The IB Art Studio

Mixed Media

2011-12-20T18:12:00.000-05:00

In Pre-IB Art 1 students learned to mix media while creating pictures of the bicycle. The students had to make choices about color and composition while mixing tempera and soft pastel, combining drawing with repeated patterns.

Nathan

Anmol

Sianna

Melissa

Sasha

Casey

Guest Post: Leah

2011-10-27T12:46:00.000-04:00

Artist: Kay Sage

Style: Surrealism

Danger, Construction Ahead is one of Sage’s earlier pieces. The piece focuses largely on perspective, using line in the drawing to create movement toward the back corner of the page, establishing a focal point. The painting uses a monochromatic scheme; using these colors, Sage creates a balance between the darker foreground of the left side of the piece and the lighter background on the same side. This same technique is reversed on the other side of the page, further contributing to the balance. The painting is reflective of Sage’s emphasis on line and lone figures in a desolate background.

Le Passage was painted in 1956, less than ten years before Sage ended her own life. Once again, the painting depicts a barren landscape with a monochromatic scheme. Unlike the previous work, Le Passage includes a human form. The slumped posture and dark shadows that surround her depict an air of loneliness, a common element in Sage’s work. Perspective continues to be an important element of the piece, as the landscape becomes less defined as the lines fade into the background of the work. Both works depict a world that is removed from reality, an idea common to the surrealist movement.

Guest Post: Angie

2011-10-27T12:21:00.000-04:00

JASON MECIER

Jason Mecier is a very unique artist who creates elaborate portraits of celebrities using “junk”. Mecier’s technique is very captivating because of the false sense of dept he gives his viewer, accurate physical traits, and the intricate detail he accomplishes by using simple everyday objects. When looking at his pieces you are able to immediately recognize the celebrity Mecier has chosen to portray. Viewing his pieces is similar to a visual illusion, first you see the person and then you begin to focus on the microscopic elements, like what materials make up the celebrity’s hair and what was used in the background, how did Mecier achieve his sense of shading in the portrait? What is the significance of the materials used and how do they relate to the overall idea. The photo to the right is a prime example of the how initially the viewer sees the piece and recognizes the person portrayed. Because of the intricate details the viewer is able to immediately recognize that this work is a representation of Tina Fey.

The photo to above demonstrates Mecier’s shading technique. All of the objects chosen are largely selected upon their shade. When Mecier selects his materials he does not see them as everyday objects but features of his work contributing to aesthetics of his piece. These aspects of the piece are important because they allow us to see how the everyday objects are transformed, and what we once saw as a piece of rubber is now seen as the shaded region above the characters eye. If we look carefully below the chin, we can see that what we know to be a tire is now seen as a highly shaded region of the neck. The fact that we have to strain to put an everyday name to the materials used is proof of how our sense perception of the objects has been altered by Mecier’s technique.

Guest Post: April

2011-10-27T12:14:00.000-04:00

Clifford Still- Abstract Expressionist
Clifford Still was one of the first artists to embrace Abstract Expressionism, but he is not one of the most famous. He paints large canvases with thick textured paint. This piece in particular (1957-D No.1) may show a struggle between modern industrious life and the natural world with regard to humans or the struggle between life and death. I think this work shows how Still uses vast areas of color to represent the monotonous life of an industry worker, but breaks up the monotony with bright flames of color.
This piece is entitled 1947-J. This style of Abstract Expressionism is reffered to "gesture". Still was not as concerned with creating an asthetically pleasing piece as he was with the actual creation of the piece. This creates an entergetic work which helps the viewer to connect on a more personal level.

Guest Post: Chris

2011-10-27T11:47:00.000-04:00

Roberto Caputo

"Cross"

This is an image of a crucifix with an oil refinery in the background. Having the crucifix off center and going off the page enables the viewer to see a bigger picture with a background. This is an interesting composure because of the two main focal points. One is a traditional world with religion at the center and the other is the modern world with modernization at the center.

"Eggs"

This is an image of alligator eggs that were collected by wildlife biologists in Rockefeller Refuge shortly after hurricane Katrina in Louisiana. The radial symmetry makes it appear as if the alligator eggs are in a nest rather than on the ground. This is very deceitful to the view.

Guest Post: Haley

2011-10-21T12:22:00.000-04:00

Keith Harring

Keith Haring was a New York City street artist throughout the 1980’s and ’90s who served to legitimize and popularize graffiti and street art. Originally creating his works on subway walls, his pieces are composed of bold lines and colors to attract attention and convey a sense of movement The vivid images resemble hieroglyphics, and express feelings of unity and vitality in society. The lack of detail, especially in his earlier pieces, can also be attributed to the fact that graffiti was not as accepted in society as it is now, and Haring would try and create his pieces quickly in order to avoid getting in trouble with the law.

Later in his career, Haring’s work veered towards more socio-political themes, particularly towards AIDS awareness and the crack/cocaine epidemic of the time period. This piece is displayed in a children’s playground, and continues to convey unity in society through rhythm and bold lines. Haring himself died in 1990 of AIDS, and his legacy and causes are carried on through his foundation, which serves to help underprivileged children and provide research about HIV and AIDS.

Sources:

http://cultural-hub.com/the-10-best-street-art-works-according-to-the-guardian/3211/

http://jschumacher.typepad.com/joe/2009/08/crack-is-wack.html

http://www.haring.com/

Guest Post: Leena

2011-10-21T12:11:00.000-04:00

Andy Warhol

In this piece, Andy Warhol utilizes the technique of silk-screening. The hand-stenciled silk allows the silk to compose multiple patterns. By adding layers of the colored silk, the image of the final product begins to appear. These silk screens can be used multiple times, which explains Andy Warhol’s huge collection of Marilyn Monroe portraits. These pieces worked best if the subject were staring at the viewers with a distant touch to them. Andy Warhol was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. He is famously known as the “Pope of Pop”. Warhol used “striking colors” to attract his audience to his work. These complementary colors influenced many other pop artists.

Sources:

http://www.tutorialkit.com/tutorials/Andy-Warhol-Pop-Art-Silkscreen-Effect-46894.html

http://history1900s.about.com/od/artists/p/warhol.htm

Guest Post: Veronica

2011-10-21T12:00:00.000-04:00

Artist: Shinichi Maruyama

Shinichi Maruyama, born in Nagano, Japan, pursues the art of “Kusho”, or shooting ink and water into the air, and capturing the images with a high-speed camera. Focusing in on small areas of each photograph, he creates images full of motion and contrast. In this piece, Maruyama captures a circular images of the ink and water rushing into and looping around each other. Texture is created by the microscopic water and ink droplets mixing; this also creates a range of values, the clear water being the lightest and the pure ink being the darkest. The swirling technique bring the eye around the page, and creates the sense of constant motion.

In this second piece, Maruyama captures the ink and water at their time of collision. The smooth, calm streams contrast with their chaotic meeting-point, drawing focus to that area. He utilizes an asymmetrical balance, the left side being much heavier with the thick ink stream. Water and ink ripples again provide texture, and give the image a 3D-feel.

This technique is significant to the world of art; it exposes artistic beauty that cannot be seem by the naked eye.

Marayuma’s website can be accessed here, as well as a video of his technique: http://shinichimaruyama.com/

Guest Post: Esther

2011-10-21T11:55:00.000-04:00

Frederic Edwin Church

Aurora Borealis

Artist Frederic Church is most known for his natural landscape pieces. To give dept to his pieces, he paints in a panoramic view, capturing the sight not just from a front perspective but including the surrounding as well. Unlike other painters, Church takes a “scientific approach” when painting nature, using sketches he has accumulated of the area. His pieces are usually done with oil on canvas and are paintings of mostly the North American and South American landscapes. In this piece, Church uses oil on canvas to capture the colors of the northern lights in contrast to the land, and water, below it, adding to the piece a bit of a sepia tint. The darkened night is painted with naturalistic browns to show the solidity of the mountains, and against that, the vivid colors of the Aurora Borealis shine natural light on the distant mountains and rippling waves below. The ocean includes several shades of blues, greys, and browns, adding to the translucence of the water and showing the effect of natural light on the foreground and middleground. These features prove to make an aesthetically pleasing piece that causes the eyes to focus on contrasting points of the artwork.

Niagara Falls, From the American Side

Church also uses oil on canvas to create a panoramic landscape of the Niagara Falls from the American viewpoint. He utilizes different shades of blues, greens, and greys to capture the flow and movement of the fall as well as its force. From this view the mist of the fall disappears into an abyss of mist, creating a forceful yet serene appearance. Church then adds to his naturalistic landscape natural occurrences, such as the formation of a faint rainbow where the rocks meet the water in the lower corner, to create a scenery that could be compared to the detail and realism of a photograph.

Sources:

http://www.1artclub.com/category/shop-by-artist/frederic-edwin-church/

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/chur/hd_chur.htm

http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=4806

http://www.nationalgalleries.org/collection/online_az/4:322/result/0/4758?initial=C&artistId=1947&artistName=Frederic%20Edwin%20Church&submit=1

Guest Post: Stephanie

2011-10-21T11:45:00.000-04:00

Georges Seurat

A Sunday on La Grande Jette (1884) Through the application of newly discovered optical and color theories, Georges Seurat transposed his images by placing tiny brush strokes (points) of different colors close to one another so that form a single hue in the viewer’s eye, also known as Pointillism. The composition of the piece is composed of various subjects that create a harmonious sum of parts. Although there is no dominant focal point, the piece moves from the foreground to background, allowing the piece to have a unique perspective of looking into the horizon. Most importantly is Seurat’s application of the dots and how he incorporates contrasting or complimentary colors to highlight certain areas.

The Eiffel Tower (1889)

Seurat uses colors that are not typically seen or noticed by the naked eye. Such as “The Eiffel Tower” piece where he uses colors such as red or green as a way to shade in shadow and create dimension. This contrast of colors is pleasing to the eyes as well as creating a greater sense of depth and variety. Seurat altered the direction of modern art by initiating Neo-impressionism, and is one of the icons of 19th century paintings.

Guest Post: Andrea

2011-10-20T12:24:00.001-04:00

Artist: Natalie Irish of Houston, Texas

First Piece: Marylin Monroe

Jackson Pollock's drips have been surpassed by portraits painted with kisses. On a large scale canvas, Irish creates close-up portraits that tend to go no futher than the shoulders. Irish achieves a monochramatic color scheme by selecting only one shade and brand of lipstick per compostiton. The darker values near the right side of the face as well as the shadows under her neck are created through numerous, successive layers of the lipstick. Lighter values are achieved by varying the pressure of her kisses. To begin, Irish concentrates on the eyes and close facial features, then proceeds to build of the contour lines of the head, neck, shoulders, and hair.

Second Piece: Jimi Hendrix

Irish played a video of Hendrix on a TV set beside her canvas reference material. Her method requires her to stand and physically move around the canvas. The thinner or more curved lines are made by puckering out her bottom lip. Irish does not fill in the entire figure, but rather choose to employ thin lines of color to suggest some of the contour lines of the neck and shoulders. On some of her other pieces, Irish paintst the background beforehand. Then, on a small pallet, she mixes tiny amounts of pigment and when she has the right shade, she smears this on her lips and paints. With these type of compositions, she uses up to three colors. Her method also requires her to constantly shift from working close to the canvas to standing futher away to assess her progress.

Sources:

-natalieirish.com

-http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html

-http://www.odditycentral.com/videos/incredibly-talented-artist-paints-with-her-lips.html

Guest Post: Maggie

2011-10-06T12:05:00.000-04:00

Jackson Pollock

Number 3

In this piece, Jackson Pollock used the paint-drip method to express a sense of chaos in his many pieces. He would put the canvas on the floor and used a new medium at the time, alkyd enamel; to “drip” the paint, he used stick, hard paint brushes, and sometimes syringes. The lack of focal point allows the eye to be carried across the page and not focus on one specific point; the colors and the lines would carry the eye. Jackson Pollock created a new method of painting, later known as action painting, where the movement of the media and the type of media was important, rather than the “intricate detail.” He also contributed greatly to the abstract expressionist movement in the 20^th century.

Number 7

Jackson Pollock utilizes an asymmetrical balance with intricate detail which causes the painting to appear “heavier” on the right side. On the other hand, the left side is composed of enamel lines and splatters which contrast the chaos on the left side; it creates a dynamic composition.

Sources:

http://www.1artclub.com/number-3-by-jackson-pollock/

http://www.abstract-art.com/abstraction/l2_grnfthrs_fldr/g007_pollock_no7,1951.html

http://kathleen-duffy.suite101.com/jackson-pollocks-drip-paintings-in-context-a151464

http://www.jackson-pollock.com/action-painting.html

Pre IB Art 1 homework

2011-10-04T16:00:00.000-04:00

Art 1 students, don't forget to print out a couple of pictures you want to use as reference from www.nikonsmallworld.com/gallery

Make sure you have them with you in class on Thursday.

Extra credit opportunity for IB Juniors and Seniors

2011-09-30T07:50:00.000-04:00

Be a guest blogger.

Criteria:

Find an artist. Choose one or two images by that artist to include in your post. Analyze the visual qualities of the artist's work. Consider the function or significance of that artist's work. Write a short post one or two paragraphs including the pictures and links to your sources or the artist's website.

Choose an artist that is doing something you find interesting and that you would like to share with others.

See me in class about posting it to the blog.

Deadline for this is October 21st.

Post-it-Note Critique

2011-09-03T21:12:00.000-04:00

On Friday in the Art 1 classes we did a post-it-note critique. Students leave comments for others in response to the prompts I give them.

It's a great critique to do with larger classes because everyone gets to participate, even the quiet students :)

Pre IB Art 1 - Text Design

2011-09-03T20:40:00.001-04:00

This is always my first project for the art 1 students. We focused on lines and shapes creating patterns and using repetition to unify the artwork.

Parvina

Thomas

Meghan

Tyler

Alex

Michael

Ryan

Sasha

Mariela

Casey

Anmol

IWB, Media Experimentation, and Reflection

2011-09-03T19:27:00.000-04:00

The senior class shows how its done.

All the seniors are continuing their work on their independent investigations. During class they may be reflecting on their progress in their investigation workbooks.

Before working on their finished piece, students test out and experiment with new art media.

As a result of the nature of the independent investigation students might be working with two dimensional or three dimensional media.

The senior year in IB art is a great time, over the summer the students have found new directions for their investigations and are busy creating inspired work.

First Week Assignments in AP Art - Mixed Media

2011-08-29T18:49:00.000-04:00

Last Friday AP Art students got their sketchbooks and we did a mixed media assignment focusing on text as a design element.

The whole class gathered around the back table filled with gesso, acrylic paint, liquid watercolors, stamps and stencils. Students had fun playing with the different media, building up layers and creating a composition that spread across two pages in their books.

Here are a few examples from the students' books.

Video: Type

2011-08-07T11:16:00.000-04:00

Type is all around us and so is overlooked by most people. The average person never thinks about how much thought goes into designing a typeface.

For bonus points: Watch the video then on the first day of school bring me a card with your name and the answers to the following questions.
1. What is the difference between a typeface and a font?
2. What is a serif?
3. What is your favorite font, and why?

3 weeks left of summer

2011-08-01T10:14:00.000-04:00

Extended Essay students - have you been working? Some of you have sent me updates and I know at least one person won't really have any work to do on it in the fall.

I've been working on school work. That picture is a mind map of the first semester of junior year IB art. I'm loving the program MindNode for making mind maps, its so easy to use. There is a free version too but sorry PC people its only for Macs.

Make the most of your last weeks of summer. Take lots of pictures if you go anywhere. They make great reference pictures for artwork later in the year.

See you in three weeks!

Life in Darkness

2011-06-06T09:14:00.000-04:00

Life in Darkness is my favorite piece up until now. I like it because it really shows what you can do with digital media. Digital media turns out better then real media for me because there is an undo button ;). This piece really inspired me to continue my investigation using digital media. My investigation is the juxtaposition of life and death, or destruction. I am not sure which one I will continue to focus on later but more work will help me decide this. My next piece should be a dead flower. This will definitely show the juxtaposition between life and death.
Unfortunately, this picture also inspired me to buy a new camera. It will help me take better pictures but I still need to learn how to use it better. We will see where all this leads me, but I think it will really nice.
~Christopher

Wind - Austin

2011-06-06T08:59:00.000-04:00

This piece shows a slight change in my investigation, shifting from a natural theme coupled with creative fantasy to a nature with Japanese calligraphy theme. The choice to add symbols was one made in order to incorporate a jagged, stand-out, linear shape with the natural free flow of nature.
In this piece, I captured the gentle and soft form of wind, showing it twist and curl, the metal wire helping to emphasize such. The Japanese symbol for wind was a center point of this piece, and looked as if it was emanating the wind. This piece truly changed my investigation to its new direction.

Investigation Piece from Khera

2011-06-06T08:51:00.000-04:00

This piece is the first produced for the investigation of Latin and American Cultures. The investigation focuses on the combination of the two cultures, searching for a way to show that the two cultures have blended and combined aspects into one unique culture that is neither specifically Latin or American. Rather than show a broad dipiction of the two cultural aspects, the investigation will take an aspect of culture, such as food, marriage, family, etc. and design an idea for one piece. The piece shown above took the aspect 'public display of culture', taking a Latin aspect and meshing it with an American aspect. Here a Mariachi Group, a Latin aspect, is shown in an American style setting, a shopping mall. Shopping malls are an important part of American culture, as the American people frequent them for every day needs, social meetings, etc. The message portrayed is that shopping malls have evolved past being specifcally American and show that culture can be all incorporating. A shopping mall can combine the American ideas of social setting, meeting, and needs, with Latin culture into a universal location that can be enjoyed by all cultures, even beyond just Latin and American. This piece focuses on details that emphasize and juxtapose the Latin aspect with the American, in an effort to distinguish between the two cultures, but simultaneously show the combination.

RIOT - Angie

2011-06-06T08:34:00.000-04:00

I chose riots for the topic of my piece because of its significance to my investigation; chaos and control. Riots are sometimes a paradox, like when people are trying to overthrow the government because there is chaos to gain control. This is the first piece I used watercolor in and I am very happy with the results, becasue of the blending of the color, but at the same time the colors contrast eachother in shade.

Tourist vs. Terror - Stephanie

2011-06-06T08:27:00.000-04:00

The main idea I hoped to represent in my piece was how Mexico is more than the beautiful architecture tourists come to see. There are many streets and areas which are extremely dangerous and poverty stricken. I utilized the colors of the Mexican flag: red, green, and white, to create a unity across my piece. Also, I wished to use a more interesting composition than a simple rectangular canvas, so I glued multiple panes together. I utilized the bright happy yellow ink to represent the tourist sites, and dark melancholy blue ink to create an image of despair and violence. Together there is a stark contrast between the two, yet the similar color scheme unifies the piece.

Trip-Drill - Eddie

2011-06-06T08:15:00.000-04:00

This piece is named after Nelly's song, "Trip-Drill". The reason I decided to call this piece that is due to the fact that I displayed the true nature of the lyrics graphically. For this peice I used a combination of ink and marker. I chose the color red to symbolize the feeling of anger and frustration, which is contrasted by the anguish of the woman. I had the womans arms removed to exagerate the idea that woman can do nothing about this, seeing that this degradation is coming from men, and somewhat supported by men. I used the hands as societies growing norm for this degredation, and the reason that they get more geometric at the bottom is due to the growing norm of this in society. It also shows a more mechanical feeling, I believe, which can translate to the lack of sympathy for the women in society.

The Modern Narcissus

2011-06-02T09:29:00.000-04:00

My investigation deals with the timelessness of the human flaws portrayed in ancient mythology. This particular piece draws from the myth of Narcissus, who was in love with his own reflection. It is a commentary on obsession with beauty and the fear of aging. A wizened hand on the shoulder of the main figure shows her growing paranoia, as well as the wrinkles and dark circles around her own eyes. This artwork also drew influence from recent studies that were done in our English class; in particular, it relates to the poem Mirror by Sylvia Plath.
I found some success in this piece through the use of watercolor, which I have found to be one of my stronger mediums that I employ in my work. The figure reflected in this mirror show greater depth than I have been able to achieve in my work previously and this use of media draws attention to it as the focal point. It shows a progression in the ideas used for my investigation and my precision with media, which is important to me as an artist. These two reasons make this piece an important one in terms of the development of my work.

The Fading Pharaoh

2011-06-02T09:16:00.000-04:00

This piece, which represents a change from my original idea, demonstrates my new goal to show Egypt's shift from an ancient land of pyramids and mummies to a modern nation strving toward democracy. In this piece, the image of the pharaoh is in black and white to achieve more value, provide contrast with the bold marker, and to portray how the old ideas of religion are fading away and giving rise to Christianity and Islam. The figures incorporate contour lines with many gestures poses to portray the "confusion" mentioned on the cartouche and ankh symbols. Instead of portraying an outright belligerent scene between the two relgious groups, I chose the random motion of the figures to give a sense of the tension between the two groups.

Investigation Imagination by April

2011-06-02T09:08:00.001-04:00

This piece was significant in my investigation because it changed my topic specifically to the continuation of life through death rather than an nontraditional view of objects and cultures. It is also significant because it is very symbolic rather than a realistic representation of my theme. In this piece the 7 blue paths represent the different paths people take in their life and how they always lead to death (the ending point of all the paths), but when they get there the path can turn in any direction. This is symbolic of my belief that life does not end with death. This is also shown literally in words "I do not believe in death."

Illuminate

2011-06-02T08:44:00.000-04:00

The reasaon why I chose this particular piece was because this is the start of my new investigation topic, illumination. I like this piece the best because of the media I used. Scatch board is the media I feel most comfortable using because of the ability to get the fine detail that I need. New medias I have begun to incorperate are ink and marbling. This is the first time I'm using marbling and it worked very well for this piece. It took me a while to get the correct placement of it without it taking away from the word and not flowing with the over all look. I think the more I experiment with new medias like this I will find the one I want to use for the rest of my investegation.

Lung for Protection by Molly

2011-06-02T08:39:00.000-04:00

Originally, this piece was designed for my previous investigation on Illness and Disease as anorexia. While working on this piece, I coimpared it to my other pieces and realized that it was much stronger, which caused me to change my investigation to anatomy. I feel more confident in this investigation, especially becuase I'm intrigued by the human body and wish to major in the medical field. I enjoy working in paint and watercolor, and I feel that those will be strong medias in this investigation. This piece is significant because it sparked a new invetigation topic in my Junior and Senior year in IB. I titled this piece "Lung for Protection" because the ribs, as painted in this piece, protect the lungs in the human body. In a way, the title is a play on words. This piece has sparked my imagination and expanded many of my artistic ideas for future investigation pieces.

Global Warming

2011-06-02T08:31:00.000-04:00

This was my third investigation and also my favorite. I tried a new type of media experiment with acyrillic paint. I created a type of vortex around the earth with red, orange, and a golden yellow. This was supposed to represent heat overwhelming the earth, showing global warming. I also used the tubed acyrillic for the first time on this piece. I think it turned out pretty nice.

Cameras

2011-06-02T08:25:00.000-04:00

This was the piece I created for the "Multiple Views" assignment. I chose this piece because it sparked my idea and chosen style for my investigation. I realized that drawing contour lines and outlines of subjects are what I'm best at, and, because of my advocacy for good workmanship, the pieces look very clean and have crisp lines. The overlapping of subjects makes for a very strong composition. After completing this piece, I concluded that I would continue modeling my upcoming investigation pieces after this piece.

-Kendal

Hurricane: Maggie's Artwork

2011-06-02T08:19:00.000-04:00

As for my investigation, I believe this is my best artwork. With this particular investigation piece, I discovered the direction I want to take. Because of the piece, I now know I want to focus on texture and how it incorporates with movement throughout my piece as a whole. Because of the texture on this specific piece, the focus is on the cyclical movement rather that color, therefore, accomplishing the goal of my independent investigation.

What do you do after you submit your AP portfolios?

2011-05-20T11:15:00.002-04:00

You try out a new media. Yesterday students in the AP art class got to experiment with encaustics, which is painting with hot wax. Some students used it along with collage while others used the colored wax to paint.

Here the students prep their boards with modeling paste, crackle medium, and paint.

The wax is brushed on and then can be manipulated with a heat gun or carved into with different tools.

As soon as we are done with this I'll post pictures of the finished work.

SLR Camera Simulator

2011-05-11T18:17:00.000-04:00

Did you ever wonder what effect all those settings on the camera have on your final picture? Getting a good exposure is a combination of ISO, shutter speed, and aperture (f stop). All these things work together to let just the right amount of light in to take a great picture.

Here's an online simulator so you can see what effect changing these numbers has on the picture.

Camera Simulator

Two Online Doodle Applications

2011-04-30T20:26:00.000-04:00

Try these for fun:

Flame Painter - neat looking both with the black background and the white

Fluid Painter - looks like when you drop ink on the surface of water then drag a stick through it

Jay Ryan - Trouble Exhibit

2011-04-29T21:27:00.000-04:00

Here are a few pictures from artist Jay Ryan's latest exhibit at Rotofugi.

Cinders and Ash

This show is understood best when you learn that the artist is a new father and the recent natural disasters inspired him to create these works that depict the danger but also the desire to protect his new daughter. All the works for this show were created in the first four months of this year.

Falling #6

The IB Art Exam is over!

2011-04-24T22:27:00.000-04:00

Last week 24 students completed their IB Art course with a 30 minute interview with a visiting examiner. All students did an amazing job describing their own artistic process and the work they created over two years in their independent investigation. They shared their personal ideas that inspired their artwork, the experiments in media and ways of working, and artists they had researched. I am so proud of the work they accomplished.

Several students during their interviews spoke of books they had read in English or Literary Society as influence for their artwork. Some also talked about how TOK had helped to give depth to their ideas. Two students referred to their extended essay and how it related to their independent investigation. These students demonstrated perfectly how no subject stands alone and for them art formed a bridge in their understanding of other subjects.

While completing the IB Art course was a lot of work, it comes closest to how actual artists work and think. These students have learned how to work independently, think critically, analyze ideas both their own and others', and take an idea from first thought through experimentation and research to a completed product. I think these skills are important in life. What do you think?

50 things every graphic design student should know

2011-04-24T17:01:00.000-04:00

Check out this blog post by designer Jaime Wieck.

Some of these are geared toward design student but others are more universal and can apply to anyone.

My favorites:

2. There is always someone better.

Regardless of how good you are, there will always be someone better. It’s surprisingly easy to waste time worrying about this. #the50

5. Starting anything requires energy.

It takes more energy to start than it does to stop. This is true for physics, your career, and that idea you need to work on. #the50

9. Curate your work.

Never stop editing your portfolio. Three strong pieces are better than ten weak ones – nobody looks for quantity, just quality. #the50

20. Ask questions.

Assume nothing. Ask questions, even if you think you know the answers. You’ll be surprised at how little you know. #the50

22. Seek criticism, not praise.

You learn nothing by being told how great you are. Even if you think your work’s perfect – seek criticism, you can always ignore it. #the50

34. Embrace limitations.

Limitations are invaluable for creating successful work: they give you something to push against. From this tension comes brilliance. #the50

43. Pick your battles.

The creative industry is often infuriating, but not every argument is an argument that needs to be had. This takes time to learn. #the50

49. Awards are nice, but not vital.

Awards look good on the shelf, but clients seldom pick up the phone because of them. Solid work encourages that. #the50

IB Exam Feedback

2011-04-20T21:11:00.000-04:00

All IB Seniors

After your exam please click on this link and take the survey. Please be honest with your answers, they are only used to help me prepare future classes. You will not be judged by your answers.

This survey is for IB Seniors only. Thank you.

Survey

Senior Art Show 2011

2011-04-18T22:04:00.001-04:00

We set up the senior show today. 24 IB seniors took over the 9th grade media center and somehow managed to pull it all together. Thanks go to Ms. Noel's first hour class for transporting the giant foam core and my first hour Art 1 class for helping carry artwork. If you can't see the video, here's the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUa6g-ma7VY

If you couldn't come to the opening here's what you missed.

I baked!

Sculptural Books

2011-04-15T17:23:00.000-04:00

Pre IB Art 1 students are getting ready to start their sculptural books. Here is the presentation I shared in class with example pictures.

Bookarts

View more presentations from Michelle Debello.

As we learn about different mixed media techniques in class make sure to be working on your planning for your book. You may use the many books I have in class for information (they are located on the front table).

ATC

2011-04-04T22:11:00.000-04:00

For a quick way to get more breadth pieces done for AP I had my students create ATC size artworks over spring break.

Stephanie

Keyla

Rosa

Shirley

Veronica

Victoria

Keyla

Collage!

2011-03-31T20:48:00.001-04:00

Check out the collage work by artist Ashley Barron. I love the variation in color and shapes in her work. In an interview she talks about how she collects all sorts of papers and paints them with colors and textures to add something personal to her work.

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So you think you can't draw? That doesn't mean you can't produce high quality 2D design work. A focus on shape, composition, the balance between variety and unity, and high level craftsmanship is important.

via Notpaper

This year's freshman self-portraits.

2011-03-29T21:12:00.000-04:00

Each year in Art 1 we do self-portraits. Its always interesting to see what the students do with the assignment. The students were allowed to work from a photograph and could choose the media they wanted to work in.

Andrew

Aviriana

Celine

Grace

Jahmal

Ka-yen

Marisol

Charcoal was a popular choice this year.

Ring Weaving

2011-03-25T16:49:00.001-04:00

Pre IB Art 1 is working on ring weavings. Don't forget to look for objects you want to include in yours, buttons, beads, fabric, feathers, specific yarn colors. To view the presentation, click on the play button then use your forward and backward arrows on the keyboard to move through it.

Ring Weaving on Prezi

Central Park Art Festival

2011-03-14T14:57:00.000-04:00

Remember this next weekend is the Central Park Art Festival. It's the 19th and 20th in Winter Haven across from the library. I've gone every year I've been here in Polk county. You'll see lots of artists from across Florida and have the opportunity to talk to them. You'll find that most of the artists like to talk with students. It's always a good thing to see all the different type of work being done and seeing it in person is so much better than on the internet.

Why are the arts important?

2011-03-13T16:24:00.000-04:00

I read a good blog post on the link between creative thought and innovation in other subject areas. We can easily observe creative activity taking place in the art room.

"in order to begin a new painting, an artist draws heavily upon well-developed skills of observation and reflection. An artist must also have an overarching plan for how to proceed before a single mark is made, and yet most artists relish the moments of spontaneity that arise as they work"

But how does translate into skills used in other classes?

"Imagination and the skills of deep observation and reflection that are invaluable to an artist’s process are also integral to the essential stages of innovation. Breaking with the status quo–in any situation, in any domain–requires balance between adhering to an overarching plan and an openness to spontaneity. Providing something novel, which has value, is dependent upon creative thinking."

The skills you develop in IB Art, planning, experimentation, reflection, are the skills you need in developing any good idea fro any subject matter or any class you may have in the future.

read the full article - Kira Campo, Innovation = Creative Expression

Overlooked details.

2011-03-10T22:08:00.000-05:00

What things in our everyday environment do you overlook that could become art if framed correctly? There is no limit to the amount of inspiration you can find in the art room. These were taken earlier today.

Haines City Street Painting Festival

2011-03-03T20:44:00.000-05:00

This Saturday is the Haines City Street Painting Festival in downtown Haines City at Railroad Park. This is a pic from last year's festival. This year we have twelve students participating from my classes. NAHS is also going to do face painting and participate in the art show.

If you come to support the students who are participating make sure to take a picture of yourself with your phone next to the square you like best. Show that to me next week to get extra credit points.

Recent Art Shows

2011-03-03T20:34:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to IB Junior Bryan who won third place for his piece at the Young Artist's Show at the Ridge Gallery.

The Creative Youth Show is this Saturday at the Polk Museum of Art. Congratulations to AP students Shirley and Jennifer who had pieces accepted into this competitive show.

Paper and Silver Jewelry

2011-02-28T18:41:00.000-05:00

Check out the work from Sabrina Meyns, an Irish artist who creates jewelry our of paper and silver. Her work is inspired by seed pods.

via All Things Paper

Latest AP Art Student Work

2011-02-23T21:30:00.000-05:00

Here is some AP student work from February.

In these pieces students used modeling paste, found objects and glazes to create pieces that focus on texture.

Collin

Esther

Haley

Jennifer

Rosa

Stephanie

Thomas

Veronica

The following are examples from student's concentrations.

Andrew

Esther

Jennifer

Joseph

Shirley

Mandy Budan

2011-02-19T17:13:00.000-05:00

Check out this artist's blog to see artwork in progress.

I think some of you would really like the style in which this artist works and its neat to see how a piece progresses.

via http://blog.mandybudan.com/

Candidate Statement

2011-02-16T13:30:00.000-05:00

IB Seniors

By Thursday at midnight email me your digital copy of your candidate statement. This is your final version and should include the edits from the last time I checked them, also keep your statement to no more than 300 words.

Please send it as a Word document (no strange file types that can't be opened on my computer)
Name your file with your first name.

IB student work from February

2011-02-13T14:18:00.001-05:00

IB Junior Artwork:

Angie

Eddie

Kendal

Khera

Maggie

IB Senior Artwork:

Alexei

Amber

Bryan

Caroline

Elaine

Jennifer

Katherine

Shimul

AP student artwork

2011-02-13T14:12:00.000-05:00

The following is a selection of this months artwork from the AP Art students.

Keyla

Rosa

Veronica

Dianna

Haley

Logan

Joseph

Rosa

Shimul

Shirley

Stephanie

Veronica

Pre IB Art 1 artwork

2011-02-13T14:08:00.000-05:00

Students created a city floating in space that was inspired by an architectural style they researched.

Becca

Kristina

Nora

Paige

Pictures and Pages - IB Seniors

2011-02-11T18:40:00.000-05:00

IB Seniors
Have you scanned your pages and taken pictures of all your finished work?
Remember your scanned pages are do to me on Monday (Tuesday for 2nd hour students). Bring them on a flash drive. Name your files the following way:
first name-last name-page number (1-30).jpg
HLA students need 30 pages, SLA students need 20 pages, HLB students need 40 pages

Any pictures of your finished artwork are due on Blackboard Tuesday by midnight.

Recent Blog Viewers

2011-02-08T21:09:00.001-05:00

This is a screen shot of the map of recent viewers of this blog.

Kinda neat, huh? Bet you thought the only people reading this were fellow students. People from across the world have seen your artwork!

Artwork on display.

2011-01-19T21:03:00.000-05:00

For the month of January we have artwork on display at the Winter Haven Library. Stop by and take a look.

Student Artwork

2011-01-19T21:00:00.000-05:00

Landscape Collages from Pre IB Art 1

Becca

Kayen

Leena

Marisol


Raelynne

Junior and Senior IB Art

Bryan

Angie

Kendal

Pre IB Art 2 and AP Studio Art

Andrew

Gustavo

Juan

Shirley

Quilling

2011-01-13T20:54:00.000-05:00

From Wikipedia:

Quilling or paper filigree is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs. The paper is wound around a quill to create a basic coil shape. The paper is glued at the tip and the coil shaped, these shaped coils are arranged to form flowers, leaves, and various ornamental patterns similar to ironwork.

These images are from artist Sarah Yakawonis. Check out her blog and her anatomical quilling pieces.

Welcome Back!

2011-01-02T20:54:00.000-05:00

Is everyone ready to come back to school?

This starts our busy time of the year. Seniors are preparing for their exam, juniors will be beginning their independent investigations, AP students are getting serious about their concentration.

This is also the time of the year that we will be sending artwork to shows both in the county and at the school.

First week back:
Pre IB Art 1 - working on "City in Space"
Pre IB Art 2 - we will be beginning a new project this week
AP - you have a concentration piece due from before the break as well as the small one you did over break - you have the first day to get caught up and start your planning for the next piece
IB juniors - are finishing their trapped in the paper and working on the next self and society page
IB seniors - are working on their investigation, three pieces left

IB student work from December

2010-12-12T20:06:00.000-05:00

The following is student work from the junior and senior IB art class.

Breanna

Maggie

Jennifer

Tabby

Summer

Dianna

Caroline

Richelle

Morgan

AP student work

2010-12-12T20:00:00.000-05:00

The following is some work by the AP Art students.

Shirley

Joseph

Gustavo

Esther

Leola

Shirley

Chad

Due Dates

2010-11-28T12:55:00.000-05:00

Remember that on Thursday December 2 the following things are due:

AP Art - first concentration piece is due
IB seniors - have 1-3 pictures due on Blackboard

Have you done any artwork over the break?

2010-11-28T12:52:00.000-05:00

Were you able to get any artwork done over the break? Or work in your IWB?

I was able to paint the faces on two doll heads that people commissioned me to do.

What did you work on?

November artwork from junior and senior IB Art students

2010-11-18T18:21:00.000-05:00

April

Amanda


Kendal

Bryan

Katherine

Richelle

Vicki

Marcus

Dianna

Drawing the bicycle - Pre IB Art 1

2010-11-07T18:56:00.002-05:00

Here are some of the pictures of the bicycle from 1st and 6th hour Pre IB Art 1. Students first created a patterned paper using tempera paint, rollers and stencils. They then choose contrasting chalk to draw the bicycle.

Nora

Megan

Mabel

Johanna

Christina

Ornella

Marisol

Becca

Kristina

Avirianna

IB Junior and Senior artwork

2010-11-01T21:14:00.000-04:00

Here is a selection of artwork from the IB juniors and seniors.

April

Khera

Tabby

Lauren

Marcus

Summer

Maggie

AP student work

2010-11-01T21:11:00.000-04:00

AP students created work using text as a design element.

Hugo

Rosa

Taylor

Pre IB Art 1 Artwork

2010-11-01T21:08:00.000-04:00

Art 1 students worked with scratchboard to create artworks that emphasized texture.

Raelynne

Becca

Kayen

Ornella

Kristina

Aviranna

Are you working in your IWB?

2010-10-31T20:35:00.001-04:00

Starting next week I will be grading the workbooks for Art 1 and Art 2 for the first time this year and I will be continuing to grade the books of the IB juniors and seniors. Remember that you must have your book with you everyday. If I call for your book and if its not in class you will receive a zero.

If you need ideas for what to do in your book click on the Resource Link on the side bar and download the IWB Assignments document.

Also on that page Art 1 and Art 2 student will find the rubric for grading their books. Remember quality over quantity.

Anne-Laure Djaballah

2010-10-31T12:43:00.000-04:00

I really love this artist's work. She only updates her blog once in a while but I love her pieces.

I also like to read her thoughts on her work. This is what she writes about her current show:

In this series of paintings I was aware of how much I was influenced by my surroundings - my neighborhood, my daily walks to the studio taking narrow back alleys, the view from my window of the Jacques Cartier bridge and la Ronde, and the industrial landscape along the St-Laurence river. I am especially drawn to othe way things change after dark, where a lot gets edited out and only certain details are highlighted with the streetlights or in windows. That's similar to the way I work, where I start out with more information and then edit a lot out.

via a path no wider than a pencil stroke

IB Year 2 - Pictures Due November 4th

2010-10-27T21:09:00.000-04:00

All IB seniors remember that pictures are due on Blackboard November 4th. One to three pictures are due then. Everyone signed up for dates during October to use the camera so there shouldn't be a rush the day before. If you have your pics done already you can go ahead and upload them now.

Look for a new sign up for the month of November sometime next week.

Self Portraits

2010-10-27T16:31:00.000-04:00

Check out these self portraits done by the AP students.

This is what I'm talking about when I say to use the whole paper and have a full range of values.

A change...

2010-10-24T21:04:00.000-04:00

I'm making a change to the way I use this blog. In the past it has been reserved for the juniors and seniors but I am now going to be using it as our main class website. This will allow me to post updates more frequently and remind you of due dates right here on the blog. The old class website is still there, but it is just a static website with basic information. The most important parts I have linked to on the sidebar - the online gallery, the class calendar, and the resource page where you can download some of the documents we use in class.

All students are allowed to make comments on this blog but remember your comments must be relevant, well written and mature. I will delete anything inappropriate. If you comment make sure to use your first name only, no last names or identifying information (remember internet safety).

Art on the tip of a pencil.

2010-08-07T13:01:00.000-04:00

Check out this work by Dalton Ghetti. He sculpts tiny artwork on the tips of pencils.

In the article he talks about his frustration when the pencils would break and what he does about it. Good lessons for when things don't always go as planned.

Check out the article for more pictures.

IB Scores

2010-07-07T11:07:00.000-04:00

Our first graduating class was able to get their scores yesterday. Their scores have been great and I am so proud that they have been recognized for all the hard work they've done!

Glue Advice

2010-07-07T11:05:00.000-04:00

You know how I say that hot glue is not permanent and that there are better adhesives, well this site will tell you the best adhesive for the materials you are using.

http://www.thistothat.com/

Evolution of a drawing.

2010-04-23T23:44:00.000-04:00

Check out this blog entry by Andrea Joseph.
This is how the drawing starts:

Click here to read about the process and see the steps leading up to the finished drawing.
via Andrea Joseph's sketchblog

Student artwork critique - Bryan

2010-03-03T09:19:00.001-05:00

Bryan - Envy

My first piece for this investigation was envy from the seven deadly sins. Right away, I felt the color green showed an accurate representation of what envy is as a feeling. The media I used included gloss gel to create texture, a mixture of gloss medium and acrylic paints to make a bold and thick paint, and gum wrappers to create eyes which i felt are commonly linked to envy. The gold paint splattered across the piece represents gold, which is a material that can be what is being envied. It is not quite completely gold, but more of a copperish tinted color because it comes to show one is blinded by envy because it is like an addiction.

Leave your comments below.

Student artwork critique - Alexis

2010-03-02T09:48:00.001-05:00

Alexis - Golden Ideal

I decided to focus on the idea of honor in the eastern civilizations, namely Southeast Asia. The red is used to symbolize luck, a concept from this region. The kanji says "justice and honor," which is emphasized with the picture of the samurai.

Leave your commets below.

Student artwork critique - Jennifer

2010-03-02T09:43:00.001-05:00

Jennifer - Patterns in Clothes

This is the first piece in my investigation on the patterns in life. Now that is it is complete I have come to the conclusion that it is lacking in many seperate elements. The craftsmanship is far below my usual standards and the actual meaning behind the piece is rather simple. It was supposed to represent the patterns in the clothes and the culture represented by them but that did not come through in the actual piece. The best part was the buttons and how they stood out from the rest of the piece and unified it.

Leave your comments below.

Student artwork critique - Morgan

2010-03-02T09:34:00.001-05:00

Morgan - Round Like a Record

This piece portrays the 1980's and its inpact on youth. The record shape represents the new technology of the era; techno and synthesized music became prominent. In the background, the polka dots beneath the newspaper clearly show the bubble gum "pop" concentration. The layer of newspaper and use of mere comics and puzzles shows how the youth tried to break away from the political distress of the time by exploring foreign concepts such as time travel, space exploration, and other sci-fi ideals. The silver watercolor also portrays the technology that creates a silver sheen on society, and the fears of computer take-over. I am pleased with my craftmanship, but the composition, while made of many layers, lacks a concrete subject matter.

Leave your comments below.

Student artwork critique - Shimul

2010-03-02T09:25:00.001-05:00

Shimul - The Goose and the Golden Eggs

The inspiration for this piece is the classic Aesop fable, The Goose and the Golden Eggs. Because my investigation is based on fairytales and stories, I read this fable then attempted to create my own interpretation of it. The story tells of a goose that produces eggs of solid gold. The farmer and his wife that own the goose become overcome with greed and believe that, if they cut the goose open, they will get more gold. However, when they killed the goose, they found out that there was nothing within the goose but what would be in an ordinary goose. To depict the greed of the farmer and his wife, I used a stark, blood red coming from the heart of the goose. The red is contrasted by the primarily cool colors surrounding the rest of the piece. Also, I used gold liquid metal to show the gold in the story. To make my piece have a storybook feel, I used ink upon a parchement-like color and tried to use intricate lines.

Leave your commets for Shimul.

Online Gallery

2010-02-05T08:37:00.000-05:00

New artwork has been added to the online gallery for second quarter.
Online Gallery

Art on display

2010-01-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

Stop by the Winter Haven Library to see a display of student artwork. It will be up through January. For a list of students participating, see the chart in class.

Artist Giveaway

2009-12-17T19:47:00.002-05:00

Check out this post from artist Jessica Doyle. She is giving away some of her artwork for the holidays.
Have you considered making something special for a gift for a parent or grandparent?

Color Schemes

2009-11-21T10:37:00.001-05:00

Check out the following website when planning color schemes.
Color Scheme Designer

Sketches

2009-11-06T21:23:00.002-05:00

buttons
Originally uploaded by andrea joseph's illustrations

Check out this artist's sketchbook pages.
Andrea Joseph

Anu Tuominen

2009-10-24T12:04:00.003-04:00

Check out the work by Anu Tuominen. I just love this picture of the used erasers. When everyday objects used to create art it reminds me of the very visual and very beautiful world we live in. via Poppytalk

Image Transfers

2009-10-24T11:52:00.002-04:00

I know many of you like to use image transfers in your work. I came across this blog this weekend that shows how you can do image transfers with inkjet images.

Image transfer onto wood - via matsutake

She uses Modpodge for the transfer process but this would work with gloss medium as well.

Source for textures

2009-10-13T21:16:00.004-04:00

The Texture Vault is a source for royalty free textures and backgrounds. Great for those that need cool collage papers. Royalty free means that you can get these artist created backgrounds for free and use them in your work without paying a fee. These are still copyrighted works so they may be used in the same way that we use other published works (documenting the source and as part of a larger work of art).

Check out these from an artist I follow on Twitter.

What are your thoughts on using others' art in your work?

Summer's almost over.

2009-07-31T22:43:00.002-04:00

Have you been working on any artwork lately? Remember to come back to school with something started that you can finish in the last week of August. I expect you to be working on our first day back. Check our class calendar for some dates for next year. I have put up what I know now, including our exam date next April. See you soon!
M DeBello

Guest Post - Krystal

2009-05-15T08:17:00.003-04:00

Juan Geuer

Al Asnaam, 1979

Juan Geuer is a Canadian installation artist that combines the sciences and the arts to create what he described as "something nobody else has done". The piece above exemplifies the connection Geuer found between the sciences and the arts. Al Asnaam is made up of a laser and a seismometer, and a lot of other electrical engineering materials and concepts. What it does is it projects, through the lasers, the minute pulsing and tremors of the planet. In the dark room, the red laser is constantly changing shape to fit the movements of the earth, making the artwork seem alive.
In Geuer’s work engineering and art is often used to show the unity between nature, science and the beauty of the world, which can be explored here and here. The complexity of science and art are interrelated in his work, and he often describes his work as an extension to the sciences. His official website is here, and commentary on his work can be found here.

Guest Post - Sam

2009-05-11T08:06:00.003-04:00

Olafur Eliasson: Geometrical Spatial Installation Art

“The Weather Project”

Olafur Eliasson’s installation artworks deal with the concept of using geometrical figures in combination with space which then creates an over whelming atmosphere. His pieces tend to have a repetition of rectangle or square figures with a combination of another offset figure such as a circle (oval) or triangle in order to create contrast between the forms. His use of repeating like-geometrical figures creates rhythm within the work and his use of color scheme whether monothematic scheme or multiple variations creates unity within his pieces and allows his works to flow rather than static like an ordinary geometric figure.

These are some more work of his where he uses space within geometric figure: here and here

Here is a direct link to his website here

Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day

2009-04-26T12:50:00.006-04:00

April 26th is Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day. If you are interested in photography this would be a cool thing to try.

For more information on pinhole photography, check out Photojojo.

This image is from matchboxpinhole.com. They have instructions on making a camera from objects you may have at home.

Or you can try downloading this paper pattern from Corbis Readymech Cameras.