ALHS AP Studio Art

Goodbye, for now.

2010-12-18T18:26:00.000-08:00

I have lost my job teaching art at this school. I wish all my students the best, in their efforts in high school, college and the future. I miss teaching, working, and most of all, talking with you. Please feel free to contact me if you need any recommendations.

2010-05-14T15:49:00.001-07:00

"The arts reaffirm our humanity. They are the glue that holds society together. While improvements in the three Rs may enable us to compete more efficiently, economically. and technologically, it does not feed the human spirit. The most vital stages in the history of any society are marked by a flourishing of the arts. And when most material goods have turned to dust it is the arts that remain as a testimony to dreams and passions of the past." -Harold M Williams

Stop AB2446

2010-05-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

Herein is ALL the information about AB2446 as gathered on the web. This bill is not YET a done deal, and it needs help from everyone who has a vested interest in the arts.
The following links will provide comprehensive information:AB2446: The bill as written, presented, and voted on.

Joe Landon, CAAE Policy Director, Direct Testimony to the CA State Ed. Hearing Committee

Richard Kessler, a member of the New York City Department of Education's Chancellors Advisory Council for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and a self described "big supporter of CTE" called AB 2446 "completely backwards to a 21st century career and technical education." Read his statement about how the bill would hurt CTE and arts education.

LA Times Art Critic Christopher Knight weighed in on AB 2446 in a blog last week describing it as a "foolish bill." Knight lauded efforts to provide Career and Technical Education, bu...

Letters that need be sent to appropriate committee members (copy, paste in Word and send to these addresses) : (There are TWO letters here. The first one was sent by several educators in April. The second one is a tweak of the first. You may use either one with date adjustments....)

April 15, 2010

Dear Honorable Committee Member, (Fill in name from list)

This letter is in regards to AB2446. The consequences of this bill will be devastating to art education in the public schools of California. While Career Tech classes are valuable options for students, this bill will eventually pit one curriculum against another. We support strong arts programs taught by certified teachers.

Arts education offers all students the preparation they need to meet the challenges of our global economy.

I must include an impassioned plea for the value and power of the arts in public education.

1. The arts teach 21^st century skills, those skills most needed by students entering contemporary work environments. Those skills include resourcefulness, innovation, problem solving, collaboration, and independent thinking. Few classes in public school curriculum offer this education today.

2. The arts teach empathy and the consideration of multiple perspectives, an imperative skill in our global and sometimes contentious world. Learning empathy in regards to world cultures teaches citizenship in ours and supports the democratic values we embrace.

3. The arts improve academic achievement on many levels: test scores, attendance, attitudes toward learning, social skills, and critical thinking. They employ the higher thinking skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

By adding Career Technical Educational courses as another option for graduation, arts education programs will suffer, courses will be cut, and jobs will be lost. Once an arts class is replaced, it is not likely to return. Consider the meaning of a well rounded education that teaches the whole child.

Please vote no on this AB2446.

Sincerely,

(sign your Name, address, email, and phone number)

May 9, 2010

Dear Honorable Committee Member, (Fill in name from list)

Please consider:

Arne Duncan, Education Secretary of the United States under President Obama says, “The arts can no longer be treated as a frill,” yet California continues to diminish access to and viability of the arts, particularly with AB2446.

While career-tech curriculum continues to gain momentum, particularly with STEM emphases, the arts must not only remain be actually be enhanced. Twenty-first century skills for 21^st century education and careers demand the building of higher thinking skills: analysis, synthesis and evaluation as well as skills in resourcefulness, innovation, problem solving,
collaboration, and independent thinking. The most powerful arena in which to teach and foster these skills is the Arts.

Global citizenship and commerce is creating a new platform upon which our students must participate in order to craft successful personal and democratic futures. The arts teach this citizenship; they teach empathy and consideration of multiple perspectives.

For these and innumerable other reasons, I ask you to vote NO on AB2446. This bill sends not only the arts but a well rounded education for California school children reeling back to the industrial age of education. Let us NOT go backwards.

Sincerely,

Name, address, email and phone number.

Happy Birthday Josef Albers!

2010-03-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

Josef Albers was the grand pooh-bah of color. He taught at Bauhaus, Black Mountain College, and Yale.

Part of what Albers taught was regarding the perception of color. For example, look at the picture below. Most people would say that the green grid in the center of each rectangle are two different colors. However, they would be wrong. The green grids are only one color, but because of the background colors, they look like different colors.

If you like doing this kind of stuff, you'll love your color theory class in college-and if you want to continue to test yourself, visit here.

Happy Birthday William Henry Johnson!

2010-03-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

Johnson is mostly known for his work in this style, but did you know he also created more realistic work?

To learn more about Johnson, visit here.

Sites for Breadth 10

2010-03-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

In your sketchbook, you need to draw 20 patterns, motifs, symbols and lettering from the cultures you identify with.

Here are some sites to check out:

General information on Chinese Embroidery

More information on Chinese Embroidery

Information on Filipino Embroidery, read about Draped in Silk: The Journey of the Manton de Manila

More Filipino Embroidery

Additional Filipino Embroidery

Historical information on Kente cloth

Examples of Kente cloth

Additional examples of Kente cloth

Korean Textiles

Indonesian Batik

Japanese Shibori

Mexican Textiles

Information on traditional Vietnamese clothing-with examples of patterns
More info on Vietnamese clothing
Hmong/Vietnamese Quilts

Yemeni textiles
Another example of Yemeni textiles

Of course, you may want to go to google images and search there, as well as creativecommons.org and search using words like textiles, ceramics, patterns, motifs and embroidery.

You may also want to check out the Victoria and Albert Museum as well!

Breadth 10

2010-03-16T23:14:00.000-07:00

For 2D/Drawing:
You will be creating a self portrait that explores your cultures, utilizing patterns, symbols, lettering and motifs from the cultures that you identify with as a textured background.

Materials: printmaking, color pencils, collage and gouache

Requirements:
-Must include 5 patterns/symbols/motifs/lettering in the background.
-Self portrait must not be in the center of the page and must take up at least 3/5ths of the paper.

For 3D:
Using your culture's traditional ceramic forms or clothing, you will add modern elements that are autobiographical.

Materials: clay or fabric

Requirements:
-Must include 5 patterns/symbols/motifs/lettering on the piece
-Avoid cliches for your modern adaptation

In your sketchbook:
1. Sketch 2 piece of each artist: Hung Liu, Enrique Chagoya, Faith Ringgold and Brendan Tang.
2. Critical reflection of these works of art-analysis of elements and principles of design, investigation of the sociopolitical and culture issues of the work and artist.
3. Ask your guardian what province/state/region your family comes from-get as many specifics as possible.
4. If you have any textiles (scarf, robes, scraps of fabric) from your family's culture, draw these in your sketchbook-include detail!

To review the powerpoint, visit my other site. Also, if you want to watch the film on Hung Liu again, go back to my post on February 17th.

Happy Birthday Diane Arbus!

2010-03-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

To learn more about Diane Arbus, visit here.

Happy Birthday John Rhoden and Georges de la Tour!

2010-03-13T12:50:00.000-08:00

John Rhoden above, sadly there are no websites dedicated to his work, only his obituary. Below, Georges de la Tour.

Happy Birthday Elaine de Kooning!

2010-03-12T11:29:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Elaine de Kooning, visit this site

Happy Birthday David Smith!

2010-03-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

To learn more about David Smith, visit his site.

Happy Birthday Piet Mondrian!

2010-03-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

In the beginning of his career, Mondrian's work was realistic, but as time went on, his work became more abstract. To learn more about Mondrian, visit here.

Happy Birthday Ito Jakuchu!

2010-03-02T11:43:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Jakuchu, visit here.

Happy Birthday Oskar Kokoschka!

2010-03-01T09:29:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Kokoschka, visit this site.

Really cool app!

2010-02-23T09:44:00.000-08:00

A few of you have been asking about figure drawing/anatomy-and now there's an app and a website that you can check out for free!

Breadth 9

2010-02-21T23:56:00.000-08:00

For the ninth Breadth assignment, students are depicting 12 important memories in their life inside a discarded book. 3Ders have to only depict 6 of these memories-but in a sculptural form. How do you do that inside a book, you ask?

Here are some great examples!

Super Neat-o!

2010-02-21T21:49:00.000-08:00

This is the work of Molly Bosley, who makes super cool paper cut work! Check out hersite!

Happy Birthday Ansel Adams!

2010-02-20T21:26:00.001-08:00

To learn more about Adams, visit here.

Happy Birthday Constantin Brâncuşi!

2010-02-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Brancusi, visit here.

Happy Birthday Hung Liu!

2010-02-17T17:27:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Hung Liu, visit her site.

Happy Birthday Grant Wood!

2010-02-13T17:15:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Wood, visit here.

Happy Birthday Max Beckmann!

2010-02-12T16:29:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Beckmann, visit here.

Happy Birthday Franz Marc!

2010-02-08T16:21:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Marc, visit here.

Happy Birthday Alison Saar!

2010-02-05T16:17:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Alison Saar, visit here.

Happy Birthday Fernand Léger!

2010-02-04T23:56:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Léger, visit here.

Nifty Stuff!

2010-02-01T11:52:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are interested in movies, animation, industrial design, sculpture, drawing and Tim Burton should check out the MoMA's exhibit about Burton and it's website. Cool behind the scenes videos, flash animation, character studies, sculptures, examples of his work before he went to college, during and after, etc. Worth checking out!

Also, if you're into printmaking like I am, you may want to check out another link from MoMA, explaining the 4 standard techniques/medias of printmaking-and it's interactive!

Happy Birthday Richmond Barthé, Malvin Gray Johnson, Claes Oldenberg, Jackson Pollock and Alice Neel!

2010-01-28T23:37:00.000-08:00

Artists' work are shown in order: Barthé, Johnson, Oldenberg, Pollock and Neel.

Happy Birthday Barbara Kruger!

2010-01-26T20:43:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Barbara Kruger, visit here.

Adobe Tips - Free!

2010-01-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

Lynda.com is one of the best places to learn techniques/get tutorials for Adobe products-however, it costs money. Adobe has their own free podcasts where you can learn about new tools in Illustrator and Photoshop. Check it out!

Happy Birthday Paul Cezanne and Cindy Sherman!

2010-01-19T21:15:00.000-08:00

Cezanne above, Sherman below

Happy Birthday Jaune Quick-to-See Smith!

2010-01-15T20:38:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, visit here.

Happy Birthday Berthe Morisot!

2010-01-14T20:35:00.000-08:00

To learn more about this female impressionist, visit here.

Happy Birthday John Singer Sargent!

2010-01-12T20:19:00.000-08:00

To learn more about this master portraitist and his helpful technniques, visit here.

nifty animation!

2010-01-10T10:48:00.001-08:00

parkour motion reel from saggyarmpit on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Barbara Hepworth!

2010-01-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

To learn more about this Dame of sculpture, visit here.

Final Reviewing of Artwork

2010-01-06T12:46:00.000-08:00

Today, I would like to start reviewing student work, especially work that you have reworked and would like to be regraded. I will checking in with each of you, making sure that you have completed all assignments-including the mail art project, your open studio write up, and your first concentration assignment.

In addition, grades will be given for posting your Artist Trading Cards on your blog and sketches-which should have been done prior to an assignment. Also, you should complete a rubric for each assignment!

List of Semester's Assignments:

Artist Trading Cards (15 total)
Self Portrait in the style of an Artist
Fortune Cookie collage
Typography
Daily images book (6 images)
Mail Art Postcard
1st Concentration
Open Studio Response

Please bear in mind-that this means this following semester is going to be much more difficult-we have only completed 6 Breadth assignments and 1 Concentration piece-that means that you'll have at least 6 more Breadth assignments and 11 Concentration pieces to complete by May 7th, including photographing the work, uploading and resizing the pictures-it's going to be a labor of love.

Happy Birthday Yves Tanguy!

2010-01-05T13:17:00.000-08:00

To learn more about this surreal artist, visit here.

National Portfolio Day is coming!

2010-01-04T13:22:00.000-08:00

For those who are interested/curious in attending art school, SFAI is hosting National Portfolio Day on January 16th. National Portfolio Day is an opportunity to have admission counselors (of art colleges) review your portfolio. This is not required, but it's a great chance to check out the competition and to get additional feedback on your work. Check out which schools are attending here, and to learn more about National Portfolio Day, visit here.

Check out this kid's blog!

2010-01-02T02:17:00.000-08:00

This student has just finished up his concentration-check out both his work and his artist statements-I would like you guys to utilize your blogs to discuss how you are using the elements and principles of design in your art work.

http://danielbschreiner.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html

Happy Birthday Alfred Stieglitz!

2010-01-01T12:39:00.000-08:00

To learn more about this advocate of photography as an art form, visit here.

Happy Birthday Henri Matisse!

2009-12-31T15:19:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Matisse, visit here.

Happy Birthday David Alfaro Siqueiros!

2009-12-29T15:18:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Siqueiros, visit here.

For the 3Ders!

2009-12-26T22:53:00.001-08:00

I found this really cool article, all about the different interpretations of chairs by a variety of artists. Of course, it starts off with Duchamp! Check it out!

Cool stuff again!

2009-12-26T22:27:00.000-08:00

Check out the rest of this journal here.
Isn't Gerard Lange's journal, Book No. 10, Going Further awesome?

Also, several of y'all have asked where I buy art supplies? Well, look no further!
Here is a list of several that I like: (Be sure to ask if they give a student discount! Bring your ID)

Blick Art Supplies

1414 Van Ness Avenue btwn Bush and Pine St

441-6075

Pearl Art and Craft Supplies

909 Market Street btwn 5^th and 6^th St

357-1400

Mendel’s Art & Stationery

1556 Haight Street btwn Clayton and Ashbury St

621-1287

Flax

1699 Market Street near Valencia St

552-2355

Arch

99 Missouri St near 17^th St

433-2724

Sunset Stationers

1248 9th Ave btwn Irving and Lincoln Way

664-0937

Hobby Company

5150 Geary Blvd btwn 15^th and 16^th Ave

386-2802

Aaron Brothers Art & Framing

5600 Geary Blvd btwn 20th and 21st Ave

876-0150

5045 Junipero Serra Blvd

Daly City

650-994-6633

Beverly Fabric and Craft

418 Westlake Center

650-756-7999

Michael’s

4925 Junipero Serra Blvd

Colma

650-992-7271

Then there's two other stores that I love:

Scrap

801 Toland Street, San Francisco

647-1746

(which we'll be visiting soon!)

Arts and Crafts

50 13th Street

861-0106‎

(this place is great for brushes, rhinestones, crafty stuff and one of my favorite things, letraset! Shhh, let's keep it our secret!)

Please remember, some of the places have better discounts than others.

Happy Birthday Louise Bourgeois!

2009-12-25T21:09:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Bourgeois, visit this site. She's still making art at the age of 98!

Happy Birthday Joseph Cornell!

2009-12-24T22:35:00.000-08:00

I deeply love this man's work-and I hope you will as well! He often worked in themes-similar to a concentration! Check out these great sites to learn more about him:

http://www.pem.org/sites/cornell/ (a great interactive site that shows you more of his work, and a biography on him)

http://josephcornell.org/ (the Joseph Cornell Study Center of the Ontological Museum)

http://www.aaa.si.edu/collectionsonline/cornjose/ (the Smithsonian's collection of Cornell's diaries, letters, source material, etc. If you think I have a lot of stuff-check out his!)

http://josephcornellbox.com/ (something to inspire you)

Neato Collage Site!

2009-12-23T22:40:00.001-08:00

I just found this cool site, all about collage. It's worth checking out, here's a sample:

Happy Birthday Paul Klee!

2009-12-18T22:05:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Klee, visit this site.

A New Breadth Assignment: Mail Art

2009-12-17T22:19:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow in class you'll be getting a blank postcard that during the break you'll send to a classmate. For the 2D folks, I want you to incorporate both collage and drawing in your mail art piece. 3D folks you want to think about incorporating origami and package design techniques to create a sculptural piece of mail art. I recommend making a model prior to using the postcard given.

Please remember-you must send this postcard to your classmate within enough time for them to receive it before the first day back to school-and you must bring in the one you received on that day too! You'll get a grade for each!

Here's a couple of links for inspiration:
frips mailart
iuoma and tam mailart blog
mailart forum
a mailart blog focused just on Otto Von Bismark

Happy Birthday Diego Rivera!

2009-12-13T13:01:00.000-08:00

Known for his beautiful murals, politics and his marriage to Frida Kahlo, this Mexican muralist's work is featured in two buildings here in San Francisco. Check this site to see and learn more about his mural at CCSF, visit this site to learn about his mural at the San Francisco Art Institute, and click here to learn more about this revolutionary artist.

Happy Birthday Edvard Munch!

2009-12-11T10:49:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Munch's The Scream was stolen for 2 years? To learn about the theft, visit here, and the eventual return, read this article. Visit this site to learn more about Edvard Munch.

Storyboards

2009-12-10T09:25:00.000-08:00

As I stated before, composition in the 2D portfolio is an essential component of getting a high score. Check out these storyboards from The Fantastic Mr. Fox and the shower theme from Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock. To check out more storyboards of Alfred Hitchcock, visit his wiki and this site.

hillmancurtis :: film and video :: Commercial: Jim Dine :: 347 756 5049

2009-12-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

hillmancurtis :: film and video :: Commercial: Jim Dine :: 347 756 5049

Happy Birthday Lucian Freud!

2009-12-08T10:13:00.000-08:00

To learn more about the grandson of Sigmund Freud, visit this site.

Happy Birthday Stuart Davis!

2009-12-07T22:11:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Stuart Davis, visit this site.

Happy Birthday Tom Waits!

2009-12-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

Yes, I realize that he's not a visual artist, but damnit, I adore him.

Happy Birthday Wassily Kandinsky!

2009-12-04T21:37:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Kandinsky, visit this site.

2009-11-30T23:12:00.001-08:00

Inspiration for your sketchbooks

2009-11-30T23:07:00.000-08:00

Hi there youngin's, I was a little dissapointed to see that most of you hadn't done the sketches I asked you to do over the break. Here's some inspiration to show you what your sketchbook and research for your concentration might look like:

IB Art: Workbooks

View more presentations from dsgran.
Power point by David Gran

Student work: Liya

more to follow soon!

Happy Birthday Gordon Parks!

2009-11-30T21:04:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Gordon Parks, visit this site.

Happy Birthday George Segal!

2009-11-26T22:56:00.000-08:00

To learn more about this sculptor, visit here.

Happy Birthday Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec!

2009-11-24T22:04:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Toulouse-Lautre, visit here.

Happy Birthday Jose Clemente Orozco!

2009-11-23T21:42:00.000-08:00

To learn more about this Mexican muralist, visit here.

Happy Birthday Rene Magritte!

2009-11-21T19:45:00.000-08:00

To learn more about this surrealist artist, visit here.

2009-11-18T18:33:00.001-08:00

Book Release Party at Park Life

2009-11-18T12:32:00.000-08:00

Please join Park Life, McSweeneys, and Chronicle Books this Thursday November 19th, 6-8pm, for a celebration of the release of the new book More Things Like This. Curated by the editors of McSweeney's, this unconventional book explores the intersection of text, humor, and illustration in art created by cartoonists, writers, musicians, and fine artists. A refreshing mixture of high, low, and sideways, the selection features nearly 300 images from dozens of contributors, including David Shrigley, Kurt Vonnegut, Leonard Cohen, Chris Johnson, David Mamet, Raymond Pettibon, Henry Darger, and many more. Insightful interviews with the artists further illuminate the shared and divergent approaches they take in creating this smart, funny, and engaging work.

Artist Tucker Nichols will be providing special baked goods!

Park Life 220 Clement

Happy Birthday Isamu Noguchi

2009-11-17T21:34:00.000-08:00

To learn more about Noguchi, visit here.

A Visit with Wayne Thiebaud

2009-11-17T20:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Miriam Schapiro, Georgia O'Keefe and Wayne Thiebaud!

2009-11-15T19:49:00.000-08:00

Miriam Schapiro

Georgia O'Keefe

Wayne Thiebaud

Inspiration

2009-11-07T15:37:00.001-08:00

Needles & Pens presents REVIVE: new works by Nikki McClure

2009-11-05T21:44:00.001-08:00

On display will be a collection of original papercuts from the Olympia-based artist's 2010 Calendar and from her latest children's book, "All In A Day."
Created from a single sheet of paper and an x-acto blade, McClure's highly-detailed works were first popularized through their use on record covers and fanzines of the 1990's Riot Grrrl movement. Today, her iconic, intricately hand-crafted imagery can be seen in magazine illustrations, journals, children's books, apparel, and in her much sought-after yearly calendar. Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience her infrequently shown works in person!
- Andrew @ Needles & Pens

Artist will be in attendance.
http://www.nikkimcclure.com

(On display through December 8th, 2009)

OPENING RECEPTION:
November 6th, 2009. 6:00-9:00 p.m.
at
Needles & Pens,
3253 16th Street, San Francisco, CA. 94103
http://www.needles-pens.com

Fred Brathwaite, Keith Hufnagel, Barry McGee, and Ari Marcopoulos in Conversation

2009-11-05T19:16:00.000-08:00

November 8, 2009; 3:00 p.m.
Museum Theater

The vibrant worlds of graffiti art, skateboarding, and hip-hop are vividly chronicled in the photography of Ari Marcopoulos. Three leading personalities from these different but overlapping scenes will converge at BAM for an expanded look at the photographer’s work. Following an illustrated presentation of his photographs, Marcopoulos will join New York–based hip-hop pioneer and historian and former graffiti artist Fred Brathwaite; skateboard legend Keith Hufnagel; and noted painter and graffiti artist Barry McGee in a freewheeling conversation that contextualizes the exhibition while exploring cultural intersections.

Visit the UC Berkeley Museum for more information

Happy Birthday Lois Mailou Jones and Walker Evans!

2009-11-03T20:54:00.000-08:00

Lois Mailou Jones above, Walker Evans below

Happy Birthday Johannes Vermeer!

2009-10-31T09:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Francis Bacon!

2009-10-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Roy Lichtenstein and Lee Krasner!

2009-10-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

Lichtenstein above, Krasner below.

Words to think about...

2009-10-27T09:55:00.001-07:00

“Every man is proud of what he does well and no man is proud of that he does not do well. With the former, his heart is in his work; and he will do twice as much of it with less fatigue. The latter performs a little imperfectly, looks at it in disgust, turns from it, and imagines himself exceedingly tired.”

– Abraham Lincoln

Happy Birthday Pablo (ehh) Picasso!

2009-10-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

Today was Pablo Picasso's birthday, and despite critics' stating that he started "modern art," I have a hard time liking him. Why you ask? It's a long story. Ask me.

Field Trip!

2009-10-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

In two weeks, we will be seeing Ghosts of the River at Brava Theater Center. According to their site, Ghosts of the River incorporates actors, shadow puppets and music along with Octavio Solís' epic writing into a unique collection of vignettes of those who have encountered the Rio Grande throughout time: Mexican Revolution refugees fleeing from violence; families abandoned by coyotes; narcotic rivalries that strew the river with the dead; and Border Patrol agents who toil against the tide of immigration and personal conscience. Produced by San Francisco's ShadowLight Productions, Ghosts of the River shares the untold stories of both sides of the divide. This will be a bilingual play with Spanish/English translation provided through subtitles. To see more, visit this site.

Happy Birthday Katsushika Hokusai and Robert Rauschenberg!

2009-10-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

Hokusai above, Rauschenberg below

Happy Birthday Umberto Boccioni!

2009-10-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Paul Strand!

2009-10-16T19:59:00.000-07:00

New samples on AP Central!

2009-10-14T23:56:00.000-07:00

AP has put up new samples for each portfolio (and each section of the portfolio-quality, breadth and concentration). Included are rationale for scores and students' write up of their concentration idea. Be sure to scroll down on the page to see the samples. There are some really cool examples using collage, styrofoam packaging and photography.

Drawing

Happy Birthday Alberto Giacometti!

2009-10-10T19:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Faith Ringgold!

2009-10-09T09:48:00.000-07:00

Faith Ringgold is best known for her painted story quilts, featured in her children's book, "Tar Beach." Her work combines textiles, quilting and painting as well as visual story telling, many of which are autobiographical. To learn more about Faith Ringgold, visit here.

Happy Birthday Maya Lin!

2009-10-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

Best known for the Vietnam Memorial, created at age 21, Maya Lin has been creating monuments, buildings, sculptures and installations since she graduated from Yale University. Last year, a collection of her newest pieces, "Systematic Landscapes" was shown at the DeYoung Museum and one of her pieces is on permanent display at the Academy of Sciences. To learn more about Maya Lin, visit her site.

Happy Birthday Louise Nevelson!

2009-09-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

Utilizing wooden objects found on the street, Nevelson placed these items into groupings or gridded boxes, creating surrealistic environments. To learn more about the "Grand Dame of Contemporary Sculpture," visit this site.

Fortune Cookie Collage Illustrations and Assemblage Sculptures

2009-09-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

Using classic fortune cookie messages as a impetus, students will be creating either collage illustrations or assemblage sculptures. Students should look at the work of Hannah Hoch, Joseph Cornell, Max Ernst and John Heartfield.

Field Trip?

2009-09-20T23:08:00.000-07:00

So the Date Farmers' show at Fifty24SF Gallery is coming to a close soon- and it looks pretty amazing. Would anyone like to go?
Check out this video-keep me posted.

Happy Birthday Jean (Hans) Arp!

2009-09-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

Jean (Hans) Arp's work often evokes sensuous human-like forms, giving the term bootylicious and Beyonce a run for their money. He was a member of both the Dada and Surrealist movements, and was a founder of Abstraction-Creation. To learn more about Arp, visit this site.

Homework for Friday

2009-09-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

By Friday, you should have read all the packets I have given to you, as well as finished your self portrait and come up with 20 different concentration ideas. I will be giving you some more input on how to come up your concentration concepts today.

Happy Birthday Ben Shahn!

2009-09-12T16:01:00.000-07:00

Known for his social-realistic work and left wing politics, Shahn created paintings, illustrations and drawings depicting the beauty, sorrows and gritty elements of life. To learn more about his life and work, visit this site.

Artists to Check Out

2009-09-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

For your new project, you're creating a self portrait in the style of an artist. Here is a listing of people you may want to search on google:

ooh, too long.

Check out the document on my site with the whole listing

or you could check out what the UK's Times Online voters thought the top 200 artists are here

Happy Birthday Jacob Lawrence!

2009-09-07T00:09:00.000-07:00

Utilizing oral histories, Jacob Lawrence depicted many aspects of the African American experience,
such as the Great Migration, cultural heroes like Harriet Tubman, Toussaint L'Overture and Frederick Douglass, as well every day life. To learn more about Lawrence, visit this site.

Weekend Homework

2009-09-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

Just to remind everyone, you have homework this weekend-you need to purchase some supplies:

a 2-4 GB Thumbdrive
a 18 x 24 Portfolio
a spiral or sewn bound sketchbook

In addition, you need to come up with 20 concentration ideas. I will post up all the documents I have regarding concentrations, but be sure to check out the posting from July 6th. (Right now, I'm out of town and my interwebs connection is pretty poor so I can't put up the documents, but will on Monday.)

Back in the city, and have posted the pdfs to my google site:
Ah, here we go, hope they help!

Field Trip Ideas for September

2009-09-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

Part of taking an advanced placement or college art course is viewing the work of other artists. I have found several shows that I think would be fun and beneficial for you to see:

Sandow Birk at Catherine Clark, 9/3 - 10/17
Date Farmers at Fifty24SF, 9/3 - 9/23
Moki at Jack Fischer Gallery , 8/6 - 9/19
Independent Visions at John Berggruen
Martin Lipofsky at Michaela , Sept - Oct.
Bella Feldman and JP Long at Sculpturesite , 9/3 - Nov.
Erik Otto and Kevin E. Taylor at Shooting Gallery, 9/10
Deborah Oropallo at Stephen Wirtz , 9/10 - 10/31
Mike Shine at Soap Gallery, til 9/28

Tell me what you think!

Happy Birthday Romare Bearden!

2009-09-02T00:06:00.000-07:00

Romare Bearden was a master storyteller of the African American experience through the use of collage and paint. Learn more about Bearden here.

Graphic Novel Master Class with Ariel Schrag

2009-08-29T22:57:00.000-07:00

Learn the ins and outs of making a graphic novel with one of the most successful practicioners the form.
Ariel Schrag, who teaches a graphic novel writing workshop at the New School in New York, is the author of the graphic novel quartet Awkward, Definition, Potential, and Likewise, which chronicle her four years at Berkeley High. In this lecture and workshop, Schrag will explore key elements of creating a graphic novel, including:

Narrative options
Style
Depicting contents through page layout
Narrative pacing
Comics vocabulary and material
Discussion of major artists Art Spiegelman, Daniel Clowes, Chris Ware and Marjane Satrapi

Date/Time: Thursday, November 5, 2009, 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Admission: $60

Contact: info@thecjm.org or call 415.655.7800
http://www.thecjm.org/index.php?option=com_ccevents&scope=prgm&task=detail&fid=19&oid=269

Happy Birthday Man Ray!

2009-08-27T23:51:00.000-07:00

Photographer, painter and sculptor, Man Ray is best known for his involvement in the Dada and Surrealism art movements. "It has never been my object to record my dreams, just the determination to realize them." To learn more about Man Ray, visit this site.

Artist Trading Cards

2009-08-27T21:24:00.000-07:00

The first project we're delving into is ATCs (Artist Trading Cards). Using a standard playing card (2.5" x 3.5"), students create mini pieces of artwork, utilizing paint, collage, color pencils, conte crayon, and stamps. My only requirement is that the students must use a letter somewhere on each of the cards, and must make enough cards for the entire class.

Check out these sites for more information and inspiration:

http://www.cedarseed.com/air/atc.html

http://www.ebsqart.com/artMagazine/za_321.html

http://www.artist-trading-cards.ch/index.html