WELCOME TO THE FINE ARTS STUDIO!!!! . As you know String Theory is a very special place, in the art room we practice traditional skills and infuse them with cutting edge technology. Last year you focused primarily on familiarizing yourselves with the iPad in the art room. This semester we will dive deep into traditional materials and techniques. We will still use the iPad as a tool in many of our projects, but we are going to get a lot messier!
beginning our day
We will continue to start every class with 15 minutes of sketch time. This is an important time to clear the rest of your day away and get in touch with your creative side. This is INDEPENDENT WORK. You cannot access your original creative selves if you are chatting with your neighbor. This will be the quietest part of the day in our room - You should be "In the Zone".
There is no "Done" during sketch time. We are never NOT making ART in this room. You can always improve your drawing, go back to an old drawing, or start a new one.
.
what you need
In addition to a fully charged iPad, you need 4 things - EVERYDAY. This will be part of your grade.
EARBUDS - For reviewing tutorials and listening to music
SKETCHBOOK - hardbound are recommended over spiral bound for durability
STYLUS - supports "next-level" digital drawing
PENCIL - seems like a small thing, but REALLY important, make it a habit to have a few sharpened pencils in your backpack
A note on listening to music in class
Music can be incredibly important to an artist, and there will be many times in the studio when you will be able to listen to your own music using earbuds. However, in order to ensure that it supports your creative process and does not become a distraction, you are required to create a "Fine Arts" playlist. This will avoid wasting time choosing music. You can just hit "play all" and get quickly focused on your art making. Be thoughtful when you create your playlist. What kind of music helps you get in the zone? It may not be your favorite pop songs, it may be classical, jazz, or some other form of traditional music. This is an important part of you figuring out what best supports you as an artist!
What will we make?
Our projects will range from observational drawing to abstract painting. We will draw, collage, paint, work digitally, and often combine mediums to achieve our creative goals.
AND MUCH MORE!
CREATING OUR STUDIO TOGETHER
IN ORDER TO DO OUR BEST WORK WE NEED A PEACEFUL, POSITIVE, & PRODUCTIVE STUDIO ENVIRONMENT. THIS INCLUDES HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER, AS WELL AS OUR SHARED MATERIALS AND WORKING SPACE. WE WILL DISCUSS HOW TO BEST ACHIEVE THIS AS A GROUP AND CREATE SOME AGREEMENTS FOR THE SEMESTER THAT OUTLINE OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR EACH OTHER IN OUR STUDIO.
grading
hint: It's not about talent, it's about the work!
Work Hard, Be Brave, do your best! Being a good artist is not just about talent. It's mostly about WORK.
10 things you GET credit for that have NOTHING to do with talent.
BE ON TIME
BE PREPARED
WORK HARD, THEN WORK HARDER
BE BRAVE - FAILURE IS PART OF THE PROCESS
BODY LANGUAGE - LOOK LIKE YOU CARE
CONTROL AND FOCUS YOUR ENERGY
HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
PARTICIPATE - SHARE IDEAS AND RESPOND TO OTHER'S IDEAS
STAY CURIOUS/ASK QUESTIONS
DO EXTRA, EXCEED EXPECTATIONS
“Amateurs look for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and GO TO WORK”
Artist, Chuck Close
our new grading policy : FOCUSING ON PRACTICE AND PROCESS
FINE ARTS UNIVERSAL GRADING RUBRIC
A version of this rubric will be used to grade all major projects. Sometimes project specific objectives will be included as well.
how does my rubric grade turn in to my powerschool grade?
Please don't wait until something gets to PowerSchool to check on your grades, make it a regular practice to check iTunes U. Anything less than full credit will always have comments as to how to revise your submission and improve your grade. If you see a grade you are unhappy with in PowerSchool, refer to iTunes U and read my comments before you come to me. I am always happy to discuss grades, but do your part, show your engagement.
discovery - Being fully engaged in the process
This year 30% of your grade will be based on your dedication to discovery. This means every moment in the art studio counts. You are expected to show up ready to work, remaining focused and quiet during sketch time and studio time. Every day begins with 15 minutes of quiet sketch time. This should take no direction from the teacher. If you have forgotten your sketchbook, you should go directly to the blue bin on the windowsill, get a piece of paper, and begin working.
On Fridays you will be expected to share and sometimes submit a photograph of your weekly sketchbook spread. The focus should be on exploring and risk taking, not highly polished drawings, but rather a variety of ways you have explored a topic. You will never be required to turn in your sketchbook, it should be your place for safe experimentation. Ideally an artist always has their sketchbook with them to capture images and ideas quickly. In this way it becomes a your creative "Bank" of ideas you develop further in the studio. If you want to improve as an artist, working in your sketchbook should go beyond a class requirement and become part of your lifestyle.
A note on presentation and submissions
How an artist presents their work is as important as creating it. MAKE SURE EVERYTHING YOU SUBMIT HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED CAREFULLY (with your iPad level to the surface of your work) AND CROPPED. Sloppy submissions will adversely affect your grade no matter the quality of the artwork.
EARLY FINISHERS ALERT!
Make sure you have completed your project to the best of your ability. Like I said...We are never not working! If you are finished it is expected that you go back to your sketchbook, or work on iPad researching ideas, practicing new apps or drawing digitally. No games, YouTube, or work for other classes. Period.
whew, that was a lot!
NOW'S LET'S MAKE SOME STUFF!
Credits:
Created with images by holiho - "colored pencils paint school" • Lee Inkul - "drawing.no.4" • Catkin - "pencils pen leave" • Ian D - "iPod earbuds" • Maria Fernanda Gonzalez - "Illustrations of the Captain" • Pexels - "art arts and crafts blank" • isatorres - "oil yellow painting" • SupportPDX - "Parker Knight Tue Feb 14, 2012 13"