What Are We Working On Now...

So lots of things going on in the Artroom these days. Now that the snow days are over (crossing my fingers and toes) we are really rolling along. We have a show coming up next month and I am looking at a lot of great work to put in it.

Art I students are working on some stone mosaic and perspective drawing. I always put off perspective. Funny how we don't like to teach what we don't like. As for the stone mosaics, they are kind of interesting. Kids are running all over the place in thought on these, but I like it that way. My art exploratory students are working in oil pastel on a study of georgia o'keefe. Although they are not all fans of the flower, I have finally gotten them past the point of looking at it as a flower and simply studying the shapes, forms, and colors. They are simply amazing. I am really enjoying this exploratory class. They are only in here for a semester, but wow do they have some serious talent!

Photography and graphic design II has entered a fantasy world. And as I am typing, there are working away and I can't hear a simple conversation. They are so into what they are doing. That makes me very, very happy.

My Advanced Art girls are working hard on portfolios. They have to have it completed by the end of the school year and some of them have a long way to go. But the work is strong and that is what I want to see. Soon I am going to be spotlighting them one at a time.

Ceramics class is really doing a nice job. They have just finished hand building teapots and are working on dimensional story plates. I am really excited to see their completed pieces. They are the first group in a long time that is acutely aware of detail. YEAH!

Hand Arts class is just fun! They have finished some weaving of baskets (yes I know how 60's is that!) But they have done a great job. We are hitting another recycled project before moving onto a new project. These kids are so creative and so much fun!

Think before you react

I came to a conclusion today, that perhaps I have spent the better part of my life preparing to react. Rather than thinking before I speak, I react. I think we all do it.

We always prepare ourselves to have a reaction or a comment ready before a question is asked. Sometimes it is because we believe so strongly in what we feel. Sometimes, we might feel argumentative, defensive about our beliefs. Whatever it is we spend too much time doing it.

Today I was one the receiving end of this and the feeling was different. For the first time in my life, I had nothing prepared. I had not been prepared for a battle of thoughts or words. And to be honest it knocked me off my seat.

So now I have to decide if I am ok with that feeling. I don't like to argue. I don't even like to disagree with anyone. But in the whole scheme of things, I am really really tired of my mind constantly on the move preparing for someone else's move. Maybe I need to sit back and see how things roll in my life rather than always having a back-up plan. I am not sure it wouldn't be a good thing with a lot less stress. Let's see how this goes.

O'Keefe

I am trying to find ways to make history in art more fun and I have decided to throw random unique artists into our history. I like it when I can tell students things about certain artists and they look at you like...no way... that is the most fun part about teaching it.

Right now my beginning art classes are learning about Georgia O'Keefe focusing on proportion, scale, and oil pastels. This is the first time I have viewed them as paying close detail to their work and that in itself is exciting.

LOVE

Four simple letters that make up one powerful word. Photo II students were assigned a single image that demonstrates the meaning of this word. Interesting interpretations.

Using Google Sketch-up

Well the kids did it! The self taught art lesson. I still don't know much about the program but they did not do too bad. Here is a sampling of their works.

Hand Arts

For the past couple weeks the kids have been focusing on ways of recycling used items into an art. This time we are recycling denim jeans and restructuring them into bags. They had to embelish their works once complete.