Daily Sketchbook 12/16

It's a short class period today so we need to be super duper efficient.
It is AOTM time, so let's do this.
You've heard me mention his name before, and he's one of our table group artists, so let's learn something about the inimitable Lucian Freud!

Daily Sketchbook 12/15

Get out your pen and ink and your sketchbook.
Yes, your real, old school, dip pen and ink.
Do not draw out your sketch in pencil before you begin.
Use one of the images below as your inspiration.
Get as far as you can in your fifteen minutes.
Have fun.

Daily Sketchbook 12/13

Draw an...

open book, like one from HERE.

and a

banana peel, like one from HERE

in some interesting way. Use only pencil.

Don't be afraid to include multiples of something to make it as interesting as possible.

Daily Sketchbook 12/9

Mindful.
Moment.
Mindful.
Moment.
Mindful.
Moment.
You know what to do so please prep yourself and turn towards moi.

Art 1's Please Read

I am keeping the due date for the color wheel tempera painting as tomorrow, 12/8.
However, I am extending the time that you have to get your painting to me without penalty as outlined below.

You will have until the end of tutorial on Monday, 12/12 to get me your painting. Please note that you may NOT use class time on 12/12 to work on your painting.
This will give you after school time on Thursday, tutorial time on Friday, after school time on Friday, and tutorial time on Monday to get additional time on your painting.

Please do not rush the last 10% and make your painting a wreck in order to just get it done. Please don't do this.
I'm really enjoying some of the work you have already done and am looking forward to seeing your end results.

Keep in mind your probable need to have more than one layer on most areas in order to have opaque and smoothly applied paint. Please keep in mind the need to cover your pencil lines completely. Don't forget the color/value requirements either.

Smile. Have fun. I'll see you in class tomorrow.

Daily Sketchbook 12/7

Austin Kleon is a favorite. Much about the career he has constructed for himself is crazy great, and he is someone I suggest you investigate/look up at some point.

He first became "known" online for creating what he has termed "Newspaper Blackouts"

While you can watch the following video (volume not necessary) , I think the examples below it are probably just as instructive. I think the length of the piece in the video is a little much as sometimes less is more.

Grab a page from a magazine and a sharpie to create your own.

When you are finished you should use rubber  cement or glue stick (if you have your own) or scotch tape to attach your blackout poem to the next available page in your sketchbook.

As an added bonus, I will call on a few of you to read yours aloud to the class!

Daily Sketchbook 12/5

Below is a woodcut by Jean Arp. Please draw it out and begin using a sharpie to make it as close to the original as possible in the given time. Smile. Art is fun.

Daily Sketchbook 12/1

Continuation!
Go back to the same ipad you had on Tuesday and open up procreate. Continue working on your sandcastle drawing to make it better and more accurate.
When you have finished 12 minutes of working on it, export it as a jpg and upload that image to Canvas please.

Daily Sketcbhook 11/29

Go back to your daily sketchbook page from 10/12 (the one where you added watercolor to your sandcastle drawing.

Keep your book open to that page while simultaneously opening the procreate app on the ipad.

Begin replicating your sandcastle painting in that procreate app and see how close you can get it to look in the next 13 minutes.

Remember that you can create layers for diff areas, and you can adjust the opacity of a brush/tool/layer with the slider on the side of the screen.

When time is up, export the image as a jpg and upload that image to Canvas.

Coming back to class during tutorial on an "off" day and finding your ipad and continuing to work on this image so that you get better with drawing on the ipad is always a good idea. Hint hint.

Daily Sketchbook 11/22

Please work on - or continue working on - one of your finished study drawings.
This lets me see your process and makes me happy.
Photograph with the ipad and upload as soon as your time is up.

Do You Listen To Podcasts?

I just finished listening to yet another Jealous Curator podcast I thought you might find interesting. This is another interview with Lisa Congdon about some new work from both of them, and the whole discussion regarding the inner critic and the painting curve is super interesting. I thought you might enjoy. It's a bit lengthy, but you can take it in bits of you like here is the link 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jealous-curator-art-for-your/id996338562?mt=2#episodeGuid=fa49e42ff6296d22a0f2f1978beebb85

But then you can just search for the newest episode...or I think it is episode 77. 

Cheers. 

Daily Sketchbook 11/14 - plus more...read everything!

This is your official redemption week.
As I have said to many of you throughout this semester, if you miss a daily sketchbook day, it really isn't that big of a deal. At two points per day, two or even six or eight points doesn't make (or shouldn't make) that big of a difference over an 18 week semester.
However, I am surprised at how many days some of you have missed. Wow.

So here is the deal. There are seven days of school between now and Thanksgiving Break. If you look at the daily sketchbook assignment for today through the 22nd, you'll notice that it is only worth four points. Those four points will come from next week, and yes, you are expected to upload a daily sketchbook page for each of those days next week. For this week, though, you have the option.

You will not be "penalized" for not uploading a daily sketchbook image - both in class and on the off days (but note that you should be vigorously working on your oil painting if you are not doing a daily sketchbook in class), but you will receive points for doing a daily sketchbook for each day of this week.

What does this look like? Allow me to paint you a picture.
Let's say Jane does a daily sketchbook for today and tomorrow, but not for Wed, Thurs, or Fri, but gets back on track next week for both days. This will leave her with eight points out of four. Basically "extra credit".
If Jane really just wants to make some headway on her painting and does nothing for her daily sketchbook this week, but is on top of it both days next week, she would receive four out of four available points, or 100% for this two week section of daily sketchbook time.

BUT...let me be clear on a few things. First, some of you are not uploading appropriately, so let me remind you of the expectations as defined online. "When photographing for your daily sketchbook upload ALWAYS photograph the entire page AND make sure your image is IN FOCUS AND make sure there is no shadow from your hand/device obscuring the image." At least that's what it says on Canvas. Presentation matters!!! 
Second, I will only be giving credit for images that are uploaded for each day this week. This means that you cannot upload during tutorial or right before class starts after an off day from class. I will only be giving credit for one photo of a sketchbook page per day. If you draw something at home (or school) on Tuesday but don't upload the image on Tuesday and you wait until Wed., you will not receive credit. To be really clear, 12:01am on "Tuesday night" is NOT going to be considered Tuesday. It is Wednesday. So don't wait until the last minute. I am going to be much much more strict on this since it both makes my life easier and it requires a smidge more effort on your part. But hey, this is extra so you should be happy, right?

Oh, and again,
When photographing for your daily sketchbook upload ALWAYS photograph the entire page AND make sure your image is IN FOCUS AND make sure there is no shadow from your hand/device obscuring the image. I will be paying attention to how you photograph and upload your images and if you are not doing as asked, I reserve the right to withhold credit. Good habits, folks. Let's solidify good habits!

Lastly, Art 4's, I am moving your due date to Friday. I haven't decided if it is due at the end of class or at some point in the middle of class yes, but I do know that I want to spend some time talking about your next assignment on Wednesday, so know that even though I am giving you more class time to work on this, you won't have all of that time for your own work time. I do expect to see some of you working on your painting outside of class time to make sure it is completed well. Additionally, there will be a bit of writing that I will ask from you regarding your painting, so be prepared to use some of class time for that as well on Friday (or Wednesday).

Daily Sketchbook 11/9

AOTM AOTM AOTM!!!

Come gather round with sketchbook and pencil and learn that knowledge about this guy.

Flesh

Many of you are dealing with painting faces, and many of you are making really good choices in your paintings. I do want to throw out a few notes and jumping off points just in case you desire/need them.
I mean, I know the basic recipe I tend towards when painting a portrait (white + burnt sienna with dabs of cadmium red light, ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow medium), but there are so many recipes out there.
One of the things I know is that if you find a flesh color that you like, and only deal with adding different amounts of white to it to create varying values, you tend to have a painting that lacks complexity and depth.
I also know that for many of you, putting vivid colors in your painting of flesh makes you feel uncomfortable. So what are you to do?
First, I did a quick search for "painting flesh in oil" or something like that, and then started to look at some of the content that came from there. There is so much interesting information out there that is only a search away.
If you find that you aren't getting the color(s) you desire, and you haven't used the books in class as guides, or the chart near the back door in class, or asked your peers, I strongly recommend you visit some of the links in this post.

Cheers!

Daily Sketchbook 11/7

This was published a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully you have watched the included videos ahead of time and already begun percolating some ideas in your cranial cavity.



"What I see for the future..."

That's the theme put out by Google for this year's doodle contest. First I want to get in to what they write before talking about the prizes - which I think you'll be interested in.

First, "challenge student to look at how they will make a difference in creating the world of tomorrow."

1. Have students explore the industries and technologies that are shaping our future, such as:

• transportation (driverless cars, commercial space travel)
• renewable energy (windmill power)
• technology (3D printing, artificial intelligence)

2. As students research, have them consider what things will be like in the future: How will people communicate with family and friends How will they commute to school and work? Will there be world peace and equality?

3. Ask students to select one emerging technology/trend that would change their daily lives in the future. Challenge the students to think about how they can help advance the cause through their efforts in the future.

4. Have students create a presentation sharing how they could tackle this issue and make an impact in the future.


This is a lot to take in. BEFORE I give you their template, I just want you to brainstorm. See what you might be interested in portraying by collecting ideas from everyone at your table group. Make a list (words and images) that you may use as a jumping off point.
That may be as far as you get today. This is ok.

Speaking of inspiration, they have THIS VIDEO that is pretty interesting in terms of ideation and working methods, some of which may sound familiar.

That first video is "imagine" and THIS SECOND VIDEO is called "create". I especially love this second one. You may want to watch it more than once. Just saying.

I would view this prompt as a process. You can take several (non-class) days to work on this - which I kind of suggest, and you may also use this as one of your study drawings for the month of November.


For this daily sketchbook, I have the Google template on my desk. You may begin drawing/doodling on it once you read the text, or you may end up spending most of your time watching the linked videos (and not get much done on the template. You may also begin brainstorming content and ideas in your sketchbook as notes for working on your Google design.
Because of this, there are a few options you may include for your daily sketchbook.
One might simply be a screenshot from the ipad of the video(s) as you watch them (though this is certainly the path of least resistance; one may be of you working on the template; one may be of the template next to your brainstorming on a page in your sketchbook. 

Daily Sketchbook 11/3

This is a mindful moment day.
Please take a seat, pushed back from your table and facing me.
If you can get your feet on the ground, please do. I will begin once your eyes are shut and the room is prepared.
When we are finished please photograph and upload WITH AN IPAD for your daily sketchbook.

Daily Sketchbook 11/1

It's been a while, I know.
You should have a page with your watercolor wash or your "hatch" marks on it. On top of this you should have a drawing in pencil.
Here's what I want you do, get one of my uni-ball pens if you don't have one of your own (Art 3's, just follow the lead of the Art 4's), and continue on that drawing by going over what you have in pencil, adding to it, and/or shading.
Just make it look great again ;)

Daily Sketchbook 10/28

Draw something on the next blank page in your sketchbook that starts with the last letter of your last name.

Daily Sketchbook 10/26

Surprise.
You are welcome.
It is a waffle day, but in a way I have never done it before.
Here is my request in the form of two options.
Option One: draw a waffle, in ink, topped with stuff and make it look awesome;
Options Tow: take a photo of the waffle you eat in class (before you eat it) and upload that.

As usual, ONLY take your photo and upload with the ipad (this has been an issue for some of you in fourth per esp...you know who you are, so please make me happy and don't let this be an issue since I am being so giving today).

Daily Sketchbook 10/24

Please work on - or continue working on - one of your finished study drawings.
This lets me see your process and makes me happy.
Photograph with the ipad and upload as soon as your time is up.

Daily Sketchbook 10/20

Draw a cardboard box tipped on its side.
What is spilling/coming out of the box?
Draw this as well.

Google Doodle Contest (Daily Sketchbook for 11/7)

"What I see for the future..."

That's the theme put out by Google for this year's doodle contest. First I want to get in to what they write before talking about the prizes - which I think you'll be interested in.

First, "challenge student to look at how they will make a difference in creating the world of tomorrow."

1. Have students explore the industries and technologies that are shaping our future, such as:

• transportation (driverless cars, commercial space travel)
• renewable energy (windmill power)
• technology (3D printing, artificial intelligence)

2. As students research, have them consider what things will be like in the future: How will people communicate with family and friends How will they commute to school and work? Will there be world peace and equality?

3. Ask students to select one emerging technology/trend that would change their daily lives in the future. Challenge the students to think about how they can help advance the cause through their efforts in the future.

4. Have students create a presentation sharing how they could tackle this issue and make an impact in the future.


This is a lot to take in. BEFORE I give you their template, I just want you to brainstorm. See what you might be interested in portraying by collecting ideas from everyone at your table group. Make a list (words and images) that you may use as a jumping off point.
That may be as far as you get today. This is ok.

Speaking of inspiration, they have THIS VIDEO that is pretty interesting in terms of ideation and working methods, some of which may sound familiar.

That first video is "imagine" and THIS SECOND VIDEO is called "create". I especially love this second one. You may want to watch it more than once. Just saying.

I would view this prompt as a process. You can take several (non-class) days to work on this - which I kind of suggest, and you may also use this as one of your study drawings for the month of November.

Outside the Box

Los Gatos Utility Box Art Program

The Town of Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Department announces the unique opportunity for Bay Area artists to submit designs for the Outside the Box program.

Overview
The Outside the Box Utility Box Art Program is designed to enhance the area by adding works of art to the streetscapes on surfaces that are often targeted by graffiti vandals. Artwork on utility boxes functions as a form of communication to a moving audience with the goal of creating a safe, inclusive and interesting urban environment. Successful proposals will foster community pride, convey the sense of the Los Gatos community, and add awareness of sustainability to the Town. Accepted artwork will be converted into a vinyl wrap and installed directly on the utility box.

Design Guidelines and Specifications for Selected Artists

• Design must include all visible sides of the utility box
• designs must not be offensive, and no advertising, branding, or commercial images are allowed
• if the design is to include text, it must be included in the proposal. The artist must have the right to use this text. Designs may not include any breach of intellectual property, trademarks, brands, images of illegal activity or involve the attachment of any objects to the box
• designs should not mimic or take the style of tags or graffiti
• the finished artworks will be in the public domain and therefore may be vandalized. Accordingly, artists should be thoughtful about having large open areas in the design - for example, large areas of blue skies may give a vandal the perfect spot to deface the work
• the vinyl wraps have a lifetime of five years; the town has the right to replace them at that time or if vandalized prior to that time
• selected artists will be subject to signing a public art agreement through the Town of Los Gatos and be held subject to those requirements, deadlines, and restrictions
• artists will be involved in approving a semi-final layout of their image on the utility box

Selection Process
A selection panel comprised of two employees of the Town's Environmental Services Division, one employee of the Town Manager's Office, and two members of the Arts and Culture Commission will review all applications and select up to five finalists. The number of artists selected and how many utility box designs each artists will create is chosen at the discretion of the selection committee.

How To Apply
Artists must be Bay Area residents

All applicants are required to submit the following application:
https://losgatos.seamlessdocs.com/f/jE8ilH

The application outlines the following:

1. Design concept - briefly explain your design concept(s) for each box
2. Resume
3. Digital examples of previous work
4. Design(s) - each applicant can submit up to three sample designs
5. Affirmative representation that the artist owns all copyright rights without restriction or infringement on any third party rights to the artwork submitted for consideration

The Town reserves the right to accept any applications, to not accept any artist recommended by the Selection Committee, to initiate an alternate selection process, or to reissue the Call to Artists.

If the submittal material package does not include all items listed above, the Town of Los Gatos shall determine which submittal packages are responsive and reserves the right to reject all incomplete proposals. Please do not send information or materials not specifically requested as part of this application.

Notification of Results and Installation

• the artist selected will be notified at the conclusion of panel deliberations. Applications will receive notifications of the panel's decision by email. The Town of Los Gatos reserves the right not to select any of the applicants
• Selected artists will be given a %500.00 stipend to design one mural each, featuring the theme provided for each box
• The fabricator will take artists designs, transfer them to a vinyl wrap, and then apply them to the utility boxes
• utility boxes range in size and shape. There are vertical and horizontal forms. Please be aware that the wraps and designs may also be modified to accommodate a number of special features including meters, vents, and handles.
• Note that because boxes range in size and images could be used more than once, some cropping may occur to images
• Artwork will be celebrated with an unveiling presentation

Timeline*
October 10, 2016 - call for artists
December 2, 2016 - deadline for artists to submit designs
December 2016 - Committee reviews design
January 2017 - Chosen designs announced
Spring 2017 - Wraps installed
*dates are tentative and subject to change

Application Submission and Inquiries
Applications must be received no later than 5:00pm on December 2, 2016. All questions should be directed to the Parks & Public Works Department at (408) 399-5770 or e-mail ppw@losgatosca.gov

Terms, Conditions, and Reservations of Rights
By submitting a proposal, proposers grant the Town of Los Gatos the right to use the selected artist' work in Downtown Los Gatos, as well as for advertising, promotion, and for any other Town purpose. By submitting the proposal, proposers agree that the Town of Los Gatos is not responsible for any incorrect information caused by any technical or human error that may occur in the processing of submissions by the Town, including but not limited to any misprints or typographical errors.

The Town of Los Gatos will not be responsible for incomplete, defective, or unreadable entries or for failure to receive entries due to transmission failures or technical failures of any kind. All submittals become the property of the Town of Los Gatos.

Utility Box themes: 

1. Environmental Cats Box: for this box, located at Blossom Hill & Union, the theme should incorporate our Los Gatos cats and environmental consciousnesss. This could include a Los Gatos cat with a background promoting clean air, clean creeks, alternate transportation, etc...
2. Town Sustainability: for this box, located at University & Main, the theme should centralize around town activities incorporating sustainability. This could include using recyling cans near local eateries, alternative transportation, shopping local, etc...
3. Promoting Active Lifestyles: for this box, located at Oka & Lark, the theme should stress the importance of active healthy lifestyles. This could include a collage of fitness activities or focusing on one particular outdooor activity such as walking, hiking, biking, swimming, etc...
4. Celebrating Open Spaces: For this box, located at College & Pageant, the theme should focus on bringing attention to St. Joseph's Hill Open Space. This could include such things as a trail map or overview point for St. Joseph's Hill
5. Keeping Creeks Clean: for this box, located at University & Mullen, the theme should focus on the importance of keeping our creeks clean, which ultimately leads to the Bay. This box could include a graphic that implies this. Please see West Valley Clean Water Program, The Ocean Conservancy, or The Surfrider Foundation for inspiration.

Daily Sketchbook 10/18

Take out a pencil or pen and drawing the raw ingredients of one of your favorite dishes.
Alternatively you could draw the process of making this same dish.

See below for an example of what this could look like.

Daily Sketcbhook 10/14

This is a mindful moment day.
Please take a seat, pushed back from your table and facing me.
If you can get your feet on the ground, please do. I will begin once your eyes are shut and the room is prepared.
When we are finished please photograph and upload WITH AN IPAD for your daily sketchbook.

Daily Sketchbook 10/12

Get your watercolors out and get the best and most interesting colors and techniques you can get in 13 minutes on your sandcastle drawing from a few class periods ago.
Don't forget about textures!

Daily Sketchbook 10/10

Get a pen and a mirror (behind the colored pencils in the tool cabinet).
On the next blank page in your sketchbook draw a blind contour drawing of yourself for at least five minutes, but no longer than eight minutes.
Please use your own timer on the ipad you grabbed from the cart.

Daily Sketchbook 10/6

On the next blank page in your sketchbook, draw a sandcastle on the beach.

We will add to this later so don't do anything else to this beyond the 15 min you have today (unless you want to get more pencil work done to "finish" it as part of a daily sketchbook on an off day from class).

Daily Sketchbook 10/4

Choose your media and brainstorm with your table mates and draw a page full of things that roll.
More is better. Be specific but not necessarily/overly detailed. How many objects can you come up with?

Do You Like Videos?

And then there is this thing a couple friends of mine made. In case you are inquisitive enough to spend a few minutes of your day HERE.
I'd love to know your thoughts, too!

Are You Overdoing It?

I just finished THIS ARTICLE from 99u (a great platform from Behance...which is from Adobe - right in our back yard) about the necessary aspects of breaks during the day.
This is more about "adult life work", but I think it applies to you students as well.

If you are go go going all day between classes and practice and work and homework and chores and messaging your friends and social media, well, it is just too much. Where is the balance?

I am guilty of this. Our machines make it way to easy to constantly be connected, and there is always - it seems - so much to do. For example, I've been doing work here at my laptop for the last 25 minutes and couldn't it wait? I worked all the way through last Friday at lunch, but did I need to?
I feel like I did. There was a lot of work to do. But is that going to yield nothing but negative results by the middle of the afternoon?

It reminds me of all the parents and school board members that have voiced feelings of concern and frustration that you students have a 40 minute tutorial in the middle of the school day when "you should be in class", but science just doesn't back that up.
At all.

Which leads to my next points...

At any rate, this sort of couples with what I listened to at Stanford on Friday night. There was another Challenge Success event and the keynote speaker has some interesting research to share.

Teens spend, on average, NINE HOURS on their devices for non-academic purposes each day. See, that 30 seconds or 2 minutes adds up over time.
The other big thing that stood out to me was that the part of our brain that is needed for studying and learning is the same part of our brain that is engaged when we have a screen in front of us.

What this means is that we think we might be zoning out and relaxing by checking a Snapchat Story, or watching Netflix, or scrolling through Instagram, but we aren't. Ultimately we are just adding to the exhausted and fatigue that we get from doing homework and being in class.

Interesting, huh?

Continued Painting Ponderings

I know I spent a lot of time talking about the thumbnails and compositions and...well, I just spent a lot of time talking on Thursday. I hope it helped spark some ideas and (maybe) get the mental juices flowing. It did for me, I know this.
I have some images and thoughts below that have come up for me since then. That happens a lot, something happens, or I see or read something, and then I start seeing things in that vein everywhere.

So here goes. First I saw this image while going through the explore feature in instagram. I think it's interesting. Something like this could easily be a great self portrait. You can get different angles, and/or different emotions. You can have it representing different parts of you or how you are. You don't even have to think so much about space and depth. If you look closely it also has some crisp/clean/defined corners amongst the very organic aspects of the human head. This can be very interesting compositionally.

Then I saw the below image at the Kaleid Gallery in downtown San Jose yesterday when the fam and I went to the MLK Library and to get some Philz Coffee.

That image has some interesting use of color and brush work in it. That's initially what pulled me in, but then when I saw the organic elements (person, plants) mixed with the origami (which is a man made element) I started thinking.
Well, with that boat...that is kind of a representative element regarding a journey - or travel at the very least, but the plants...those are grounded...rooted...and need a place to grow. They need to be fed and watered and tended to. If you tend to those plants they take care of you. They give you oxygen and food - assuming it is that sort of plant/crop.
But there is so much to learn from getting out and seeing the world as well.
You are at this point of ending one journey and starting another.
How do you stay grounded with what you know and what you have learned while also getting out there and exploring and seeing what else there is?
How are you transitioning from one place to another?
How do you decide to stay or go? What does that even mean?
What else could you use to represent rooted versus moving?

(actually, it isn't origami, I was just remembering incorrectly; I used some origami boats in my drawings last spring, so that's probably what I was thinking of, but I hope you get my point...it's still a boat.)

Then I saw the below image that I linked to from another link from a totally different image that was posted in a facebook group for high school art teachers that I am in.

I love the playfulness of this image. Immediately I thought back to the spring of 2008.
This is when my son was a senior here at lghs. I remember he and his friends hanging out at our house and one day I had this massive thought that came over me.
There in the living room were these 17 and 18 year old "young men" who were getting ready to graduate and go off to college at places like Santa Clara and Berkeley and Boulder and Arizona. They were smart and well educated and articulate.
They looked like "adults" for most intents and purposes. But they were being so goofy and funny as they were teasing each other having fun and playing guitar hero right there in the room next to the kitchen.
They were kids.
They should be kids.
They should hold on to that for as long as they can.
That care free spirit and goofiness and joy and FUN.

You all have so much on your plates, and everyone expects so much from you - including myself. Is that the most fair?
Well, yes.
And no.
You are capable of exceeding our expectations, but at least for myself, I want you to retain that image and essence of playfulness.
I know it is integral to your existence and your future joy.

So yes, that is a lot of what went through my head when I saw that stack of lego that had a t-rex perched atop it. That's what happens when you have a richness of experience to pull from.
I also thought about a series of drawings I did this summer for a class that I was in, which will come below.
But that lego image. It made me think of this transitional period you are all in of being kids, but becoming adults.
How do you hang on to the sense of wonder and play that you are expert at as a child while also undertaking the journey and transformation into responsibility and adulthood?


So here are the images from this summer. I was tasked with creating a series of work that could be any topic I wanted. I think the first two are pretty interesting drawings, and the third one - of lego - is by far the least successful.
Well, in my opinion anyway.
But it probably helps with why I was drawn to the above lego image...because I had used them in a recent drawing of mine.
I don't love the outcome, but I do think the idea is a good one.
I was in Sonora at a "vacation" house that my wife and her sisters grew up going to. It isn't fancy, and it is definitely dated, and it isn't in an amazing location such as Tahoe.
Her family just didn't have the kind of money for something like that. Or even for a "traditional" vacation. This is all they did for vacation when she was growing up - go to this A-Frame house and swim in a lake. There were no flights to Hawaii or Europe or even the Grand Canyon.
This is a similarity she and I share, we didn't have much except for a very low key middle class upbringing.
But I am digressing...actually, I'll share something else.
I had to write a statement that discussed the three images I made (an "artist's statement", if you will), so I'll paste that below.
It isn't edited in the best sense, but I do think that it communicates some interesting sentiments. Don't judge, just take from it what you will. It's below the third image.
Oh, this series was called "In The Days of My Youth".

As an artist and educator I am almost immediately asked, “Well, what kind of work do YOU do?” by those that are just meeting me and the inevitable question of what do I “do” arrises. I always find this odd because there have been zero times my colleagues in science have been asked, “What kind of science do you do (at home)?” or in English, “What do you write (in your free time)?”

I never know how to answer this. I do everything - or at least what feels like everything. Today is different than one year ago, and certainly different than five years ago. I make marks. I make beauty. I make happiness. As creators know, you just do things and the ideas come. The opposite can also be true.

For this body of work I began with joy and memory. While on vacation at an old family retreat (well, my wife’s family, that is) I was more in tune than in the past. I kept my eyes open as I worked in my daily sketchbook and as I watched my step-daughter play.

This place, in Sonora, CA, is a relic of the past. The majority of the A-frame’s contents were there when the place was bought, and have remained for more than 35 years. Everything has a story, and because of use and love, everything has character.

While I don’t know if any of the toys there were Made in America, undoubtedly some were. They arrive with chipped paint and the hard clank of metal as they are dumped out of the cardboard cylinder that houses many of them. They sound old. The look loved. They are, in every sense, relics - of when they were made and the memories they carry.

On top of this, they are living on as the daughters of the mothers that once played with them give them new life. After all, there is no wifi and no tv and no way to pass the time save for games, toys, nature and family.

Could I take these perfectly imperfect toys and give them a new life? A new story? Or at least be part of the story/history myself? What happens when you bring them to the table in a different way? Celebrating not what they can do but how they look; celebrating the beauty that is easily glossed over and the imperfection that is their beauty.

I took the memory of childhood, and an era that is no more, and existed there for a while. I took fleeting moments of fury and fun and extended them into hours of new work. I focused on the basics not just of childhood - where you create your own stories without help from electricity, but the basics of art as well, and created using composition, line, and shape to focus the viewer’s eyes and attention.

I hope to grasp a gaze for long enough to bring a smile - through memory - to a day that exists still, somewhere in all of us.


This is along post. I know. If you made it this far, thank you for your time. Enjoy having tomorrow off school! See you Tuesday!

Daily Sketchbook 9/29

Go back to two previous daily sketchbook pages. The pages/dates I want you to reference are as follows:

• 9/13 - where you wrote a list of many things you are grateful for, and
• 9/19 - where you created a wash or a pattern of watercolor

I want you to take one of the statements/comments/items from the 13th and illustrate it on top of your watercolor wash/pattern from the 19th. Work in pencil for today please.

Class Discussion re: painting

We will go over this in class together. Do not pay attention to this post.

For My Art 3 and Art 4 Students

I need to be honest and forthcoming with all of you, and I am hoping to do this without taking class time and without pointing fingers.

As you know, or should know, there is a lot of skill in this room. You all have strengths and you all have weaknesses (as does everyone). Part of my job is to enhance those strengths you have and to help develop the weaknesses (which might even become strengths in the future). Part of my job is also to show you more possibilities and to push you to go further in certain areas.

This is a difficult task since we all have our own unique abilities and perspectives. Sometimes I succeed more than others. I also know that my vision is different than yours, and the ideas I have around a certain topic are not always "right". However, I do have the benefit of experience, and part of this whole education thing is there being an explicit level of trust that you, as a student, need to have in your instructor. I won't suggest changes to you, or ask of tasks from you, if I didn't think they would be of benefit.

While it is true that you don't always need to follow my advice, many times I am giving the advice because I truly feel it is needed - and will make your image better. Sometimes the advice will be in the form of a "don't forget to do this...", and sometimes a "what about if you did...", or "you need more of...", etc.

From you I need a willingness to not just work hard, but to also try things. Coming up with drawings and paintings is difficult business, this I know. But I know that you have it in you. I have seen it. I just ask that you push yourself and commit to that personal and creative exploration and development.

So I have a few points to speak to. You only need to pay attention to your level of Art below.

Let's start with Art 3:
Really this only goes to those of you that turned in your Chopped project today. In general, you did go far enough. There are some really wonderful colors and textures here, but too many of them don't feel as complex as they should. I think you should go back and add more.
The frustration comes in that I remember telling some of you that you needed to go a little further in class today, and then you didn't. Why?
Are you tired? Do you just dislike this project? Did you not look at the online examples enough? Are you still feeling uncomfortable with pen and ink? Have you practiced, with examples to go on, with your ink enough lately?

Overall, I would like you to add more. I really think many of the images would be better. Look up some p&i images online and see how you can further what you did, and take advantage of the time you have in class on Thurs to make your image stronger if you choose.

Don't turn it in just to have it done when you know you have more time. Don't be "fine" with what you have just because it is the due date. Don't be afraid to push yourself.

And now Art 4:
Thumbnails. Most of you had at least ten. If that was the case I gave you full credit. For some of you I left comments. Please read them.
Too many times you turned in what I specifically asked you not to, which is some image, but not really a composition.
If you go back and you look at the best paintings in history, almost always there is some form of depth/space created because of foreground, middle ground, and background. Or at least two of these three.
Why did so many of you choose to leave this simple concept out of your images? You had almost two full class periods to draw up ten thumbnails, and this included a weekend in between when you could have spent at least a little bit of time looking for inspiration and continuing to brainstorm.

At a minimum I will be holding you to the same standards as an Art 1 student, and never do I willingly let them do one central image and just have a blank background (or just a solid color). There needs to be more.

You need to engage me visually at a minimum.

And in terms of choices, go beyond the surface of an idea. 
A choice between what? If it is a choice between to obvious things, you can go deeper than that. 
Just visually depicting a choice between two things is still kind of surface thinking. Get into it more.
How does that choice affect you?
How can you make the image personal? Or at least personal to a friend or family member?
How does a choice define you?
How does a choice that is made (by you or someone else) have a ripple effect?

I didn't spend a lot of time squinting at your thumbnails, but too often it seems like you are settling on the word "choice", and when you do that - versus diving into the cause and/or effect of the word - it just doesn't have much substance to it. 
Did you go back and look at what the museum wrote in their blurb in the pamphlet or online? 
I would suggest that you do.

I am looking for more complexity from you (composition and idea) than in the past because you have more experience than you have had in the past. Don't be complacent. Don't be afraid to try something new. Don't be afraid to do something different than your friends. 
Don't do something "simple".

I want to see that you can handle shape and value and contrast and color and space and balance and unity and all of those fancy "art" words all wrapped up into one stellar image!
I want to see that you are challenging yourself.

How will you push your idea further than just a beautifully painted image?

 

Daily Sketchbook 9/27

Please work on - or continue working on - one of your finished study drawings.
This lets me see your process and makes me happy.
Photograph with the ipad and upload as soon as your time is up.

NUMU Student Exhibition

The annual NUMU high school exhibition isn't exactly soon, but since I have the information for the theme I might as well share them here.

The theme they have decided on this year is: Choices.

Here is what they have to say in the pamphlet I received from them:

"Which a spotlight on youth perspectives, NUMU asks stdents to visually communicate their responses to the theme, Choices.
Life is a set of choices. We live with the consequences of the choices we make as well as those made for us. Our family, our friends, our teachers, our leaders make choices that affect each of us. How does choice define you, identify you, or excite you? What impact has a choice made by you or others, regionally or globally, influenced you and/or the world? What single significant choice affects you now?"

You can find more information about the exhibit ONLINE HERE, or by taking one of the fliers from my desk.

Daily Sketchbook 9/23

This is a mindful moment day.
Please take a seat, pushed back from your table and facing me.
If you can get your feet on the ground, please do. I will begin once your eyes are shut and the room is prepared.
When we are finished please photograph and upload WITH AN IPAD for your daily sketchbook.

Daily Sketchbook 9/21

Today is a day for you to get some time on a finished study drawing. If you haven't started yet, please get there.
Please only spend 15 min (max) on your "daily sketchbook, and be sure to upload your image to Canvas.
We - meaning you, really - will be doing the same thing on the 27th, so come prepared.

Remember, you need three study drawings from your list of topics to turn in in a portfolio page on the 29th!

Daily Sketchbook 9/19

Step One: Get out your watercolor supplies
Step Two: Mix up 2-3 interesting colors that are LIGHT IN VALUE
Step Three: Create one of the following two options on the next blank page in your sketchbook

• a large wet on wet plus salt wash  that transitions between colors
• a regular series of small "hatch" marks which create a line across the page, and end up making a series of lines of "hatch" marks down the page

We will be adding to this page at some point in the future so please do not work on top of this until then.

I'm Selling Stuff on Sunday

Many of you know that I did open studios last May, and while it was a lot of work, it was also really fun. That prompted me to get some t-shirts made over the summer, which you may have seen on instagram. By the way...those t-shirts are super super soft!
I'm selling them with some other folks as part of the SJ Made contingent for Viva Calle SJ this Sunday from 10-3 at Arena Green Park.

There will be food trucks and locally made wares and yoga and picknicking and a generally good time (I would assume). If you want to come say hi, I would love to see you. You can link a flyer for the even above and HERE.

Have a good one!

Here is an example of the shirts for sale. I will also have some prints from my sloth paintings and ink drawings available. Let me know if you have any questions.

Daily Sketchbook 9/15

So here is your challenge. Actually you have two options.

Option 1: Draw some sort of fabulous font using a curse word (or other funny phrase);

Option 2: Draw some sort of animal or person that includes a speech bubble of some sort.

Have fun. Make yourself smile. Make it rad.

The Most Fantastic Ted Talk

I wanna know what you think of this. I have recommended her book to the parents after having read it last year myself, and now I see this pop up on the twitter.
If you actually give yourself the time to watch this I would love to know your thoughts.
Cheers!

Daily Sketchbook 9/13

On your tree page from last week...
take a pencil and spend a timed five minutes writing down as many things that you are grateful for as possible.
Please get silent and set your own timer (on the ipad), and don't rely on your neighbor to share a timer, and don't stop until time is up.
It doesn't matter how large or small the individual items are, but be intentional and sincere. Quantity, in this case, without too much thought, is great.

The goal is not to have all of the text legible, but rather to have the thoughts and ideas on the page and not just in your own head.

Some Parent Information

A big thank you to all that came out last night for back to school night, and a happy Friday to everyone!
If you missed last night, some of the particulars from the evening will be added below.
We are well into the year and I'm getting more grades in as of this afternoon. As I said, I am a big Canvas believer/user, so if you ever have questions about anything, that is the place to check.

I mentioned a couple of fabulous books, so here they are again,
How To Raise An Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims
Why Do They Act That Way by David Walsh
and
Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni

If you want to rewatch the film clip I was in - or see the entire thing, you can find that HERE.
Again, yesterday was the first time I saw it, so I'm still digesting how it got edited. If you have any thoughts I would love to hear them.

If you are interested in seeing/revisiting the 11 Commandments, those are HERE.

From my perspective it has been a really wonderful beginning to the year. Your kids are working hard and I am enjoying more time with my advanced students while equally enjoying the work and personalities of my hard working Art 1 folks.

Don't forget to follow along online with @misterthad if you want here and there glimpses of the classroom (I posted a bit from some Art 4 students on my instagram story this morning, for example).

Let's have a great year...all signs point towards a stellar one, so I'm pretty excited!

Daily Sketchbook 9/9

Get excited. It's your first Artist of the Month for the year.
Today we will celebrate Cindy Sherman!

I will be expecting that you cut down your handout to the provided rectangle, use scotch tape to put it in the next blank page of your sketchbook, and photograph the ENTIRE worksheet with an ipad when we are finished.

If you are absent and reading this, you can find all of the information you need in the Artist of the Month module in Canvas.

There is also a bonus video embeded in the module, so even if you are present, it may be interesting to watch that video on your own time.

Most Amazing Video

Kids are amazing and less than amazing all at the same time. This is the story of the former. She is a student of mine and her experiences are, well...I'll let you decide for yourself.

I'd love to know what you think in the comments. I find this quite terrible and wonderful at the same time, and find myself fortunate to work with Chloe on the daily.

Daily Sketchbook 9/7

With a pencil, go outside and draw a tree as accurately as possible.
Please walk quickly and time yourself for 11 minutes with your ipad.
Please don't go far so that you can maximize your class time.
Have fun.
Smile.

Daily Sketchbook 9/2

This is our first Mindful Moment of the year.
I will lead you in this.

Please sit facing me and pushed away from your desk (if applicable).
Sit straight up in your chair and with your feet on the ground (when possible).

I will start you when you are all ready.
Please get your peers ready to go so that I don't have to hold you after class for taking too long.

Cheers.

Daily Sketchbook 8/31

Last time we sketched out what you will need for your "mindful moment" image each time we do that for your daily sketchbook. By the way, I will be trying to do the mindful moments on a consistent basis this year, but if it would be helpful for you to do them more frequently, just let me know.

At any rate, please use some ink and/or a marker and/or a micron pen to make your sketch from last time look like the one below.

Each time we do a mindful moment in class you will be expected to photograph and upload this image. Please please please know that I need you to have this image finished before you come to class on Friday.
If you do not finish it in our first 15 minutes today please use tomorrow's daily sketchbook time to finish "inking" this. Thank you in advance.

Here is the image...

Daily Sketchbook 8/29

We are prepping for our mindfulness exercises for the year.
I have a pencil image below (with a pencil for scale) that I want you to duplicate (yes, in pencil) as closely as you can.
Don't worry about inking at this point, that will come on Wednesday.
Please pay attention to the particulars - for example, the style of lettering at the top.

If you finish "early" please make sure to upload it and quietly put the ipad away and get out your current drawing to work on.

ONLY PHOTO AND UPLOAD WITH THE IPADS PLEASE.

Smile.

Daily Sketchbook 8/25

In pen, on the next available page, draw your home's entryway.
From memory.
Think.
Focus on line and don't worry about shading.
Fill the page. Try to get detailed.
Don't worry about Perfect.
Or perfectly straight lines (so no rulers).
A little wonkiness can be healthy.

Daily Sketchbook 8/23

The first daily in-class prompt of the year.
Please hold your excitement.

Draw some cloth with folds. You have two options.
First option, get a mirror and draw from your own clothing.
Second option, draw from the clothing of one of your peers.

Focus on shape and form and value please.

You do not need to fill the entire page.

Please draw in pencil only.


Smile.

Daily Sketchbook 5/27

This is the end.
For now.
I want you, for your last daily sketchbook of the year, to grab a pencil and draw. From observation for at least 20 solid minutes (but maybe more).
I won't have that much cleaning for you to do today, but I will have some. I'm looking for quantity today, so give me that. Your time may be fragmented as you help me, but that doesn't mean you can't get that in as a minimum amount of time.
And smile. Always smile. Art is fun.

Daily Sketchbook 5/25

Take a uniball pen.
Draw something you are looking forward to about this summer.
Do not draw it out first in pencil.
Do not reference a photo.
Draw from memory/personal knowledge.
Go.

Daily Sketchbook 5/23

For today, use one of the below hand drawn type examples to create a phrase of your own. Don't think too hard on the phrase, if something doesn't easily come to you, just do your name.

Get the type to look as much like the example as possible and be as consistent as possible.

Daily Sketchbook 5/19

It's the last class day before study drawings are due so you have one of two options:

1: work on one of the study drawings you will be turning in to me on Monday 5/23
or
2: draw multiple and overlapping hands (yours from observation) in your sketchbook with your choice of drawing instrument

Daily Sketchbook 5/17

Mindful Moment Mindful Moment Mindful Moment Mindful Moment Mindful Moment :)

Daily Sketchbook 5/13

I'm surprised everyone loves those pens as much as they do. Well, maybe not. It is easier after all. 

You know what I'm talking about, so grab two things and begin drawing one of the two images shown below. 

DO NOT begin in pencil first and DO NOT begging globally. By this I mean do not outline the whole thing and then begin. 

Draw by dealing with a section at a time - including hatch and shading, and then gradually moving on. Your goal is to draw as close to the image shown as possible for a solid 14 minutes (please set your timer) knowing that you won't finish the entire thing. 

Oh, and those two things you need, an iPad and a uniball pen. 

Smile, be happy now. 

Daily Sketchbook 5/11

Step one: go get an ipad
Step two: get your watercolors out
Step three: follow THE SAME LINK FROM LAST TIME
Step four: add awesome watercolor to the same image you were drawing last time

Daily Sketchbook 5/9

Step one: Go get an ipad
Step two: get a pencil and eraser ready
Step three: click on THIS LINK
Step four: draw one of those great images in pencil
Step five: be happy, wait that should be the perennial step one :)

Daily Sketchbook 5/5

 Here is your daily inspiration for the daily sketchbook. Make art based off of this.

Daily Sketchbook 5/3

In one of those really interesting moments of internet-ness today (which happens to be 4/19/16), I am going to interrupt our previously scheduled daily sketchbook/mindful moment to have you read THIS.

The funny thing is, that article was written more than two years ago. I would unequivocally say that it is just as - if not more - important as it was in 2013.

For today's sketchbook I want you to read THAT ARTICLE and give me your thoughts on it. You can choose to do one of two things.

Option 1) write out your response with a pencil or pen (print please) in your sketchbook, take a photo, and upload that photo
Option 2) type your response directly into canvas (this is the preferred option).

I'm not looking for an essay here, but I do want you to be articulate and thoughtful and take the time and length necessary to give this article its due.

Once you are finished you have two options.

Option 1) but your phone in your backpack - which will be on the floor, zipped up and out of site
Option 2) bring your phone up and set it on my table until the end of class

Yes, this means none of your own music. I will play the music for you today.
You are welcome :)

Daily Sketchbook 4/29

Here is the full image from what you have worked on from two previous class periods. As before, PENCIL ONLY. Begin making the image more complete. In terms of the background you may choose to include the bench they are sitting on, or you may choose to create a different surface.

Do not do any shading in the background other than a sitting surface. 

I want you to concern yourself more with getting them drawn and shaded well.

Also, as before, use the ipad only for utilizing the photo reference.

Daily Sketchbook 4/27

Today you can use your in-class daily sketchbook time to work on a study drawing that you will turn in on Friday - which is when your monthly study drawing due date is. Only take 15 min for this and then move on to your project please.
And don't forget that your study drawings are due at the beginning of class on Friday.

Cheers.

Daily Sketchbook 4/25

Here is the image for the right hand side of the double page spread you began last time.

Remember, PENCIL ONLY.

You will not "finish" this today - and are not expected to. You are expected to get the proportions down and to do a great job overall though.

Also, ONLY USE AN IPAD FOR REFERENCING THE PHOTO. So if you are reading this on your phone, walk over and get an ipad please. Prop it up on your desk for reference.

Daily Sketchbook 4/21

This is your image inspiration to draw IN PENCIL ONLY today.

Begin by designating the next blank double page spread with this guy on the left hand side page. Draw him as realistically as possible. Do not expect to completely finish.

We will be working on this image and double page spread for multiple days so DO NOT draw anything else on these two pages.

Remember, pencil only. Also, ONLY USE AN IPAD FOR REFERENCING THE PHOTO. So if you are reading this on your phone, walk over and get an ipad please. Prop it up on your desk for reference.

Daily Sketchbook 4/19

Mindful Moment for y'all today.
Let's do this to this.

Daily Sketchbook 4/15

AOTM!

Walton Ford version.

As always you can get all the info you need on Canvas.

Below is another really great video on our AOTM.

Visual Update April 14

I took just a few photos in class yesterday so you can see what some of the process looks like.

Daily Sketchbook 4/13

Before and After...
Go back to a previous daily sketchbook prompt and take a photo of the entire page.
Add to that page to make it more visually interesting and/or complete.
Take an after picture and stitch/combine the two images together so that I can see both at the same time.
Upload this to Canvas.


You can easily combine two images together by inserting them from the camera roll in procreate on the iPads and then exporting that image back to the camera roll to upload to canvas. I would strongly prefer for you to use the iPads for this purpose.

Daily Sketchbook 4/11

Draw an object floating.

How do we know it is floating? What about the context tells us this is the case.
Avoid the most obvious options such as a balloon in the air by itself.

Use any media you like but make it LOOK like you spent at least 13 solid minutes on the image.

Congressional Art Contest Deadline

Just a reminder that the Congressional Art Contest Deadline is appraoching. If you are choosing to submit work, please go online and get everything done.
As always, if you need help, let me know.

Daily Sketchbook 3/31

Get out your pen and ink (yes, that classic dip pen).
Get ready to use stipple only.
Get ready to NOT draw out your image ahead of time in pencil (or ink, even).
So...
working straight with ink, and from your imagination/memory, draw an image based off one of the following "F" words:

Flower
or
Face
or
Fowl

Have fun and Draw!

Yes, I understand that you won't "finish" this in 15 minutes, but it gives you an excellent start for a future daily sketchbook page!

Also, since tomorrow is the spirit rally and the last day of the grading period and Friday and all of that and so much more you may choose to not do the daily sketchbook and I will not penalize you for it so you can say thank you and smile and be happier than usual because you are awesome and you like to make my life happy too :)

Daily Sketchbook 3/29

Create a list of objects that start with the letter "M". Brainstorm with your table mates and try to get as many as you can in just one or two minutes.

I will release the remainder of the information as soon as everyone has their list done and is in a position to let me know they are ready to go.


Take the idea of one of these objects and draw one of them for your daily sketchbook from memory as detailed as you can.

Some New Creativity

I've run across a couple more fun creative projects/artists recently that I thought some of you might find interesting.
First up there are these wonderful and funky birdhouses. They come from Thomas Dambo and are primarily using recycled materials. If you search around his website you'll see that he has been working on this project for a while and clearly has others supporting his creativity and endeavors.
Pretty great stuff.

Next up are The Coffee Monsters. I mean, you know that I love coffee, so wandering upon this work was just fun. Pure pleasure. If you take some separate things that already exist and combine them in a different way, that's all creativity is. You don't need fancy materials or expensive media. You do need the willingness to be aware and with what is in front of you though, and that is probably my favorite thing about these little pieces.
If you are interested you can follow along with Stefan and his Coffee Monsters HERE.