Latest Information for School this week...

Due to Hurricane Sandy.. we will be closed again on Wednesday October 31st. Enjoy the day and don't eat too much Halloween Candy!!

Please Note: the Cycle change has been postponed until Monday. That means, Seniors and Freshman you are still in shop for the rest of the week, providing we have school.

Sophomores and Juniors... two more days of Academics...gives us a chance to finish our classwork. Will Thursday run on Monday's or Thursday's schedule?  Don't know yet.

But on a good note....Gives you Digital Photography students even more time to take photographs especially of Halloween!!

Be safe. Be smart and don't eat any unwrapped candy from someone you don't know.

Trick or Treat....

Let the clean up begin....

I hope that everyone made it through the storm safely!!

With the cycle change scheduled for tomorrow...Seniors will be back in Academics...

Digital Photography Class~
We will be working on a series of 36 photographs of varying view points.....it's not just about tilting your camera to the side...

for example.....

 

It means looking at something in a new way....take this sunflower..most people look at it from the front..but focusing an alternate view makes the photograph more interesting. You also need to think about compositional elements such as the rule of thirds, fill the frame, framing along with the Elements of Art: Line, Shape, Color, Form, Texture, and Space.

 

 

Although 36 photographs seem like a lot, it in essence is a single roll of film. In a traditional photography class, you would be required to shoot several rolls of film for each assignment. Digitally we are doing a lot less work. Your 36 photographs can be several different angles of the same subject.

 

Studio Art Class~

Your theme this cyle is "Connection to Nature". And after Hurricane Sandy, I think we all feel a little more connected to nature. However, this cycle you will explore your own feelings about nature, what it means to you to appreciate and be out and about in nature, along with if you want, any environmental issues you feel strongly about. Having a conceptual theme like "Connection to Nature" allows you to explore and investigate many options in the creation of your art work. I will be showing you a few examples via a Power Point, plus I might show you the Video, "Rivers and Tides", it's about the artwork of one of my favorite artists, Andy Goldsworthy. I have shown it many times in my classes and each time I see it, I learn something new.

 

Drawing II~

Please bring your sketchbooks to class, as we will be spending some quality time working in our sketchbooks this cycle. I am contemplating several different types of projects to work on this cycle and think we need some media exploration time before we decide on a final option. I might even give everyone several options to choose from as the last project was very technical and precise, this time we should be a little more loose and free in our designs.  More details to follow.

 

Be safe.. and see you in class!



Ohhh Sandy....

Well... with school closed for the next few days due to Sandy....B cycle quickly comes to an end.

Elements of Art~ everyone should have gotten a chance to finish their color wheel project, their Color Theory painting along with their Monochromatic painting.
Why so much painting you ask? Understanding how to mix and use color be it in drawing or painting is something that really requires some "hands-on" time. The more my students experiment with color mixing, the greater their knowledge of color grows. At this point in their experiences, I find it is better to give them free choice in the content of their work, albeit school appropriate of course.

Drawing I~ It sure has been an experience using India Ink and Crow Quill pens to draw with! It has turned out to be a slow process, so we will continue to work on them next cycle.


Be Safe everyone!

Photography....

 

The photographs you can get from a cell phone camera sometimes suprise me!

 

That is the main reason I have my Digital Photography students' use their cell phone camera instead of requiring them to purchase a separate digital camera. Although there are some really economical cameras on the market right now. Current technology in cell phone cameras is almost as good, if not better than many point and shoot camera's.

 

Do I have a Digital SLR camera? I wish. Right now, I have a nice camera on my cell phone and an old Pentax k1000 that requires film. Sure, one of these days I would love to purchase a nice fancy digital SLR camera. But for me, like most of my students, the camera on my cell phone gives me more than adequate results.

 

I have learned though, when I go on outtings with my history loving friend Linda, who has a very nice Nikon Digital SLR, I need to bring a car charger for my cell phone. For as I try and capture as many photos as she can, it does have a tendancy to drain the battery of the cell phone.

 

While I have Digital SLR camera envy, economically, it's not the right purchase for now. Maybe during the upcoming holiday sales.

Middle of October

Wow! Time sure flies! Middle of October already! Thanksgiving Break will be here before we know it.

Right now.. my sophomores in Elements of Art are being introduced to Roy G. Biv.
Who is that? The color spectrum: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet. Learning the color wheel is a right of passage in art class.

My Drawing I students are learning about the Element of Art: Texture. They are creating an animal drawing, choosing an endangered animal to render first in pencil and then using Crow Quill Pens and India Ink. They will be creating visual texture using lines, shapes, hatching and cross-hatching. I had them choose endangered animals instead of a favorite kind to expose them to just a little bit of environmental issues. They will also be creating a Microsoft Publisher brochure about their endangered animal. Look for the completed drawings and brochures during Open House next month.

Professional Development

Somedays it's good to be an Art Teacher, well for me, most day's really. But today was an exceptional day. Several times a year student's get a day off because we have Professional Development Days. These days give content area teacher's a chance to spend the day together learning something knew, sharing, planning for future events, etc.

Today the Art Teachers of the CTHSS got a chance to go to the Florence Griswold Museum. For those of you who have never been there, you should really make the trek, it's easy to find, exit 70 off of I-95 in Old Lyme, CT.   Florence Griswold Home and Museum is the birthplace of American Impressionism. What is that you say? Well, you just have to see it to believe it. Impressionism to me is all about capturing light and color and how it changes throughout the day. I highly recommend paying the museum  a visit.

Especially this time of year, from October 5th  thru November 5th, they have a special exhibit all over the grounds of the musuem. This year, it's a Wee Faerie Village.
For just a small additional amount, you can tour the village. Works are created by artist's and a few teacher's and their classes from all over Connecticut.

Want to learn more, just click on the link below.

Florence Griswold Museum

If you are one of my students and you go to the museum, bring in your Yellow Florence Griswold Museum sticker or your Faerie bracelet and I will give you a free extra credit grade!

Go out and make some Art!!

Just a reminder.....

As you enjoy this long holiday weekend......

Digital Photography Students:
Please go out and take some "Portrait" photos! I have created an "Event" in Google+ for both sections of Digital Photography. You should be able to post/share your final Portait Photograph in the event. The event closes at 2:00 pm on October 12th, which coincides with the due of the assignment. If you have any technical difficulties..please let me know right away!!

Drawing II, Studio Art, Drawing I and Elements of Art Students:
Please be sure and purchase a sketchbook for class assignments. It is a necessary tool for your artistic growth and development. Any issues obtaining one..please let me know.


For all:  Extra Credit Opportunity!
For the entire month of October, if you happen to go to the Florence Griswold Museum and view the current photograph exhibit or tour the Fairie Village. Please bring in proof of attendance, a brochure and/or admission sticker from the museum. I will give you an extra credit project grade!

To everyone I met during this past weeks, Parent's Night at Grasso Tech, thanks for coming in and participating in my art project! It was a pleasure to meet you and your student has earned an extra credit project grade!!

Parent's Night

I love Parent's Night! The excitement of having your student and their family coming into school, in the evening time. Usually I stress and worry and make sure my room is clean and sparkling, I want to make a good impression after all.

This year, I've taken a different approach. My Art Room is a mess! Not a dirty mess, but a mess nonetheless. I can't help it, my students and I spend all day in the creative process. It's not always neat and orderly.

So, if you happen to come to Parent's Night tonight, please excuse the mess, we've had a busy day.