friday wisdom

where else does this happen? (subtitle: i'm lucky)

during 6th period today, an awesome thing happened; i had a free period (and i was grading... blech), and like many free periods, the room was occupied by students working on their art pieces. but what was different today was that the tables were full of a variety of students from each grade and all of my classes, sitting intermingled, working intently together. there was such a wonderful energy in the room, i had to capture it.

i'm lucky.

"4x34" :: painting with my son

this series of paintings, entitled "4x34", are all done by my 4 year old son and myself. he was inspired by watching herakut paint the mural in rochester in october, and had been talking about wanting to do some 'murals' of his own.

we used latex paint, spray paint, and paint markers on stretched canvases. it was a very organic process where he would start by picking the color of paint and rolling it on the canvas (or conversely he would choose the spray paint color and i would apply it, then he'd paint over it). he would really lead all the work, and i would be there to just redirect when necessary or have him stop and start something new when the time was right. he would draw lines - sometimes representing a 'thunder storm' or 'the ocean' - and i would add to them, making them fit together or blend more seamlessly into the composition.

his energy and natural markings were a wonderful juxtaposition with my control and knowledge of composition. it was very eye opening for me as an artist, as well as a great way to spend time together.

another new drawing

i started this last week as an idea for a drawing 1 project, but it became something that i would actually consider a finished work.

it is made using india ink washes, pitt artist pens and prismacolor colored pencils.

new painting.

on friday, i completed this painting of son house, "the beginning and end of all music"
it is acrylic, latex and spray paint on various wood blocks.
you can see it on display at RIT during february.

so much color in the art room.

its always hectic coming back from christmas break, but the following week ends up being a bit more normal and we can get back into our groove.

i took a period and put up all the in progress works today and was amazed to see all the vibrant yet subtly layered and placed color together from DRAWING 1 (descriptive self portraits), DRAWING 2 (abstracted still lives), and AP DRAWING (personal theme work). so much great work all in once place.

i love my job.

the wall

drawing 1 self portraits

drawing 2 abstracted still lives

AP drawing personal theme work