Wednesday Works - A "complete the photos" project.

Wow, this one seemed to be a big hit.   I don't know if it was said sarcastically or not (can't always tell with 8th graders) but I heard one say it was the best project so far.   At least by looking at them, it looks like they enjoyed it.

My example..

and the class...

Monday Motivations - watercolors

The beauty of a simple watercolor painting cannot be matched.

Monday Motivation (Tuesday edition) - Jeff Uitto

Driftwood sculptures by Jeff Uitto

Friday Photos

Wednesday Works - Ceramic Animal Mash-ups (in progress...) - 8th grade

Back about eleventy billion years ago I did my student teaching at Indiana Junior High School in Indiana County.   They were fortunate enough and big enough to be able to have three art teachers who, in turn split up the curriculum and each taught different processes and techniques. 

One of the lessons I taught was this ceramic mash-up where each student drew two slips of paper from bowls, one with an animal and one with an object on it. For example, the student could pick an alligator and a stapler.  The final sculpture project needed to include elements of both the animal and the object so the viewer could look at it and say "Oh, that's an (animal)"   or "Oh, I see it's an (object)"   

These are the works in progress so far....

Monday Motivation - Tuesday Edition - Sir Ken Robinson

 I post today with this Ted Talks video.  Please watch it.   Really.   It's fantastic and accurate and inspiring all at once.

http://www.ted.com/playlists/11/the_creative_spark

Ken Robinson How schools kill creativity

Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity. 

 

 

Monday Motivations - Gerhard Richter

Since one of my painters this week was experimenting with abstract art, I mentioned the works of Gerhard Richter to him and thought it would be a good motivation for us all. 

 

Personalized Color Wheels - 8th grade

A quick lesson on color theory for 8th grade.   They had to mix all the colors using only the primary colors (that's red, blue, and yellow in case you've forgotten!)

Monday Motivations - Amate Bark Paintings from Mexico

Amate Bark Paintings from Mexico - just beautiful.