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.

Discipline

I have to admit I was kind of nervous about Isaak's behavior lately. He's in a funk right now.

I've had a lot of emails come through today. Some saying, "My kid is experiencing the same thing!", others are saying, "45 minutes of crying?!" and a few saying that they think I handled the situation well.

Discipline is hard now a days. It used to be that adults didn't much talk to their kids. They popped them on the butt. Everyone went their separate ways.

Now if you are caught spanking a child people A) Applaud you, B) Stare you down, or  C) Call the cops on you.

There are many discipline techniques out there. That's what makes it so much more confusing. Some use "Time Outs", some use "Tough Love", some use "Talk it Out" and I'm sure there is more. In this generation parents are judged.

I have two co-workers that spanked their kids. Their kids are now teenagers. One has 7 kids, one has 3 kids. I don't spank. Do I think their kids are going to grow up to have issues? Not really. Their kids seem pretty normal to me. They on the other hand most certainly judge me for not spanking. They say, "Spanking just ends it. You spend too much time dinking around with techniques that take too long to discipline. I usually go my own way.

Today I was telling them about Isaak and Mica at the grocery store last night and Isaak's crying episode two nights ago. One of my co-workers said, "Good for you!" My mouth just about dropped. Usually I hear, "I'd just pop them one!" I said, "I feel bad..." One said, "Don't feel bad." I said, "No I don't feel bad for putting them to bed so early and missing out of the Y. I feel bad for them acting like jack butts to begin with."

One said, while the other shook their head up and down, "They will test you over and over again. Usually there is space of time where they won't and a time where they will again. It's part of growing up. They are just testing their boundaries. You're doing a good job of letting them know their behavior isn't acceptable by taking them home instead of letting them go to the Y."

One said, "I think it's wonderful they went home and admitted they did wrong at the grocery store instead of blaming you for not being able to go to the Y." 

The other one went on to say, "I like that time Travis took Mica's bedroom door away for slamming it. I would of just popped my son one, but you guys were a little more creative with the punishment."

I feel better knowing that they don't think of me as a piece of carpet that my kids are walking on. Not that their opinions matter a whole lot, but it's nice to know that they aren't talking behind my back about me being a horrible mom or something. Do you ever feel like you are being judged as a parent?

Transfers

I've been working on these transfer techniques at work. They took very little time to make. It probably took more time to edit them down.

If you want to see them, you can view them on my other blog here. 

You can take printed photos of your children and transfer them to wood blocks or canvas. I thought about doing a series of these. Like I said they are so easy and fun to do.