Gari Melchers Belmont- Art Education

Kaylee has been interested in art since she could hold a crayon. Our homeschool group offered art classes at a place we had not yet discovered, Belmont. Belmont was the home of an artist named Gari Melcher. There is more information about Belmont here. 

Over the last few months, we've attended each of their educational art classes and went on a tour. There is more information on the educational tours and art classes here.


The first field trip we took to Belmont was an art lesson about spray art....

Orange is her favorite color right now. 

My little artist.

Adding the final touches of glitter. 

Taking a tour around the front of the house. 

On a scavenger hunt with a friend.

Kaylee was very excited to be chosen to be the pretend
model for the Gari Melchers painting, "The Fencer."

On our second field trip to Belmont, we went to the class on sculptures. We watched the video about Gari Melcher, took the tour, and did the scavenger hunt, again. But, then Kaylee sat outside and made a sculpture out of clay.

Concentrating on her art.

Working hard.

All done. She made a pony.

On our last trip to Belmont, we took the last class. It was a class on watercolors. 

Kaylee tracing a colorful leaf.

Coloring the leaf with a special watercolor pencil. 

Kaylee's leaf is colored with the watercolor pencil. The next step is to "paint" the leaf
with a wet paintbrush to blend the colors. 

Kaylee was offended by the teacher during this class. The teacher thought that Kaylee had not colored in the leaf completely. So, the teacher "finished" coloring it in for her. I don't think that the teacher did it intentionally. Kaylee was polite and didn't say anything, but I could see by the expression on her face that she was upset and felt like the art work was no longer her own. I later explained to Kaylee that the teacher was trying to help. 

We enjoyed Belmont and all it has to offer. We would like to go back when there is really nice weather and follow some of the nature trails that are around the property.