Friday, February 27, 2015

The Tool of Tools.

Hands.  
We take for granted how our quality of life can be so easily affected by the use of our hands.  
The hand is the most frequently symbolized part of the human body.
According to Aristotle, the hand is the “tool of tools”.  
They represent so much from within and acknowledge strength, power, and protection.


We began this project on day 1 of second semester.  It is more than an art project, it is also a team building activity.  When we work together to create something, it means so much more than doing it alone; plastering our hands emphasized working together.  It made us instantly step outside of our comfort zone and focus on creating another’s start to their project.  It put the ‘what do I want to do’ aside, and focused on ‘what do we need to get done’ in order to begin our project.


After the plaster dried, students then focused on a theme.  
An individual theme that they could develop.  This was driven in all directions: use of color, texture, variety, and more importantly, craftsmanship.
Their use of color was identified through what they needed to have the viewer see; be it abstract or realistic.
Their textures were either visual (implied) or actual.
Variety was used in both their color choices and textures, but also their brush strokes, paint choices, collage media, and theme.
Overall, we discuss craftsmanship and working up to our ability in completing an art project.  
WE ALL HAVE A VARIETY OF TALENTS AND ABILITIES; we need to push ourselves to take another step each time in examining what more could be done and what else could be emphasized prior to finishing our project.  


What you see is Variety at it’s best.  It is the class we work in.  It is the people we are.  All of us are very different in how we think, act, and feel; yet we share one thing in common- the ability to set those differences aside every day during class and work together to accomplish what needs to be done.


Why do I write this statement:


Many times we focus on art always needing to look pretty and ‘fit’ within our standards of what ‘good art’ is.  We neglect the amount of time put in by the creator and we, very often, forget that the work is a part of that person.  The creation of art isn’t always for viewers to connect with, sometimes it is simply for the creator to let go of something.  There are times for strict technique and skill focus, but there are also times for expression and experimentation….

When I look at artwork, it is no different to when I look at people - the variety that follows the collections of art and people seem to hold many similarities.  If I judge too quickly, I may lose the opportunity to learn and understand.  

Monday, February 16, 2015

Batik Work Begins....

BATIK Examples

2 to 3 shapes that will be touching the outside of the triangle.

Use the lightbox in Hansen's room and this room to help you continue the design.

We will set up waxing and dyes on Wednesday!

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

You Decide Your Top 5.

Side Project : This week only.
You must choose your Top 5.  (this will not be insulting to those who aren't your Top 5, we should never make our decision based on those we are physically around when we need to be honest with ourselves and decide on our own)  This is about you, what you think, what you want, and being truly honest with what you need in your life.  Your Top 5 is huge - they are the biggest influence on your life!  I have a Top 5 and I will be leading the example of what we will do.
Be reflective and Be real.  Think, "what if I could never go back and change them!"
Only, realistically, life is all about change - and these 5 will change (possibly) but it is all about Right Now.
Top 5 - list.
Strengths.  Weaknesses.  What is the influence they have on you?  Is this a positive influence?  Do they make you a 'better you'?
Finally, what can you create to tell them this?

Monday, January 26, 2015

Plaster Hand Sculpture










So we begin.... Today and Tomorrow we work like crazy to get everyone's hands done.



Sunday, January 25, 2015

Welcome to Art: First Impressions

WHAT does that mean - The Variety Pack of 2D and 3D work.

2D - Shoe Drawing / Compositional Insect Drawing + Pop Art Inspired Painting Project
        Sharpie Artist: Boey Inspired Cup Drawings + Mandala Batik Fiber Art
        (possible Reduction Printmaking Project)
     
3D - Plaster Hands + CLaY = Pinch Post Monsters + Relief Textured Tile Creations
     

FIRST - Group Dynamics and Expectations.



Class Rules:
1.  Project Options + Project Expectations.
2.  Phones - lets be real... and honest, always honest.
3.  Respect for Self.
4.  Respect for Others.
5.  You make the decision, each and every day.

Time for comments + questions - speak now.... or forever hold your peace.

The Room.  This isn't your room or my room, this is The Room.... What does that mean?!

Organization + Responsibility.

Lets talk about what we do, why we do it, and what we need to do for each other.
Whether you like it or not.... this is all about choices!
What you do, is what you become.....

Tomorrow we begin.
Plaster hands.... we are just going to jump into sculpture.  Like the polar plunge kind of jump in.
PLUS we have everything we need all ready for us to begin!!!


Wednesday, January 21, 2015

End of Semester.



End of semester- you know what that means!

Take it all home!  If your work was chosen for the April Art Show - you will be picking this work up in May!

It has been wonderful - on to the next half of our year!!!

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Project A or B.

Choices.

We all have our choices and you will be provided with two choices as we move into the final 6 weeks of our semester together.
We are going to be discussing both today.

Project A is a Dale Chihuly inspired Sculpture.
Acetate + wooden dowel + Sharpies + Scissors
Analogous Color Schemes / Warms or Cools

Space - not just how the object will look alone, but how the object will look in a room


Project B is a Boey inspired Sharpie Coffee Cup Drawing.

Sharpie + Paper Cup
Black and white / line / dots / designs / minimal color
pointillism, hatching, cross-hatching, space, size, and focus


Discussing what we thought of it and asking students...
  • How would they like to draw without sketching first?
  • How would they feel about throwing out at 80% finished project because you "messed it up." 
  • What do they think of drawing on coffee cups?
  • What else could they draw on?
  • How does he make dark and light areas?