- 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
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Daily Sketchbook 9/29
Go back to two previous daily sketchbook pages. The pages/dates I want you to reference are as follows:
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
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?
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.
This lets me see your process and makes me happy.
Photograph with the ipad and upload as soon as your time is up.
Friday, September 23, 2016
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
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!
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!
Monday, September 19, 2016
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
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
Thursday, September 15, 2016
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
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.
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.
Friday, September 9, 2016
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!
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
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.
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.
Friday, September 2, 2016
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.
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.
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