francisco j. Fraide conducting a hands-on workshop....HuntingtonPark 2010. We provide On-Hands Popotillo Art Workshops, two hours long. We attend libraries, schools, museums and other institutions. The workshop will also include an art's exhibition where selected Little Straw Art or Metal Embossing works of art will be displayed. At the begining of the workshop, we will briefly introduce the topic of mexican popular arts and the necesity to rescue these forgotten folk techniques. Psychological Benefits Introducing your child to artistic activities can play a critical role in your child's developmental process. Art can help develop a child's creativity, imagination, cognitive skills, problem-solving abilities, fine motor skills, and much more. Children who regularly participate in a comprehensive art program are four times more likely to be selected to class office, four times more likely to to do greate in a math or science fair, and four times more likely to win an award for writting, according to research published by the Arts of the Americas Institute. Art helps biuld self steem as children take pride in the works of art they create. It helps to develop their problem-solving skills, especially when faced with three dimentional problems such as sculpting. Art helps children to improve tehir sensory awareness and improve their manual dexterity. This is because a child's needs to observe something, try to create what he or she see's in their mind's eye, and try to match it with reality.
In our two hours workshops people learn step by step, the method of coloring or decorating drawings and other objects, using millet's broom stick ( popotillo ). The workshop is open to ages 6 and over. Easy to learn but requiring patience and persistence; this method is relaxing and a fun activity for the whole family. You could easily clear up your mind of all negative thoughts and feelings by creating and enjoying the magic of this traditional form of art. The benefits of learning new activities is well known and recomended for everybody. Besides the psychological and cultural benefits this knowledge could also be used as a family bussiness or to decorate your own place without spending lots of money. How Its Done Next we will explain each step of this method hoping to be easy to understand. We will start by going thru the materials used in the prosses; 1) A copy of your favorite cartoon character or landscape. 2) Bee wax ( cera de Campeche ) ) Coloured millet's broom stick ( popotillo ) The first step is to wax your favorite drawing using bee wax. You heat up the wax using either a plastic container if using your microwave as your heating divice; 5 to 8 minutes will be enough for the wax to melt. If using the stove, use a metal container and monitor the wax to prevent over-heating it. When the wax is ready, grab a piece of rag or any other kitchen glove to grab the geated pan; put it in a ceramic plate and let the pan cool off a little. Pour the melted wax onto the picture and spread it arround using a spatula or a kitchen spoon.
   Artisan waxing a drawing.
Next , using black straw, do the picture's outlines. I will strongly recomend to finish the outlines first and then continue with the colouring of the picture. JANETH SANCHEZ artisan starting with the colouring a picture using millet's broom stick, and picture below showing the workshop environment. | |
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