Friday Videos - "Square peg into a round hole" clip from Apollo 13

If any one thing could sum up what I would like my students to do in art class this clip is it.  I want them to be able to create anything with what ever material they have in front of them.   It's engineering at it's finest but it can be taught in the art room just as well as in any other classroom in the building.

A scene from Apollo 13

Monday Motivations - how to draw a perfect circle

Post by KISS FM Phoenix.

Friday Videos

I don't always see my middle school groups on Fridays due to the fluctuation of the schedule but when I do I like to end class with a short video clip just for fun.

Here's one to share with you.

Wednesday Works (Thursday Edition) - Notan Paper Cuttings

no·tan

noun \ˈnōˈtän\

:  the combination of lights and darks especially as used in Japanese art 

I introduce this paper cutting lesson at the beginning of each quarter to get a feel for the ability level of the students since they last saw me at the elementary building.   It is a simple to do yet complicated looking lesson to use for a variety of different ability levels.   Students can work with compound cuts and smaller detail sections to bump up the challenge level.  I have also given them a two color square challenge for fast finishers. 

This is the section of 8th grade projects this quarter.    Very nice works here!  I cannot wait to see what else this group comes up with.  

Monday Motivation - Matisse and his cut-outs