Jo Jo was at it again, creating a new, interactive bulletin board. He incorporated his STEAM skills by wiring Christmas lights to run off of batteries so the fire marshal would approve his sign. The concept is simple. There are sticky notes and a pen on a string. Take a sticky note and write your New Year's resolution! Below are some examples of the sticky notes that students wrote.

Next semester we plan to fully implement the Learning Target concept. What's that you ask? Well, let me explain. Previously, we have asked students to consider what they accomplished by selecting a writing prompt based on the Standards.  While this is very beneficial in regards to reflecting on the work the student has accomplished, it doesn't capture the student's initial intent. That's where Learning Targets work!

Learning Targets ask the student to consider what they intend to accomplish before they start working.  Furthermore, the Learning Targets, like the coordinating reflection prompts, align with the Standards. 

Since we were only introducing the concept, we decided to start with only a few select Learning Targets. Students were asked to select one Learning Target from the list that would align with their next student-directed project. Here is a look at the limited list we provided, followed by several examples of students work and the targets they selected. ​

Appropriation is taking two objects and combining them to create an original piece. For this project you will combine different things that inspire you in order to create a new, unique work of art. Check out artists like Jamian Juliano-Villani. ​

This project is all about improving on something you already are good at. For this project you should consider a material or a skill or technique that you are good at and seek out ways to get even better. You might consider following a YouTube tutorial. ​

This project is all about trying something completely new. For this project you should consider a material or a skill or technique that you have no experience with and learn how to do it. You might consider following a YouTube tutorial. ​

For this project you will work with other students to create a work of art. It’s all about learning how to work together which can be both challenging and rewarding.  ​

"I Create: this piece was inspired by an artist on social media. I’ve drawn one of their characters in my personal style..."

We offered two new Tables in the New Year, Candle Making and Rock Painting.

Though we looked at several different candle making techniques, the students selected to try the string dipping method. They each took a wick and dipped it into the hot wax. As soon as it dried, they dipped it again.. and repeat. After a while the wax forms a candle around the wick.

Inspiration for the rock painting Table was based on The Kindness Rocks Project. The Kindness Rocks Project is all about paiting rocks and then leaving them in places for people to find. There is even a chapter of The Kindness Rocks Project on Oak Island.

Every teacher faces quirky days like the day before Thanksgiving or winter or spring break. Kids are hopped up on candy canes and anticipation. It's hard for them, and for us to stay focused. So what do we do? We plan a quirky day challenge!

​In the past, our students participated in Hand Turkey Tuesday and the 12 Days of Photoshop. This year, the day before spring break we thought it might be fun to have a little egg decorating contest. So we brought in a bunch of eggs, yes, real eggs, and gave each student and egg to decorate. We had three categories, zentangle design, character design, art history design. ​​

The 12 Days of Photoshop challenges our Computer Art & Animation students with a New Photoshop Project every day for the 12 days leading up to winter break. They only have one day to complete each task and it must be posted to Seesaw before the class is over. Here are examples from each of this year's 12 days!

​On the first day of Photoshop my students gave to me Something Sliced.

On the second day of Photoshop my students gave to me Bad Mail.

On the third day of Photoshop my students gave to me A Funny Movie Poster Parody

On the fourth day of Photoshop my students gave to me an X-ray

On the fifth day of Photoshop my students gave to me A Screen Brought to Life.

On the sixth day of Photoshop my students gave to me A True Identity 

​On the seventh day of Photoshop my students gave to me A Critter Candy Cane

​On the eighth day of Photoshop my students gave to me A Literal Interpretation 

On the ninth day of Photoshop my students gave to me A Pop Icon Sculpture

On the tenth day of Photoshop my students gave to me An Animation

On the twelve day of Photoshop my students gave to me a Holiday Art History Mash Up!

Merry Photoshop to all!

Another art teacher posted the question on Facebook, "What are your students working on?" Here at South B, it's sort of a long list. That's because in the open art room, students might be working on all sorts of stuff and things. Autumn for example has been designing her characters, working primarily in MARKERS.

But Percy on the other hand, wanted to try out these WATERCOLORS to create this portrait. It's a present, so shsssss, don't tell.

A few students selected to work with the NEEDLE & THREAD. This week's Table was ugly dolls.

Brea wanted to try out the new CRAYPEN ​we just got in. She is using the craypen to create the black outline of a stained glass window on plastic. She is also mixing the new colored inks in with glue to create the colored glass part. Lots of experimenting with this one.

Meanwhile, we found some SHAVING CREAM in the closet. Since nobody wanted to shave, we decided to learn how to marble with it. 

Brooke has been working on her EYES.

Hope has been working on with MIXED MEDIA including colored pencil with pastel.

Ruby was working on a Mega Man Legacy collection which.... 

inspired Max to BECOME Mega Man.

Of course, that's just a small look at some of the things our student's are working on this week. We also worked with printing, etching, oil paints, cardboard, Photoshop, pencil, styrogami, collage, charcoal, candle making, and a few students drew all over my whiteboard...

Module One, The Concept: Each Monday, we introduce a new art Concept. This week's concept was positive and negative space. Student's interested in working with this concept were challenged with creating a tessellation.

Here are some of the pinatas created at last week's Table. This week, was tie dye and next week will be ugly dolls.

Module Three, The Artist: The third module we introduce happens on Wednesdays. Each Wednesday we take a look at an Artist that is loosely associated with the Table. This week's artist is Joana Vasconcelos.

​Module Four, the Technique: The last module happens on Thursday. It's a look at Skills and Techniques that our artists might find helpful. If students couldn't relate to the Concept, didn't want to tie dye, and couldn't find any inspiration in the artist of the week, they certainly can find a video tutorial they want to follow. 

But here is the best part. Even though all the modules are there to inform and inspire, students can still choose to design their own student-driven project. In fact, we encourage it! So here is some work that has nothing to do with the modules. Reagan created these two works. The one on the left was created on the 3D printer.

This student was exploring ways to present a cityscape, experimenting with different methods for presenting the background.

This student was interested in presenting the trees differently by angling the trunks.

"Mr Sands, I brought in a plush toy. Do you have any cement?"

This photo doesn't do justice to the color variation of the skin tones. You have to see it in real life.

We ended the week with a Feel Good Friday. What's that you ask? Well, any students wishing to participate, placed their art on the table. All students then walked around the table, viewing the artwork and leaving comments on the Feel Good Friday comment sheets. 

This particular Feel Good Friday also counted as a cross-curricular activity. That's because the Culinary Arts class was selling brownies. We bought a tray so in my book, that's cross-curricular. Also, brownies are just another great way to feel good on Feel Good Friday ;)

This week in Computer Art & Animation we took a look at Adobe Illustrator; a vector based application with a bit of a learning curve. Overall, Illustrator is a powerful design and illustration app but transitioning from raster-based apps such as Photoshop to vector-based programs takes a little getting used to. 

To kick off the week, we ran a few tutorials to learn about tools this app offers and gain understanding about how they work and how the differ from Photoshop. We started with learning about shapes and gradients as can be seen in the above illustration of flowers.

Our second tutorial was perhaps the least fun but addresses the most obvious difference between raster and vector; working with the pen tool. At first, it can be  a bit tricky to get the anchor points to go where you want them to go.

Building on the shape and gradient tools, our next step was to build layers. These 2D badges are composed of several layers of shapes. We also explored the type and pathfinder tools.

What comes after 2D? Going for 3D. This tutorial incorporated all the previous lessons but asked the student to apply a little creativity to create the illusion of depth.

Now that we have an understanding of the app, we will see what we can do on our own. Next week we will have some time to explore the app further on our own and use or time to create our own Adobe illustrations. Stay tuned...

#HandTurkeyTuesday, that most special time right before Thanksgiving break. There is a buzz in the air, not because we are about to have a few days off to spend with our relatives while eating turkey and watching football... No! It's because everyone wants to draw a hand turkey. 

Have you never participated in #HandTurkeyTuesday?  Well, then you might consider it for next year. We even put together a complete presentation that goes into depth about what #HandTurkeyTuesday is all about. Or, at least, it has some examples of hand turkeys. But you don't need to go to the presentation to see the best examples of hand turkeys. We have them right here! I present to you the 2018 #HandTurkeyTuesday hand turkeys!!!!

Often, when we think of an artist, we think of their style. We think of how their work often appears to fit together because they use a similar color palette, brush stroke or line quality. This ability to develop a style might begin when the artist latches onto to something in their work and then explores that idea deeper.

This desire to explore the idea is something that seems to come quit naturally to the artist. As art teachers, we can help cultivate this concept by providing our artists the time and materials needed in which to dig deeper. 

Here is a look at some of the South B artists who are exploring the idea. Above, Maxwell, who often works on an iPad is developing a distinct style through his use of line quality and color choices.

Joshlyne started by creating zentangle designs on paper. Later she extended her designs by creating several lino cut prints.

Trey has been working in graphite developing his style by incorporating a high level of contrast.

While not a series, this collaborative piece, spearheaded by Jeana, began with the artists experimenting with paper straws. It later grew into a gruesome yet whimsical interpretation of the story of the Three Little Pigs.

This series, designed by Naomi, began with the artists creating a two point linear perspective drawing. The drawing was imported into Photoshop where the artist further explored various color mode variations.

Zoe is continuously developing her style. She renders her figures in pencil and has been exploring various media in which to complete each piece. she is also exploring different ways to treat the backgrounds.

Computer Art & animation is moving right along. We've been digging deeper into Photoshop including a look at brushes, text, layers and masks. Take a look.... 

Just about wrapping up our last Artistic Behavior Unit, Artists Collect & Synthesize. We took a look at a few artists that collect stuff and synthesize it together including Tara Donovan, Mae Chevrette, Andy Goldsworthy and the Washed Ashore Project.

​We considered things that people collect and things that are collected sometimes not even on purpose. For example, we collect a spork every time we eat lunch in the cafeteria and we collect a receipt every time we shop at the Food Lion. What could we do with these collections if we didn't throw them away?

We also talked about how things can be synthesize. What is Synthesizing? What are methods for Synthesizing? How can artists synthesize their collections? We did a little brainstorming and then the students got to work. Most choose to collaborate with others to create a work of art. 

The collections could be anything. Some students choose to use found objects and trash while others, like this group, decided on natural objects, at least as a starting point.

Bottle caps, pencils, and scrap fabric were all in the mix. Below, students at various stages in their artistic process.

A link to the Google Slide unit plan for Artists Collect & Synthesize.