Creative Exploration #3

So far, I like this piece a lot better than the last. My professor starting giving us "curveballs" and this week we had to include something that walks (since my theme is swans I am already using the curveball). In class we had a critique and received the following suggestions: 

- balance background with cool colors from foreground

-more geometric shapes

-fill up some empty space

We also shared strengths of the artwork. Almost everyone complimented the color palette, others  & complimented the composition, scale and size.

Creative Exploration #2

Second piece work in progress

This piece took quite a transformation in the final stages. I was never really satisfied with this piece and felt the original design was overwhelming with all the shapes. I also think the long composition was a little challenging. From here on out I will defiantly look to simplify.

Graduate School

Aside from teaching art, I'm currently working on obtaining my MFA in art education. For the spring semester I'll be exploring my creative process (finally making art for myself!). I've been so focused on my job that it will be nice to paint again. I think its important for art teachers to be exemplary artists themselves. I'll be creating paintings that reference swans and applying abstract techniques. I was inspired by swans because of their representation of love & beauty - yet their aggressive demeanor with people. My main goal is just to create something beautiful that everyone can enjoy, not just artists.

I like to work BIG! With my first painting of the semester I started with many washes, layering, adding and taking away. Lots of sketching of swans and looking at their shapes. After browsing through old sketch books I came across the work of Hans Hoffman. I've decided to explore his use of combining organic/painterly shapes with sharp/flat shapes.

Keith Haring based Mural

Newspaper article of my students working on a Mural project with high school art students.

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/studley-mural-sapix/image_6376b626-4876-11e3-95b7-001a4bcf887a.html

Dale Chihuly

The Chihuly lessons on the internet have been so inspiring! I decided to do two chandeliers with my 3rd & 4th grade. One warm & one cool. They also did observational drawings of their individual sculpture. Love the results! The kids loved the lesson.