Tinker CAD gets a bad rap by designers because it’s often unfairly compared to more legit CAD programs like Fusion 360 (we currently use OnShape for advanced CAD work in my design program). But when used appropriately, Tinker CAD is actually a great way to get used to creating in the digital 3D world andContinue reading “Designing Stuffed Animals”
Tag Archives: ArtProject
Tiffany Style Lanterns
student work, all three sides of the lantern A shout out to my friend Kristy who started this project with resin-based “stained-glass”. Her previous work was really helpful in developing this unit on Tiffany style lanterns. Lanterns are a big deal in Asia, they can identify what kind of restaurant you’re walking into or evenContinue reading “Tiffany Style Lanterns”
Quilt Vases: Printing Textures onto Clay
Two views of three of the quilt vases. Slab building is an essential component to any ceramics program. If you’re not familiar with ceramics, slabs are sheets of rolled out clay that are used for sculpting functional and non-functional objects. Many facilities have a slab roller, which is just a large table that rolls outContinue reading “Quilt Vases: Printing Textures onto Clay”
Print Making: Mexican and German influences.
La Catrina: Jose Guadalupa Posada 1910 | Erich Heckel: Two Wounded Men 1915 Print Making on Linoleum Blocks: I always think of print making with linoleum blocks as one of those “old school” art teacher projects…like those folks who can’t give up the pottery wheel or dark room photography. But like the aforementioned art forms,Continue reading “Print Making: Mexican and German influences.”
Teach Typography
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”
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)”
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”
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!”
Draw, Paint, Think 