summer art programs in the ROC

bored over the summer?
looking to get away from call of duty for a week or two?
if so, there are a number of great local art programs over the summer to get involved in...

RIT PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAM
taught by WSHS AP art teacher bill stephens, and MCC professor karen sardisco
july 6-10, 12-16 :: 9am-5pm
$900 (scholarships are available on a needs-basis)
this program is for incoming high school seniors who are planning on attending an art school/program post-high school.
it is centered around the process of preparing a college entry art portfolio with emphasis on in-depth investigation of media, concept development, and critical analysis. you will draw from life (still life and figure), participate in critiques, and conduct visual resarch.
contact zerbe sodervick :: zjsfaa@rit.edu for an application/more information.

RIT KIDS ON CAMPUS
this program sounds like a really fun investigation of the place where art, science, math, and technology overlap.
there are 2 two-week sessions in july, which cost around $700
you can find out more information here.

NAZARETH COLLEGE SUMMER ART FOR TEENS PROGRAM
taught by nazareth art faculty mitch messina (ceramics/sculpture) and ron netsky (drawing/painting)
july 6-23 :: 9am-2:30pm
$675
for students ages 13-18 who are interested and talented in the visual arts. you will work on a variety of mediums in a fun and productive environment.
june 1 registration deadline
you can find out more information here.

friday wisdom

from THE FOUR AGREEMENTS, by don miguel ruiz

the "didda-guy".

its been too long since i posted some new pics... for those of you not connected via facebook.
here he is, in all his almost-2-year-old glory.
if you want to see more family pics, check out our photo album. (which is currently a bit out of date.)

finally, my son begins to look like me...

...but he's arguably cuter.

community arts day 2010.

last saturday, webster hosted the 33rd annual community arts day at webster schroeder high school.
...thats right, community arts day will always be older than me.

as always, the artwork on display 1st-12th grade was amazing. it is great to see the progression that our webster students follow during their years with us. i am proud of my students, and look forward to my son's progression during these years as well...

so, here's some pictures of my students' work from saturday. enjoy!

tag, you're it.

ive spent an hour or so adding more detailed tags to each post - so if theres a topic you like, click the turquoise label under the post and it will bring you to a page with all of the posts that share that tag.
fun!

chuck close interview.

thanks to jean stephens for sending this to bill, who sent it to me.
if you love painting... love art... watch this. its interesting AND inspiring.

thoughts on teaching...

so my student teacher carrie bell's last day was today... we will all really miss her.

talking to carrie extensively in the past 6 weeks has made me really reflect on what i do and how i do it.
i feel so blessed to be able to work with young people who care so deeply about not only making great art, but being really good people... and who are dedicated to growth and to each other.
i feel lucky every day.

if you are reading this, chances are you are part of the reason i feel this way.
so, thanks.

**********
we got to draw outside today in ap art, and before the end of class, took some great group pics of everyone together, holding up their big pastel self-portraits.

friday wisdom :: best of luck miss bell!

up-and-coming artist :: jordan tiberio

many times, students come to the high school with natural abilities as artists and designers. their 8 years of art training by our awesome art staff gives them all the tools to see the world in their own unique way. its then our job to take those raw materials and help form and guide them into artists' whose voices are unique and personal (lots of times we're just along for the ride).

jordan tiberio is one of many students who display this personal vision.
jordan is currently a junior who spends many many hours outside of school working on developing her eye as a photographer (she also spends many hours during school here honing her drawing skills).

she has recently won 4 regional gold keys (3 photo, 1 drawing) from the scholastic art & writing awards, along with 1 national gold key (photo)!
i am amazed by her vision as an artist already, and am excited to see where all this work and thought takes her from here!

if you want to see more of her work, visit her flikr.

friday wisdom.

artist of the week :: best ever

best ever, yes thats his name.
as you can see from the first picture, all his work is created with spray paint - both on walls and on canvases.
you can find out more here.
((thanks to amy bonner for sending him my way))

studio in art :: self-portraits

here are a few videos regarding the artists we are using as reference for our self-portraits. take some time and check them out!

vincent van gogh


henri matisse


roy lichtenstein


shepard fairey

(watch an even BETTER video here)

friday wisdom.

'70 million' by hold your horses

thanks to krysta, claire, and jean for sending this my way.
what a great utilization of art history...
who ever said music video was not art?

see how many paintings you can name...

70 Million by Hold Your Horses ! from L'Ogre on Vimeo.

doodle for google 2010!

google is having a contest again this year to design a 'google' logo for their homepage. it is constantly changing to recognize different holidays and events, and you have your chance to design one of them!
this year's theme is 'IF I COULD DO ANYTHING, I WOULD...'
you have access to a drawing tablet to draw in photoshop whenever you want - all of our computers have them installed, along with the laptop cart that is in my room.
this is an AMAZING opportunity - and the deadline is march 31!
let me know if you want to enter.

find out more information here
check out info on dennis hwang, the original google doodler here
download the google template here


What prizes are awarded to Doodle 4 Google winners and finalists this year?

:: The National Winner will win a $15,000 college scholarship to be used at the school of their choice, a trip to New York City for an event on May 26, 2010, a laptop computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, and a t-shirt printed with their doodle on it. Google will also award the winner's school a $25,000 grant towards the establishment/improvement of a computer lab. The winning doodle will be featured on the Google.com homepage on May 27, 2010.
:: Each of the other 3 National Finalists will win a trip to New York City for an event on May 26, 2010, a laptop computer, a Wacom digital design tablet and a t-shirt printed with their doodle on it.
:: Each of the 40 Regional Finalists will win a trip to New York City for an event on May 26, 2010 and a t-shirt printed with their doodle on it.
:: Each of the 400 State Finalists will receive a "Doodle 4 Google" certificate and be featured on the Doodle 4 Google web site.

friday wisdom.

mark lanegan imix.

i published my first imix last night on itunes. its a collection of songs that mark lanegan sings on.
if you dont know who he is, you should check this playlist out - he has the kind of rich voice that you dont find often, something like a mix between johnny cash, tom waits, and kurt cobain.

aaron bueg :: society of illustrators

aaron bueg is one of my former students... and one of his pieces is part of a group of works that won scholarship from the society of illustrators! i'm really proud of him.
you should check out the page with all of the work on it, theres a ton of really great stuff.

video on creativity.

thanks to katie epner for the heads up on this great video on the creative process. forget that its an ad for a college i've never heard of. great message and creative innovative approach.
watch and enjoy!

barnstormers video.

the barnstormers are a crew of artists mainly from nyc and japan, who, in 1999, joined together to paint old tobacco barns in rural cameron, north carolina. subsequently they have become an energetic creative force that continues to contribute to contemporary art worldwide.
this video is a time lapse image of them painting and repainting a barn in the southeastern center for contemporary art in winston-salem north carolina, in ocbtober 2004.
you can see more here.

The Barnstormers - 360 from David Ellis on Vimeo.

art history poster

thanks to mr. waltman for sending a version of this along to me.
i deleted a bunch of artists and added a great group that i thought were more important.
its the perfect art history cheat sheet.

artist of the week :: amy casey

so, ive been interested in buildings lately.
amy casey uses the building and its surroundings as metaphors - the suspension and tension and proximity of the buildings tells a story.
maybe being a homeowner makes it more real to me, but i get alot of meaning out of these fairly simplistic paintings.
hopefully you will too.

friday wisdom.

new painting.

i finished this painting of the empire state building today. it is the second in my new personal landmark series.
it is 3 layers of cardboard painted with spray paint, acrylic, and art markers.

shared spaces art show at naz

nazareth college is hosting wonderful new art show opening tonight, january 15th, from 6-8pm in their new arts center gallery entitled 'shared spaces'. the show celebrates graduating high school students and their teachers/mentors.

sami chudyk and i are representing thomas high school, with casey cardillo and her teacher bill stephens representing schroeder high school. i feel honored to have been asked to be a part of this event, and to show next to such a talented young artist.

you can find out more about the show (including gallery hours) here.

sami chudyk "past tense"
colored pencil on canson paper
completed january 2010
((to see more of sami's work, check out her portfolio blog.))


todd stahl "new beginnings"
cardboard, spray paint, and ink
completed november 2009

erik otto :: sf dump residency

first let me say i am in awe of erik otto's paintings. the way he uses paint and texture is something i truly relate to and feel akin to... its dirty and beautiful all at once.

he is at the end of a 4 month residency at san francisco recycling and disposal, collecting material and working on new paintings for his most recent show.

you should all check out the videos of erik working on this body of work. you can view the videos here. ((if you are not familiar with how flikr works, to proceed to the next video in the series, select the furthest thumbnail in the top right portion of the screen.)) its nice to see these videos because it shows how important the process of making art is. its not always as direct as: get canvas. sketch. paint. hang and admire.

if you ever get the chance, check out some of erik's work in person. ((or at least check out his website.))

david jon kassan

many of you may recognize david's paintings from contemporary artist presentations in my classes... here's a great little interview with him where he talks about his paintings, and his inspiration.
if you like his work, check out his website or find him on facebook.



totally inspired.

friday wisdom.

AP ART calendar

want to know how long we have left until the AP portfolio is due?
want to know when art show openings are happening in the area?
check out this website to find out that and more.