Response to Allison's Project Book

I had the opportunity to sit across from Allison this week in Sketchbook, and in that time learned so much from watching her develop her project book. I was fascinated to hear that most of the words associated with Dyslexia have definitions that could be interpreted in a visual manner. The way that she designed small windows to illustrate her artwork and used definitions to further develop her ideas in her project book inspired me to go farther with my own project book.

I was also impressed by the personal nature of her project. I think her interest and investment in her chosen subject generated an genuine connection between the audience and her artwork.

Project Books

My project book was based upon concept maps. I started focusing on shapes and forms they produced.

Cherish's Phrase Prompts

1. Average Joe

2. It is what it is...

3. Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.

4. Mr. Tough Guy

6. The early bird gets the...

5. Seeing is believing

6. Time flies when you're...

7. Look before you leap

8. There's no place like home

9. Good help is hard to find

10. Smarty Pants

What is Amy Gonna Do Now?

This class has been packed full of ideas and gems for me to take back to my classroom. From actual project ideas to medium techniques. We all have different ideas about what will work best in our own classroom.
What I wanted to touch on was Lauren's teaching style. There were several things that really stood out to me- even though she was injured for most of the week. Firstly, a genuine interest about each of our well-being. I truly believe that trust is a huge part of students being able to let their guard down and be able to start developing their own artistic process. Lauren does a great job creating a safe and supportive environment.
Secondly, Lauren set's high expectations. I find that I will dumb down or water down a project instead of really challenging my students. (For whatever reason) Instead of making my students work and be uncomfortable for a greater result. I'm looking forward to pushing my students a little further. :)
Lastly, Lauren spent substantial time with us individually. In a fifty minute period, it's hard to hit everybody in a class, but I think sitting down with students and spending quality time helps the student to feel valued and provides the teacher with opportunities to truly guide.
Thanks Lauren, for a great class. :)

Sketchbook for Elementary School

This course has given me so many ideas to use in my k-5 classes. Here are a few of my ideas:

·         Given a simple prompt and a limited number of materials, have students create something based on their own interpretation.

·         Practice drawing without sight or with their non dominant hand. Discuss the experience.

·         Use simple transfer methods (contact paper and white glue are my new friends) when making collages.

·         Use paint samples to brainstorm color symbolism.

·         Likewise, use concept maps to brainstorm a theme.

·         Use a viewfinder to guide students in creating a composition (I have lots of old slides.)

·         Have students strike a pose while others try to draw it and guess what they are doing.

·         Drop things from the air for chance compositions (rubber bands, cotton balls, q-tips, etc.)

·         Place tactile objects in bags and have students try to draw what they feel.

·         Do a digital photography unit of “found” paintings on the school grounds.

·         Sketch from other artists work to better understand their work.

·         Have students bring a favorite object and have them practice drawing it over and over and over, particularly from an insignificant view.

·         Experiment with common powders and water for drawing (instant coffee, kool-aid, bio-char J)

·         Use my new list of prompts to encourage divergent thinking.

·         And of course, use sketchbooks more!

Amanda's Woven Amazingness

Here is Amanda working on her Project book. One of the things that really struck me about her creative process, was that she seemed to be very open to happy accidents and was able to work organically with wherever her art work takes her.

I loved the work she did with the leaf structure, as well as her woven images. I am really interested to see if the wax paper is able to translate as a medium for her more sculptural translations, (like the lamp shade)- but I'm pretty sure she will make it work which ever way she goes.

Miss you already girl :)

Rustic Pottery Extravaganza Project

I loved this project. And it was so much fun being able to develop an idea and plan it in it's entirely. Basically the event or 'Project', would be some kind of art show, where friends and family could come and see what I have been making- and hopefully buy some of it from me. :) You can see in the images- the color scale, and the forms I would create.

I also really loved this willow leaf pattern and my hope would be to incorporate it on the surface of the clay. I'll have to play around with the shapes and scale to see what looks best. Wish me luck!!

The Crow and the Pitcher

You'll have to excuse the six picture post- I wanted to show the entire story of my book. Unfortunately, the third and last image have been switched so don't get too confused!! I absolutely loved this project. I have been teaching altered books in my classroom, and it was really cool to learn techniques that I had never seen before. I'm so excited to pass some of these ideas to my students!!

Howling Thing

My peer responce is to Cherish's project book. I absolutly loved the concept behind it, ghost stories/the Howling thing. I thought she had some really wonderful imagery there. I really responded to her approach, I really liked how she approached the depiction of it and didn't just draw a ghostly image.. (though this is beautiful and worth seeing). I really responded to her explaining that it was just about what you think you might have saw and letting your imagination get the best of you. I loved the old photographs and layering on top of them to make them creepier. I liked the more abstract depiction of the Howling Thing, ghostly lines over washed out old photographs. I especially loved the idea with the old civil war soldier.

I feel like there is some much she could do with this. She could build boxes with different layers so as you walked past it the images changes. (Kind of like this.) Or project a picture on the wall and every couple of minutes have like a ghostly streak on the wall.... Really she could probably fill another project book and get a gallery show with this concept.

Great job Cherish!

Landlocked Sailor

As usual, I struggled with the concept of what to do. Inspiration comes at the oddest moments. Thinking of my husband = landlocked sailor = nautical terms = value systems? This has certainly challenged my cerebrial approach, opening me up to more metaphorical and visual connections. Now, if I can only learn to make collage transfers....

Cherish's altered book process

I was watching Cherish stew about her altered book when one of our peers basically told her to hate it and destroy it. I've never seen someone go at destroying an "artwork" with so much passion! Being terribly self-controlled myself :-) this gave me the sense of reckless abandon that can be essential to improving our processes. Thanks for the inspiration Cherish!

Translation to teaching BR

It is hard to know where to begin. I watched Lauren from both perspectives.... that of a student and that of a teacher. I gleaned so many things to take back to my classroom. In addition to the processes and new materials used, I gained an understanding of how to encourage all students, for this is surely one Lauren's gifts. I also learned a great deal about pacing. We were able to accomplish so much because we were held accountable and kept on task. It is a week I will not forget, for it transformed me as an artist and an educator.

projectbook BR

My project book illustrates the brainstorming and research for a possible gallery installation.

Layers. Mountain scapes in miniature and lifesized..... the domino effect. Look for it soon in galleries near you!

Response To Shannon's Project Book

Your images flew out of the screen.There's is a boldness that I love! The three images grouped together would be fabulous on a large scale. You have a great eye.

Wow girl! Response to Amanda

Amanda, I have not talked much with you this week, but wanted to tell you that I think your work is fabulous! I am quite impressed with the everything book drawings. Your portraits in the altered book have so much style and fit great in that layout. The silhouettes are such a vintage theme that take me back to my Mimi's house. I am so glad to see your work and creativity. It is inspiring!

Found Series

This series came from images of my two cats sleeping against each other and the pattern in their fur. By croping the image, manipulating the levels, and applying a filter, I created the above.

Stephanie's Translation to Teaching

There is nothing in this class that can not be used in my classroom. I can not wait for school to start! I see my altered book assignment flourishing with the lesson ideas I learned from Lauren. I see my entire sketchbook changing. I plan to have a week long start-up plan to train the first year students on how to sketchbook. I feel like I just learned how to sketchbook myself. I plan on adding the research aspect to their workload. I think that is the most crucial aspect of everything I learned and saw this week. The ideas are endless as well as the lesson plans. The little book concepts are another thing I can use for design projects. AP art will be getting an overhaul as soon as I can get with them too. We will be doing things different in my classroom this year and for the better! Thanks a million Lauren!

Stephanie's Project Book

Stephanie's Found Lines

Stephanie's Everything Book

Stephanie's Altered Book

Translate To Teach

The altered book is a great for students to understand a series of work and the connection and flow of the individual pieces as a whole. This book can be a personal reflection or an interest/passion of the student. The class as a whole provided me with new techniques working as a catalyst for individual lessons or a way to pump up an already existing project. I LOVE SKETCHBOOK!!!!

Everything Sketch

I haven't had a period of true creation such as this in years!!! This book shows process and allows me to be loose with my work. Take a chance and try something new.

You're So Vein

I wanted to play with the structure of veins within leaves; size, direction how they differ from the shape of the leaf. By producing a series of rubbings and layering them, I was able to play with different effects by adding color, or weaving cut strips. This concept could produce a collection of 2-D and possible 3-D pieces.

We Came In Peace

I let the subject of the book direct the images and materials places inside. I used shape and line found with in charts and phenomena in space as well. This gave the book a graphic look. This is the first time I have done anything like this. I'm hooked!

Everything Book

I think my most successful page was my doughnut layout, but my favorite activity was the blind drawing (at the bottom). It was fun/interesting/funny/hard interpreting what we saw to the person drawing.

Bishop Translation

I think this class introduced me to several new techniques and activities that I will utilize in my elementary art classroom. I think the map book and the flag book are great ways of incorporating reading in my classroom. The everything book energized and old passion with new insight, and I plan to not only incorporate many of the blind drawings, memory drawings, and promps into my daily activities with students, it also reminded me that I myself should be practicing artmaking everyday.

Bishop Altered Book

These are a couple of my pages and the cover of my altered book. The content of the book consisted of the scientific data regarding waves and tides so I chose to keep my pages related to the sea and the sense of waves crashing using various torn papers.

Bishop Everything Book

I took pictures of the projects I enjoyed the most in my Everything Book. I found myself completely challenged (in such a great way) to step out of my comfort zone, i.e. controlling every aspect of the drawing process, and to loosen up and let my other senses have some fun.

Cherish's Project Book

My project book began with the idea of exploring family ghost stories. Eventually I focused on the story of "the hollerin' thing", a ghost that haunts Shelby, Alabama. I learned so much through the development of this book, I have decided to continue exploring this subject through personal research and artwork. I hope to find out more about the stories told in Shelby, Alabama, and how these stories fit into the tradition of storytelling in cultures around the world.

Shannon's Altered Book: Final Favorites

I loved some and hated some, but walking away helps with perspective and them it all comes together.

BishopProjectBook

For my project book, I started with the concept web of postcard which led me to vintage landscape postcards. The book outlines a project based on intensive studies of these postcards in various styles.

Shannon's Translation

This whole week has been crazy amazing!

Teaching Environment:

Pushing the boundaries of each piece of art is how this class will be translated. Making choices for each piece of art without fear and hesitation. Become confident in each mark, knowing there is always a way to fix it, creatively. Each of these project's will be turned into lesson's for my K-12 classes. I can't wait until next week to start planning, and thank's to this class I will already have amazing examples to show my students!

Shannon's Project Book

I took these photo's the week before while exploring campus. I was very happy to use them in this project and to actually make final pieces with them. The book will be a great example for my AP students to help them with their "theme". I can't wait to get back into the classroom and use this!