Here's some stuff happening at South B this week. several of these projects were based on word themes. Other students choose to follow one of the Nine.

The theme giving for the above artwork was Collection. This student decided to create a collection of fruit in a blender. That looks yummy! Plus, I think its a playful and nicely done painting. 

The above works are all based on the theme Collection. A collection of colored pencils, a collection of Barbies (thanks to Ms Sotriffer for lending us her kid's toys for references), and a collection of (the dreaded) Skittles. 

The above mixed media, color pencil and collage work was created based on the theme, Imagination. The portraits are two classmates who volunteered to be models.

 Several other portraits are being worked on including Chris Pratt (above left), a portrait of the student's dad (middle), and a handsome guy from TV show that must have to much dram for me to remember the name of the show. ​

There also always seems to be a certain amount of less traditional art being made here at South B. Above, this team just finished this mural in one of the offices and now they have two more requests to complete to more murals in two more offices! 

The first image is the start of a paper mache deer that will be part of a Christmas display. The second image is a painting on tar paper. The white outline is chalk that will be washed off when completed, revealing the black paper below. The third image is a felted penguin. It's our first felting project. 

A lot of experimentation this week in the art room at South B. That's always fun to see. For example, this crayon portrait. Shaved crayons melted with the heat gun.

He thought the natural knots in the wood looked like an owl. He decided to make it so. This is a work in progress with the final piece drawn on three separate pieces of wood using both black and white charcoal pencils.

Meanwhile, down the hall... our school resource officer was looking to brighten his office. Three students volunteered to paint this ocean view. 

Below,  are a few more happenings from this week at South B....

This week we introduced the Nine and many of the students were working on their packets. Other students were finishing up work about collections. Above a student's collection of shells in watercolor. Take a look at some of the other happenings from this week at South B, below.

Last week, we started a new approach to creating art here at South B. Instead of starting with media, or themes or even Artistic Behaviors, we started with the subject.
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Well, I know what you’re thinking. That seems very broad. That’s what I thought too but it turns out it’s not. Actually, there are only nine things you can make art about. You say, Sands, that’s crazy talk. Certainly there are more than nine topics. But I say, we have a list of nine topics. These are subjects that one would make art about (not style or genre or technique) and pretty much any art you want to make can be made under one of the Nine. So before you judge, take a look at the list.

Above: Artwork created using the Architecture Packet (work still in progress).

The Nine:
Architecture
The Figure
Imagination
Landscape
The Portrait
Conceptual
The Object
Nature
Non Representational

So how does this work? We started by only introducing three of the Nine. The first three are Architecture, The Figure and Imagination. Each topic was presented to the students as a packet that contained the objective, questions for consideration, video tutorials for further exploration and examples of artwork. The students selected one packet they wished to pursue. Next, they answered the questions, tried a few tutorials, and planned a final work. We are currently spending this week working on their final piece.

Above: Artwork created using the Figure Packet (work still in progress).

​Next week, the students will receive the next three packets; Portrait, Landscape and Conceptual. They will then have the choice to select either one of the new packets or any of the previous packets. Eventually, the students will be introduced to all nine packets. After that, they will be free to select from any of the Nine.

Above: Artwork created using the Imagination Packet (work still in progress).

Below: You can read more about the Nine in the April 2018 issue of SchoolArts Magazine. Click here to read the article.

​Also, Texas Sculpture and Ceramics teacher Jean Barnett has done a lot with the Nine in her classes. Check out her blog post to read about how she incorporates the Nine into her Sculpture class.

Cheyenne, Art Two completed this portrait of her mother and her as a baby. As part of the Teen's Inspired contest, her work was inspired by ​Madonna and Child in a Landscape, part of the NC Museum of art's permanent collection.

Taylor created this piece for the Breadth section  of  her AP Studio Art portfolio. 

Working in charcoal, Drew wanted to give the impression that these flowers were draw on a brick wall.

Katie finishing up this acrylic on illustration board with the intention of incorporating a figure into her work. 

Below are other works in progress as part of whats happening this week at South B.