Non-Art Teacher Designs

Going Crazy With Implied Shapes

2012-01-12T07:26:00.000-05:00

Can you tell I like doing this?

Implied Free-Form Shapes

2012-01-11T16:11:00.002-05:00

Here is a printing assignment I'm doing with my students in Graphic Design.

We use geometric shapes to imply the free-form shape of an object.

Finished Pointallism Mask

2011-12-02T09:09:00.001-05:00

This was the example I made for my students in class. You can see the unfinished version in the previous post.

Masks

2011-11-21T18:55:00.000-05:00

In Art III: Graphic Design we are studying art history ideas and styles, and the history and purposes of masks. Here are the two I'm making as examples in class.

Homework Drawing 3

2011-11-19T08:53:00.000-05:00

The theme for Art III: Graphic Design last week was Mask.

Homework Drawing 2

2011-11-18T16:57:00.001-05:00

Two weeks ago the theme in Art I was Humanity, and the Theme in Art II was Life. This is my combination of the two ideas.

Homework Drawings

2011-11-17T16:48:00.000-05:00

I try to do the homework assignments with my students.

The Art I theme last week was color.

Trompe L'Oeile Drawing

2011-11-10T12:31:00.002-05:00

I did this with my students in art club this week.

My colleague has my good camera, so you'll have to settle for a bad quality picture.

Realistic Still-Life

2011-10-27T10:41:00.000-04:00

My goal is to do more work this year with my students. Here is what we did with the art club this week. I tried to teach them about shading to make objects pop out.

Abstract Comic Panels

2011-08-12T15:15:00.001-04:00

I like comics and I like doodling. This way I get to practice one while playing with the other.

This drawing is done in black india ink, and graphite gray oil-based ink. I used two sizes of pens and one big, chunky brush just to see if I could do the whole thing with that big of a brush. It probably could have been better with a better brush.

After reading how-to blogs I scanned this drawing and stitched it together in photoshop. Not bad for my first time. I know reducing the size helps too, but I think I fixed all the seam issues I had. If anyone out there knows any tips and tricks that help in that process please add some comments below.

Old Artwork

2011-08-11T07:14:00.001-04:00

I have been cleaning and found this artwork I made in 2007. I like it enough to frame it. Maybe someday...

Zazzle Made it Right

2011-08-10T08:13:00.000-04:00

I didn't like the orange because it was a strange color orange. Here is the gold. I like it better.

O Original

2011-08-09T13:41:00.000-04:00

Here's the original drawing I promised by a five year old!

If you know anything about art education this drawing is quite advanced for a five year old. Some things to note the high horizon line, and the fact that the blue sky isn't way on the top of the page, but filling up the whole space. I didn't teach her any of this stuff either. She has done a lot of art and is working through her experience in the world on her own, which makes it all the more remarkable.

Zazzle~is sending me a new shirt based on the e-mail I sent them...

2011-08-05T18:13:00.001-04:00

I'm sending it back. I will rescind the title of this post if they mail me a good shirt...I changed the title because they're sending me a new shirt based on these photos.

More Designs From This Year

2011-08-02T07:55:00.002-04:00

I created these around Valentines Day this year as a fundraiser for our school yearbook. I never posted them here, so I thought I would share them now, while I'm on a t-shirt kick.

Crabfest 2009: Going Back in Time

2011-08-01T08:03:00.002-04:00

2009 Tee

Crabfest 2011: Tees for Purchase

2011-07-31T10:03:00.000-04:00

Philly Crabfest 2011

Crabfest 2011: Layout Options on Shirts

2011-07-22T16:17:00.000-04:00

Help me decide. Vote until noon on 7/29/11 on which crab shape you like best, and which overall design you like best.

Crabfest 2011: Option 1

2011-07-22T15:48:00.000-04:00

Here's Option 1:

Help me decide. Vote until noon on 7/29/11 on which crab shape you like best, and which overall design you like best.

Crabfest 2011: Option 2

2011-07-22T15:45:00.000-04:00

Here is option 2:

Help me decide. Vote until noon on 7/29/11 on which crab shape you like best, and which overall design you like best.

Crabfest 2011: Option 3

2011-07-22T15:41:00.000-04:00

Here are the designs for the tees!

Help me decide. Vote until noon on 7/29/11 on which crab shape you like best, and which overall design you like best.

Postcard Art

2011-07-17T10:43:00.001-04:00

I <3 Kaua'i!

(Note shoreline basalt boulders on the right. That is where I sprained my ankle.)

Art Time Comic

2011-07-16T08:33:00.000-04:00

My niece and I had art time on the Fourth of July. I liked what she drew so much that I wanted to do a comic featuring it.

*I'll post the original when I find it if I remember!

Homework When Students Don't Behave in Class...

2011-07-15T16:43:00.000-04:00

My favorite Flowers

2011-07-15T16:31:00.000-04:00

These bushes were right outside the house we were staying at in Hawai'i and I liked them a lot, so I drew them...or at least started to, but then I got eaten by mosquitos.

Here's a photo of the ones by the house instead of the railing.

Music Painting

2011-05-24T15:39:00.000-04:00

This is the painting assignment my students are working on right now. Here are some process pictures of my painting.

Requirements:

Must be based on at least one aspect of music. Either an artist, a favorite song, or an issue important in the music industry.
Must contain the silhouette of at least part of a person.
Must show some different painting techniques.

Church Today

2011-05-22T23:19:00.000-04:00

Music and Art

2011-05-16T23:58:00.000-04:00

My students are doing music and art paintings. They are doing much better than I am. Their sketches were due last week. Here is my sketch.

This just makes me think, "wow, you are left brained for an art teacher, and how in the world will this make an interesting painting? It's so cartoony and design-y!"

Hmmmm. We'll just have to see.

More Sculptures

2011-05-11T11:40:00.000-04:00

I was doing plaster hands with 9th grade and tape sculptures with 10th graders.

Step-By-Step Tape Sculptures

2011-05-06T12:56:00.003-04:00

I told another teacher about this sculpture project and he was upalled at the materials and lack of earth-friendliness of the artwork. I got the idea here. I have found it is an excellent way for students to consider form because they have to place the tape in the direction of the different planes of the objects they are using.

Step 1: Find an object with interesting forms. I used this assignment this year to have students consider pop art/culture.

Step 2: Cover the object with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

Step 3: Tape, tape, tape, and tape some more.

Step 4: Cut out your object with a straight-edge. (If the students have used their favorite childhood toy as their armature you may want to help them cut because then the razor should be slid under the tape face-up to make the cut. This breaks the "never cut toward yourself" rule of safety in the art room.)

Step 5: Tape your sculpture back together.

Step 6: Display in a deliberate place to photograph, or install for viewing. (I had my students consider where the actual object would be, or where it would never be.)

Abstract Comic Garden

2011-04-27T17:52:00.001-04:00

Abstract Comics or Techniques?

2011-04-26T12:20:00.001-04:00

You can decide:

(More than one post a day? --Don't get used to it. It's the last day of Spring Break.)

Logos & Doodles at the MoMA

2011-04-26T07:58:00.000-04:00

I sat in the Rothko room doodling for a while this spring break...

2011-04-25T17:52:00.000-04:00

If you have followed my blog for a while, you may recognize this story. I'm still doing sketches to figure out how to best tell it. I think the first drawings were better, but this is just a sketch. I know there's a better way to tell it.

Finished Comic People-Page

2011-04-22T09:54:00.005-04:00

This is the page in my sketchbook I began in October of 2010. Today I finished drawing on and filling up the page.

I need to work on developing a more distinct style if I ever want to get a full book or even mini-comic done.

Dia: Beacon: Quick Comic

2011-04-21T11:26:00.000-04:00

I <3 Dia: Beacon!

This was done very quickly with marker. I didn't use pencil first because it is meant to be a comic sketch.

I Tried To Draw Everyday

2011-04-03T01:01:00.001-04:00

... But It's Not Quite Working Out That Way

I can't find time everyday to draw a little drawing, but I will still try to do it frequently. I have been waiting today for pictures to upload to the yearbook site. It has taken hours...

Children Don't Get Weary Till Your Work Is Done...

2011-03-23T22:42:00.000-04:00

I got home at 1am on "Monday" morning. Needless to say, I have been very tired since I have gotten home.

More Science and Art Connections on Sunday

2011-03-22T18:09:00.000-04:00

On Sunday there was an artist/graphic designer/scientist that spoke to the audience about his artwork, and career work at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab. It was fascinating. Then there was a guy in graphic design/information design trying to bridge the gap between the digital world and human face-to-face contact with art and design. Finally, there was an astronomer who works for Keplar who spoke to the audience about light curves, and her life as a painter/drawer and researcher. I also went to a talk about street art, hence the spray can.

Finally, I sat on an airplane for HOURS looking down at beautiful geological formations...

Drawing of the day...two days ago.

2011-03-21T20:04:00.002-04:00

I got a little sketchbook at my conference and it's my goal to make a drawing a day about my day.

This was my experience at the conference on Saturday. I heard Robert Root-Bernstein speak. He is a science professor and researcher at MSU who talked about how art and science are related. It was very exciting and inspirational.

Then the other elements of my day are much more self-explanatory...in the drawing at least.

A Taste of the Wilderness?

2011-03-12T11:51:00.000-05:00

What in the world will this be about? You'll have to check back and see.

Do I Know You?

2011-03-05T23:00:00.001-05:00

This guy at s-bucks looked familiar, but I didn't use that clichéd line on him...I just drew him...

I am having strange shadowing issues with my scanner... :(

Birds

2011-03-01T22:49:00.000-05:00

Well, it is my goal to write a graphic novel. These characters may not make the cut, but I am preparing for my characters, so enjoy my sketches.

Trip To Syracuse

2011-02-23T14:20:00.000-05:00

This is what I was inspired to draw when I was on my way to Syracuse University with my students. We spent 10 hours on a bus.

Playing With Pen Nibs & India Ink

2011-02-13T15:12:00.000-05:00

My scanner is too small for my artwork, so it's blurry at the top. This was a lot of fun anyway.

Poster of Friend 1

2011-02-05T23:22:00.000-05:00

With a Christmas ornament on her face...

India Ink

2011-01-21T16:08:00.001-05:00

Two photographs I have taken this week.

Hope

2011-01-08T08:45:00.001-05:00

What Attitude?

2011-01-07T21:13:00.002-05:00

This is the attitude behind not getting my own work done:

Happy New Year!

2011-01-06T19:21:00.002-05:00

...a bit late. :)

Font Fun

2011-01-05T06:15:00.000-05:00

Comic Faces

2010-12-05T16:02:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking about doing a huge piece of paper like this even though this small one took forever and was not too fun to do. I like how it looks.

Sports

2010-11-29T16:39:00.000-05:00

This was a theme I gave my students to create a drawing around this past quarter, so I thought I would do it too.

Light

2010-11-15T17:52:00.000-05:00

I decided to be illustrative and a tiny bit conceptual. I went with a lightbulb and light as a feather.
I have included my planning sketch in order to show my complete process...

Sitting on The 1 Train

2010-10-29T17:48:00.001-04:00

Sunday, on the 1 train...I was headed to Church, this guy was just in my head.

Chaos

2010-10-28T16:23:00.002-04:00

This word was the theme for my students' homework this week. Here is what I drew. It looks more chaotic on the small page than the big computer screen.

A Day Off, Sitting At the Museum

2010-10-27T16:45:00.001-04:00

MoMA on Columbus Day.

Inspired by Jaime

2010-10-11T16:49:00.000-04:00

I was at the New York Comic Con this past weekend and I found a huge book with drawings by Jaime Hernandez. It was hardcover, really cheap, and signed so I had to have it. I know he is one of the most famous and best comic artists, but I haven't really seen his stuff. (I'm relatively new to comic art.) I love the way he draws women. They are beautiful and sensual without so much of the feeling of the male gaze. Here's my drawing of some of his women. Mine aren't nearly as beautiful as his however...

Point

2010-09-30T19:34:00.000-04:00

Homework that I made my students do. This week the theme was "point."

The Uptown Girl Mural Celebrates Hunt's Point and its Women

2010-09-11T11:15:00.000-04:00

Here is a video by the Hunts Point Express with my students and me talking about the new mural in our school community. Go here for the full article and click on "Art" then click on "Mural celebrates Hunts Point and its women."

Friend #1 Background

2010-09-09T14:44:00.001-04:00

I have finally finished Friend #1! Yay.

Now I have to finish Friend #4... :)

Student on Ladder

2010-08-10T15:18:00.002-04:00

It only took 30 hours! (That's sarcasm btw.)

Sneak Peek

2010-08-09T08:40:00.002-04:00

Although these are not my friends they are students of friends, and it's the same style of those pieces.

You can see that it's not quite finished, but I thought I would share what I have been working on this summer.

Inspiration in Unlikely Places

2010-08-03T15:52:00.004-04:00

Who knew that comic artists, such as those in Mad Magazine, were inspired by Balinese Shadow Puppet Theatre?

I saw this at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC in the section about Bali.

A Little Cheesy...

2010-07-28T14:41:00.004-04:00

...but this is all I have had time to work on lately besides freelance stuff.

This Semester's Tessellation

2010-07-09T11:25:00.000-04:00

I didn't quite get finished, but I think it's a fun one.

Current Social Issues

2010-07-07T10:08:00.008-04:00

"If the shoe fits, wear it. If not, throw it out."

More amazing work by students.

Straightedge:

Pollution:

Animal Abuse:

Violence:

Save the Oceans:

Gay Rights:

Abortion:

Pollution:

Peace:

Bus Ride Home

2010-07-03T09:04:00.001-04:00

I drew this on my way home from work one day this spring. I have never boasted about my draftsmanship, nor will I. The bus was bumpy and my hand is always shaky, but I think this drawing has a lot of character.

Wet Paint

2010-07-01T08:50:00.002-04:00

Students' Tessellations

2010-06-20T16:38:00.003-04:00

My students are amazing.

Tessellations by 7th graders.

Draw What You Know

2010-06-02T23:29:00.001-04:00

January Bat

2010-05-26T16:52:00.003-04:00

This is one I made in January for my niece's birthday...

Finished?

2010-05-13T22:16:00.002-04:00

Not quite. We still have to crop it, but I'm thinking it looks pretty good.

Painting

2010-04-20T20:07:00.000-04:00

Six sixth graders and I started this painting yesterday.

The music concert at my school is based around civil rights this spring, so of course the art club is helping by creating big paintings to be hung in the auditorium during the concert. Here's the first day on the first painting.

Hand Sculpture

2010-04-19T22:00:00.003-04:00

What can I say, I love making hands out of plaster. I can't explain it. It's not high art by any means, but there is something in it that is quite satisfying for me.

Quick Artwork3

2010-03-25T21:55:00.000-04:00

This was fun. My aunt gave me the pattern.

It was a very quick project even though I started over several times.

Quick Artwork2

2010-03-23T17:53:00.000-04:00

All I have had time for lately is to throw a quick example together for my students. They're working on collages. Enjoy!

Quick Artwork1

2010-03-21T11:46:00.004-04:00

All I have had time for lately is to throw a quick example together for my students. They're working on collages. Enjoy!

Comic Inspiration

2010-02-18T14:19:00.001-05:00

Finished Value Exercise

2010-02-03T18:23:00.001-05:00

There are a couple of boxes that are off, but overall I'm pretty happy with my work.

Value Exercise

2010-02-01T19:38:00.000-05:00

More Art Show Pictures

2010-01-30T09:02:00.005-05:00

Art Show

2010-01-27T19:20:00.001-05:00

More Shading

2010-01-26T20:11:00.002-05:00

Black and White Still-Life Drawing

2010-01-21T16:23:00.006-05:00

This is my still-life scanned in grayscale and color.

I made my students use hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling so I did as well (mine is a little weak on the stippling,) but I would have loved to blend it a bit. (We're doing blending later in the year.)

I'm always interested in looking at what the computer does to art.

Chunky Bat

2010-01-13T21:03:00.001-05:00

This one's a little chunky, but I love his fabric!

Art is Self Expression Through Symbolism

2009-12-07T06:02:00.000-05:00

Art is Movement

2009-12-05T08:29:00.001-05:00

If you scroll up and down fast it looks like it's moving even more than it is.

I'll show it the proper way once I get the bulletin board up.

Art is...

2009-12-04T06:43:00.000-05:00

I have been using bulletin boards as teaching tools so far this year...who knows if it is working. Here is my "Art is..." bulletin board, and my Media bulletin board, and my elements/principles of design bulletin board (which we are not through learning about yet.)

My camera stinks!

Background of the Painting

2009-11-16T20:24:00.003-05:00

My Actual Movement Artwork

2009-11-12T16:26:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the poor quality images. This camera is hit or miss. I will try to take a good picture when I am finished painting it.

Texture is Fun!

2009-10-18T22:12:00.001-04:00

Skater Abstract Movement

2009-10-07T21:54:00.001-04:00

My students will be doing this soon, but not digitally. They will be doing it with paint. Old School!

(Eww, my colors look funky online. Oh well.)

Movement Planning

2009-10-06T22:50:00.001-04:00

Tessellation 2

2009-10-01T18:52:00.000-04:00

This is my favorite tessellation I have done in a while.

Tessellation 1

2009-09-30T06:47:00.001-04:00

Making tessellations to bring in a math component to art class with the 7th and 8th grades.

Line

2009-09-29T21:45:00.000-04:00

Line Collages with the 6th grade.

Doodle 4: Untitled

2009-09-25T17:39:00.000-04:00

Doodle 3: Radiate

2009-09-23T07:37:00.001-04:00

Doodle 2: Connect

2009-09-22T07:15:00.000-04:00