Flea Fair

Pre K Fish - drawing, painting, glueing

2011-10-26T04:04:00.000-07:00

Are you wondering what to do with three and four year olds? If you pre-cut fish for them, they can learn to draw scales, learn to glue sequins on (using a small bottle of white glue), locate the eyes and draw them....and then...on another day...they can paint a background for the fish as a group. Small children love to paint!!

Outdoor Cooking with Students

2011-09-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

There is really nothing to be learned from this post--it's just a reminder to take a break from routine and enjoy some time with students in a new way. We baked mini pizzas in an outdoor oven that had been made by Eagle Scouts a number of years ago, that had really never been used. The shop teacher made a peel that fit the oven, so we could make pizzas. Another teacher made a wood fire and prepared nachos, mango salsa and other goodies with the students. It was part of an annual yearbook signing afternoon we call "Dandelion Day." Every school should have such a tradition---and the outdoor cooking was a successful new addition!

What can everyone make? Pre K-12

2011-09-21T10:06:00.000-07:00


pile of papers that the students made

middle school projects

pre-k

I worked last year with 4 year olds....and 7th through 12th graders. What could we all do? We painted papers... and chalked them, and textured them, and collaged them- you name it! We had stations around the room, used a timer and switched every five minutes or so. The next day we cut the papers we made...and tore them, and turned them into works of art. I have to say, there were so many results that I loved, and the students particularly enjoyed the stations.

Make a Pair of Shoes in One Class Period

2011-07-12T05:07:00.000-07:00

Students were given a 3 foot square piece of brown craft paper and were asked to make a pair of shoes in one class period. They could use hot glue, tape, brown paper (postal) tape....anything they wanted to use, really. One boy used blue foam insulation board as the base. This was a fun thing to do on the last day of school before summer vacation. I love projects that have no element of "right" or "wrong." Many students asked if they were doing it right, or could they do X,Y, or Z? No need to ask, kids. Whatever you think.

Repeating Designs Using a Copy Machine- 8th Grade Art

2011-06-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

Students made a drawing or a series of drawings, outlining them in with a black pen. They used the copy machine to make approximately 6 copies. Students could resize the drawing(s) at this point. They colored the copies with markers or colored pencils and trimmed them close to the edges of the drawings. Students used glue sticks to neatly glue the copies to a sheet of paper that closely matched the color of the copy paper. We used bristol board.

Recycled Hats....

2011-01-02T16:06:00.000-08:00

The orange hat was made from an old wool coat of mine...and the purple one, from a cashmere sweater.

I used the beret template found on Martha Stewart's website as a starting point, made a mock up out of junky knit material, and found out that I have a very large head! I continued making three more mock ups until arriving at Mr. Orange, modeled here by my daughter (who doesn't have as a big a head which is why the hat looks big on her).

Ms. Purple is made to look like a hat I saw in a Garnet Hill catalog. I took the hem section of a sweater, and without cutting the sweater, stretched it to fit smoothly on one side of my head, bunching it on the other. I tied the clump of wool together and then tied it off. I trimmed the excess and stitched through the clump over and over again using blind stitches. Last, I put a piece of yarn, similar in color to the sweater, around the clump. I dyed it purple using wool dyes, and "felted" the flower using the clothes dryer. Tips: Wash and dry the wool in both cases before you begin. Perhaps dye the fabric first, and then create the final product. The purple hat has a slight streak in one of the creases....

One More Shrine.....

2011-01-02T15:58:00.000-08:00

This terrific shrine, made by a sophomore, was fashioned from an old record, a cookie tin, miniature motors, hardware store items and miscellany....

7th Grade Watercolor Mushrooms

2010-12-15T16:09:00.000-08:00

Students worked from photographs on these watercolors. They had never practiced the more formal method of wetting individual areas to prevent colors from bleeding out before. (This is the first year that I get these students). We also worked on making "Impressionistic" backgrounds from the detailed, realistic reference material.

Project Runway: Recycled Sweaters turned into Mittens

2010-12-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

Our Project Runway class took a field trip to the local thrift store and purchased many clothing items that can be turned into ???? (imagination- no limit). Sweaters, using the bottom ribbing, can be turned into mittens. If you are going to make them, trace your hand and make sure to include your wrist. Think about the widest part of your hand...will it fit through that wrist opening? If in doubt...widen the wrist part of the drawing. Add seam allowance and cut four. Sew.

If a student prefers, or if you lack the materials, then use polar fleece or old wool blankets. Be aware that the wrist opening will need to be even bigger than you think, because there is no stretchy ribbing to work with.

We also taught the students how to use beads and sequins. If you are going to do that, purchase some beading needles and perhaps some threaders. We had one student who had particularly sharp eye sight thread all of ours, because most of us could not do it.

More Amazing 8th Grade Ink Drawings

2010-12-03T19:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some more Amazing 8th Grade Ink Drawings based on the Cabinet of Natural Curiosities (see link,scroll down) http://fleafair.blogspot.com/search/label/drawing%20projects
This project gives just about every student a sense of accomplishment that they did not have before. I have them complete a series of crosshatching samples (from a really old drawing book). They draw the basic outline in pencil, but they really don't need to draw the repeating aspects in pencil- they can master that in pen (lizard scales, feathers, etc.) I used to think that copying from existing work was cheating (my parents didn't let us trace anything past 1st grade)....but they aren't tracing here, they are drawing. AND they are learning methods of shading that aren't that common any more. How else to learn? (Click on pic to see bigger)

Veteran's Day Flags

2010-11-29T12:15:00.000-08:00

I saw these Veteran's Day cards at a local nursing home. They were clearly made for the veterans that were being rehabilitated there, but the assignment is unclear to me. Either they were recalling what the actual American flag looks like, or they were re-designing the flag. In either case, they are interesting. The second picture is of Obama, I think. Funny how the first flag has a "bump-out," and the last one has the star area indented. Kids.

More Foil Projects...

2010-11-27T06:31:00.000-08:00

I failed to post these first foil projects that were made about 8 years ago...and noticed them around my classroom. You can click on the link to the others (under foil projects) on the sidebar. Here, in brief, are the instructions that I used for these. I cut out as many gold or silver pieces of art work that I could find in the heaps of National Geographic Magazines that I have. I paid no particular attention to the era, style, or culture that it came from and put them in a folder for the students to choose from. I avoided having the students do this part, because my past experience has been that they waste about 2 days looking at magazines and say that there is nothing in them that they can use. We researched Illuminated Manuscripts, Russian Icons, and Gusav Klimt (decorative works, with an emphasis on gold...a variety of meanings and time periods). The projects needed to be well planned, the magazine parts needed to be well integrated, and a border was necessary. These were made on the gold tooling foil that comes on a roll (approximately 8 inches wide). I spray painted some beans copper and gold, and had some metallic and decorative paper on hand for the borders. We also had some plastic gemstones. The ones that I posted earlier were not made from the clipped gold pages. I think that these were more successful.

300 Piece Get Well Card

2010-11-25T16:05:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves to get mail, especially when they aren't feeling well. Most of the students at my school created panels for a huge get well card that was glued together to create one, long accordian folded card for a very important person at school. Each panel was 6 x 6, with a 1/2" tab folded back on the left side. The tab was glued underneath the face of the card section that came before it..and so on...and so on...and so on.

If you want to make one, reinforce these ideas, especially with younger students:
1) The tab is on the LEFT. It does matter if you want all of the panels to be right side up.
2) The artwork goes on the front, and the message goes on the back.
3) The message needs to be written in the center of the back. If it extends too far, then the glued tab will cover the message.

Some students worked on these with their classroom teachers and some students made them in art class. I glued them together using a light strip of hot glue.

Felt Pieces/ Grade 7

2010-11-19T12:34:00.000-08:00

What to do with a pile of felt and a group of 7th graders? Creating simple designs and improving or learning how to hand sew appealed to this small group of 7th graders. We sat in a small circle and enjoyed getting to know each other better while working and talking. Here are a few of them....

Making a Piece of Art from Many Carved Stamps

2010-11-19T08:54:00.000-08:00

Students designed stamps that could work together- either as repeating designs, or as a thematic picture. I have lots of soft rubber stamp material left over from projects- either scraps or "lino-cuts" that students did not want to take home with them (we used the backs). This is the first year that we have done this. The students really loved carving multiple stamps. The printing was a little more difficult. Eighth graders have a hard time with the idea of needing to start over if something becomes messy (or messed up)!

New Class: Project Runway

2010-11-17T18:57:00.000-08:00

A colleague of mine suggested that we co-teach a class that she titled Project Runway. She teaches Family and Consumer Science (which includes sewing). Our first days were spent looking at and making style challenges at www.polyvore.com. We then asked the students to create hats using mainly paper or cardboard, along with other natural materials (we worked along side of them, making our own, included here). We asked the students to identify where they would wear their hats. In order: The Kentucky Derby, hunting armadillos, to a Fourth of July parade, working in a munitions factory, and lastly, to a botanical garden.

Would I do anything differently? I think that it is important to emphasize form over "decoration." All good design comes from form, whether we are talking about graphic design, furniture design, architecture or fashion. For a first challenge, though, it was a confidence builder- limited in scope, and easily made (with a hot glue gun). The down side? Paper is hard to mold to the shape of the head.

Haitian Drapo/ 8th Grade Art

2010-11-16T16:47:00.000-08:00

I had seen Drapo, or Vodou flags at a museum show a few years ago, and thought that students might enjoy imitating them, using as much glitter and shiny paper as they wanted to.

Drapo, or flags, are an important element of the Vodou ceremony. They are made of satin, velvet, or rayon, and are decorated with applique, sequins, or beads.

The designs reflect Vodou's open attitude towards the mixing of cultural and religious symbols and concepts. African symbols merge with Catholic processional banners, French military ensigns, and Masonic flags and aprons.

(Information from the American Museum of Natural History)

The first collage is of the students' work, and the second, an original drapo-
La Sirene by Evelyn Alcide,
Port-au-Prince, Haiti

I will do this project again, but I would like the designs to be more intricate. I asked for "over the top," but that is not necessarily what I got!

I Love Trees- Any Style, Any Method

2010-10-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

Trees. Any style, any material- created by high school students. I reviewed what materials we had in the art room, first, and then explained how to mix Sculptamold, cut thick foil, and how to make a foundation for a tree. If they had chosen other methods or materials, I would have demonstrated more techniques....

Teacups- Middle School

2010-10-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

Even though drawing from life is the ultimate way to learn, realistically speaking, many students draw from photographs (for a report, as an illustration, or for fun). We started the year with photographs of white teacups. Some are oddly shaped- it is not you- it is the original cup shape that is odd!

I know that I am always saying this, but I love how each student works differently...

Delaware County Travel Posters

2010-09-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

After a long break, we are back at school and the travel posters that we made for our local chamber of commerce have been printed! The students were happy to see the final product- large, colorful reproductions of the gouache originals. The posters showcase the beauty of our area, and the animals and activities that we enjoy here.

New Felt

2010-07-13T04:32:00.000-07:00

I am experimenting here with dying the ground and keeping the wool work simple.

Felt

2010-07-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

Here are some felt pieces that I failed to show previously. All have been sold or gifted, but one. I am currently working on a more "modern" series of botanical felt- microscopic, dissected, or simplified....

Inspired by Picasso

2010-06-30T05:05:00.000-07:00

During the final week of school, students used Picasso's Cubist portraits as inspiration for these. The rules? Construct the portrait in layers (cardboard, papers), use some texture (using paper crimpers, rubbing plates, or rough shading), and perhaps some unusual materials found around the art room.

Spring Equinox: International Edition

2010-06-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

Another year, another theme. Third graders paraded around with wagons that they decorated by country. Girls sang with Breton style hats, and belly dancers danced!

Making Wearable Boxes, or Making Boxes into Masks.....

2010-06-26T05:55:00.000-07:00

In a moment of insanity, we chose to make these box heads during the last 2 weeks of 7th grade art- a bold move considering the fact that school could end, and we wouldn't be done. Many of these students' parents work at the school, however, and these dedicated students came to paint their projects on their first days off from school! We used boxes, sheets of cardboard, plaster bandages, and regular plaster. The bird head was built on a cookie tin. We padded the boxes (and the tin) with bunched up newspaper, wadded with tape before the plastering began. The only caution: make sure that the taped portion is quite smooth, because if you try to compensate later with plaster, chunks of plaster may flake or fall out later. The plaster should really be a skim coat to smooth the bandages, not a layer. We used tempera paint, but I think that house paint would help secure all of the layers and give it permanence. Students could take them home if they wanted to, but if they thought that they wouldn't keep them, I offered to store them for use at another time. (See Festivals posts).

Final Days of School: Make Eyeglasses, Beards and Moustaches....

2010-06-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

Use up old posterboard scraps, and give some tips- use a ruler, size the cardboard to your face, use hot glue and not tape....if they turn out too wide, clip the nose bridge and hot glue the pieces back together! Take a final picture.....

Large Puppet Procession

2010-06-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

I became interested in making large puppets after seeing the Bread and Puppet Theatre perform at a local college. For me, it is the under-developed spectacle that appeals to me- so perhaps that can be accomplished without the large puppets. However, they do add a comical twist and get the audience's attention.... and they are fun to make.

Our events have always worked around a theme, but there is no grand rehearsal. The individual groups practice, but the marching, circling, and banter are on-the-spot. The order of events is distributed ahead of time and we have no seating. I try to make performance mandatory- The audience and participants are ONE, which eliminates the sense of "us" and "them". This is a "we" event. I have found that the teachers who don't get it, never get it. Ignore them, and do it anyway. This was a hard lesson for me to learn. This is an opportunity for groups to perform, and also individuals. We have had a single roller-blader, a piano soloist, a big first grade group doing yoga, and skits in the mix. As I look back, this is probably the best thing that I have brought to my school.
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I am sharing information that I obtained from Jennifer Murphy's website. She credits Beth Petersen of Heart of the Beast Theater, and information from various publications, including the Wise Fool Handbook and 68 Ways to Make Really Big Puppets. Please share this freely but do not copy and claim it as your own.

4 or 5 medium size cardboard boxes
packing or masking tape
25 pounds of clay (get the cheapest kind, it doesn't need to be fire-able)
plastic bags or thin plastic drop cloths
pile of newspaper
pile of brown paper bags
scissors
cornstarch paste (see recipe below)
2 paintbrushes (3” or 4” wide)
drop cloths for floor if needed
2 pieces of wood 3' + long
plastic food container lid
8 1” screws, screw driver or drill
primer or white house paint
acrylic paints, house paint, artists brushes
2 poles, 8' and 3'
2 or 3 old bike inner tubes
fabric for costume (about 5 yards)
a work surface you can leave messy
at least 1 other person to help (the more the merrier)

1) Sketch and plan (allow about 3 weeks to make) 2) Create a form: A manageable size head to start with is 3' tall x 2 - 3' wide. Use cardboard boxes - cut, rolled up and taped into the basic shape of your puppet‘s head. Also try balled up old plastic bags, buckets, bubble wrap, anything that will create dimension. Lots of tape helps. This form will not be seen once the clay is on, and will later be discarded. 3) Add clay: cut into 1” thick slices. Lay these over your cardboard foundation smoothing the joins together. Sculpt it into details like the eyebrows and nose. Don't create undercuts in your modeling; these make it difficult to pull the paper mache off. 4) Lay on plastic: Completely cover the clay work with a thin plastic drop cloth or cut-open plastic bags. This keeps the paper mache from sticking to the clay. Use the thinnest layer possible and carefully press it into the details of your sculpture or they will be lost. 5) Make cornstarch paste: Dissolve 1/2 c. cornstarch into 1 c. warm water. Heat one quart of water on the stove. Slowly stir the dissolved cornstarch into one quart of boiling water. Once it thickens, turn off. Let cool before using. You will need 2 or 3 times this amount for a 3' x 3' mask. Make it fresh each time or store it in the fridge - it gets moldy fast. For a large amount at once use 2 cups cornstarch to 1 gallon of water.6) Prep papier mache: Cut a piece of cardboard slightly larger than an open piece of newspaper. Cut the paper bags open so they lay flat and remove handles. Pile up your newspaper near by and get out your wide paintbrushes. You might want to drop cloth the floor.7) It's good to have at least one paste-er and one mache-er. The paste-er brushes a layer of paste over the whole big cardboard sheet. Paste-er lays a whole piece of newspaper open on top of it, smoothing it to get the paste all over that side, then brushes more paste on the top of the newspaper, so it's coated on both sides. Paste-er peels the paper up and hands it off to the mache-er. Mache-er tears the paste covered sheet into strips and starts pressing it and smoothing it on top of your puppet's face. Use small pieces for delicate details, large pieces for wide flattish areas. Cover every inch with an even layer. Put on 2 more layers with the newspaper. As you go, remember which parts you already did, so nothing is left too thin. Moving in only one direction helps with this. Next, do the same process with a layer of brown paper bags. You want to lay 3 layers of newspaper and 1 layer of paper bags, and then to repeat this pattern 3 times for a strong, long lasting puppet. Pay close attention to the edges, wrapping the paper around it and making it smooth. Reinforce edges and the high points with a few extra layers because they get the most wear and tear.8) Let mache set until it's hard and dry all the way through (slide your fingers under to test). This usually takes about a week. Pull the mask/head off very carefully. This is a 2-person job. Don't worry about destroying the foundation or clay in the process. Pull off the mask and discard/recycle the foundation materials. You can save the clay for next time by bagging it up tightly in plastic. Take a minute to admire your work! If you need to, repair cracks or holes with more paper mache. 9) Paint: Prime the front of the mask with white paint. It may need 2 coats. The underside does not usually need paint unless you plan to march in the rain with it. In that case, prime the underside or give it a coat of clear acrylic. When it's dry, paint your puppet head however you envision it. Brighter colors and higher contrast show up well from a distance. Tiny details can get lost. Use acrylics or latex house paint. Poster paints will fade and run. You can also collage paper on it with a coat of white glue or “Yes” glue (doesn't wrinkle). A final coat of clear acrylic will protect it from bumps and scrapes.10) Put on braces: Cut the 2 pieces of wood to fit across the back of the puppet head, about 1/3 from the top and bottom. Cut 1" washers out of the plastic lid (a hole punch works to make the middle hole). Carefully drill holes through the paper mache to attach the ends of the wooden braces to it. Use the washers to reinforce the screws. Put two or three screws on each end. Make it snug and strong or you will regret it later.11) Poles: Bamboo is light and strong if you can find it. For a 3' head, an 8 or 9' pole works well (make sure it will fit in your vehicle if it needs to). Cut a 3' pole for the shoulders and tie it about 2 1/2' from the top of the 8' pole, using the inner tube (cut into 1 1/5" wide strips). Tie the head to the part of the pole above the shoulders, one tie per brace. Tie it so it can be untied easily later but it's secure.12) Costume: Drape or sew the puppet's costume. Make sure to use fabric that the puppeteer can see through, or cut an eyehole. To cover the back of the head, poke holes every 6 “ or so, about 1” from the edge, from ear to ear over the top. Tie a piece of fabric over the back of the mask with small pieces of rubber laced through the holes.13) Practice: Practice walking with your puppet before your event. Be careful of low hanging trees, signs and high curbs. It's good to have a puppet helper assigned to walk with the puppeteer because it is very hard to see in there.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WORK, BUT WORK IN GROUPS. Also- Save them year to year and a collection will build!

Spring Fun Fair: Integrating Visiting Artists

2010-05-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, we celebrated the Spring Equinox at my school for many years with a procession and sampling of performances by a variety of school groups: the dance team, the belly dance club, a number put together by one of our physical education teachers, and band and choral pieces. This time of year, where we live, happens to be cold and indoorsy- a great time to put something like this together! I put together the visual aspects: we created large puppets, made cardboard cut-outs and lots of costumes according to a loose theme. One year I wrote a grant and we had Dic Wheeler, a friend from Connecticut come and teach circus skills to the students. He taught 4th, 5th and 6th grade students how to spin plates, balance feathers on their noses, and juggle. He worked out routines and we added the other school groups into the circus framework, fully costumed. This was a K-12 event and as I look back- it was really spectacular.

FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN

Another year, we had two guest artists come and create with us, through a grant that my superintendent wrote. Brenda Hutchinson helped us with a chili cook-off, which she filmed and edited. Hana Roth Seavey, a former teacher, Barnum and Bailey Circus School graduate, and playwright helped students create their own fairy tales and perform them. These were mixed in with a skit, a rollerblader, and the traditional dance, choral and band pieces.

Postage Stamp Designs

2010-05-18T13:16:00.000-07:00

Graphics students designed these stamps. Students in upper level art can sometimes choose their medium...in this case, most chose gouache, but one chose pastels (the giraffe). In preparation, I showed them a slide show of all kinds of stamps. The post mistress also shared some catalogs on stamp collecting with me, USA Philatelic, a really good resource. Since then, that particular post office closed as a result of budget cuts. Sad. Buy stamps, send things via US Mail and save the postal service!

Celebrating the Spring Equinox

2010-05-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

For many years we have celebrated the Spring Equinox at school in a creative way. I was lucky to work in a supportive environment that allowed for loosely shaped ideas. During the first year we built a large tower out of wrapping paper, toilet paper, and paper towel tubes. Those were collected over a long period of time, sorted according to size, and then put to use. Sixth grade students, I believe, sketched up their ideas- we chose one plan - and went with it. All morning long, groups of students arrived and used masking tape to put together groupings of tubes. By the end of the day the tower was big, rather precarious, but still standing. When I came in the next day, the tower had collapsed. The newspaper was going to come and cover the story, but the school secretary had told them not to come- that the tower had failed.

This project was, in fact, a success. The materials were recycled, so the tape was the only expense. The school worked together to achieve one goal- kindergartners through twelfth graders! It was truly a student designed and built project- it was a departure from what was normally done during the school day- much fun was had -and no one hurt in the process.

Our Own Cabinet of Curiosities

2010-05-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

We used drawings from Seba's Cabinet of Curiosities as models for these fine marker drawings. This reproduction of an 18th century book, showcases one man's collection of animals, plants and insects from all around the world.

Eighth graders first made pencil drawings of their animal or insect- leaving out the details (feathers and scales, for the most part). After practicing a little they were able to do the repetitive line work on the final copy, without pre-drawing it. The book is listed at a really high price, but there are other books that could be used just as well.... such as The Clip Art Book, compiled by Gerard Quinn or The Complete Encyclopedia of Illustration. I purchased these many years ago, and perhaps there are other books could serve just as well. I have done fine line drawings with this age group from the old ,OLD Sears and Roebuck catalog. These have to be enlarged on the copy machine.

Your Soul is Really All You Own

2010-04-11T16:01:00.000-07:00

After coming home from a show at the Austin Museum of Art, American Letterpress: The Art of Hatch Show Print, I was both inspired and excited about letterpress (as I had been when I visited the print shop in Nashville a few years back)- I guess I love its timelessness. At any rate, I stumbled upon this piece written by Jim Sherraden, the manager of Hatch Show Print (on the AIGA site).

Your Soul is Really All you Own (link to original post)

I was 20 years old and rummaging through an Amsterdam flea market when I bought for a few guilders what I thought was an envelope seal. A few days later in Paris I watched in awe from a storefront as a man inside the window bound a book by hand. And while these are exotic sounding places, but what is more important is why I was there. I was beginning to cast a wider net towards the world than what my life offered in the vast Midwest.

I wandered far from home, searching for songs other than the voices of my youth, hoping to harvest life experience the hard way by living abroad on next to nothing.

I earned money working in potato and tulip and sugar beet fields in the Netherlands, traveled to big European cities between jobs and slept in fields and train stations. I was paying my dues and opening the door to my soul. You see the “envelope seal” in Amsterdam was actually a decorative remnant from an old Dutch letterpress shop. The Frenchman's book was printed from handset type and illustrated with relief prints.

In hindsight, I was intuitively drawn to that aesthetic, innocently preparing myself for a larger part, which was and is working at Hatch Show Print in Nashville, Tennessee. Because I was there in Europe, I was helping to form the foundation of my work now. I believe that life experience reawakens in the soul what it already knows. Eudora Welty wrote that “the strands are all there; to the memory virtually nothing is ever lost.”

How many times have we heard someone say, “I composed that in ten minutes,” or “the words just poured out of me” or “the picture just painted itself.”? But that isn't really what happened. These accomplishments are the direct result of struggle, meeting challenge head on with hard work, and facing fear with persistence and dedication. What seems simple on the surface is instead the result of years of paying dues. This is how I choose to answer the question of how I got to wherever people think I am today. There was hard work, of course, but just as important I have learned to open the door to my soul. Plato said that learning is recollection, that the soul before entering the body has already experienced the Ideal, or Perfection. But it has forgotten it. If our existence could be likened to a black and white negative, then the soul has seen the picture in full color. By paying our dues we are remembering what the soul already knows. Even if we embrace this concept of learning, we still want to be quick with the lesson and enjoy instant results. We think we understand it all.

Then I remember what my mentor, Kenneth Hinson, told me, “I've been printing 65 years and I'm still learning.” This is simple advice that anyone can understand. He taught and re-taught me the basics of letterpress design, but he probably never called himself a designer. Thanks to what I learned from Kenneth-his skill and humility-I will always be paying my dues, sifting through the days ahead, keeping and eye out for the good stuff to be discovered like those letterpress ornaments in Amsterdam.

Jim Sherraden
Manager, Hatch Show Print Nashville, TN

Think

2010-04-08T12:41:00.000-07:00

Using one prescribed word and graphic, students used concepts outlined in the book, Idea Index, to gain an understanding of graphic styles. Students have trouble with "style" because they are often satisfied with their work when they are able to make it look "good," and don't look beyond just that. This is a great book that can give a graphic artist direction when needed.

All of the images below were drawn or painted by the students, then transferred to Photoshop. There, they made the lettering, changed the color, or in the case of the one directly below, filtered the image.

Travel Posters (Graphic Design Class)

2010-04-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

These beauties were executed in gouache by sophomores and juniors. I showed the students a Powerpoint presentation of vintage travel posters, and we talked about simplification and working without traditional shading. This is the second time that I gave this assignment. Last year the students had to use more words- like- Travel to Brazil (and more). I think they enjoyed making fewer words and learning more about font styles, instead.

Wet Felting Experiments by Students (and the teacher)

2010-04-04T05:48:00.000-07:00

Spring brought another visit with the extraordinary Lisa Merion, sheep farmer, wool artist, knitter, primitive rug hooker, spinner, dyer, and of course, felt-maker. Some of the students embedded rounded glass bits and sponges. I learned to make the ringed beads.

Kaleidoscopic Views in Marker

2010-04-02T06:38:00.000-07:00

Generally speaking, I dislike markers- they are streaky and I think of them as a medium for interior design sketches, cartooning, or outlining. A local school displayed beautiful, jewel-like, balanced designs at our regional art show- IN MARKER! Here are a few examples of my eighth grade students' attempts at the same problem. We made designs using one quarter of a piece of copier paper, and then transferred them to thicker paper using a light box or the window. We didn't bother cutting the copier paper, we kept it whole in case the students didn't like their original ideas; they didn't have to get up and get more paper- they could just continue on in another quarter. I asked them to outline the designs using a Sharpie marker.

Patterns Old and New

2010-03-25T03:38:00.000-07:00

I recently looked at a catalog with a room painted in solid colors that I really loved- and thought- I'd like to have a room like that. Then I realized that it will never happen, because I love patterns too much. This combination of old and new is something that I might not have done ten years ago. I would have worried that it didn't go. At this point, I can now say- Who cares? I like it.

The Amalfi Coast

2010-03-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

Often when teaching a large eighth grade class, you need a project that everyone can be successful at without a lot of assistance. This is it! I distributed a photo of the Amalfi Coast in Italy and showed my own sample drawing. We talked about how they could pick and choose the architectural details that they wanted to use- and that the buildings did not need to be "realistic". They could put the greenery in- or leave it out. Bridges in- bridges out, and so on. I only required that the students outline their buildings with black pen, and use colored pencils. This project really illustrates how great it is that all students all work differently.

People

2010-03-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

I teach at a school with little diversity, so 8th graders created these oilpastel portraits (from National Geographic), for "people practice." Again, I have found that using oil pastels (as opposed to pencils) enables the students to draw more loosely, and gain confidence.

Group Project Winner

2010-03-09T16:49:00.000-08:00

At the student art show, this piece was created by a variety of students of mixed ages and experience, and won first place in the group category. I think it has a lot of charm! We are thinking about putting blocks together again, with a different theme. I have a lot of squares that my husband, who is a builder, cut for me. I kind of like the fact that the wood differs in thickness and grain. Ask a local carpenter, who probably has a lot of scraps, to cut some for you!

Felting Experiment: Embedding

2010-03-07T16:19:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I experimented with embedding small, square pieces of sponge into a project. I wet felted this in one piece, in one session and it ended up looking like a sheet of home-made ravioli, uncut. Since then I have cut open the pockets and done a lot of stitching. I have been experimenting with squares for the past few years- beyond that- the idea of boundaries and compartments. Some of the compartments have natural materials within them, and some do not. Some are centered, some are not, some are bordered, some are not,some are more "squared" some are not. I used to have a desire for all projects to be made of natural materials, but now I think more about the properties of the material than the content.

It is sometimes hard to let go of color and think about design purity, because color is so exciting to me, but here it is....

Robots- Farewell!

2010-02-11T07:03:00.000-08:00

Making One out of Many

2010-02-02T14:58:00.000-08:00

The title says it all, and the project, by its nature, invites variety. This is one of the final projects in 3D Design.
The paper clip star is meticulously put together. The Candle Globe/Shade is made up of many, many music notes made out of twisted wire.

Making People

2010-02-01T15:59:00.000-08:00

After creating archetypal figures earlier this year, we took a shot at a more creativeapproach to making people in 3-D design. As you can see, some peoplehave vanished, and it is just their clothing left behind. I amconstantly amazed at the creativity and the quality of the work thatstudents produce.

Using Symbols (to represent what you value)

2010-01-27T13:34:00.000-08:00

Out of my own interest in symbols, I compiled a list from
1,001 Symbols: An Illustrated Guide to Imagery and Its Meaning, by Jack Tresidder,that 7th graders could easily access. They were asked to choose thequalities that they valued in themselves, first, and among the assortedsymbols, find three that they could picture using together in onecomposition. They created a thumbnail sketch, using a circle, square,rectangle or shield shaped format.
I permitted the use of onepiece of clip art. I have a collection of antique-ee clipart, which isthe only kind that we use. I go into a little bit about copyright law,here. Students are so used to taking images from the internet that theydon't question whether it is right or wrong until you point it out tothem. I introduce a little bit about using the text tool in Photoshophere, if the students want the lettering to curve..

Jigsaw It!

2010-01-26T14:26:00.000-08:00

One of the final assignments for 3D Students was to take a piece of of a photo and blow it up- to three times its original size- and then interpret it in relief, using a mix of materials. I have done this in the past and not allowed the students to see how they fit together. Why? I don't know now...because they came out so nicely when the students could work together! The original photo (broken in half, then half again) is of baobab trees. For some reason I deleted the original!

Copier Prints

2010-01-25T17:02:00.000-08:00

These prints were made from paper images from the copy machine- not a printing plate or stamp! (If you print images from a computer, you must then copy them). I learned this technique from the book, Collage Discovery Workshop- Beyond the Unexpected: New Techniques Using Color, Personal Imagery and Creative Surfaces, by Claudine Hellmuth.

The technique involves the use of Gum Arabic and oil paint. Buy the book to find out how to do it (fair is fair)....

We experimented with texturing canvas boards with Utrecht Modeling Paste, painted with acrylic paint. The students had never printed on fabric before, either....

Here are some more student samples:

Robots

2010-01-20T14:26:00.000-08:00

Another one or two day project, part of my effort to have a "Fun Friday," Monday...Tuesday....a few times a month. I supplied a sheet of vintage looking robot toys as examples, and promoted markers as the medium, which I never do. I recommended painting the very large ones. There was no size limitation, just the idea that the project would be done in 1-2 days. Students who can work fast and big- great...slow and small...great, too! I hung them in a dark spot in the hallway to brighten up our long winter.
~ a work in progress

Positive Negative/ Black White Paper Faces

2010-01-13T12:12:00.000-08:00

click to enlarge

Hand students alternating backgrounds- black and white, with an equal amount of the opposite color. Have each student write his or her name on the back of the background piece (otherwise you will end up with too many of one or another)... Distribute a smaller amount of the background color for contrasting details. I gave the students a sample sheet of eyes, noses, mouths, hats, beards, and moustaches that could be used for reference (cartoon style). They did not have to use the reference, but I knew that if I wanted it done in one period....

Fun was had by all!

More Book Projects/Projects with Words

2009-12-31T06:29:00.000-08:00

These types of projects are perennial favorites-
I ask for a polished, finished projects requiring a format- a box, a frame- contained in some way...
Medium of choice.
Lyrics, poems, quotations of choice.
I love these- My students do great work!

Archetypes- 3DD

2009-12-29T16:48:00.000-08:00

The world is made up of types- here are some of the ones we chose to represent- the witch, the athlete, the maiden, the musician and the mystic madman.

The witch face is Sculptamold on wood, the maiden and the mystic- fired clay, the athlete and rock star- masking tape on popsicle sticks with hands, face and feet of Sculpey. If you give free choice to your students- be aware that the Sculptamold takes far less time....

We did some research to get a feel for the universality of character types:
Jungian Archetypes
Tarot Cards (characters) and Stock Characters (in theatre)
Commedia dell'Arte

Mass MoCA revisited

2009-12-28T14:06:00.000-08:00

Two students chose to work through the eyes of Sol LeWitt, using the wall pieces they saw at Mass MoCA as inspiration. These are approximately 3 x 4 ft...big...and nice. Or nice and big?

Paper-Cut Cards

2009-12-22T15:34:00.000-08:00

Antsy kids enjoyed making paper cards using instructions from the book "Made with Paper" by Florence Temko, which is only available as a used book at this time. I have to admit, these are my examples, which deviated more and more from the original models as the day wore on- exactly the point!

Sweater Birds

2009-12-13T16:58:00.000-08:00

Red sweater (Salvation Army -shrunk in dryer), wool felt, beads, trim, paper bag, wooden square and dowel, paint.

Field Trip to Mass MoCA

2009-12-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

Even though Mass MoCA is about 2 1/2 hours away, the eight students who took the trip enjoyed themselves, as did I. We were particularly moved by Pawel Wojtasik's piece in 360 degrees (projected on the walls of a round room) which "addresses the relationship between New Orleans and its surrounding waters, focusing most specifically on the effects of industry on the disappearing wetlands (blog.massmoca.org)."

We appreciated the work of Sol LeWitt, whose work will be exhibited for 25 years in its own 3 story building. Students pondered the time involved in making complex work, whether they liked the final product or not. What restores me always is the thought that - whether you like it, hate it, or are repulsed by it...whether you find it boring, exciting or incomprehensible....art displayed in a space such as Mass MoCA's is a visual Candyland, an escape from everyday life. Yeah!

Waffle Faces Pre-Thanksgiving

2009-12-01T13:27:00.000-08:00

We unleashed a little creativity in the classroom during a half day before vacation. Next year: whipped cream,too!

Bright Felted Flowers

2009-11-29T12:17:00.000-08:00

Only 5 x 5 inches
Great little giftee!
Fleafair.etsy.com

Loosely Painted Lemons

2009-11-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

Students sketched with paint and did not use a pencil. Isn't it wonderful that everyone's work is so different? Most of these were painted without adult interference (or very little). Sometimes we need that freedom...every single one of us!

Windswept Tree

2009-11-15T15:35:00.000-08:00

Needle Felted Wool
5 x 5 inches
www.fleafair.etsy.com

Needle Felted Cherry Blossoms

2009-11-11T13:05:00.000-08:00

Needle Felted Cherry Bombs...
10 x 13.5
Etsy

More Handpainted Fabric Projects...

2009-11-10T08:15:00.000-08:00

Students in Three-D Design made these after looking at the following : Teesha Moore, a site for the The International Quilt Show, and the book by Somerset Studio Publications, Material Visions.

The handbag was made out of rayon velvet and decorated with Sharpie Markers blended with rubbing alcohol, and acrylic paint. the rest were painted with acrylics on muslin or canvas.

Felted Lily Pads

2009-11-08T17:16:00.000-08:00

Available you know where!

SOLD!

How Many Hours do You Spend Staring at a Screen?

2009-10-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

How many hours do you spend staring at a screen? These are responses from Studio Art students (9th - 12th graders). Game consoles, phones, cameras, television, drive-ins and home movies became the subject matter. We used 2 techniques per piece to separate the world of the screen from the "real" world.

Personal Shrines

2009-10-28T19:14:00.000-07:00

Students were asked to create personal shrines after looking at many examples. Our art room has lots of bric-a-brac, and I am willing to bring in what I can from home, by request- so the results were quite good. Take a look....

Wall Squares

2009-10-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

Mix and match these colorful wall squares- approximately 6" square- available at www.fleafair.etsy.com

Alex Pillow

2009-10-17T05:27:00.000-07:00

Available at www.fleafair.etsy.com

Papier Mache on Wheels

2009-10-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

...Another project made with recycled materials- except for the wheels and some of the bonding materials! The foundation was made from a pair of animal silhouettes cut out of corrugated cardboard. The legs were reinforced with wood strips. The stuffing was made from balled up newspaper, with masking tape to secure it. The outer body was padded with balled up newspaper, and in some cases covered with packing tape and in others, plaster casting material. The animals were
coated with approximately 5 layers of papier mache made from flour, white glue and water. Before the students left each day they could coat the whole thing with that mixture so it would harden up. Some students forgot to, or chose not to.....then it took longer.... These were made in a 3D Design class.

We made them on wheels so we can roll them
and chuckle.....

Tree Pillow Cover

2009-10-12T08:17:00.001-07:00

Tree Pillow Cover
etsy.com

Felted Greens Pillow

2009-10-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

www.fleafair.etsy.com

Friendly Fish PIllow

2009-10-09T03:51:00.000-07:00

Pillows on Etsy

2009-10-06T16:17:00.000-07:00

I am making a bunch of one-of-a-kind pillows and selling them on Etsy by the same name as this blog: FleaFair. I am trying to post a new pillow every day for a week or so- you can go to www.fleafair.etsy.com to check them out! I had partially constructed them during the past month, so in reality- I cannot make one pillow a day. Later on I will add some wall pieces.

I am trying out pillow covers (no pillow included) vs. cover that is sewn shut (pillow included), vs. the removable cover with the pillow included. Comments welcome in regard to preferences!

New Orleans, Voodoo, and Zora Neale Hurston

2009-09-21T03:45:00.000-07:00

My tribute to Priestess Miriam of the
Voodoo Spiritual Temple of New Orleans. One of her words of wisdom that I brought home: When you are on your way to work- think about how great the day is going to be as you drive or walk there...every single day.

I had read Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God" before going to New Orleans and then ordered a compilation of "Folklore, Memoirs, and other Writings" upon my return. I did not realize that the book would outline the origins of Hoodoo, contain a section on Marie Leveau (her spelling), and provide an explanation of "zombies"...among other great info. Her memoir, "Dust Tracks on a Road" is great, too. I love when everything you are reading, seeing and doing tie together.

Asking Students to Think

2009-09-15T19:03:00.001-07:00

After lunch I teach a class that is 80 minutes long- too long for most- so I have developed a list of videos from Vimeo, Youtube, etc. and articles for them to look at, read and respond to. The list is available on our school's network, so all of the students can click, watch and read. These activities coordinate (more or less) with what we are doing in class. If you want to see what kinds of activities go with the "thought" books, then click on the list that looks too small
read!

Type as Texture

2009-09-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

This is a lesson that I got from Judy Decker's Incredible Art Department website. It is Judi Morgan's lesson plan, and you can click here to be redirected to it. The gist is this: Use text as a texture to teach about design. Judi emphasizes the concept of "rhythm", where I emphasize the principles of design in general. She recommends using magazines and newspapers...I furnish sheets of pre-copied paragraphs and random lettering in a variety of fonts. I use black backgrounds on some sheets and white on others. I find that this saves time, confusion and teaches the same principles. I really appreciate the Judy Decker resource and tell my students about it. They use it to get new project ideas for their free time.

A Painting from Hand-Carved Stamps

2009-09-13T11:49:00.001-07:00

My advanced art students are going to be making a project such as this starting this week, so I thought I would post this. I wanted to make a painting that was made out of "stamps" or prints this summer, so I created three stamps of different scales to represent trees in early spring, fading back in space. The stamps are made from soft printmaking material- essentially big erasers. I underpainted patchy areas of olive green and sap green to provide a platform for the prints and will recommend that my students do the same. I used water based acrylic and block inks. I cut out sections of the original circles of leaves to use as mini stamps in random areas after I worked out the bigger areas and hand painted particular areas near the end of the process.

student sample

More Student Art

2009-09-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

My students' art is now gracing the walls of my son's apartment at City College. The center tree and bird (upper right) were made by two separate students. Thank you so much! You both do wonderful work! Click to see closer....

More Cake

2009-09-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

People are constantly coming and going- being born, moving, getting older (having birthdays)...and all are in need of cake! Wishing you a wonderful year in Scotland, Anna!

Experimenting with Yarn/Felting

2009-08-31T15:10:00.000-07:00

I received several bags of yarn from a friend, in lots of great colors, so I thought I would experiment with how yarn can work with felted fiber. I hand carded bits of dyed fiber (leftover clumps in a variety of colors)...it looked ugly at this point... and then lay strips of yarn on top, and felted them together. I like how the yarn squiggles up as it shrinks. Thank you, Jeannie!

Cakes for People you Love

2009-08-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

There was a period during which I baked cakes for a local restaurant. I also made cakes for weddings and special occasions. It happened that several people that I care about had birthdays this past weekend. Cake with nasturtiums: a birthday surprise for my husband's aunt Mary who has been under the weather lately.
Cake with chocolate leaves: for Harry- a colleague and a really great guy, celebrating a special birthday. Cake with swirls and nuts: for Dylan, my son's band mate and a young man that we have enjoyed spending lots of time with.

If you can't always say it with words- say it with food! I love you all!

Mardi Gras Costumes

2009-08-18T05:56:00.000-07:00

These costumes are on view at the Presbytere, part of the Louisiana State Museum.
There is so much history behind the Mardi Gras as celebrated in New Orleans, that I have supplied a link to Mardi Gras Digest's History of the Main Line and a general Mardi Gras site with facts, dates, and history. There is so much more to it than I ever imagined. I really appreciate all of the delicate hand work and care that goes into these very complex costumes.

St. Louis Cemetery #1, New Orleans

2009-08-17T05:49:00.000-07:00

Understandably, the dead are buried above ground in New Orleans because the water table is so high.
Since I love to visit graveyards, it was nice to visit a town that values theirs, and provides tours of them. Our guide was very informative, and I have to say, I learned more than I would have by just skimming the guidebook. Marie Laveau, the "voodoo queen" is buried here- her grave has all of the offerings in front of it. Our guide, with the yellow Crocs...is in front of a monument featured in the film "Easy Rider". The tombs used to be washed in color, as you can see.....

New Orleans

2009-08-16T13:44:00.001-07:00

This isn't Disney World, but it sure does look like it....

St. Charles Avenue Streetcar-interesting that it runs down a grassy strip......

Cafe du Monde...Beignets...so very, very delicious!!!

Ottoman Update

2009-08-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

My daughter bought two ottomans at Target for the tea area in her room at college. A little bit of customizing and .....no...I didn't change it from fancy to plain...after> before

Newport Folk

2009-08-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

Political messages, nice people, great music, beautiful weather and a cry for positivity rounded out a wonderful day in Newport, Rhode Island. A sing-along with Pete Seeger (age 90) and thousands of people- unforgettable! Listen at NPR.org/music.

Billy Bragg

More Hand Printed Leaves

2009-07-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

This is a darker approach to printing actual leaves on fabric. Here are rhododendron and hosta leaves- cut in half. Both of these leaves are tough and stand up to printing a big piece of fabric with one leaf of each type. The background was painted afterward (so that the leaf centers could remain lighter). My idea of fun. Click on the picture to see a close up (and on any other picture in this blog, as well).

Stop Motion

2009-07-25T06:01:00.000-07:00

I am working on a stop motion film about a factory...as you can see it is set inside of a cardboard box and is made up of cardboard gears and actual sawblades...materials on hand.....a film strip can...and so on.

I want the students to make a film this year that involves making the either the setting, the characters or both. This is all I have so far!

The Beast and His Beauties

2009-07-14T05:23:00.000-07:00

This is the first film that I ever made using stop motion. We used a free program called "Monkey Jam" that is not really meant for animating with photos- however, it did work. The students developed the scenario, acted in the film and shot the frames. Students Photoshopped segments of the film before putting them into Monkey Jam, as did I. The final film formatting was done in Movie Maker. The students really enjoyed making the film, so next year's class will either make one movie as we did this year, or each individual will make his/her own. Since then, I wrote a grant for more equipment, a better camera, etc...so the process should be easier next time.

Hand Printed and Painted Fabric

2009-07-12T04:16:00.000-07:00

My friend gave me some natural, loosely woven fabric, so on a rare, very nice day I used leaves from the yard as stamps. I used acrylic paint to coat the vein side, turned them over, covered them with paper, and rubbed them until the veins transferred to the fabric. I tinted the stamped leaves watery acrylic paint. The modern looking leaves are hand painted.

shuttleCOCKSTOCK

2009-07-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

These are shirts that my kids and I made for a MUSIC festival that we are hosting. There will be badminton, too, of course.

Student Work

2009-07-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

I just love my students' work so much that I hung it in my bathroom! That might sound insulting, but I love my newly finished bathroom. My husband put the bamboo ceiling up- it comes in a roll. I ordered it from some place in Seattle, but you can get it elsewhere. The poles came from there as well. He also made the medicine cabinet many years ago....

Back to the student work-
Top: Lithograph of an owl
Bottom: Silk screen print on white cloth.
Great!

Other Cardboard Projects...

2009-07-02T05:43:00.001-07:00

For those who have not looked through this entire blog- many of my projects involve corrugated cardboard. It is free, you are teaching students to "reuse" and there are so many things you can do with it. The students have to use a blade to cut it (promoting hand and finger strength)...the downside- it could be dangerous. I have only had one student cut themselves after years of making things out of cardboard, however.

I assign the first project to high school
students taking three dimensional design. They are supposed to think about the principles of art/design when they create them.

The second project is a group project for middle schoolers. First they sketch their ideas. They need to make three squares theselves (they measure, use triangles, and cut using a snap blade knife). The individual squares need to have a couple of layers and a frame. They paint them using shades and pure color (the students know that the squares will be mounted on black). This piece won a "Best in Show" at a local art display. Click on the picture to see it bigger...

Pets in Pastel - 7th Grade Art

2009-07-02T05:26:00.000-07:00

Students find pictures of their breed of pet on the internet (or you could have them bring them from home, but I haven't had much luck with that). They might choose a favorite animal instead....in either case they need to save the file. Then they can fool around a little with Photoshop filters as I have shown above. (They enjoy using the program and ultimately they don't really need to, but it adds to the enjoyment of the project). Then they can work on a simple pencil outline followed by the final pastel or oil pastel. I let them choose.

Renaissance Portraits

2009-07-02T05:24:00.000-07:00

Seventh graders worked from reproductions of Renaissance portraits to produce these. I have found that pencil portraits at the 7th grade level are very stiff. For some reason, using oil pastels is much easier.

Really Big Cardboard Cut-outs

2009-07-02T05:17:00.000-07:00

Normally students work from their own ideas, however, these were made to be displayed in the main hallway during the last week of school in a K-12 building. I was teaching a class that was new to me, graphic design- so after surveying the students I discovered that this was one of their favorite projects. I toyed with creating a light research project on Pop Art to accompany it....maybe next year.

Wooden Cubes

2009-06-29T09:47:00.001-07:00

Give the students three wooden cubes. Explain different linking methods. Brainstorm some creative examples. Show them the wealth of materials that you have. Let them work.

Nine Squares Project

2009-06-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

Students are asked to use nine squares for this project. The nine squares are to be hung together, producing a single work of art in the end. I don't specify the size of the squares, but they often cut 4 inch squares, more or less. I have relented and let the students use fewer or more squares if the ideas are solid and 9 just doesn't work. Again- it is amazing what students come up with. The Elvis piece is from an art magazine and I apologize for not having the source.

Two Color Prints

2009-06-25T05:24:00.000-07:00

Two color prints are nothing new- why bother mentioning them? I have the students carve one big base block and the additional color can be made the same way, or if can be made as a mini stamp. It saves material and time. In other words- the bird beak is made from a little triangular piece of unmounted linoleum- and the flower was done the same way.

Art Olympics

2009-06-24T12:25:00.001-07:00

To break up the class routine, you could hold an Art Olympics twice a year, although I have only done it during the last week of school. One week of one day activities! I mix up the activities each day, period to period, so I remain interested. This year: Tower building in pairs with scraps of railroad board that I saved all year (who can build the tallest tower?), Drawing a silhouette (with a sample to follow) upside down using a clipboard. I have two students at a time lie their backs on two desks with their heads hanging down. A second student holds the clipboard and a third holds the sample paper. There is no time limit. Compare the two and give small prizes. Drawing in a mirror: again, I use silhouettes...two at a time, no time limit.
Art History family feud: Divide the room in half. Create an Art History for Dummies info sheet (a brief outline of periods of your choosing). Hold up a reproduction of a famous work of art and have them identify the period, switching sides for points. Progressive drawing on big paper...my photo is bad, but all of the students (middle through high school) enjoyed it. If you don't remember doing that as a kid, divide the human body into four sections (or more) and set a timer for about 5 minutes if you are using large paper. Fold each completed section to the back and pass consistently either right or left. They are complete after four rotations. I also baked small cakes and taught the students how to decorate using pastry bags. We ate them. Older students with a double period watched This American Life, streaming through Netflix for a portion of the class time. We also listened to some nice essays from This I believe.

Protest Signs

2009-06-24T05:19:00.000-07:00

The idea for these signs came after attending a Troy Davis Rally organized by high school students that was held at our town square. I asked the students to make signs of support, or signs of protest. I didn't let two students support the same cause. It was interesting to see what they did and did not believe in. Some students were not for or against anything, which I found interesting. This is a great website that shows signs from around the world.

Cardboard Cityscape or Country Town

2009-06-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

Students have particular guidelines to follow. They need to have at least three cardboard layers, with cutouts and additional details adding to their final grades. I give the students a handout of old-fashioned stores, barns, and homes. They can combine them in any way they wish. We talk about how older homes are often symmetrical. I always ask for the projects to be painted in shades. Afterward, they see how nicely all of the "blackened" colors go together.

If the students are going to make a city block, I show them Romare Bearden's, The Block.