...about being an artist

Things I wish someone had told me about being an artist
I see some great stuff on this site, and it confirms what I already think so regularly it's almost scary.
For example...

Some insight/thoughts on all that is AP

Here is another article I found through the interwebs of KQED.

If you have had conversations with me as a student, you know I have some strong opinions about how some academic situations are handled. 
In short, I think - overall - that too many of you are taking too many AP classes and that some adults (uh, parents...sometimes) put too much pressure on you to do more more MORE.

I get it. Really.
My kids were a product of many of the AP classes here at LG. Most of them were good classes. Not all, but most. There were some very good experiences had.
Even as it states towards the end of the article, these classes can sometimes be way better than to be bored to tears in a "regular" class.

But this depends on the subject and the student combined - along with other factors.

Bottom line, they aren't for everybody. But even broader than that, I truly don't believe they really benefit students in the way most people think and want them too.

If you could only hear the teachers bemoan about the quantity of content they "have" to cover. Frustrating, yes. And you wonder why your workload is so vast.

Legitimate quantity isn't bad. Practice is good.
But isn't depth just as important? Or curiosity? Or self-directed learning? Or...

At any rate, for now I will cease my rambling so that you can read this:

New Report Challenges Beliefs About the Value of AP Classes

It isn't very long, so treat yourself.

Great Video About a Bay Area Artist

In the Studio with Meryl Pataky | KQED Arts

Saw this great little interview while searching for an interview I had heard on Forum recently. Very interesting/cool, and from a local one.
Check it out.

Vans Voting

If Dasha and Karla win with the most votes from California I get to take them to NYC for the unveiling in June.

Vote. Now.
Please and thank you.

Money + Monte Cristo

As I've stated in class, there is the opportunity for you to design the image for the fall play that LGHS will perform.
The play will be The Count of Monte Cristo, and below is the info you need to know.

Author: Alexandre Dumas
Adapted by: Charles Morey

Here is the image that Mrs. Martyn has found for you to use as inspiration.

Notice that the image of the buoy in the middle in the page is what your illustration should be similar to. It will obviously be a different image, but the "simplified" use of shape, line, value, and color are what she is interested in.
Take your ideas from the content of the play itself and remember to not over complicate this.

You can do the text, too, but that can also be done on the computer.
In terms of text, it should/will say:

Coming Soon
Los Gatos High School 2013
(these top two lines above the image area (in the above example, this is the text above the black rectangle)
Alexandre Dumas'
Count of Monte Cristo
(these two lines within the "black rectangle" but above the image itself)

You do not have to include a black background as that should be determined by the way you illustrate your design.

Here is a synopsis of the book/play:
"Betrayal, obsession, and redemption provide the backdrop for this compelling adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' classic novel. While unjustly imprisoned, Edmond Dantes befriends a neighboring inmate who bequeaths him an enormous treasure. Dantes eventually escapes and returns to society disguised as the Count of Monte Cristo with plans to enact his revenge on those who betrayed him.  But as Dantes becomes increasingly consumed with his quest for vengeance, he finds himself losing his humanity and any hope of reconciling with the love of his life.

If you have any questions you can as Mrs. Martyn or myself.
I need to know by spring break if you are planning on creating an image in the above style for this.

You can, remember, benefit in two ways: first, you can get $60 from her if your design is chosen; second, you can use this image as one of your study drawings for me.
The image will be due around the first week of May.

Senior Spirit Week Help

You creative folks are in high demand for the hall decorations for spirit week.
See Olivia Flechsig, Casey Heyl or Taylor Unger for information about the decorating at Casey's house each Sat and Sunday.
Or you can email
caseyheyl@gmail.com
or
its.taylor.nicole23@gmail.com

for more information.

El Gato Submission

You are awesome and creative and should share that information with your peers.
El Gato (the school newspaper) is giving you the opportunity.

If you need help taking pics, please ask for it.

Here is the info that was passed along to me for me to pass along to you.

El Gato's student life section is accepting art, poetry, and post-secret submissions today and tomorrow. Thursday at the absolute latest! You can submit it anonymously or not to an el gato staff member, drop it by room 506, or submit electronically to billylepage@gmail.com or wade.wallerstein@gmail.com

Take advantage.

Seriously.

Vans Custom Culture

It is that time of year again, and I just received our four pairs of pristine white vans shoes in the mail.

We have until the beginning of April to create and produce designs for the themes: Art, Music, Action Sports, and Local Flavor on the four pairs of shoes and then get pics of them uploaded to the internet.

You can see more about the competition, as well as past winners on the Vans Custom Culture site here.

If you have questions please let me know.  You can pick up shoe templates from me to sketch out your ideas and then I will go through a voting process with the students to determine who will actually paint the shoes.

PLEASE GET ME YOUR DESIGNS BY NEXT WED MARCH 6TH!

Extra Credit Opportunities

I have decided that there are two upcoming opportunities for you to earn extra credit for class.
They both involve making art because, well, this is an art class.
Also because Black Ops or Mario Kart can wait. Really.

So here are the details...

#1 Los Gatos Ballet
 A dance themed drawing or painting. If you want to do something ballet themed that would be even better. If you wanted to use as a source image an image from a dancer at Los Gatos Ballet you can go to Doug Speidel's portfolio of LG Ballet dancers/dances here and check some out.
I have to know by MARCH 1ST if you are creating a piece for this, what the media is, and what the size is.
Really, I think it would be best to keep the images 16x20 or smaller.
They need to be good pieces and not just a semi-decent study drawing type pieces, just fyi. If I'm giving extra credit and you are putting it out there in public I just need you to recognize that you are helping put a "face on" the LGHS Art Department through your efforts.

The auction itself is on March 23rd, and I have to have the piece before March 22nd.
Yes, I need to know by Mar. 1st if you are doing a piece for LG Ballet, but you don't have to have the piece finished until the middle of March.



#2 Los Gatos Art Museum
For the second year in a row the LG Art Museum is hosting a county wide competition for high school students.
The theme is Art + Tech + Culture. They are asking about the effects of technology in our lives.

For example:
"Your artwork might be created using new media technologies - computer graphics, robotics, animation - the sky is the limit"
"Your observations about the impacts of technology in our lives are equally relevant, both globally and individually.  What is the impact of technology in education, here and in developing countries? What are the issues surrounding compromised privacy?"
"How has technology affected social behavior? What is the new etiquette?"

You can get more information at the Museums of Los Gatos website here for more complete information and a list of due dates.
The first date you really need to be aware of is March 22nd, as that is the date you need to have a photo of your piece emailed to the museum.

I need to have proof that you are finished with this piece and have emailed it to the museum so you need to make sure that you cc me on the email. You should know my email address, but just in case you are feeling to lazy to look it up, it is:
tsmith@lgsushd.org


P.S. You need to appropriately photograph your piece in order to put your best foot forward. This includes setting the correct exposure and white balance. I can help with this.

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.