Here's what's new with IAEA! | | |
We are so excited to share our newsletter with you! Inside you will learn about what your board members have been up to, important dates to add to your calendar, beginning of the year tips & tricks, and more! Sketchpad is IAEA's digital newsletter. The newsletter is published quarterly and includes information about upcoming opportunities for educators and students, highlights from around the state, and resources from friends and colleagues. | | | It's once again that time of year when we're all abuzz with new ideas for the upcoming school year and enough sleep to possibly carry them out. I hope your summer brought you time with family, the outdoors, and art new adventures. Whether you participated in the IAEA summer book study, did a deep-dive into a new craft, or visited an art museum (or several!), reconnecting with friends, trying something new, and creating is the best part of the season.
This summer, I was lucky enough to attend the NAEA Pacific Leadership Conference in Greeley, Colorado with some of my favorite art people from across the region to discuss the importance of art education, our role in promoting art education for all out here in the West, and bringing joy and spontaneity back into our personal artmaking practice. The new thing we got to try was creating a painting, ready for critique, in a three-hour window. Removing the barrier of overthinking and finessing was a great "art assignment" to try out when you're an over-thinker like me.
As we all know, the arts are essential. Art is what unites as as educators, as people, and as community members. If you could use some art community and joy in your life as we start the chaos of school, the IAEA Fall Conference is only two months away and will be located at the CWI campus in Nampa, Idaho. The IAEA Executive Board hopes to see you there, and if you have great ideas to share, please fill out the presenter application form below.
Wishing you a wonderful end to your summer and a great start to a new art adventure!
Melissa Stephenson, IAEA President
| | There are a lot of things happening around the state! Here you will find tips and tricks for going back to school, regional news, and resources. | | |
Elizabeth Covarrubias
Region III Rep, Southwest Idaho
| |
Elizabeth, our Region III Rep has a fantastic activity to create sketchbook covers during the first week of class using shaving cream.
Using a thin layer of shaving cream in a tray or dish, students add a few drops of food coloring or liquid watercolor and then swirl the design using a toothpick, skewer, pencil, or finger.
Finally, students place a sheet of paper on top to absorb the dye, and then scrape the extra shaving cream off of the paper.
This is a great way to create patterned paper for all sorts of projects, as well as sketchbook covers.
Read "Marbled Paper"
| |  | |
Idaho Commission on the Arts
Shape the Future of Creative Aging in Idaho
| |
Dear Idaho Artists and Teachers,
Arts Idaho (Idaho Commission on the Arts) needs your help in developing a
Creative Aging Directory. We are looking for feedback from artists and
teachers interested in leading older adults through creative processes.
Take the survey here!
Are you interested in being a Teaching Artist on the directory? We invite you to
join the Creative Aging Foundations training—an essential first step to being
included on the roster.
Click here for more information
| | | |
Hat "Tattoo" class!
Book a Hat Class at Create Gallery and Frames!
Join Jennifer Parks
Thursday, August 14, 2025
6:00 p.m. (2-3 hour session)
Class fee is $80, which covers a pre-ordered hat, a hat band, the use of a professional wood burner, and all the materials needed to create your own custom wood-burned hat.
This class will be held at Create Gallery and Frames, 3520 W Chinden Ave., Garden City, ID, 83714.
More info & Register for Class here
Jen was one of our artists who taught a Master class during our 2024 Summer Book Study.
| | | |
New to Teaching Art?
Mentoring someone who is?
Whether you or someone you know is a brand-new art teacher, moving to a new level of teaching art, or moving from the general education classroom into art, there are resources to support you. Check out this Art of Education article for resources.
Visit The Art of Education Magazine
| | | |
Blick Art Lesson Plans
Ready-to-Use Lessons
| |
Blick Art Materials has an entire repository of lesson plans which can be sorted by grade level, media, and whether or not it has a demonstration video. It also includes a section for adaptive art lessons. If you're looking for a new way to jazz up a unit or to find a way to use all your leftover brown printmaking ink, check out the link below:
Blick Lesson Plans
| | |
|
|
Art Room Grants
IAEA Art Room Grants! Art room grants can be used for a variety of projects and materials, including but not limited to art supplies directly related to the enhancement of art education within your classroom. Funds must be used within 6 months following an award. Recipients can receive up to $250 per grant. Art room grants are available to current IAEA members who have not received a grant from IAEA in the past two years. Due by October 1st.
Click here to fill out the Art Room Grant application
| | | | We want to hear from you! If you have something cool to highlight in our newsletter, reach out to your regional rep or to IAEA's Executive Board. | |
2025/2026 Theme:
The World Needs Art
| | |
Fun Fact: Youth Art Month History
"The Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) created Children’s Art Month in 1961 as an event to emphasize the value to children from participating in visual art education."
Learn more here
YAM Overview:
- Youth Art Month State Flags and Banners
- Youth Art Month Art Exhibitions
- And more...
IAEA is proud to announce that we will be hosting the flag design contest again with cash prizes for students and teachers within each region, in addition to a Grand Prize for the overall state winner. The winning design will be made into a flag for display at the NAEA convention, representing Idaho! Get ready for more information and begin thinking of how you want to promote this awesome experience with your students.
Visit idahoarted.org for more information (with more info to come soon!)
|
|
2025 Fall Conference
Art Unites Us!
Bringing Art Educators Together
| | |
Have a lesson or project you want to share at the conference?
The theme of our Fall 2025 conference is Art Unites Us. IAEA's conference is a chance to connect with colleagues, share innovative ideas, and leave with a renewed sense of how art can bring us together.
We are looking for proposals which may explore the following:
- utilizing standards in the classroom
- ceramics/3D
- integrating technology in the classroom
- choice-based classrooms
- incorporating collaboration and community
| |
| |
Get Involved with IAEA!
IAEA is accepting nominations for open positions.
If you are interested in learning more or would like to be considered for a position, please visit our website and complete the form. A slate of nominees will be presented in October for approval by the IAEA membership. Board terms start in January.
Click here to visit our website for more information and to complete the interest form.
| | | | Blick Art Materials supports the Idaho Art Education Association, as well as other state associations and art teachers across the nation. Learn more about lesson plans and great materials for you classroom here. | | | The Idaho Art Education Association promotes excellence in visual arts education in the State of Idaho. IAEA is a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a volunteer board that provides professional development opportunities and support for art educators throughout the state. | | | | |
