Rafael López's Blog, page 3

Maintain social distancing while walking your pet

Let’s Make Some Music

This quarantine is the perfect opportunity to dust off that instrument you were learning, that is now sitting in a dark corner of the house. Or get creative and improvise by using everyday objects all around you. Music calms, heals and is pure magic. Let’s make some music.

I picked up the guitar at a young age in Mexico. Still play every day because making music makes me happy.

Each day, several times a day I pick up one of my guitars as it feels good to spend time with an old friend while sheltering in place. Music has also been a big part of my art making.

Portrait of Chuck Berry

Drum Dream Girl

Tito Puente. Mambo King.

To stay connected while social distancing, neighbors in Italy are making music from their balconies and so are people in Spain and New York. It’s something that can make you instantly feel better. Now it’s your turn. Here are some ideas to get you started.

DIY Instruments: Get creative with upcycled fun by having an at home instrument making workshop using things laying around the house like popsicle sticks, plates, cartons or bottlecaps. There are lots of videos online to show you how.

Musical bedtime stories: Pick out some favorite children’s books but this time sing the words to a familiar tune.

Hand washing songs: Now that we are all washing our hands in warm, soapy water for 20 seconds teach kids to sing a tune to help them make the moments count. Here are videos to old favorites that can make clean up a musical activity.

Resources that will be music to your ears:

Classics for Kids-you can be your child’s music teacher at home

Music Lab-a great site where children can experiment with music

SFS Kids-play games with music and have some musical fun

Carnegie Hall Listening Adventures-a young person’s guide to the amazing orchestra

Word Synth-this is an engaging place where kids can play with speech and music

 

 

 

Supermoon

Last night was a Supermoon and it was spectacular! If you could go to the moon what would you like to do there? Today’s coloring page is for dreamers so color this in your own way or write a story to go along with it.

This supermoon happened because the moon was in its closest approach to Earth in orbit. The moon was much brighter and bigger in the night sky last night. It was also called a pink moon and was our first full moon of spring and you can see some beautiful pictures of it around the world. The pink supermoon comes from native North American wildflowers that bloom in early Spring. You can learn more about what is happening in our night sky this month at Nasa’s jet propulsion lab.  I want to share a favorite video of mine I think you will enjoy.

I know you will enjoy. Did you know that in 2023, Yusaku Maezawa bought all the seats on SpaceX and plans to have six to eight artists join him on a trip to the moon? I sure hope he picks me. When they come back to Earth each artist will need to create a piece of art. I’m a huge fan of the moon and just to prove it, I’m showing you some of the art I’ve made giving our moon a starring role along with some interesting facts about our luminous friend.

Scientists believe the moon was created when a rock the size of Mars slammed into Earth just after our solar system started to form 4.5 billion years ago.

Did you know the moon is helps make the tides in our our oceans and seas?

The moon has earthquakes called moonquakes because of the gravitational influence of the Earth. They can last  up to half an hour.

Why not learn more about the phases of the moon by watching this video from PBS.

Stretch your imagination.

Here’s a Tuesday coloring page that was a sketch for the book Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood. Help our creative heroine Mira, color the town. Did you notice in my drawing  Mira stretches as she is painting what she sees in her imagination up in the sky? It’s my way of reminding readers to stretch their imagination. In the same way you exercise your body it’s a good idea to get regular exercise when it comes to your creativity.

Remember when you first learned to ride a bike and needed training wheels? After you practiced a lot your family took off those training wheels because you no longer need them…whoosh off you go!

In the same way you need to practice, exercise and get comfortable with using your imagination. Why? Because it’s amazing, it’s fun and it can become a good friend that helps you in all areas of your life. One thing I know for sure is that we are all creative and have a unique way of seeing things. It’s like our own one of kind thumbprint. There is no one else exactly like you so all you have to do is work on finding your voice. Just like Mira in the sketch, imagination is a way to take an image we see in our mind and then put it down on paper. It might be words or pictures as you are telling your story. There are few things as exciting so I hope you will give it a try.

When you stretch your imagination you can come up with ways to communicate how someone feels or show their emotions. In the image above from the book The Day You Begin, a shy boy looks at his reflection in the water and sees his potential to be an amazing storyteller.

So how do you get started?

I like being in a quiet space with a pad of paper and remember it is just for you. You can put down anything you want, a scribble, a few words…anything at all that comes to mind.

Don’t worry that it doesn’t look perfect but just put your ideas down. The important thing is to keep doing this because practice is going to make you feel really comfortable to invite your imagination to come along for the ride.

Most adults think artists or writers just have a light bulb go on and it’s like magic that only professional creatives can create. The truth is magic comes when you exercise your imagination on a regular basis. You keep building up your creative muscles and stick with it. That is how to get good at writing and making art and stretching your imagination.

A good place I like to go to push my imagination is my local library. Just because it is closed you can still check out lots of great things online. 

Writing your ideas and drawing them is the key to making them real. You can use your imagination wherever you are-when you make art, write stores, play games and it will help you come up with ideas to solve problems.

Have you ever dreamed about something you were thinking about? Dreams are like open windows that help us go where our imagination wants to travel. Remember when you practice to think of it is as play and have fun while using your imagination. Once you get started you won’t believe where it takes you.

 

 

Bird’s eye view

Good Monday morning. Sharing another mural sketch that stayed in my sketchbook. Let’s give it some life.

For the longest time, birds have been a big subject of my work as they inspire me and are my favorite creatures on our remarkable planet. What’s your favorite animal? As an illustrator, birds are just the right symbol to convey hidden meanings like freedom, hope, comfort, dreams or triumph. Here are a few images in my artworks where birds take flight.

How remarkable to be able to fly in the sky and soar on a breeze. It’s interesting to look at history, legend, faith and folklore and all the things birds can symbolize like victory, renewed life or a transition.

Blackbirds are seen as a positive sign for your spirituality and personal life and dreaming of them has a magical feel. Joy and happiness is associated with bluebirds as well as childhood.

Birds soar to faraway places in The Day You Begin.

Blue jays on the other hand signify clarity of thoughts and action.

Louis Agassiz Fuertes from Bravo! Poems about Amazing Hispanics.

Red cardinals signify love and warmth. Cranes are powerful symbols of renewal in body and the spirit. A favorite in my family is the Crow which is symbolic for the souls of our ancestors. Gentle Doves make you think of purity and to Christians the Holy Spirit.

They say people who dream of wild ducks are strong individuals aware of themselves and others. My son’s favorite bird the eagle is seen as a symbol of prosperity, success and the triumph over darkness. This is a great bird to be drawing and writing about now. A close second is the falcon and seeing one implies that help is on the way to you. Outgoing personalities are associated with flamingos which also signify vibrancy and grace. Here one connects with the music of the Drum Dream Girl.

A flamingo listens to the Drum Dream Girl make music.

Seeing a flamingo could also be interpreted as being family oriented and having a well-balanced personality. Flamingos encourage you to be social and vibrant in life. The messengers of the sky include hawks, eagles and falcons. Hens are often associated with motherhood.

The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred

Hummingbirds are signs of a positive approach to life and the gentleness of a person.

Hearing the song of a nightingale signifies a creative individual reaching for their full potential. Those who contemplate and are wise are associated with the owl.

Wise owl in Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You.

The beautiful peacock is often used as a symbol of nobility, guidance and protection.

Cover of the book Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring.

Robins are the perfect metaphor to show the start of a new idea. Another messenger bird that evokes freedom is the seagull. Sweet, gentle sparrows are considered symbols of hope.

Swallow swoops in Our California.

Seeing a swallow is a sign of rejuvenation of the spirit and a harbinger of spring. Purity of the soul and innocence is associated with swans. A Turkey is symbolic of family unity and  healing of the body after surgery. Woodpeckers signify those who protect nature as guardians of trees.

Take a look out your window…what birds do you see? Have some fun with birds. Here are some clever ideas to make a bird feeder at home!

 

The Earth laughs in flowers

Have you ever heard the expression, laughter is the best medicine? Sometimes being silly can make us feel better and that is what this weekends coloring page is all about. Oh Yes-Don’t forget to water your pet- is kind of weird, absolutely silly. I hope you will come up with your own great, really silly way to color and a crazy story to go with this image.

If you are feeling scared or nervous there is nothing like a good laugh to make you feel better and help you relax. Being silly can open up your creativity and a give you a sense of wonder so don’t forget to have fun this weekend while doing it.

The poet and writer Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best, “The earth laughs in flowers”.

See you again on Monday!

 

 

 

 

 

Discovering the Wonder of Nature

It’s Friday and I hope today’s coloring page takes you on a journey of discovery, thinking about the wonder of nature.

Hold something natural in the palm of your hand. Look around your house or back yard or patio and find a leaf or stone. Hold it in your hand then close your eyes and take a deep breath. You are touching nature and using your senses. Think back to a favorite moment spent in nature. Go over it in your mind. What colors do you see? What sounds do you hear and what do you smell? How does nature feel in the palm of your hand?

I like reading poetry because it helps me see images, how about you? Take a look at these inspiring nature poems for kids. Pick one you like and read it out loud to someone in your family. You can even try writing one of your very own.

I’ve found that spending time with and thinking about nature grows creativity and imagination. I’ve always liked watching animals in nature? There’s a secret place our family likes to hike in San Diego we call The Gulch. In Spring there are small rabbits and hares with long ears running from burrow to burrow. Once we watched a tiny fuzzy caterpillar climbing up through piles of sand determined to get to a patch of bright yellow flowers. Perhaps he was dreaming of becoming a yellow butterfly. I like to think about the colors and things I see in nature and put them into my art.

I like to put natural things on my desk and have collections of rocks, shells and leaves. Have fun with today’s coloring page.

Who knows where the path of nature will lead you…

 

Our bodies may not get out of the house but our imagination can!

Our bodies may not get out of the house but our imagination can!

If you could go on an adventure with a favorite pet where would you go? What would you do? If you don’t have a pet, what creature would you choose to share your outing with?

Now is a great time to invent characters, invent stories, games and activities. Play keeps us physically active even at home and lets you exercise your mind and creativity. Here are some ideas to get you started and keep you going.

Read a new book and re-read old favorites. There are free e-books at Project Gutenberg and other sites.
Draw and color.
Write a poem about this image or whatever makes your heart sing.
Take photos of your pet or favorite stuffed animal having an adventure.
Watch nature and animal videos on youtube.
Make a collage with old magazines and hang it in your room.
It’s time for Spring cleaning-start with your closet and bag it up to donate later to charity.
Take something you were planning to donate and upcycle it. 
Click here to take a tour of a famous museums around the world.
Watch aquarium web cams like this one and create stories.
Catch up on reading magazines free thanks to your local library.
Take an exercise class at home. Have a dance party, exercise and do yoga for kids.
Play hide and seek, build an indoor fort.
Put on a play and put together your own costumes.
Pick a favorite song on you tube and make your own instruments out of things around the house. Record your performance and share it.
Take an art challenge and learn to draw.
Make snack art and take photos of it.
Got some colored chalk around. Make gratitude murals at home or collages and share them using social media.
Got some rocks lying around? Paint them.
Write a letter to an old friend, teacher, soldier or grandparent.
Make your own family time capsule in a jar.

 

Tomie you will be missed

Color the Calm Power of Nature

Today’s coloring page is a calming image of nature for the middle of the week. This sketch reminded me of an exotic bird I saw by the edge of a creek during the last walk I took with my son. We were hiking the local mountains just before they wisely decided to close the park. I’m sure I will see it all again soon.

Being in nature, or even looking at scenes of nature just makes me feel better. You can go online and watch nature videos, documentaries or listen to music with nature sounds. Studies have shown that connecting to nature even on the Internet reduces  fear and stress and increases feelings of happiness. Your emotions feel better but it is also good for your body by reducing your heart rate, blood pressure and feelings of tension in muscles. Did you know that time in nature or viewing natural scenes helps us get better focus and pay attention. So while you color today think about the renewing power of nature.

Here’s a link to some great nature documentaries on youtube so you can watch one a day.

NATURE documentaries