Pre-College?

This here is a MICA pre-college booklet. They do a great program there...but there are other places that do, too.
Such as Pratt, OSU, and many others.
If you're thinking you might be interested in spending some time away from your family and surrounded by other creative folks, it is probably a good time to start thinking about that.
Just sayin'.

Pen & Ink Due Date

Art 1's, check the calendar for the pen & ink due date...it's next Thurs., btw.

Art 1 Perspective Requirements

Here's what you need to include, and a short blurb on what I'll be expecting when it comes time to grade.

Requirements:

• Decide on one or two point perspective - doesn't matter to me, choose whichever one you feel most comfortable with (though challenging yourself is always good, too);
• Create a "room" with a floor and at least one wall in one point, or give me a "box" with an interior showing in two point;
• Create a "checkerboard" pattern on one of your surfaces;
• Include at least five shapes - one must be a box and one must be a sphere - minimally;
• Include at least three "cutaways"/windows/doors;
• At least two of the objects must overlap
• Use both hatch and stipple pen & ink techniques

Proces:

• get your 9x12" paper from me
• create a light pencil drawing of the above
• erase any unnecessary lines so as to not confuse yourself while inking
• let me see it to make sure you won't run in to problems
• ink - using all three pen & ink techniques learned earlier in the year

Grading:
I want you to show of your fun and creative side. If you settle for the minimum, even with perfect technique, I'll likely not shower you with an awesome grade. Strive for more. For reals.

Cool Stuff from Catspit

Hey, I learned something new too!

Some of you will be dealing with some screen printing in the near future, and this guy her at Catspit Productions does a really good job explaining some technique in this here video.

Many Learned Things

I guess I should start from the beginning.
Or at least some beginning.

A few months ago I bought a book while in the bookstore at SFMOMA called 101 Things to Learn in Art School, by Kit White - maybe you've seen it in class. It's a great book that deals with so many "basic" things that I've been thinking of duplicating and adapting some of them here.
I mean, I know all of my students - yes, you - read this blog religiously, so if I can impart some good stuff, well, how "teacherly" of me.

The idea is to take one of the 101 things from that book as a jumping off point at some semblance of a regular interval and share it with you. We can all continue to learn, and even if it's something we already know, solidifying our knowledge isn't exactly a bad thing.

So without further delay, I give you v1.0

Learn to Draw
"Drawing is more than a tool for rendering and capturing likenesses. It is a language, with its own syntax, grammar, and urgency. Learning to draw is about learning to see. In this way, it is a metaphor for all art activity. Whatever its form, drawing transforms perception and thought into image and teaches us how to think with our eyes."

I have to say that I felt very vindicated when I read that passage. It didn't really dawn on me until after a few years of teaching that it kind of isn't about what you are drawing but what you are allowing yourself to see.
Too often we think we know what is in front of us and our aim is to draw that. But too often we're just wrong. Truth.
I see it time and again in student work - and even my own at times. Our brains are pretty smart things but they don't know everything, and the situations and circumstances we are faced with are constantly in flux and motion. It's nearly impossible for something to be the same in every instance. $hi* changes, and our approach and perception of it needs to change, too.

OK, 'nuff said, for now.

Since I know you are all checking this all the time :) I'll not belabor the point, but every few weeks I'll try to update this (ongoing) series.

Art 2

Forgot to tell you all, with your 3 study drawings that are due next week, one MUST  be done in pen & ink.
Thanks for playing.
Smile.

This Just In

The 2012 version of Fractured Follies dates have been set for May 17th and 18th.
Please, come laugh with/at your teachers.

Before and After - aka, Mad Skills

You know you love it.







I mean, how can you not.
And look at how hard they are working!
:)

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