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 Today was a fun-filled day full of Art! It was awesome to spend the day in downtown Grand Rapids and view works created for ArtPrize, the world's largest Art competition. Students met artists, viewed works, and interacted with their surroundings as we traveled to various venues around town. One of my favorite works in at the GRAM and can be seen below. As you can see in the video below, it was an awesome day! 
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One of the best things about giving students choice, is the amount of variety I get to see in terms of material choice and execution. I am also amazed at the evolution of ideas over time. Whether it is through conferencing with me or their peers, students are adapting ideas and making changes where needed in order to achieve their best possible solution to the design problems they are addressing. You can check out evidence of that in the images below. 
Olivia is using a gum eraser to carve a stamp of herself.
She experimented with overlapping the stamp and applying various amount of ink on it to get a variety of values.
She then worked on creating a series of patterns. She is still working on how she wants to use this little stamp in a larger image.
Claire is working on a series of prints. She has made several on paper towel and is in the process of cutting out the main figure and collaging paper behind it (as seen in the black and pink stripes).
Anna is working with stitching her profile. She was using this to explore ideas for a separate project background.
Emma is using rubber cement to act as a masking fluid for when she applies watercolor below.
Bre worked with block printing to explore positive and negative space, line, and pattern.
Students are still working hard on their "Identity" themed projects this week and it has been really exciting to the see the variety of ideas, medias, and interpretations of the concept in individual attempts. I was really nervous about what might happen when I unleashed my students from tight restrictions of specific projects and visual outcomes. I now can see the results as being overwhelmingly positive in both student achievement and engagement in their learning. You can see some of the finished works here. Here are some more works in progress as we continue to explore media and application of ideas. 
This student wanted to focus on their favorite player and layering images to highlight the way they view that person.
This student created a clay mask of their face, using a plaster mold they had done earlier in the week. They decided to throw back to an Ancient Egyptian aesthetic when finishing out their work.
This student is using a variety of media to incorporate text, found objects, and texture in their work.
This student is working with printmaking and paper cutting to alter the same image in different ways throughout her piece.
This student is creating a 5-value portrait of her neighbor using wool and felt roving techniques.
This student is going to create a series of blind contour studies for his second work. He used Friday to test and decide which material would work best for his final work. Check out the notes he has made for each work as he documents the difference and his preference of materials.
This student knew they wanted to draw an eye, but was unsure of how to incorporate the concept of "Identity" to it. With some peer conferencing, she was able to finally commit to an image that would work with her ideas.
This student created a series of tubes that allows an image of himself to be seen through the illumination of light. The portrait was made by using a needle and poking holes around the contour of his face.
I have been posting a lot about the TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) model that I use with my 8th grade students. For 7th grade this year, I have kept the curriculum pretty traditional and allow for some choice and variation as we learn how to use tools and methods for making art during the semester. 7th grade students got their first real dose of Photoshop skill building this week as we worked on and finished our Profile Collages, seen below. This assignment is a great way to get to know students and learn basic tool functions while working with Photoshop. 
Here is a sample of a Graffiti Name project we did earlier in the week as well as an abstract portrait project that stemmed from the portrait party that occurred last week. 
Don't forget to help 7th grade student, Arminda, and vote for her work as Artist of the Week! 
Before we get into what we worked on today, I have a plea - Please vote for Arminda as Artsonia Artist of the Week. You can vote once per day per device.  8th grade students are continuing to work through the process of art making as they begin applying their designs to their finished works. It has been interesting to see what materials and methods they select to best share their vision with others.  This student is showing the two sides of rats. The one people associate with them and the one she feels towards them. She has had several as pets.  This student is working with text and collage to explore the concept.  This student decided to experiment with tissue paper, glue, and a face mold. She is not sure how to finish it, but is exploring some options before making a final decision.  This student is working on a larger clay piece, using a series of tubes as an armature. 8th grade students are working through their ideas as they try to portray what the concept of "Identity" means to them. We spent a short part of class going over color theory and watercolor techniques they could use for their works. Some students decided to apply the concepts, while others are waiting for a future piece to apply it. 
This student is testing out additional ways to add texture to their page through applying bubble wrap over their wet paint.
This student tested out color ideas through the application of watercolor in their sketchbook before starting their final draft.
This student is incorporating paper sculpture into their project.
This student notices how their fingers made a texture when applying pressure on the paint. They are not sure what to do with that information quite yet, but spent some time experimenting with results.
This student is using water based markers and water to get this effect, showing that there is more than one way to get a watercolor effect on the page.
Since transitioning my classroom into a TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) or choice based model, I have seen a variety of media being selected to illustrate the concept of Identity. Check out the progress below: 
8th grade students are working through their ideas today as they started to begin their final projects. It was awesome to see how some students evolved their sketches over time and improved as a result of demos and practice. I am also excited to see the level of experimentation with media as we delve into portraying the concept of "Identity" in the works. Check out some of the progress below: 
Tryston drew the image on the left yesterday. After a quick demo on the proportions of the face, he finished the drawing on the right today. Both are not final drawings, but working drafts as he plans to create his final next week.
Dalton wanted to use foil to create a mask. He was not sure how the material would work on the mold we had in class, so he just started to experiment. Due to the material working differently than anticipated, he is adjusting his plan to work in the folds created in the foil.
Harrison wants to use his face as a clay mask. In order to get a mold, we worked on creating this plaster casting today. He will use clay to get the impression of his face next week and then sculpt additional details.
Emma is working on a dress made out of Cootie Catchers. She came up with this concept last year and plans to submit the finished work to the Scholastic Art Awards.
This week is flying by as students start working on their various projects and sharing their thoughts on Artists throughout history via Schoology. Here is an overview of some of the things we have been working on for the past few days: Pre-Tests and Portfolio Names
Students shows me what they knew about all kinds of Art related information as they took their pre-tests in Schoology. The best part is the instant data I get back and can use to help guide my instruction!
Students also finished up their Portfolio Names this week to show me their interests through the manipulation of the letters in their name. We will be posting the results by the end of the week.
Design Thinking in Action
I introduced Design Thinking with students this week. We have always been using it, but now we have an outlined process to help keep us on track with every project.
We also got to break out some new materials today as students learned that there is more values of pencils beyond the #2.
Portrait Party
Blind contour portraits are a great way to infuse some fun to the day. We also did some dancing before this to help us work through basic art terms that were being used.
Students also used mirrors to draw themselves.
It was fun to do our first gallery walk and check out the work created as a result of this process. It was also fun to see how some students rated their own work.
The images from above are a result of an assembly we had today for the Science classes. Our local PBS station, WGVU, offered this "Ballooning for Education" Assembly for our students because I was selected as a2014 PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator. I was one of 100 teachers across the country to receive this recognition. As a part of this honor, I get some great opportunities to work with WGVU to bring fun and engaging educational programming to students. I am also going to be highlighting PBS LearningMedia in upcoming conference presentations I am doing for Student Teachers and Art Teachers in the coming months. Students uploaded their artwork on Artsonia today. Students were asked to take a picture of a portion of the canvas they painted and upload it using Classroom Mode. I love using Classroom Mode and giving students the control to upload at their own pace. You can view the process above. We also used our new digital cameras in the classroom today that was purchased due to a grant from MACUL. I am so excited to use them in the class (especially for the video project planned that helped us win the funding). It was also awesome to read students' artist statements. I am trying something new this year with Standards Based Grading. The Standards that students needed to discuss in their artist statement included their personal connection to the art we made, how their art is connected to our community, and how art is connected to a global society. There are so many thoughtful statements to choose from, but here are two I will share: 
Nolan's Artist Statement: I feel that the story of the dot is really awesome. Day after day I hear kids say that they "can't" draw. I think the dot shows that no matter who you are you can make some sort of art. I also found it super cool that the teacher made the child feel special by displaying her art. Next, the painting that we made in class will be hung in the school for years to come. If this doesn't make someone feel good about art, then I don't know what will. I can't wait for the my siblings to move into this school and see this art. Finally, we posted our project on the internet and Peter H. Reynolds (the author of the dot) commented on our work. I could not believe this when I first heard this. The fact that our work was recognized by someone famous is really inspiring. To conclude, this project was super cool and I would recommend it to anyone that doubts their art ability.
Bre's Artist Statement: What "The Dot" story means to me is very personal. Many times in my life I've made a drawing or a sketch and it got laughed at, and I don't like that feeling. I also think that it tells a story that everyone can create art. In my painting I incorporated many different colors and designs. I think that the many different colors show difference between the colors, and the difference between people in this school. The colors also come together to make one painting, and so should the people in this school. I think that these paintings show connection between the students and the staff in this school, and they show that our school is very welcoming to different people. I feel that the paintings also make our school feel more at home. Finally, my work helps the canvass have more color and creativity. I think that "The Dot" story and project was a great way to start off the year!
I cannot believe it is only the first week of school. Based on the work my students have done and the things I have planned, I feel like a step was not lost during our three months of Summer. I am so excited for Monday and what the next week might bring!
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August 2018
 Janine CampbellTeaching Visual Arts since 2004 and making images since picking up a crayon.  Categories
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