What's Going on in the Classroom: Applying Value and Perspective Drawing

Hope these first weeks of school have been going well! I know they've been flying by for me. I'm kinda in love with teaching high school. My husband and I moved into a new house which is much closer to the school, so my mornings aren't nearly as early as I thought they'd be. Also, the students are so creative and talented. I'm enjoying not having to always be quieting kids down.

In my foundations class, we started with a quarter on drawing. I had the students do a pre-assessment drawing which I will use for showing growth. Then we talked about value and light and how to place value (they prefer to call it shading). We have since moved into perspective and are working on a cool one-point perspective project, creating a Surreal hallway. (Thanks Patti for the idea!) More to come on that project later. Students are having a great time, and their skills are improving, it's fun to watch!

Just a quick catch up on our Photography class as well. Student's first assignment was to take pictures of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Then in groups, the students worked on sorting the elements and principles without knowing which one was which. We picked our favorite examples of each one and they are proudly hanging in the hallway. On to shooting filming and developing!!

What's Going on in the Classroom: Personal Logo Project

Before diving into the first project that I'm doing with my foundations classes, I wanted to share some pictures of my classroom. It's a big adjustment, not having to decorate as much as we did in elementary. But I still wanted to bring some color and humor into the high school art room.

My desk area looking out on the student tables

Student tables and you can see our metal working station in the back

Student computers

Some decor

Going to implement a word wall for critiques

Sink area

Comfy chair for lounging

Target Goals for the day

I'm lucky to have the room all to myself! Yes, that's right. I'm the only teacher that teaches in that room. I even run a study hall in that room! 

Okay, so enough of that. For my foundations classes, we started off the year with a nice, stress-free project that would help me get to know them more as people and as artists. I introduced a Personal Logo Project yesterday. Now I have to 'fess up, I stole this idea from my colleague who used it in the same class in years past. In class, we talked about famous logos, specifically the Nike 'swoosh', and about what made that logo so great. Then we discussed the parameters for their personal logo. It had to be small, include color, no borrowed images only their own designs, and it had to share something about who they were. 

Funnily enough, it was not so stress free for a lot of the students! But as they began working, I walked around and conferred with them and most of them were able to realize some pretty cool designs! What I enjoyed was that there wasn't a lot of technical skills involved in this project so instead of instructing, I had the opportunity to walk around and observe each student and their skill level and interest in art. I also got to know a lot about the manner and pace in which they work. And even more so, I got to know more about the as a person. I call that a win, win, win! Check out these awesome personal logos.

Summer 2015

As this post is titled, it will be all about my summer, which is sadly coming to an end. I am ready for school to start though. I know I won't be happy about the early mornings or the paperwork, but about seeing excited kids, learning and teaching me some stuff along the way, that I can get into.

Before I dive into what I've been doing this summer, I wanted to announce that I will be teaching art at the high school level this year. I accepted a job at one of our fine high schools and will be teaching a foundations course called Concepts and Materials, and one section of Photography. So this blog will still be about lessons and student work, however; it'll all be for the high school level. I'm really excited about this change. And nervous! I love the elementary kids and they're so excited about learning and creating. But I think it will be challenging and rewarding to teach students who are more interested in making conscious decisions about their artwork and who are interested in pursuing art at a higher level.

SO my summer! It involved a lot of lazing around, which was amazing. I also worked on several projects, including re-painting a small shelf unit, redesigning a dress and sewing another one, making a kimono (they are so popular right now!) and trying my hand at some embroidery! It was eventful.

Re done shelf, it used to be bright orange!

Dress I sewed myself. I need more practice :)

Design for my embroidered backpack!

Getting started, I basically just started trying things.

I hand-made the drawstring backpack as well.

Doing more interesting things.

This is where I'm at now, only a half more to go!

We also did a little bit of traveling to St. Louis, Ohio, Mackinac Island, Delaware and Ann Arbor. Mostly these trips were for seeing family, but a couple were just for fun, for the two of us to get away.

Sibling Camping! (well mom and dad were there too)

Hanging with my husband's family.

Celebrating the life of my Grandma

We flew to Mackinac Island for the day!

Whew! After all these adventures, I'm ready for the classroom again! I know I probably won't be thinking it after a couple of those high school mornings, but right now I'm excited! More to come on my classroom as we start back next week. Happy last days of summer!

Environmental Art Project

So the year is winding down. Look at all the things that we learned about this year!

My challenge is always to find things to do with the students in those last days of school. Something that is meaningful but not a project that will take more than one or two classes. One of my favorite projects I wanted to share here...

I love to spend time talking about Environmental Art and Andy Goldsworthy. I usually do this project with 2nd grade.There is a lot of information about him online and plenty to images to show the kids about his work. Here are just a few.

We spend one day learning about Andy Goldsworthy, getting into groups and planning our environmental sculptures. Students have to work together to come up with one sculpture idea. This really encouraged communication skills and collaboration within the class. They make a sketch and a list of things they will use. They are only allowed to use things that they would find outside.
We also spend quite a bit of time talking about how Goldsworthy always left his art in nature and so sometimes that meant that it didn't last. I wanted to make sure students knew that we would be taking a picture of the sculpture and then leaving it for nature to take it course (or the students on the playground to take their course!).

On the second day, we go outside and make our sculptures. Some of them turn out exactly like the drawings and some are modified on the spot, but that's okay. Students know as artists, they can change their minds when they need to. One girl even brought rocks from home and make sure she had the design her group was looking for. Here are some of our Andy Goldsworthy- inspired Sculptures.