Post 38 - ANOTHER "DAY OF THE DEAD" ITEM - A postcard to trade and a question to ponder...

Blogging my evolution as an artistic art educator - An art-based experiment...

Day of the Dead postcard - Art 42 trade item (fabric from Alpha Stamps, Prima paper flowers, Golden Heavy Gel Medium, Golden Gloss Medium, hand-made stamp, Hero Arts small flower stamp.

Quote/question from an article I recently read for Art Ed Seminar...

Read it. Think on it. Respond please. (This art chick is curious about YOUR .02... OK?)


What should the relationship be between art education in schools and society at large?

---Dipti Desai and Graeme Chalmers (Art Education, September 2007)

Safety, health, happiness, and peace... Pam

Post 37 - DRAWING CONCLUSIONS & ZENTANGLES - I don't really want to stick to a theme per day, I need to make time for art (no matter what my work and college class load is), and three zentangles to send...

Blogging my evolution as an artistic art educator - An art-based experiment...

First... I am not feeling the "theme thang". It just isn't making me blog more. In fact, I sometimes don't blog my thoughts and experiences in a day, because it doesn't "fit" with the daily theme I set up from the start. SO.... I am going to go back to "no theme" again, and see how that "flies"!

Second... OVERWHELMED... That is my state of mind at present.

I am taking one class in the art education department this quarter, and it doesn't involve one stitch of art-making required. (Of course, the art ed class is relevant, and I am very intrigued by the teacher's energy, but all the reading and writing and analysis... Not sure how I am going to do it all, and do it well.) And, I am taking one education class that I can't judge yet. I am crossing my fingers for something that is relevant to me. Both require reading, facilitating, and writing responses to others ideas (articles, and other class member responses)... I don't read that fast and I don't write that fast... BIG PROBLEM!!!

Not enough time, and too much work TO DO...

Add simply doing my job well, being the department chair, and applying for continuing contract and moving into a new building in to the mix (plus other things I can't talk about), and it's a mixture that does not leave time for art making... My life blood. My renewal. My redemption...

Fearing my sanity is at risk. (OK, not really. But, at least there is an "end in sight". By January, all will be semi-settled and done, except for my culminating project, which will be done when my evaluations at school are done.)

Why is everything so complicated these days? Answer me that...

Third... I have been working on more trades, and more experimenting for projects for school. The three zentangles above are for another Art 42 trade. And, I have photos of a challenge I set for myself regarding a journal project at Art 42, which I will put up soon.

Safety, health, happiness, and peace... Pam

Post 36 - MOTIVATION MONDAY - Motivated to find my "printmaking muse", a quote to consider, and lots of scarves to keep me focused...

Blogging my evolution as an artistic art educator - An art-based experiment...

I went to Tiger Lily Press yesterday for a model drawing and monoprint session. It was informal, relaxed and enjoyable, despite my apprehension. Yes, like my students, I have "fear of failure" and "fear of the unpredictable and uncontrollable". I haven't been in a printmaking studio or to a life drawing class/session in a couple of years, so I almost didn't go. (Especially when I got a speeding ticket within the first minute and a half of leaving the house. Grumble, grumble, grumble.)... And, if it hadn't been for my husband insisting I "be good to myself" and go ahead and go to Tiger Lily Press, I would have sat at home feeling sorry for myself, and kicking myself for filling the traffic cop's "Catholic church zone ticket quota".

But, I went, and I conquered my fear by just rolling ink out on a plexiglas plate and "drawing" in the ink with a loaned paintbrush. I worked the monoprint until the model was finished with her second pose. (And, although I wish I could have captured the gesture of her hand better, I am pretty dang pleased with myself... Thanks dear, for making me go! And, thanks to the nice and welcoming people at TLP!)

A scan of the original print is below, with some Photoshop and hand-altering fun too!

Scan of monoprint, printed on watercolor paper

Photoshop manipulated scan on watercolor paper - Colorized, with a patchwork filter added.

Scan on watercolor paper - Hand-colored with watercolor crayons, re-scanned into computer.

Re-scan of water colored scan on watercolor paper - Photoshop manipulated with a stained glass filter.

Quote to consider...

Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.

--- Stella Adler

 
 

 
And, last but not least, here is a photo (above) of some of the scarves I have completed within the last two weeks. (I created four more between last weekend and this weekend)... AHHHHHHHH!!!... I am totally possessed, OR totally focused. One or the other.
 
Hey... If I can "unhook" doing this "crocheting thang", it is all worth it! (I need all the help I can get... LOL!)
 
Safety, health, happiness, and peace... Pam

Post 35 - SKETCHY SUNDAY - Seeing the improvement in my drawing students...

Blogging my evolution as an artistic art educator - An art-based experiment...

It's amazing how much better my drawing students are getting, even if they complain a lot about doing the workshop assignments from Betty Edwards' DVD and book...

I am astonished at their progress, and will show you some of their drawings later on in the week. (Their drawings are at school, so I have to bring them home to scan.)

The projects are very challenging, but my students keep going... I already know that my instincts to improve my skills as a drawing teacher, and to give them a better drawing foundation is paying off BIG TIME!

Safety, health, happiness, and peace... Pam

Post 34 - SMALL WONDERS SATURDAY - Appreciating the small things - Dottee Dolls...

Blogging my evolution as an artistic art educator - An art-based experiment...

Crocheting like crazy lately. It seems to be one sure fire way of "unhooking" my brain and emotions and feelings and relentless obsessing.

So, when I realized I had to "Keep moving forward" with an exchange for Art 42 (Dottee Dolls), I decided to crochet the body of the little doll, since yarn was near by and my hook was on my nightstand.

The above little darlin' is the end result, which I sent to the lady who ran the swap... I have two more crocheted, and all I have to do is make the "tails", stamp and paint the faces, add hair, and paint a heart for each one. Josie is insisting one is hers, and I think I will send the other to my niece. She is a freshman in college this year, and I think she could use all the care packages we can send her. (Good student and smart gal... Just hard to leave home, I think.)

Later dears...
Safety, health, happiness, and peace... Pam