I Hung Artwork All Morning

At the school I work out we start out with hands on art. I think it's pretty important that they learn the rules of art, then learn when and how to break those rules. I teach Art Media Techniques and Color and Design Theory first semester.

Next semester the 1st year students get their computers, and learn the print programs. I teach Illustration and Design and Layout at this time.

When they are in second year they get into web, 3D models and a little bit of Flash for animation. Flash is pretty much passing away for web, but is still used for animation. It is then they get an associates degree. I skip teaching in 2nd year.

Then when the students are in third year they have a lot of classes they need to get a BFA. Classes sort of unrelated to design, but essential to get their degree. They also have my classes. I teach an advanced Design and Layout and Portfolio Development courses. In those classes we work on refining their portfolios and campaigns for companies and nonprofit organizations.

All morning I was working on hanging an exercise that first year worked on.
Each student got one rectangle, and a crazy technique out of a bag. Example: Create the image out of junk, paint on tissue paper, and so on. They have to use that technique, but add to it if they so desire. Meaning they can add paint, or anything else to the junk that they get. 

This is the image I took in Toadstool park with Mario Bros. added.

 

Here's how the students did:

A few close up:

Acrylic paint on Pumice and torn paper collage

Ink and the next one got found objects. They used kitty litter and painted on top of it.

This is the image I took in Crawford, Nebraska with Mario Bros. added.

Here's how the students did. I know Luigi's face doesn't line up. Oh and the girl in the pink car, ya that one didn't get a good grade.

A few close up.

Tissue paper, and collage with words

 

Watercolor in using dots, and colored pencil on a clear Gesso surface.

I happen to like the Toadstool Park one better. Every year I try something different. One year it was a Native American dancer and a Indian (from India) dancer, another year it was a sky diver and a parachute, another year it was a jelly fish and jelly on toast and so on. It's kind of neat to see what they come up with.

A Little Sod House

What I didn't show, or mention in my Toadstool Park post is that they also have a little sod house to visit. It's made from the same stuff as the rock formations the boys were climbing on. The roof has all kinds of things growing on it.

The Roof

Two Crazy Kids

Two Crazy Kids and One Sweetheart Mom 

Two Crazy Kids and One Crazy Daddy

We Discovered a Window

 Then this happened before I could say, "No Jumping!" I had my camera at hand though. So snap, snap I went.

 Monkey See, Monkey Do

 

If this little sod house falls apart, it's my children's fault!

There also was a windmill nearby. I love windmills, so I had to snap a picture of that to.