Calliope Submission

An  Intro to Drawing student submitted this beautiful drawing for our school literary magazine, Calliope.  Wonderful value changes and contrast create a drawing that has depth and interest. Great work Emma!

Emma N

Inspiration is Everywhere

Intro Drawing and Painting 

At a recent teacher workshop I was given a hand-out that contained a lot of information.  As the speaker presented I was looking over the hand-out and spotted words that resonated with me.  I underlined these words, drew designs around them, and began to doodle pictures that came to mind.  My doodling helped me better understand what the speaker was trying to get across and I was inspired to create a collage.  I first ripped and cut the words out from the hand-out then I used mod-podge (acrylic gel medium) to glue them to Bristol board.  I then began to layer pastels, mixing them with mod-podge.  The piece was spontaneous, like a doodle. Try this for a sketchbook assignment-you can add photographs, use marker, pastel, ink...etc.  Over the next week think about words your hear or see…maybe you will be inspired by words in a song or during a lecture in school. 

You will be creating a work of art that has a theme.  The theme will be up to you. This piece should have colored pencil and/or pastel pencil,  typed words, written words, pencil and/or ink. Photograph from a magazine. You should compose all the elements in your  piece so that the eyes flow from one area to the next.  How do you do this?  Maybe the corner of one element points another.  Or you can place similar colors around the piece so your eye jumps from place to another.  MOVEMENT is an important principle of design. We want it in this piece.  ALSO think about texture.  How can words make texture?  How does the use of different media create an interesting work of art?  How do you create balance in this piece?  Think about it, but not to much you want to have fun and let the creative juices flow. 

A book I find inspirational is:
Unfurling, A Mixed-Media Workshop with Misty Mawn: Inspiration and Techniques for Self-Expression through Art. The collages below are examples of her work.  Her work is multi-faceted and so much fun to look at.  I especially enjoy the way she incorporates a still-life into this collage. 

Creating a Box with Slabs

Intro to Ceramics

Your next project will be creating a "box" using the slab method.  The challenge will be to measure all sides correctly and assemble the box having strong seams and right angles.  You don't want your box to be crooked.  The design will be totally up to you, but you must have texture, and feet on the box. Be creative think outside of the box!
View the photos below for inspiration. 


The following assignments are due on  May 1st. 

1. For a sketchbook grade: Draw a detailed sketch of your concept from all sides (excluding bottom).

2. For a journal grade:  Please view the following tutorials below and then right all the steps to create this project.  Create a list of new vocabulary terms.  Remember I will be using the  Dialogue Rubric to grade all written lessons.  Watch both videos & describe the difference.  

Part 1  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERMvSHB9xHg

Part 2  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmwMvrrap9k (WITH BEVELING)

Part 3  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzJa0gk8qIQ

Part 4  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdGRG5CQ_SY

Part 5  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1MK4S9Uy84

Another alternative, without beveling:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn55cIO8D2E

Shape Tweens!

Designing for the Web

When you create a shape tween you morph one shape into another.  It is relatively easy and fun to make!  Follow the guidelines in the shape tween lesson and you will be on your way to designing in Flash.

Shape Tween Lesson

Created by Shoshanna L, 2011

Created by Jason P, 2011