Sketchbook Suggestions

http://emptyeasel.com/2011/09/20/going-on-vacation-take-along-a-sketchbook-journal/

Watercolor Demo

I found a great watercolor demo that I thought would be helpful...

http://emptyeasel.com/2011/09/19/video-how-to-paint-vibrant-flower-petals/

National Portfolio Day

What is National Portfolio Day? What should you expect? What should you bring?

Watch this!



How to Prepare for a National Portfolio Day from Watkins College of Art, Design & on Vimeo.

Take Pictures of Everything!

I don't use my camera enough. This blog post is a great reminder to do so. My challenge to you this summer is to take pictures of anything everything that inspires you or gives you an idea for a future project. This way you don't forget!

Balzer Blog Post

Ooo...

So detailed! It reminds me of the magazine project you do in Art II!

http://www.yukoadachi.com/painting39.htm

Also added to the right list.

Fun New Paintings!

I just found another awesome artist who combines both design and drawing! Take a look (I've also put a link on the right side)

Jessica Swift

A Cool Blog By Julie Balzer

I have been following a blog recently that I found and thought it was interesting enough to post for you to check out an enjoy too. 

Julie Balzer creates mixed media work and lots of journal pages and shares her creative process on her blog. 

In the post links to above, she has a guest blogger, Michelle LaPoint Rydell (link to her blog), who also creates very bold and graphic journals. There are lots of pictures of various journals she creates and she shares some of her favorite products she works with too.

Stop by both blogs and take a look!

Altered Journal

Here's another example of an artist who uses a lot of mixed media in her sketchbook/journal.

BalzerDesigns

I'll also put it on the left.

Another Blog

CircuitousJourney uses design in a new way. Lots of values but wonderful rhythm, repetition, and great compositions!

Design Guy!

Just came across Bill Nagel's website. His work is awesome! Look at his use of color and how it plays with white. Also look at his compositions and use of contrast. It's uber designy!

Dallas Art Contest

Here's the Dallas Art Contest. Take a look at all the entries and see if you can tell which are more design and which are more drawing. Also, do you get any inspiration from these?

You can vote for your favorites, but you don't have to.
M-

Great Concentration Example

http://web.me.com/bthemuck/APART/Concentration.html

AP Central Digital Upload

Follow these directions. 

http://www.collegeboard.com/html/art-demo/student/index.html

Interactive Color Theory!!!

These are so fun! You could spend hours playing around :)

http://www.poynterextra.org/cp/colorproject/color.html

http://www.mariaclaudiacortes.com/colors/Colors.html

Snow DayS!!!

Hey Guys,

Hope you are enjoying your snow days and that your outside piece is about finished! No more extensions, remember, so work quickly on the outside so you'll have more time outside of class for the inside piece.

Here's a quick video I found of paper marbling like a few of you have used already. Thought you might like to see a little variation.

http://www.interweavestore.com/Mixed-Media/DVD-Video/Playful-Paper-Backgrounds-Download.html?a=cp110203#preview

Stay warm!
Mrs M

A Few Concentration Portfolios

Interesting Concentration Examples that might apply to y'all!

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_questions/200881.html

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_questions/188538.html

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_questions/188557.html

Concentration Info

Good info I found on the AP Central website:

A Concentration is the concept of producing a series of sequential visual images -- images growing from images -- to help explore in greater depth a particular visual concern.

The AP student can then be made aware of commonalities in the artwork by identifying the subject matter, working techniques, concepts being explored, multiple approaches to a body of work, and the numerous ways the same material could be expanded upon. 

When this process of identifying commonalities or characteristics is completed, the students are encouraged to describe the subject matter, elements, and principles of art being used, and the working techniques. Analyzing the structure(s) of the related pieces and interpreting any concepts being presented is the next step. These analytical processes may be articulated further or replaced by having students explore an individual artist's or a group of artists' work and report back to the class. Another approach to consider is having students find commonalities in their own work or the work of another artist in terms of strengths, areas to be worked on, or subject matter. Groups or pairs of students may also help each other to find these similar attributes in their work.

All AP participants need to realize that a Concentration is not just a series of drawings of cats, cars, horses, emotions, and so on, appropriated from magazine images that appeal to them. Nor is the Concentration found one week prior to the submission of a portfolio by searching for commonalities in a group of divergent works. The individual must come to "own" her or his imagery, whether objective or nonobjective, based on personal contact, history, manipulation, observation, research, or a combination of these. By feeling deeply comfortable or involved with a Concentration, the AP student can continue to explore various approaches to the concept being developed. 


Bits and pieces from: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/courses/teachers_corner/44048.html

For Jen

I haven't read these through completely, but read them over and see if they'd work for your concentration.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/courses/teachers_corner/49261.html

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/courses/teachers_corner/45765.html

How to Boost your Creativity with the “What If?” Factor

A great post by Empty Easel.

http://emptyeasel.com/2011/01/18/how-to-boost-your-creativity-with-the-what-if-factor/

Concentation Example

I can't say for certain AP would agree, but I would think that these images (the ones with trees) would be a good example of a concentration.

http://www.antonpavlenko.com/  (Then click on the "paintings" link)

Copyright use

Here are two links I found on the Graphics Fairy website about copyright and public domain use of images.

http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm

http://blog.ebusinesslawgroup.com/2008/11/are-works-youre-using-really-in-public.html

Take a look and read them over. Good stuff here. 

Vintage Images

Here's a blog I came across that has FREE clip art images that you can use in your art. You can make image transfers, collages, etc. Wonderful images!

http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

I've also included it in the resource list on the right.

Happy New Year!!