over the break goal

So I finished grading and putting all those finals into the computer and as I am looking at the perfect curve, I am kinda proud of myself. I must have done something right this semester. Over break I am going to try and get the rest of the photos up from photography class as well as some of the finished projects for the semester. I saw the most improvement in the Advanced Art class this semester. They are going to begin their portfolios in January and I am looking forward to that. I will be teaching a Photo II class this next semester. This is all new and so exciting! To my seniors who will not be in class this next semester, I wish you the very best! I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas!

Winter Arts Festival

As part of our annual art club tradition, the kids raise money and find donations to provide a winter arts festival at the local elementary school. This year we has around 35 high school students teach classes to the elementary kids. The students are able to take home a homemade craft project to their families for the holiday season. This is a great experience for the high school students who participate. They come out learning a lot about what it takes to be organized, excited, and being a teacher! A special thanks to Terry Elston State Farm, Herrington Construction, Walt and Kathy Wright, Pearman Pharmacy, Paris Community Hospital, and How the Pros Play for their contributions to this year's festival!

Final Projects in Hand Arts

The kids are working on their final projects for Hand Arts. The assignment was to pick a type of heritage art. I have several rag rugs, some quilting, and even a handmade doll. What wonderful things going on in here today!

Craft Room

So recently I have decided to turn my son's old nursery (he has now moved to his big boy room) in to a room for me. An inspiration room. An artsy/ craftsy kinda room. Whatever you want to call it, everyone needs one! So I started with a little Benjamin Moore Paint in Pear Green. My brother in the law, the paint guy, has me hooked on the stuff. I am not sure I could ever go back to painting with anything else! And lately I have been scouring the Internet for rooms that inspire some of the ideas I want in mine! Here are some of my finds. Although very different, they each have a few characteristics I want to add.

Fall

photography classes latest assignment

One word/ one image: Fall

Altered Image

My Hand Arts class has been assigned a project which will challenge them to think differently. They are in the process of creating altered image through collage. For some this idea comes naturally to others who have never created in this style, the process can be frustrating and challenging. One of my favorites these days is Maggie Taylor whose work can be seen on the opening credits of Ghost Whisperer.

Altered Image

Unpublished Art

I neglected to get these images on my blog last spring. The PHS art classes get together at the end of the school year and create art with the Ag Mechanics classes. It is always great!

Google

So one of my friends was talking to me the other day about googling themselves. So for fun last night, my husband and I googled ourselves. I found that I have four pages. A lot of it repeats, but hey, four pages is pretty cool. My husband, by the way had two and a half. He fishes bass tournaments, so that was his in. He, however has a lot of images from his fishing. I sadly have two and one is of my family's feet.

I did find that our art blog is listed on a wiki that sites educational blogs and websites for teacher reference. Who knew!

POWDER PUFF

The girls in all their glory! Even though they did not win, they did a great job! What fantastic school spirit these kids have!

A glimpse of what amazing sponsors they have!

ROCK STAR DAY

It is ROCK STAR day at school today and I am seeing more 80's band hair than I have seen since I was a teenager! Fantastic!

Photo 1 - the first assignment

This is the first sampling of images from my Photo One classes. In their first assignments, the students were to focus on the basics in photography such as rules of thirds, depth of field, and lighting. The quality of the video due to size restriction, does not do justice to the images.

It's Been too Long

So I realized that I have been bombarded with school and that I have neglected the blog as of late. I need to correct that. School has started out with a bang and I can not believe we have already hit midterm. This week is homecoming at the high school and if any of you remember homecoming it is still that same as it used to be. Right now I am looking out at my photography class and all I see are super heroes in the crowd. It is too funny! Tomorrow is powder puff for the girls and spirit day at school. I am hoping that this terrible rain will stop for them to enjoy their night on the field.

Classes are great this year! I am already working on a slideshow of images from the first photo assignments that should be posted shortly!

Classes have begun!

Although we are only on half day schedule right now, all of my students have already jumped right into their new projects. My Art I classes are learning about contour line drawing. My drawing class has started its first assignment creating inanimate objects out of pencils. I am proud of them, I thought it would be tough and they have jumped right in there. My hand arts class is creating a group project. And photography classes have already started their first 20 image project. And as for my advanced class, well they are trying to wrap their minds around creating a reflective self portrait. We will see how they all turn out!

Welcome Back

Well it is our first day back and I am proud to say that I think my classes are going to be good this year! We will see!

Golden Apple

My seniors who graduated brought me my own GOLDEN APPLE AWARD yesterday.

All Conference

Zach and Shelby were awarded all conference today at a luncheon. I am so proud of them!

Seniors 2009

All I can say is I am humbled. Thank you.

prom

This year's prom was amazing...at least in my opinion. We had some girls who worked so hard helping Mrs. Skelton and and myself keep on track! This year's prom was held at the Ohio Building in Terre Haute. I attached some picts. I do think, however, if we put out a survey that the best thing about prom were the bathrooms...something about plasma flatscreens and lounge chairs...