Thursday, November 29, 2012

Block Reduction Printmaking HS Art

What is your inner/spirit animal I asked my students? To find out we visited the World Wild Life website and took their quiz. Respect is part of our school's mission statement and philosophy, as it should be with any school. Part of my interpretation of that is the need and respect for other living beings. Although humans are at the top of the food chain doesn't mean we should take other animals contribution to our ecosystem for granted. 

A friend of mine several years ago invited me to Chicano Park in Barrio Logan (San Diego) to watch her danza Azteca (Aztec Dance) performance. Afterwards she described her form and moves as an imitation of her spiritual animal. They say that owners look like their pets and vice versa. I wonder how much of that is true and how much we adapt the behaviors and movements of other living beings around us.

I do block reduction printing every year, it is one of my mainstays and the kids love it. My joy from it comes in making the student process the problem of adding/removing color. I hear the eternal cries of "I don't want all my prints to be yellow!" Below is a sample of the beginning, middle, and end product. 


Prior to starting the project I had the students draw the tools they will be using in their sketchbooks. I found this to be an effective exercise for students learning the vocab. 
A rubber block and a gouge  
I have students use color pencils on their drawing to figure out how many colors they will be using. I limit the colors to five and that is at times pushing it.  
From light to dark is the way I roll. So yellow it is.
My example
Printing her 3rd color
After three colors
Inking the plate
Action shot
Gouging
After three colors.
Almost done.
After 2 colors
Finished print
Finished print.
Almost done, one color to go.
Finished!
Getting there
Discovering your inner penguin.
His real last name is Sharky
Roar!
Very 80's color scheme.
Panda is a name of a cheese here and they have the best commercials.




Monochromatic print.


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Grade 8 construction paper cutout party scenes.

When I taught elementary school art during the 90's (I know I'm an old man) I developed a construction paper portrait project that was a lot of fun for the kids to make. My grade 8 class loves parties-pool parties, dance parties, etc. they are always scheming ways to make a party at school. I thought why not make a project about parties but with a twist. The objective was that there had to be a minimum of five characters and an atypical setting was highly encouraged. 

This is the kind of party your parents warned you about.
Seasonal
A Black Friday fan made this one month out.
Dig the jet ski.
Disco
Love this one! party in heaven and rain on earth
Inter-glatic party
Yes, that is a bunny eating a carrot.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Grade 8 Clay tea set project. Happy Un birthday!

In addition to teaching Art I also teach Drama and this quarter we are doing the musical Alice In Wonderland. I though a tea set project would make a nice connection. Additionally we will have a tea party with the exotic teas I've accumulated. I will post the glazed version after they exit the kiln. Happy un-birthday to you, to yooooou! Out!














I once read the education article "yes, they are crazy" about middle school students. Let the evidence speak for itself.



Thursday, November 15, 2012

Two point perspective building drawing HS Art

It has been a few years since I've last attempted a two-point perspective drawing project. I've been into lines and ink recently and thought the kids should be as well. I have one gifted 14 year -old who goes to town with lines; pencils fear him. His challenge was to tone down his expressive lines and try less detail...maybe you will be able to tell which is his project.

Our biggest challenge was proportion. Students often struggled with that which is closer should be larger. You might see some evidence of this in the final product. I was famous for saying "wow, that tree fits into that door nicely."