Daily Sketchbook 1/20

I have a book at home by Tom Kelley and David Kelley with the following paragraph that I can't help but share.

Please read it and let it sink in. 

"With creative confidence comes the desire to proactively guide the course of your life, or organization, rather than be carried along on the prevailing winds. Roger Martin, dean of the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, once told us hat what stuck out to him about designers is that they always act with intention. While others may unconsciously go with the default option, design thinkers make everything a conscious and original choice: from how they arrange their bookshelf to how they present their work. When they look around the world, they see opportunities to do things better and have a desire to change them. Once you start creating things, whether it's laying out a new garden or starting a new company or writing a new piece of code, you start to realize that everything has that intention behind it. Everything in modern society is the result of a collection of decisions made by someone. Why shouldn't that someone be you?"

After reading this passage I want you to open up to a new page in your sketchbook and create a large-ish shape on the page. Within that shape, creatively and uniquely copy the above quote. When you are finished, photograph this quote and submit that for today's daily sketchbook.

Daily Sketchbook 1/7

I want you to go back to the pencil drawing that you began on Tuesday, 1/5, and continue the drawing. You should continue working in pencil with the same objects arranged in front of you. Today you will probably get to shading, and will of course pay attention to highlights and contrast and things like that.
I want you to begin this semester with a relatively easy and low key drawing assignment to get back in the swing of things and get your arm/mind moving.

Good morning!

Daily Sketchbook 1/5

Pull out the contents of your backpack or purse.
Ok, ok, it doesn't have to be everything, but you should have at least five to seven items there.
Please don't be too un-fun and take "easy" things like a stack of books out. Keys and pens and cool stuff that is challenging is way better.
Set them on your table and draw them in pencil to create a composition on your page.

If you came to class with nothing - or just not enough - share items with your neighbor. Put your things together and have both of you work from the same thing.

Please make sure you have all of the same stuff here on Thursday as we will be using it again then.

Oh, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Art 4 Daily Drawing for 1/28

Ok, this will be fun.
I want you to open up to the last class period's list of brainstormed subjects and follow the below directions.

• draw on top of the list(s) you made last class
• draw in pencil only
• draw an apple looking into a mirror
• reflected in the mirror must be a pineapple
• you must include some sort of context outside of those three objects
• you must come at least close to filling at least one page with your initial line drawing
• you must at least begin shading at least one of the above three mentioned objects
• I should be able to see drawn images and text in the photo you upload to canvas today
• you may NOT draw from photographs/images
• set the timer on your phone for 15 min as soon as you finish reading this and don't stop drawing until the timer goes off - other than that you shouldn't be looking at your phone for images at all (or any other image source)

This isn't about perfection, it is about working. Not overthinking, just working. Go.

Europe 2015

As a reminder, the sign up window for the trip to Paris in 2015 is open.

Three people have signed up so far. It would be awesome to get most/all of the sign ups as soon as possible. That way I/we have an idea of everyone going before the end of the year.

Talk to your folks and if you need info, please let me know.

2014 Museum Showcase

A few weeks ago I received the information from the Los Gatos Museums for the show they will be having in 2014 that is open to any high school student in Santa Clara County.
Yes, this is the show that used to be the annual Los Gatos High School Art Show, which has morphed to be a juried show over the years.
I will include all of the necessary information here, but if you want to go straight to their website, you can find it here.

The Art 4 students know that this is a required assignment.
I think it will be for the Art 2 students as well, but haven't fully fleshed out how it will work yet. It won't be dealt with until second semester so I'm not that concerned.

If you are in Art 3 and want to make a killer piece for this show, I can safely say that it would be worth some extra credit for you.

Keep in mind a couple of things, such as:

• there is a due date for you to submit a pic of your piece in Feb. (the 14th I think)
• if the piece is accepted it has to be ready to hang
• if this is a canvas you work on, I have plenty of wire to put on the back
• if it is a work on paper, I haev 11x14 and 16x20 frames that might work for you, so standard sizes of paper will help - keeping me in the loop and talking with me will benefit you

Aside from the assigned (or not assigned) class piece, you can always do more. I believe you can submit up to 3 pieces per student, but again, I would direct you to the above image and/or the above link.

I will help you, but much of it will need to be done on your own outside of class.

I will also say that I strongly encourage you to make art for this. It is a good experience on many levels, it looks good on your transcript if you need it to, and it is just fun to make art and to showcase your abilities.

Art 2 Pastry Pics

So I thought I was intending to ask for you to all bring pics of cupcakes (with much color) in them, but there obviously needs to be some clarification.

While I can see how there are great options available outside the realm of cupcakes, there are also many roadblocks there.

The benefit of choosing cupcakes is that there is consistency of subjects and problem solving. Also, if you think about it, even of two people choose the same image the subsequent drawing will certainly be different.

I would like to also note that there are often problems that arise with certain textures that can be bothersome and time consuming, and I am trying to minimize frustration while maximizing good drawings.
But I am open to possibility. So with that being said, yes, I want at least two good pics of cupcakes. Not even of French macaroons.
HOWEVER, if you find something in addition to this and are very inspired, bring that in as well. I will consider it on an as needed basis.

Be prepared to isolate the dessert from any background that might be in the image as well.
If you have questions, fb me.

New New New Stuff

I am so happy to have worked with Ms. Pearson (of leadership and history fame) to have designs that some of the Art 2 and Art 3 students hand drew on some apparel in the student store. I will attach some pictures and details below, but a big pat on the back goes to Clair Farmer, Grace Hur, Serena Kang and Mary Stone. Way to go, you all rock!

There will be a sale on Friday, Nov. 30th at tutorial, lunch and after school in the main hall outside of the Guidance Office.
Normal hours to buy the items will be Tues and Thurs during tutorial in the student store.
If you can't make it to school feel free to send some dollars and information about what you want to school with your student to pass along to me and I will make sure you get what you want.

Why am I finally offering all of this up?
Good question and thank you for asking.

A portion of the profits from the gear the art students have designed comes back to benefit the art program, one.
Two, Ms. Pearson and her leadership students have put a lot of energy into getting some really great pieces into the store and the proceeds from those items go to help benefit the school as a whole.

Plus, I know you just want you some LG gear. All the cool kids are wearing it. Mostly.
And...the holidays are coming up and you know you know or know someone who knows someone who may or may not want something LGHS related. For real.

Here are the pictures of the pieces the students have designed.

Design by: Claire Farmer

Item: Super soft 1/4 zip black sweatshirt

Price: $40

detail

 Design by: Mary Stone

Item: Short sleeve black T

Price: $15

detail

Design by: Serena Kang

Item: Women's V neck black T

Price: $18

(this item is printed on both sides; paw print on front; text on back)

front 

 back

 detail

Design by: Grace Hur

Item: Long sleeve white T

Price: $20 

 detail

Note: It is very possible I mixed the prices of the last two items up. I am human, I make mistakes. But at some point the real prices will be listed on the student store website so I'm not exactly heartbroken over it.

Basically, please buy stuff from the store; please buy stuff from the art students. They work hard and are so very talented and it would make them feel amazing to have their designs desired.
Your pocketbooks make us all happy.

Also, if we're speaking of gifts, don't forget to check the Society6 shop Studio 502 has online, too. There will be some new items added within the next month, too, so keep checking back.

LG Design

A quick overview that will pertain to the advanced art students and the next project (for the student store here at school):

• Think about what article you would like to conceptualize an idea for (t-shirt, sweatshirt, hat, etc)
• generate many (MANY) sketches in your sketchbook (more than five)
• think of text/typography, theme, "wildcat", etc
• is there a "theme"
• vaguely be aware of color (aim for a 2 color design, knowing that a 3rd color is, or can be, the garment color
• you can be funny/humorous
• think about what you would like to wear yourself (while it can be funny, it needs to be a "legitimate" design)

Tutorial

Yes, you know you are supposed to be doing something "academic" with your tutorial time.
That's just the way it is.

If you don't think so, imagine this scenario: All of your classes are 10-12 minutes longer each. Meaning, a MINIMUM of 100 minutes in each of those classes that definitely aren't as cool as art.
I know, sounds terrible.

So during tutorial, go hang out in a classroom. It's not rocket science.

At any rate, I'm going in to thing just to remind you of the following:

Wednesday, August 22 - Senior assembly in the theater during tutorial.

Thursday, August 23 - Junior assembly in the theater during tutorial.

Friday, August 24 - Sophomore assembly in the theater during tutorial.

For the rest of the week you have places to be. Freshman are busy in different ways, but I don't remember those right now.

This is all.

Besides: Cash Money.
Word.

Awards Lunch

ATTENTION ALL ADVANCED ART STUDENTS...

I have emailed all of the parents of students that are seniors in both Art 3 and Art 4 about the annual awards lunch.
If you don't remember what I am talking about when I say "awards lunch", you are pathetic.
jk
But really, if you don't remember, maybe this will restore your senses to you...

This is when your parents bring awesome food and I give out the awards for best senior painter and excellence in art and I recognize all of the graduating Art 3/4's...

See, remember now???

At any rate, this year's event will happen on Wed., May 23rd, so mark your calendars.

Also, some of your parent's emails have been bounced back to me, so ask them if they have heard from me regarding this.
If they have not, please PLEASE have them send me an email so I can send them a link to help sign up to bring something.
If they can't bring something but want to attend anyway, please tell them the date and time.

May 23rd, 11:20-12:30.

Thanks.

Finished Vans

Just so everyone can see, here are the Vans that Kayla, Sophia, and Karla finished for the Custom Culture contest.
Wish them luck as the in-house voting begins at Vans next week.
Enjoy

Art 2's This Week

We'll be working on a t-shirt design for Jill's Ride for Hope this week before spring break.
HERE is a link for the eventbrite page from last fall's ride if you want to know more about the event itself.
The design will be due before you leave class on Thursday which means, yes, it is very likely you'll have to work on it outside of class. In truth, I don't feel too badly about this as I'm not asking for study drawings until after the break, and since those should have been turned in last week, you're kind of getting a break there.

Here are the details:

• the design should have "Jill's Ride for Hope"
• the design should use the current "butterfly" in some fashion
• the design should be one or two colors (one will be black)
• there is prize money available (1st, 2nd, 3rd places)

If you have any other details, please let me know.

Study Drawings

Art 2's, I have decided to postpone the turning in of your next set of study drawings until after spring break. I have some other things I'd like for us - meaning, you - to focus on between now and then.
Enjoy the respite.
Of course, that doesn't mean you can't get started now. If you do you'll just have that much of a head start for the next time they are due.
Word.

New View

Mr. Benz has done an amazing job of rotating some of our awesome artwork through the guidance office all year, and he's done it again. Though on a grander scale.
He orchestrated a big change - for the better, I think - in their office largely to showcase more of our student's awesomeness.
If you haven't been in the guidance office lately, I would suggest you go by and have a gander. The pics are below, but they really don't do the images justice.

Bon Voyage

I hear our Europe trip for April 2013 to France and Spain has been APPROVED by the school board.
That's obviously their Valentines Day gift to us since they met last night. I don't have the signed paperwork yet, but that's the word on the street.
Word.

Europe Stuff

After speaking with our tour rep from EF this morning, I was sent these two videos for ya'll to watch.
They are both exciting and enticing and make you want to go to Europe NOW, which makes sense otherwise their advertising dollars would have been a total waste.
So I feel compelled to sent them along to you. Find them by clicking on the city names below.

Paris

Barcelona

Europe Fundraising Meeting

For those of you planning on going on the Europe filed trip next year, I want to hold a fundraising meeting THIS THURSDAY in room 502 during tutorial.
See you there!

Extra Credit

Here are your first extra credit opportunities for the year:

First: at the reception this Thursday, Jan. 19th from 6-8. You know you want to come see the paintings that are on display from many of the adv art students. It makes you happy to see how awesome your peers are, don't try to deny it.

Second: next Tues., Jan 24th, in the Large Gym from 7-8. That's the night of 8th grade orientation. As is usual, I'll be there at a table representing the art department with an "official" flier trying to get the 8th graders to sign up for the class, but I could use your help. I'm willing to give extra credit to a handful of kids who are in, or will be in, the advanced art classes to mingle in the crowd and give out funky fliers (the one's ya'll been making) and enthusiastically encourage people to take the class by telling them how awesome it is and how much better it has made your high school experience - and life :)
Word.

Calendar

Don't forget to check the calendar on the class site, but here are some of the due dates coming up:

• Jan 18th - EF Meeting in the Adv Art Room
• Jan 19th - AICC Reception 6-8pm
• Jan 19th - Art 3 - 2 study drawings due; sketches for next project/painting due; art/502 advertising stuff due
• Jan 19th - Art 4 - 2 study drawings due; art/502 advertising stuff due???
• Jan 20th - Art 2 - Vintage Art Advertising Posters Due
• Jan 23rd - Art 1 3 study drawing sketches due
• Jan 23rd - Art 3 - canvases for next painting due, drawing on them
• Jan 23rd - CT Visit - Josh and Siobhan, don't forget
• Jan 23rd - Art 4 - Studio 502 website due
• Jan 24th - 3's from periods 2/6, advertising stuff due
• Jan 24th - 8th grade orientation in big gym, 7-8pm, I NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR HANDOUTS
• Jan 26th - Art 2 - 3 study drawings due, one must be pen & ink
• Jan 27th - Art 4 - Portfolio Due