Jim Dine

Hi guys! I don't know who or who hasn't been around our building lately, but we're missing half of it! The entire front of the foyer is covered with a giant grey piece of drywall. Our head of school has expressed that something should be done with it and that we should emphasize the theme for the year. The Voice of Wisdom suggested that I look at Jim Dine's artwork and share it with you. This is just a sample. More to come in a few days!

Hi everyone! I just got back from vacation in Myrtle Beach. It was so much fun but really humid! When my family and I went out to eat we happened upon this restaurant with these custom hand done wall paintings. I was struck by them (particularly the line making and brush strokes) so I took a few pictures and thought I'd share.

Summer Stuff

Hey girls! Here's some stuff I've been doing that's ready for your eyes. The first picture is my self portrait that is a joke AND a serious piece that I will explain when the school year starts:) The second picture is me at one of the museums I visited with my family in DC. At this museum I realized I love modern art and want to pursue it more in my work (maybe do some stuff with chicken wire and perhaps foilage? haha perhaps.) I hope you all have been enjoying your summer that is quickly coming to an end.

P.S. I LOVE THAT SONG HOW DID YOU KNOW? I think it is a perfect fit. Inspiring, to say the least.

We need to have a song on this site

I like music and I'm pretty sure you do too. This summer a friend sent me a song that you probably have heard. It has been comforting to me when I have been a little down I thought I would share it with you too.
So click on the link below and you can hear it too. Music is such a gift for all of us if we take the time to listen.

<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tPJ5Cnxl9C8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hi guys! As the summer comes to a close things have finally been coming through. I've completed 3 of my 5 assignments and am steadily progressing in my landscape. My still life seems to be giving me trouble though. I think it's because I'm distracted by an idea. I really enjoyed taking the "interesting photo" (or photos in my case) and want to do another project like it. I've decided what I'm going to do and how I'm going to do it, but I'm still working up the guts to go through with it because its a rather emotional project. In the meantime I've been busy with a whole new kind of art: modeling! It's so much fun and helps me make friends and be creative in a different way. Also, I'm very proud to say that Hairspray sold out every single show! Hope everyone's summer is great and I can't wait to see you soon!

Hey guys!

Sorry I haven't been able to post anything for awhile but my computer is just NOT working with this site! So I for sure couldn't get any pictures up. This means everything will just have to be a surprise for everyone!

I always look at everyone else's work and feel veryyy discouraged with my own, but I really am putting a lot of time into my summer work! (I have to admit I have not done that the past 3 years). This year I am so siked! Can't wait to see you guys!!

ACCOMPLISHMENT!

It still has a long way to go, but this is my still life. It does mean, though, that I have at least started all of my art pieces! As soon as I get a certain something from my director, 2 of those 5 pieces will be done! I've also finished my summer reading already so I have the rest of the summer to focus on summer art work and summer music theory. How's everyone else doing?

O M G !!!

You go, Girl!! I REALLY like what I'm seeing! The landscape is really impressive. The perspective from which it is presented is very interesting. I love being able to look down into the canyon-like landscape. The scale of the house makes it even more impressive.
The faces are nice. The upper one is more interesting because your colors seem to be more purposeful and more confident. Also the perspetive of the upper is not straight-on and so holds your attention longer.
The self portrait is not well enough developed yet to be able to give you any useful feedback. But I am interested in seeing how this develops.
Way to go! You seem to be ahead of the curve.
OK Everyone! She has set the bar! Let's see what the rest of you are doing!!! 

Here is one finished face and one not. I have more still to do but have been working on the projects that I'm going to actually turn in since it's starting to be crunch time.

Obviously my self portrait is still a work in progress... and a messy one! I think I'm most proud of this piece because it took me so long to figure out what exactly I was going to do.

Here's what I have so far of my landscape inspired by the movie "Up". I still have a lot of work to do, but making the hills took a lot of practice.

"Fixing" Your Work

If you are working in charcoal and don't have any fixative, here's what you should do:
When your piece is finished, put it in a place where it can lay undisturbed, like maybe on the floor under your bed and gently lay a piece of paper on top of it. (Use a blank piece of drawing paper or something similar, not a printed paper like newspaper.) Leave it there undisturbed until school starts. I know that means no dusting or vacuuming under the bed for a while, but I hope your mom will be OK with that just this once.
When school begins you have 2 options: You can either then place it carefully in your portfolio and bring it in to school for spraying, or you can borrow a can of fixative overnight to spray at home.
Then there's always the option of going to Michael's or Hobby Lobby and getting a can. That way you'll have some at home if you need it later. Either way is fine. I'm happy to loan it out if I get it back.
Glad to hear people are working!!

I love your movie inspiration! That's a great idea and your landscape is going to be fabulous! I want my self portrait to be a surprise but I'm doing it in ebony and chracoal and does anyone have suggestions on a good way to fix it without the spray we have at school?

Going shopping today for a wheel, feathers, a mini chair, mini cowboy boots, glass beads, a styrofoam ball, a mustache, and more for my self portrait. What could it be? Also, is anyone interested in coming to see me in Hairspray? If so, please tell me now so I can get you tickets because we're already 60% sold out! I'm also doing more of those really cool watercolor eyes. I had some of my friends that live near me do different expressions and I took pictures at different angles. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Great Work!!

I love seeing a picture on here! Thank you for posting it. :-)
And I love that you have one of your assignments documented.
You Rock!!!
Now come on the rest of you... don't be so quiet.
Tell us what you're doing!!

It's really hot outside! Spend the day in the cool air conditioned comfort of an art museum! To make it even more interesting, take someone with you. Stand back and watch their reactions as well as the art. It's really fun!

Show Me The Art Work!!!

Okay, Ladies.
I had to cancel my painting class, so I don't have anything to show you yet.
But I am hoping that SOME of you are working on art and have some things to show us.

If you do please take a few minutes to post some images of what you have done so we can see what you're doing. We need to put some excitement into this post and get things going.

Show Me The Art Work!!!   ~Mrs. B

Hey everyone! I haven't posted in a while so I thought I'd share a new way to be inspired to create new works: MOVIES! Yesterday, I was watching the movie "Up" in the room where I normally do my artwork and I thought of all the places and settings I could put that crazy little house in. "Up" was the inspiration for my landscape drawing. Can't wait to show you all!

i hope this works......

HEY GUYSSSS!!!!!
Sooo i finally got on!! I really hope this works because i was getting really confused! i hope everyones summers going well and i cant wait to see everyones progress!!
ps- lets totally go tie dye!!! / bedazzle haha

Hey girls! Just wanted to share with you guys what I have been up to this summer- these are pictures from Glenwood Garden's Big Bugs exhibit and along with these wood sculptures they have a lot of whimsical scenes set up with mushrooms and little houses. My mom and I decided

to ta

HI !

HEY GUYS! Sorry it took me so long to get on here ! I'm having a heck of a time figuring this out, but I think I've got it ! I can't wait to see everyones projects progress this summer ! We need to get together and tie dye .... or bedazzle some JEAN JACKETS (; hehehe.

I Totally Agree!!

You guys truly AMAZED me (both times) by your thoughtful responses to the exams you have been given this year!!
You're spoiling me, you know! But keep it up! I am ready for a really good year!
Welcome online Vbaby! You're right, it will be fun to keep in touch.


Today I went into school for the last time for a while. I saw one of your group... no names, remember, but I think her name has something to do with her height, lol.
While I was in there the 3 of us "big kids" did a little purging. We cleaned and moved things and got rid of a few things we don't need anymore. It will look different, and more spacious next year with only 3 teacher desks in the room.
The ceramics room was rearranged a bit too. Time for a few changes!
So classes start for me next week. I will be taking an oil painting class at the Columbus College of Art and Design. It will be focusing on color theory. I'll be going only one week, but from Mon- Fri from 1:00 - 4:30. So it will be long, but informative I think. If I end up with anything decent that week, I'll post images.


Another tidbit: I got an email today about the date for next year's AP exam! It will be scheduled for May 11th; always on a Friday. Here's what I'm thinking: Since this past year was the year of some Great Procrastination, I would like to move the day up a few days. I did that the year before last and it worked out really well.
Their date was moved up by 10 days and they were all ready! But I felt a little badly because they lost more working days than I would have liked. So I am going to look at the calendar and choose a day I think would work for your group and we'll shoot for that day. That way if things still need tweaking or if something goes wrong, we'll still have some wiggle room.
What do you think?

HEY GUYS!

Finally got this blog show on the road and I got to tell ya...I LOVE THIS!

We are all going to have a blast keeping in touch and working on our summer art together through Art Area 111. Great idea Voice of Wisdom....no wonder we call you that! Great exams by the way today! You guys all did amazing! Keep up the good work over summer :)

Check your school email for an interesting opportunity!!!

This coming school year in November Mount St. Joseph College will be having an exhibit.

This exhibit of high school students’ work only takes place every other year!!!

Since I got the reminder today I am passing it on to you now. I thought having some extra time in the summer, since you have to do work anyway, would give you a head start.

I say we make a competition of it. Maybe one of your summer assignment pieces will be something you will want to have considered.

As a bonus, if you are considering going to the Mount and your work gets chosen, then there is also the chance of a scholarship connected with this. Otherwise it is an awesome chance to have your work shown in a professional gallery on their campus. Additionally there will be an opening reception on a Sunday during the show.

I am allowed to choose 2 students to represent our school. So we will look at the work of those who are interested and choose. If you are interesting in taking up this challenge, having your work shown and representing your school in this exhibit, get a piece or two done that we can consider. The best two pieces will be included in the show.

Check your school email for more details! And Let The Games Begin!!!

Four New Mouths to Feed at Our House

The eggs have hatched and it took a few days for the babies to get big enough to see.

How could I not take a photo of this?

I agree... and disagree

I hesitate to say what I think because I don't want to influence anyone's opinion. BUT an opinion is just that... one person's point of view. One of the cool things about the arts is that they are so diverse that there is usually something for everyone, if one looks hard enough to find it. AND if one takes the time to understand what they are experiencing. 
Does everything have to be profound? No. It can be a study, an experiment, a means to start a discussion, something done for shock value, or something that is just plain pleasing. Anything goes!
SO... what do YOU think? Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Let us know what you think.

Today I had a 30 minute discussion with a friend while working on my art exam about what art really is. I said art is anything stimulating (applying to music, literature, etc. as well as the visual stuff) and he said "A conveyance of meaning through application of skill". I would agree with him except that not all of my art always has meaning. Sometimes I just sit down with a few bottles of tempra paint, a paper, and some string and I make a painting. While art is interesting when there's a story behind it, does there have to be?

I finally got my computer back! I'm spending literally all day today, Tuesday, and Wednesday working on my exam and I'm still slowly learning how to work this thing with the help of my friend. Can't wait to talk about them all in class! By the way the picture below is absolutely fantastic.

Shenanigans, Highjinks and Tomfoolery

So here is an image of what can happen if people need to blow off some steam, or maybe if they just REALLY don't like something they have done.

Summer Art Making

You may not know this, or even think about it but I usually take classes in some kind of art making almost every summer. Sometimes I take classes in something that I will be teaching the next school year. Other times I take something I might want to add to the curriculum, like when I took several classes in Photoshop so that we could teach a class to you all. Sometimes though I take a class just for fun; just for me.
This summer I am taking an oil painting class. I will be in the studio from 1 - 4:30 every afternoon for a week.
Hopefully it will get me enthused about doing more painting.
The reason I have decided on this class is because it focuses on color theory. In addition, I have a set of oils and I really need to explore that medium more. The class is scheduled for a week Mon - Fri at Columbus College of Art and Design. So this class is both for me and for you. I will continue to build on my knowledge of color to better be able to advise you. And I will get a chance to use my oils. Who knows? Maybe I will find I really like them and end up doing several paintings this summer. I will post anything that is worthy of being shared.
The class begins the first week after exams. Ready or not I have to be in school one more week after we are out.

An Art Quote from Winston Churchill

I found a quote from Winston Churchill. It pertains to art, but it isn't what you would normally expect. I'm posting it and asking you to post a comment below. (Click on the word comment below. ) Read it, think about it. Then tell me if you agree or disagree. It states: "Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd.  Without  innovation, it is a corpse."

 --Winston Churchill

What does it mean? What is he thinking?

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

This is a video that was first shared with me by a former student in my AP Studio class several years ago. It was recently posted again on Facebook by my niece who will also be taking Senior Art next year at Mercy. I loved it right away, I guess because it's quirky. But that's why I thought you all would like it too. So take a look and listen closely because it's kind of quiet. But it's just as cute as it can be!