Monday, September 21, 2009

Completely Random

Dirty Hands, Clean Heart!

Tiangco hands dirty

“A poster the recipient completes by revealing spot-varnished type with hands made dirty by handling the poster,” by Roland Tiangco.

Tiangco handsdirty 2

Random thing I found from the Printeresting blog, via the NewLights Press blog...

Due Date Reminder(s)

Art 2's: Hand/Head studies are due on Friday. This will be the final component of your drawing packet, and the final grade will go in Aeries following this piece.

Art 2's also need to begin looking for a b/w photograph for our monochromatic oil project. You have two weeks before you need it, but I would strongly suggest looking now. If you can take your own picture, that would be even better (hint, hint).

Art 1/2/3/4H: EVERYONE has study drawings due next week!
Art 1 on Monday
Art 2 on Tuesday
Art 3/4H on Wednesday

Do not forget, do not forget, do not forget...study drawings are not accepted late! If I don't have them on the due date, and on time, you will get a zero.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

National Portfolios Day(s)

Just received a poster for this fall/winter's National Portfolio Day(s) around the country.
In Jan. they will be in:
San Francisco @ San Francisco Art Institute on 1-16-10
Los Angeles @ Art Center College of Design on 1-17-10

More information can be found @:
http://portfolioday.net/

You'll see art from different art schools there, as well as have the opportunity to get some feedback on some of your art. Essentially, it's a good place to scope out potential schools without having to go to them.

From the poster:
"What should I bring?
Your portfolio can include finished pieces, work in progress, and sketchbooks. We ask you to bring your original artwork whenever possible. We suggest that you do not spend time and money matting or framing your work. Keep your presentation simple; the work itself is what is of interest."

So there you go.

Steamroller in SF

So I finally decided to go to the "Roadworks" event that San Francisco Center for the Book puts on each fall. I've known about it since I first took a bookmaking class there three or four years ago. Honestly, it was much more interesting than I thought it would be. There were handmade vendors hawking print related works they had made (all very reasonably priced), guest artists inking huge (must have been at least three feet square) linoleum block prints, smaller twelve inch square lino blocks that you can pay to have printed (maybe next year? - I didn't know that "anyone" could participate), free letterpress workshop/bookbinding workshop, foam printing, and of course hours of a steamroller gliding over lino cuts just for the heck of it. Not all of the prints weren't perfect (it is a steamroller and not a press by the way), but it was a good time!
I'll show some photos in class, but here is a glimpse.


Here is a photo of my "book". I used the "is you is or is you ain't" line - lyrics from an old friend/musician in New Orleans, John Fohl (great acoustic blues guitarist who also plays for Dr. John).

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

College Visits

For right now I know of two art schools that will be on campus before October is over.
On Oct. 5th SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) will be in the career center before 5th period.
On Oct. 29th, MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) will be presenting in room 502 during tutorial.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Drawing Packets

As I figure out the timing of projects as we transition from 50 to 90 minute classes I can sense that it may not be uncommon for due dates to change. I assign due dates based on past experience with specific projects, and if a project is new, based on personal experience with that style/type of working method.
Which brings me to Art 1. The good news is that there are some really great drawings coming along for the "final pencil still life." I have decided to move the due date to Wed., though I probably won't change the date in Aeries.
Art 2/3 There are some good things happening, but most of you need to pick up the pace and/or use tutorial. There are a few that have come in for work time outside of class, and it has made a significant difference in your first two pieces of the year - in a very positive way.
Art 4's need to have matboard here this week in order to get their drawing presentation ready. As will some of the other levels, there is some great work, but a couple of you still have a ways to go. Time is really the only issue you are facing, but on the bright side, you'll have plenty of time to devote to study drawings before they are due. The first painting of the year will be due in Oct., approx. half-way through the second grading period.