Bad typography is everywhere. These are two examples. One says La Michoacana (a Mexican ice cream store), the other La Shish. Try reading either one driving by in a car at 30 miles per hour! I’m not an exceptional designer or typography expert but learning the basics of typography was one of the best thingsContinue reading “Teach Typography”
Author Archives: jschellart
Choose Kindness!
Character formation is a key role for educators and, with that in mind, kindness is something that’s become a buzz word in my classroom. The quote made famous by the movie Wonder “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kindness” (Dr. Wayne Dyer) is posted in my room along with thingsContinue reading “Choose Kindness!”
Recreating Well Known Objects
One common theme in my art projects is the idea that artists recreate, over and over again, objects we all know and love. Arguably, this is more effective than making paintings, as it turns an idea on its head. When you stand in front of a painting, you’re expecting to see a painting. Obviously, itContinue reading “Recreating Well Known Objects”
Abstract Scrolls (Contemporary Codex)
Those who know me, know I’m a real geek for color and composition, and that I love finding ways to use technology to produce great art pieces with my students. The scrolls I made with my IB class are one of those art units that evolved over time improving to what is now this project.Continue reading “Abstract Scrolls (Contemporary Codex)”
The Role of Still Life (and different levels of difficulty)
Photos of a crazy still life my art teacher friend tortures his students with. Drawing or painting a still life spans the history of art itself (as far back as the Roman, perhaps further still)…and I think it was best summarized by Van Gogh painting his boots. When you’ve literally got nothing left to paint,Continue reading “The Role of Still Life (and different levels of difficulty)”
X-Ray Vision (Computer Art Project)
Sometimes you create an art project that is so simple in its nature, yet the results are great…like this one. Maybe it’s because teens seem to like gory stuff? Regardless, my x-ray vision project has a really simple basis: Using images of bones and/or organs and the opacity function on Photoshop layers, show the model’sContinue reading “X-Ray Vision (Computer Art Project)”
Beyond the Color Wheel
James Turrell, Mark Rothko, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse….so many of the titans of the art world are who they are because of color. Mike Tyson famously said “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth” and color is what often gives artwork its punch. So what do you teach students after theyContinue reading “Beyond the Color Wheel”
Creating a Neo-Classical Masterpiece (Jacques Louis David)
One big challenge for art teachers is getting students to make artwork without using online imagery. While there are occasions where online imagery is necessary (like when you need a photo of something you really can’t take yourself [you’re painting a humpback whale or whatever]), for the most part you want students to not useContinue reading “Creating a Neo-Classical Masterpiece (Jacques Louis David)”
Having fun with Tessellations!
Tessellations get a bad rap sometimes and I’m not sure why. Maybe the repetition comes across as unartistic or too predictable? Perhaps art teachers don’t realize how easy they are to plan? Regardless, once you get going, sky’s the limit. There are so many wonderful things you can do with tessellations and pattern is oneContinue reading “Having fun with Tessellations!”
Matisse Cut Outs: Teaching Abstract Art
One of my all time favorite art pieces is the cut out “Icarus” by Matisse. Brilliant in its simplicity. The black figure of Icarus could be any of us, and is he falling or floating? The blue looks more like water than sky to me. The piece bridges life and death, and like most ofContinue reading “Matisse Cut Outs: Teaching Abstract Art”
Draw, Paint, Think 