Thursday, April 8, 2010

Monty Python, Redneck Art & Other Art Related Videos

Today I have been doing some research on You Tube for my Ed Tech class I am taking. I am looking for videos that I could use in a classroom, teaching art. I found several I liked, but one really was unique. It is called "Redneck Art made with BBQ Ribs--Speed Painting." A new form of art--BBQ sauce! The artist creates the picture by working with the negative space instead of the positive space. Check it out. For your enjoyment, I have included all of my favorite art-related You-Tube videos. They are 1) Monty Python Art Gallery - A demonstration of what not to do when you visit an art gallery; 2)"Redneck Art" video as previously mentioned; 3)The Art of Vincent Van Gogh; 4) Women in Art; 5) Bent Objects - about food art; 6) Two Father Guido Sarducci videos--one is on art school and the other is called "The Five Minute University." Enjoy!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Colors and Moods

moods1

I thought I would post this little slide show that I found on Authorstream.com. This is a Power Point slide show called "Moods" by Tricia Ruffman. It describes the color of moods and what they represent. It shows photos of an object that uses that color. It is to be used by a teacher who would be instructing children.
I would like to use this slide show but change it to an art lesson for kids under 12. I love the idea of creating moods with colors. I think it would make an excellent art project for children to teach them how to create a "mood" drawing or painting. Ask them "What mood do you want to create with your art? " You could ask them to create a story using colors as moods. You could also use this idea for high schoolers. I think it would be very effective for teens because that is the age of moodiness and hormones, so it would be a perfect fit!
I could use Authorstream.com to download my presentation of Moods & Colors and show it to the class to prepare them for an upcoming art project. Then I could use either a projector and a large screen, or individual computers/laptops in the classroom. (a computer lab).

Friday, April 2, 2010

Upstream People Gallery Online Art Exhibit

"Walking Through The Fire" Isaiah 43:2

"Passing Through The Waters" Isaish 43:2
This week I received some very great news! I have been accepted into the 12th Annual Judeo-Christian Online Juried Art Exhibit that is currently on the website of Upstream People Gallery in Omaha, Nebraska! This show will be online for an entire year. There were 130 applicants and I was chosen along with about 4 or 5 other artists. Walking Through the Fire (Isaish 43:2), Passing Through the Waters (Isaiah 43:2), Angel Aura, Smooth Landing, and Three Crosses-John 3:16 are the titles of the artworks that are in this show. You can view it on http://www.upstreampeoplegallery.com/. I am hoping this exhibit will bring me a lot more exposure and lead to sales!

This has been an interesting week. I have had both victories and battles. There was victory with the Upstream People Gallery show and there was the victory of finally getting a tenant for one of our rooms downstairs. But there were also battles. This week one of our cars broke down and we were without a second vehicle all week long. We had to rearrange our schedule a bit. I also had to deal with a situation that was so stressful, it made me physically ill. I had to set a boundary with a person who was taking advantage of me and playing control & power games. It was hard and I had to endure anger and some pain. But it was worth it to me. My artwork (pictured above), Walking Through the Fire and Passing Through the Waters, illustrates that it is possible to go through difficult situations and still come out of them safely without getting harmed. And you become a strong person for it too.

We have also had some very "wierd" weather this spring break week. At a time when you would expect springtime weather, it suddenly turns to snow, hail, wind, rain and the temperature drops about 20 degrees. Suddenly you feel you are in winter again. You feel discouraged because it looks like spring got lost! But you have to look beyond the circumstances because in a week or two, spring weather will appear and it will be different. I thought that this is a good illustration of life--especially mine! Sometimes when things seem really bad and you think there is no hope, circumstances change suddenly. Things aren't always the way they seem. That is definitely the lesson that the weather has taught me this week.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Classroom Netiquette Guidelines

As part of my homework assignment for Education Technology, I am posting my classroom rules for using the internet. Internet etiquette is called "Netiquette". I typed this and formatted it in Word 2007 but it didn't copy exactly when I tried to paste it to this blogsite and it left out the nice looking art graphic. Since my goal is to teach high school art, this was made for high school students in mind.

Classroom Netiquette Guidelines
Boise Campus High School



Don’t Hurt Others

* Treat others as you would want them to treat you. Remember that people on the internet are real people too.
* Be polite and courteous. Don’t use the internet for swearing, anger, threats or insulting people.


* DON’T USE ALL CAPITALS! It is interpreted as “shouting” and is rude.

Be Responsible & Ethical

* Use classroom computers appropriately. Do not use them to exchange personal information, especially passwords.

* Do not download any files, photos, music or video without your teacher’s permission.

* Visit only the Internet sites provided to you by teacher. Never search online without having an adult with you. There are unsafe sites on the internet.

* Respect other people’s privacy

* Make sure the information you post on the internet is correct and factual.

* Respect other people’s time when using in-class computers. If other people are waiting to use the classroom computer, don’t “hog” the computer.

* Do not plagiarize. Cite your sources.

Communicate Effectively & Exercise Good Writing Skills

* Communicate in a way that makes you look good. Use proper grammar & spelling. Write clearly.
* Respond properly to emails and other online messages. Show people that you value their time.

Take Care of the Equipment

* Do not eat or drink around computers or keyboards. Do not place food or drink around them.
* Always log-out (sign-off) of computers when you are finished.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Women's Show of Idaho

GOOD NEWS! I found out this week that I have been accepted into the Women's Show of Idaho as one of the 15 featured artists! HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY! And I don't have to pay any booth fee! This is really good news and will be good exposure for my business, Chick Artistic Creations. I will have a booth and I may also be giving a demonstration as well. It will be on May 8th, Saturday, at the Idaho fairgrounds (now called Idaho Expo).

MORE GOOD NEWS!! I may have at least one person, maybe two, who are interested in becoming a tenant and renting one of the rooms downstairs. This will help us tremendously, bringing extra income. Now I don't have to feel so pressured to go out and get some part-time job which I really don't have time for anyway with my classes, homework, taking care of the house, and working my art business. When is there any time for art work anyway? It is kind of difficult to be an artist if you NEVER have any time for your artwork!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

The Cat Show

The Cat Show has come and gone and I am at home now getting ready for school on Monday. I really enjoyed the show and seeing all the cute kitty-cats. I didn't do as well in sales as I did the previous years, but I made some good contacts. And I did enough sales that it was worth it to me. I connected with a few more people who are interested in taking art lessons from me. I also may do some collaboration work with another vendor, combining her products with my art work.

The only mishap I had during this show is that my cash box locked up and I couldn't get it open. I had put all my change and important papers for the cat show inside it. (Murphy's Law strikes again!) I had lost the key a long time ago so forget trying to unlock it! So my husband pried it open. By the time it was open, it was all bent and smashed and wasn't worth keeping. So I tossed it out.

I had a sort of epiphany this weekend. I decided that instead of wasting my time looking for a part-time job that I can NEVER find, I am just going to expand my art business and make that my job. I was meant to be an artist and an art teacher and I am TIRED of splitting myself into two careers--my art business and another non-art related part-time job. I really need more time for my art, not less time. Since the bad economy is making is near to impossible to find a job right now, I might as well work at what I do the best--making art, selling art, and giving art lessons!

So if I'm going to step it up I am going to have to find more time to actually create art. I want to offer some new product lines when I do shows. I haven't decided yet what those products will be.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

The Cat Show and New Art Students!

"Got Milk?" Time to get you cleaned up
ready for the cat show March 20-21 at the Idaho Fairgrounds!

This weekend I turned on my computer and the monitor started doing some wierd things, then I saw what looked like a black silhouette of a person staring back at me. I thought, "Wow, this looks like something I've seen on Ghost Hunters!" But it was NOT paranormal--just your average, everyday normal monitor burn out! It is interesting that my monitor decided to blow up on the weekend that my husband was on a business trip. I think that my computer planned it that way. Anyway, it turned out not to be too much of a problem. Sunday, I went to a thrift store and got a used monitor for only $4.00 and it works great! This recession/depression has made me a very thrifty shopper.

This week my main goal is to prepare (as an art vendor) for the Cat Show at the Idaho Fairgrounds this weekend. I am making sure that I have enough rock animals, prints and note cards. Then I will set up the show on Friday afternoon. I advertised this show on my facebook page. I hope lots of people come and that I make really good sales!

Some good news!! I am just beginning to start art lessons again at my home. I got a call from a former art student who wants to take more lessons, so the first lesson was Saturday. It felt good to be teaching art at my home again. I have missed doing this.

It was WONDERFUL to
actually get paid for doing something that I love to do! I also got another call from someone who wants art lessons as well, so things are really looking up! Maybe this is a sign that the recession is going away??? This is not a great time to be earning a living as a freelance artist, but these two new art students gave me hope!

Hmmm... since I got two new students, maybe I should try for more! I'm going to work on some ideas to get more students. Perhaps the time is right to reopen the Beverly Chick Art School that was temporarily closed due to poor economy.