Art + Money?

Yes, you heard correctly. You can make money from making art.
In a lot of ways, actually, but I'm just going to talk about one (well, sort of two) here.

For years (!) we had an annual LGHS art show at the LG Art Museum. Things have changed over time, and last year the museum turned it into an "open", county-wide, show.

There is a theme, and you can find all of the information out HERE.

You could just go to the LG Museum website and look up upcoming exhibitions through that Google website thing, too.

Here is a little snippet, as a taste, of what they say online:
In this second annual county-wide competition, The Museums of Los Gatos is asking area students about the effects of technology in our lives. We want to hear your opinions. Technology is everywhere so choose whatever you feel passionate about. If you need, here are just a few examples to get you started:
1. Your artwork might be created using new media technologies—computer graphics, robotics, animation—the sky is the limit.
2. Your observations about the impacts of technology in our lives are equally relevant, both globally and individually. How does technology affect the environment? What is the impact of technology in education, here and in developing countries? What are the issues surrounding compromised privacy.
3. How has technology affected social behavior? What is the new etiquette?


You have until March 22nd before the due date, however, that doesn't mean you have until then to work on your image. You MUST give yourself time to photograph and email the image.

Important note: photograph your image with me here at school unless you REALLY know what you are doing.
And by really know what you are doing I mean setting the proper value and white balance using a gray card and white card.
If that seems like gibberish to you, let me help you.

For real. It's that important.

As always, let me know if you have questions or need help getting started.

An Opportunity For You?

I'm sitting here in this very exciting staff meeting and there is a request for a student to do a logo for the CASA Fashion Show that is coming up in March.
You can let me know if you are interested. It is a great way to get a portfolio piece and some experience.

If you want to go directly to the source, that person is:
Kerry Rothschild at
kerry.rothschild@gmail.com

Art 1 watercolor Landscape

It is that time of year again...when we are painting the lighthouse landscape.
As I have said, I have mixed feelings about this project - which I probably shouldn't admit to, but oh well. It is a great learning tool to comprehend some good ways of layering and combining multiple techniques all together; however, we all paint the same thing - including myself - which isn't super "creative".

With all that said, there is a very good chance this will be the best watercolor project you do for quite some time. Unless, that is, you give yourself plenty of time and practice outside of class.

If you want to see what the step by step process looks like - along with descriptions of the techniques and colors used in each area, you can look at the blog poss from last year.

You do need to go to the Dec. 2011 posts to find that information, though.

Happy painting, and have fun!

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.

Finals Finale

Here are the things you need to know, broken down by level of art, for finals next week:

Art 1
You need to make sure you have your watercolor technique sheet finished and ready to turn in on Monday.  I will give you some class time to work on it, but not a ton of time. Just fyi.
On Monday you need to have a horizontal, color, landscape photo that DOES NOT contain a silhouette.
You need to have your sketchbook with you in class.

Art 2
You need to have your re-do study drawing.
You need to have your original, crappy, study drawing.
You need to have your sketchbook.

Art 3
You need to have your re-do study drawing.
You need to have your original, crappy, study drawing.
You need to have your sketchbook.
You will be turning in your group art advertising poster.*

*note, Art 3's can turn in their study drawing or their poster on Monday and the other on Wed

Art 4
You need to have your sketchbook.
I would also like for you to bring your Art 1 sketchbook in to class as well.

Note: I will possibly be updating this as I get my memory more solidified. Check back more than once to see if anything has changed. I will have this completely updated by Monday night.

If your name is EVB, Saoirse, Mara, Bronte, Carolina, Aaron, Mary, Justine, Will, or Mady I have it in my records that you owe me something - probably money and/or supplies. You need to see me about this asap.

Also, don't forget to visit Studio 502 on Society6 if you need some cards or other holiday gifts.

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.

Famous Oil Painting

(Taken from an email sent to the Art 3 students on the occasion of their beginning their famous oil painting copy) 


If you've already gotten approval for your oil painting project you don't need to read further.

Thank you, and you're welcome.

For those of you who haven't...yes, keep reading.

I have had several of you come up to me with ideas for artists that you'd like to do that won't work and I would like to explain a little more about what this project is all about.

But in a way, I have to back up, so bear with me.

This project is about becoming a better painter, yes. As I've stated, I want your use of the medium to improve; I want your use of color to improve.
These are all good and noble things, and if you put the diligence into it that I know you are capable of, you will have an impressive end product, trust me.

However, there is something else you should be aware of that you maybe aren't considering.
Tradition. History - if you would rather think of it like this.

The art world is full of people being famous for just being famous just like people in the public eye today. And there are good painters who have fallen through the cracks and not received the kind of notoriety that they may have deserved.
Unfortunately this is life.

Just because you like someone's painting doesn't mean it will work for this project.
Just because someone can handle a paintbrush well doesn't make them a great artist. (The corollary for this being, just because you have a camera doesn't make you a photographer/artist.)

I want you to dig in to the history of painting and the history of art. I want you to have someone that "knows" what they are doing and how it is connected to the history of their medium. I want you to be aware of the fact that painting from other people's paintings is a storied tradition and an invaluable learning process.

This project is not just about making something "pretty". While this is all fine and good, there needs to be more to it than that if I am willing to devote a good chunk of our school year towards this endeavor.

You will have to find some historical facts out about your artist. This is easier when they are recognized by museums and the art world at large, and not just the internet.
The internet can recognize anyone and make anyone famous, and most of those people don't really deserve that recognition.

These "famous painters" are also, largely, famous for much more than just being able to handle a paintbrush. Such as creating works that used the medium in a completely unique manner; or dealing with a philosophy that had some significance behind it; or having a "new" outlook on a subject matter; or dealt with a difficult subject matter and used aesthetics/beauty  in a "different" sort of way.

Yes, I know, you may not like this answer. I'm sorry. Well, not really, but I hope you catch my drift.

"Famous Oil Paintings" is a terrible Google search topic. It doesn't mean anything. You need to get into the subject more than that. Have one artist lead you to another, for example - which is why that list on the class site is there.

For example, the first art book I ever bought when I was in college was on Gustav Klimt. In reading that book - yes, while looking at the pictures just as much - I found out about Egon Schiele and Oscar Kokoschka for the first time. They are great painters from the early 20th century that were of the same time/place as Klimt and have been recognized since that time for very good reason.

But that was just the very beginning of my own personal knowledge.
Now I'm asking for yours to start.

Set. Go.

Smith

In the Works

Those designs the Art 2 & 3 classes made this week? Yes, those designs. Ms. Pearson came and picked them up today and the judging has begun. There are a few meetings to discuss them next week and they may be in production in the very near future.

I don't know how many designs are going to be printed, but I am very impressed by the quantity of outstanding work that was turned in.

Stay tuned.

Fundraiser

It's official, our next fundraiser for the Europe field trip will be happening on Nov. 17th at Willow Glen Yoga in downtown Willow Glen at 1pm.

More details to follow.

Ice Cream*

I scream, you scream, we all scream for...typography!

We started the class for Art 2's today doing some typography and color exercises online in the library before beginning sketches for our latest project.
Please connect to the Kerning, Shape Style, and Color exercises from the "Latest and Greatest" portion of the class site HERE. Go through the exercises. Have fun. Love life.

We are working on a "los gatos", "lg", "lghs", "wildcat" something-or-other themed design to be available in the student store.
You can focus on type or image or both. It's up to you. It is also up to you to decide on the type of garment your type might go on (shirt, sweatshirt, hat, etc.).

Your sketches are due Tues and your final image will be due on Thurs.

Happy Friday.

*there is no actual ice cream associate with this post, nor, for that matter, the class in general (though I am a big fan of Ben & Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch - just saying).