Stencils!

Just because they are fun. And a fun extension of drawing. And of drawing styles that we have done in other media.
Did I mention that it's fun?

The process includes:

A) Cutting out your image after you have drawn it





B) Placing some "weights" on the paper so that the stencil is in close of contact with the paper as possible


C) Spraying a not too thick but even layer of paint





D) Revealing the final results!!!

Extra Credit

There will be one opportunity for extra credit first semester. The date is 1/14/2010 and begins at 6pm.
Each year the Arts in the Council Chambers is generous enough to allow LGHS to show some advanced art paintings on canvas in the Los Gatos Town Council Chambers. Jan. 14th is the opening reception at which the mayor usually speaks and there are refreshments.
It will be a great opportunity to see the oil paintings produced during first semester from the Art 2, 3, and 4's outside of the the classroom for the first time this year.
As always, there will be a sign up sheet that you will need to autograph in order to get said extra credit.
Smile.
Two more weeks until break.
Until then, here are a couple of the paintings that will be on display.

Art 1

The finished watercolor landscape grades are up on Aeries. Overall the project came out well. Mainly what the beginning students need to take out of that project is not just that a bunch of different techniques can be used in a given painting, but that LAYERING of techniques and color will greatly enhance your finished project.
We'll be continuing our perspective unit until the Dec. break, and move perspective, watercolor, and pen & ink into a project we'll begin right before the semester ends.

Art 1 Due Date & Next Steps Notes

Yes, I know, we aren't finished with the lighthouse landscape. The new due date it 12/3. We should finish the demos for this project the day we come back from Thanksgiving break, and then you'll have until the next class period to finish the painting.
Before the end of that class period, though, we'll probably have a demo on the next project - so be prepared to be busy before the holiday break.

New Art Now

So one of my "personal" goals for this year is to rotate the art in the library on a more regular basis. Which, by the way, is my way of saying that there are new art projects up in the library as of about 5 minutes ago.
Most are from Art 1's newly finished Color Wheel Project, but five are from my Art 4's.
I hope to have more from Art 1 rotated before Thanksgiving, so if you're on campus make sure to stop by and check everything out.

Post MICA visit and new due date

The visit from MICA went really well. There was, of course, a lot of the same information, but the presentation itself had a lot of new visuals - which was cool. We will be getting a new "viewbook" form them in the near future.
If you missed the presentation I have some materials as leave behinds in the classroom for you to look at. This includes information on their summer Pre-College experience.
As a reminder, too, MICA will be at the National Portfolio Day in San Francisco on Jan. 16th, too.

Art 2's: I have officially moved your monochromatic oil due date to Nov. 17th. That isn't so that you can take your time, though. As I spoke about in class today, my objective/goal is for you to take the time to make those subtle corrections and minute changes that will take the painting from being "good" to even better. That doesn't mean small details, but subtle changes in value/texture/contrast/etc. to get the painting to be more "true to life."

Art 3's: I don't know your due date yet. All I know is that it will be several weeks away. This oil painting takes a long time.

Also: Study Drawings are due in 1 1/2 weeks. Get started early and be prepared!

MICA Visit

Our annual Maryland Institute College of Art visit will happen this Thursday during tutorial.
The invitation is officially extended to all art students, even though I forgot to announce it during the Art 1 classes yesterday.
If you don't know much about the school, come and check them out.
Or go here: www.mica.edu

Misc. OIl Project Notes

It's dawning on me that there is a drawback from moving to the block schedule for projects that include a very new media. With us working on our oil paintings, and trying to figure it out as we go through the process in art 2 for the first time, painting every other day isn't the best. Consistent practice is. While I recognize that everyone has other classes to worry about and do work for, if you (Art 2's) can use at least 1-2 tutorials each week to come in and work on your paintings, it will make you a better painter in a shorter period of time. There are a lot of subtleties required in handling the paint (making sure to eliminate "halos", dealing with canvas texture, blending, details, correct values, edges - the list goes on) and practice, practice, PRACTICE is what you need to make you better.

And art 4's: Wed. Yes, Wed., the painting is due. No, I will not move the due date. You have had 6 weeks to work on the project and many of you did exactly what I warned against, and that was using two to three weeks to work on study drawings and idea preparation. Yes, I expect a lot from this project as you have completed five oil paintings for me in the past and you all have a facility with the medium that should just be getting better.

Art 3's: You're just getting started, and one of the main things that will help is for you to really look at your picture and try to notice what colors are there as "base coats". Often you'll notice that there is something painted underneath the final color you actually see, and being able to use that same method of painting will make the process much easier for you to match colors and textures later on.

Moving in to oil painting

As we prepare for the larger oil paintings, of course everyone needs something to paint on. The minimum canvas size for everyone (Art 2,3,4) is 16" x 20". Yes, canvases can be traded for cash ($5 or $9) here in class, or you can get one from the art supply store (University Art or Aaron Brothers are both good places).
Art 4's - as ANOTHER reminder, you need to supply your own oil painting brushes this year. I am supplying the white oil paint (which in years past art 4's needed to get themselves), though.
Art 2's - you need to bring your canvas and photographs to class BY Friday. Bring options, please.

Art 3's - you have options for your oil painting project. Traditionally the first oil painting of the year has been a Master/Famous Reproduction. To explain, the reasons are for duplication of color, texture, and painting style. In studying the masters (which is a centuries old exercise) you have the chance to expand your knowledge, and the bottom line is that it will make you a MUCH better painter in the long run. As I mentioned in class, there is one drawback. That reproduction usually isn't good to use in a college portfolio. You can still use it as an exercise and do a second painting afterwards - which the classes have also done the past two years.
In terms of the other options for the oil painting (for art 3's) please think those ideas through and have concrete options to discuss next week in class.

Art 2's

As we begin our oil painting unit there are some things you need to do in preparation of the second painting we will do. One: get b/w photographs (high quality) for us to choose from in class. This can be from a magazine or one that you have taken (preferred). Two: get a canvas (which I have here if you cannot make it to the art store - 16x20" min.). Three: those must be here by Friday 10/9 at the LATEST!
We'll begin our grisaille project on Monday, and it will be due on 10/9 as well.