Annual Art in the Council Chambers Exhibit

It's January (barely) so that means it's time for me to drop off oil paintings in the Town Council Chambers. I will say that they look fabulous, but of course you know I am biased.

Next week is the reception for the exhibit and I definitely would like to visit with you while you gawk at all of the goodness on the walls. I also am offering extra credit to the students that show up, so that's a good perk for them.

Since it is a reception, and teenagers are involved, it would be fantastic to have some parents volunteer some food and beverage items. You can do that HERE.

The exhibition is of a random selection of oil paintings from the Art 2, 3, and 4h classes so I think you'll be impressed by their diligence and hard work.

More information may be found on the Town AICC website. I hope to see you there.
The time is 6-7:30...in case you don't really feel like clicking the above link.

Have a wonderful weekend.

They aren't printing a physical postcard this year, so here is a copy of the image I sent them for the virtual one they will be emailing out.

If you have any questions please let me know. 

Vans Custom Culture 2016

Once again I have the templates for the Vans Custom Culture competition in my hot little hands. If you want to see some ways other school have interpreted the four themes Vans assigns each year you can click HERE.
If you want to see a few that have been done here at LG, scroll down.

The final designs on the shoes aren't due for a while, but I would love to have a group of you super amazing students start brainstorming now. I'll find a way to make it work for some assignment substitutions however I can, so let's talk if you are even remotely interested.

Daily Sketchbook 1/28

Today you have, basically, the same directions as on Tuesday. Go to he same place in the library and continue on your drawing. Make it more accurate and more detailed while drawing for the same amount of time and being back within the same amount of time.

Again I will be looking for quantity and quality. 

Have fun. Go. 

Daily Sketchbook 1/26

Lets continue that whole drawing from observation thing from last week. Your task is this, QUICKLY walk to the library and position yourself at a table away from a computer. Begin drawing your environment.

Are there people there? Are there tables? Are there bookshelves or the circulation desk? 

Draw all of that. Be as specific as you can. But make sure to block in a full composition before you worry about details. 

Set your timer and draw for 14 minutes. I will be looking for how productive you are. 

You should have his read, get to the library, draw, and be back within 22 minutes of the bell ringing. Some of you are great about getting started right away, but some of you are still challenged with your efficiency. Go!

Daily Sketchbook 1/22

So you see the sub here today, right?
Please do what you know you are supposed to and be kind and courteous and appropriate with your time. Some of you are more on top of this than others, but as usual you should know that it is your responsibility to help make sure your peers are doing as you all know they are supposed to be doing.

Your daily sketchbook for the day...

I want you to position yourself at your table group so that you can see another table of students working in another part of the room. Please spend the next 15 minutes after you finish reading this to draw, from observation, a table group in another part of the room.
Your drawing should include the people, tables (or at least the table tops), and any other important information (pencils in hands, sketchbooks, etc.)

Might I suggest beginning in a gestural fashion and only worrying about details after you get everything blocked in???

Addendum to the Book I Mentioned

Remember at back to school night (you parents out there), and I mentioned the great book by Frank Bruni called Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be? Well HERE he is in a video talking about a new report that is out.
Very interesting interview. Personally I just hope this is part of a changing tide. I would say it is time to be on the front end of this, really.

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 1/15

It's been a digital drawing week, so I'd like for you to go get an ipad to finish your daily sketchbook for today.
Please also get a mirror.
Draw a self portrait, as accurately as possible, using the same app as earlier this week*. When you are at the end of fifteen minutes, save your image and upload it to Canvas.

Happy Friday!

*If you do not have Procreate on the ipad you pick, use something like Sketchbook (Express?) or some similar app.

Daily Sketchbook 1/13

It's another digital art/drawing day for the daily sketchbook.
Please move your chair up to the front corner of the room near the ipad cart (or the tv, we'll see), get an ipad, and wait for me to put the image up for you to draw.
You will be using the same program as on Monday, so maybe you get the same ipad? IDK, just an idea.
I'll time you and tell you when it is time to upload.
Have fun!

For those of you absent today, below is the image everyone drew from.

Great Speaker for Parents

Next week there will be an evening talk given by someone I think you might be interested in.

Julie Lythcott-Haims wrote the book: How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success.

I think I wrote about it before, but I really don't remember. What I do remember is that it is a fabulous book. I have a super busy week, but I have this talk on my calendar and hope to make it myself. I think you will enjoy it, and would encourage you to attend if at all possible.

Details:
Tuesday, January 19th,
7-8:30pm
McAfee Theatre at Saratoga High School

Here is also a link to the book if you are interested.