Celebrating 100 Posts

My last post was my 100th post!

I started my blog on October 3, 2008!

Just for Fun: Artistic Style Quiz

Take the quiz, here, that supposedly predicts your artistic style.

At first, it said I have a Surrealistic Style.

It said: "You certainly don't think inside the box - you might not even know where the box is. Surrealism stresses the weird, the fantastic and the dream world of the subconscious. Your art is wild, wacky and off the wall - just like you!"

Hhhhmmmmm?!

(I even said I color inside the lines!)

When I took the quiz again, reconsidering those questions that I could have answered a couple different ways, it said: "You're Neoclassical!

Neoclassical art was a revival in the 18th and 19th century art, which is characterized by order, symmetry, and simplicity of style. Your art is structured, orderly and neat - just like you!"

Can art versus math and music preferences make that much difference?

(Note: Keep in mind, I did not choose the photos or icons representing each question, particularly the disturbing music photo!)

My Paint Doodles are just to add some color and do not necessarily reflect the results other than the use of symmetry versus asymmetry.

Setting up an Art Show

It is that time of year for the Spring Art Extravaganza. I have not been making as much personal art recently but have been preparing my students' art for exhibition. For the last several days, I have kept supplies out in a certain area of my classroom so I could work in between classes, during planning, and other random times during the day.

So....

I was bending down to hang some art near the bottom of my exhibition screen. I had forgotten, didn't see, or just didn't pay attention that the stapler was just below me on the carpet. No big deal! However, it was opened wide since I was stapling things into wood rather than using it folded to staple paper.

My knee went down on the stapler and it stapled into my leg!

I thought paper staplers were fairly weak and didn't think much about this incident until I realized the staple was sticking into my leg... I pulled it out, saw a small dot of blood... Anyway, it was not a major accident, but I needed a bandaid.

...Thrills and Chills of being an Artist and/or Art Teacher...

(Stay tuned for images of the exhibit.)

A Blog Tag

I was tagged by Abby. Check out her rules here at Artsy Violinist.

In keeping with my art theme, this is my answer to the tag...

Title: "Looking Inside"

Media: Digital Photography

Camera: Canon Rebel XT

Date: April 6, 2009

"Hand Art"

When I was in college, I was told not to teach children "symbols" or more specifically "one way" to draw, write, or create something. They will draw, write or create this same something the same way for the rest of their lives.

SOoooooOOooooOooooo..... (years later) I was in a short workshop with some colleagues, and we were working on a sorting and graphing example to share with the whole group. The topic happened to relate to birds. I drew a rather detailed bald eagle, and a buddy teacher drew

A HAND TURKEY!

(She traced her hand and made it look like a turkey.)

(These same teachers have tried to do other hand animals as well.)

Of course I enthusiastically explained why this HAND TURKEY was a problem, but my frantics only encouraged them...


Presently, one of these teachers and I are good buddies and enjoy having fun with her class. We keep a "running" joke with her class from surprises to funny quotes, etc. I decided to take this joke over the top, revive the hand turkey discussion, and write up a "decree:"

"Hear ye, hear ye. This decree goes out through all the land. Anyone caught making or possessing such named hand art will be banished from the kingdom. Signed, The Queen."

Even though this decree was presented at the end of the day and the end of this teacher's art class time, the decree was ignored. (Typical!) On planning day, my buddy teacher and a colleague drew a hand turkey on my classroom door window.

Now, I suppose I need to find a way to banish them!

Interesting Quote from An Art Student

Setting: First Grade Art Class

Topic: Mask-making

Discussion: Functional versus Decorative Objects

Question: What are some of the many uses of masks?

Media: Microsoft Word Date: March 18, 2009

Student: "Halloween"
Student: "Costumes"
Student: "For Scaring People"
Student: "Dress Up"
Student: "Dressing like a character in a play"
Teacher: "As we discussed while observing the Mexican Jaguar Mask example, some cultures use masks in dances."
Student: "Just for Fun"
Student: "To get Money from a Bank"

HHHhhhmmmmmmHhhhhmmmmm???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Teacher Thought: What? Wait... huh?

Teacher: That is a BAD use for a mask.

Quoting Another Art Student

The following is a conversation that took place near the end of the school day with yet another third grade class.


(Photo taken in the Enchanted Forest at the Children's Museum)

Third Grade Student X, aka Governor, and other students at his table, discuss colors of yarn being used in weavings.

Student X: "Most girls like pink. Mrs. Gordon, do you like pink?"
Mrs. G: "Not really."
Student X: "Why?"
Mrs. G: "I don't know..."
Other students: "You're a girl."
Mrs. G: "Yeah, maybe I don't like it because most people think all girls like pink."
(My striped shirt I am wearing with sweater shrug over it actually has a hint of pink. :) )

Student X: "Do you like... (orange, blue, green, etc.) purple?"
(I mention colors I like to all students at the table.)

Mrs. G: "Somewhat... my husband really likes purple."
Student X: "YOU HAVE A HUSBAND!"
Mrs. G: "Yeah, it's okay. Having a husband is a good thing."
(I'm thinking, as opposed to other standards he may see or know in the world.)

Student X: "I thought you were a teenager."
Mrs. G: "Well, how old do you think I am?"


Student X: "43."

Quoting an Art Student

(Photo taken at the Children's Museum)

Setting: My Art Classroom at the end of the School Day


Characters: 2 boys in the 3rd grade

Student A: quiet, usually works hard

Student L: interesting, surprisingly informed in some areas for a 3rd grader, hypochondriac (loves visiting the school nurse)


Plot: Apparently Student L felt the need to comment to Student A about his weaving.


Quote:

Student A: "Don't make fun of my artwork."

Student L: "I'm not making fun of it. It's called art criticism."

Just Having Fun: An Interview

The following is a series of interview questions given to me by Beth at The Cat in the Adage.

Rules: If you'd like to join in:

1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” (And your e-mail address if I don't already have it, please.)

2. I will email you five questions.

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

(Original Graphic Design by AAGordon)

The Interview:

1. What was your favorite toy, or type of toy, when you were a child?

I did not have a toy that I carried around with me. I also went through “stages” of favorite toys, depending on my age and interests. In random order during childhood, I had: about 3 different dolls that I named, (2 were generic, 1 was Cabbage Patch,) a collection of Matchbox Cars, (particularly a Corvette and 57 Chevy,) outside toys, (a skateboard, bicycle, scooter, and Big Wheel,) Fisherprice Pool Table, board games, (Outburst Jr, Connect Four, Guess Who,)...


2. What art form/medium is your least favorite and why?

DIFFICULT QUESTION… While oil paintings are traditional and usually very good work, I have not worked with oil very much, if at all. Traditional oils dry very slowly. While I don’t mind taking a while to finish a painting, I like to layer paint and colors and correct mistakes or paint over the paint quickly, without having to wait for the medium to dry, which is impossible with oils.


3. What is/was your favorite Christmas ornament?

When I think of Christmas ornaments, I immediately think of a small, wooden house ornament with some details, including a clock. I have had this ornament since I was a child, (and convinced my mom to let me bring it with me when I got married.) My great grandfather, my dad’s mother’s father, (my dad’s maternal grandfather,) gave it to me. He lived near us, practically next door, for several years.


4. You have written your autobiography and it is ready to be published, what will the cover look like?

Option 1: My portrait in a room or other setting, decorated with objects reflecting my interests: a Bible, art supplies, musical instruments, books, a camera, photos, teaching supplies…
Option 2: An Original Photo, possibly a landscape, with colors and setting, reflective of contemplation, nature, peace, variety…
Option 3: An Original Photo with a graphically designed border, containing objects that represent me, as mentioned in option 1


5. What is your favorite dessert?

Candy Bar: Three Musketeers
Pie: Pecan Pie
Birthday Cake: White Confetti Cake
Ice Cream: Strawberry and Mint Chocolate Chip
Cookie: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Chocolate Chip

(I’m sure I could continue this list further…)

Picture Tags

I was tagged by Annabeth at Life from the Toaster.

The rules are: Go to your Picture file, go to the 5th folder, open up the 5th picture, post it, and then tag 5 people.

Horizontally, this is the photograph that satisfies the tag rules.

Here we are at the National Tree in Washington, DC in December of 2007.

Vertically, this is the photograph that satisfies the tag rules.

This is Mabry Mill in Virginia.

I tag Melissa and Beth.

Blog Tag aka Things Art Teachers Do For Fun!

Rebecca tagged me... (I was surprised.)

The rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write Six Random Things about yourself.
4. Tag a few other people at the bottom of the post.
5. Leave comments on their blogs, letting them know they've been tagged!
6. Let the person who tagged you know when you've written the post.


6 Random Things about Me

1. I have lived in NC my entire life. I lived in one town growing up, one town for college, and one town now that I am married. All of these towns are within 30 minutes to an hour of each other.

2. I play mandolin, guitar, (electric and acoustic,) lap dulcimer, violin, and harmonica. The mandolin was my first instrument, and I started playing when I was 15 years old.

3. My favorite television show, (now off the air,) is The Waltons. I have 7 seasons on DVD. (I think it may have actually gone off the air around the time I was born.)

4. I enjoy writing. I have written several poems and short stories, including a sequel to "To Kill a Mockingbird." I wrote most of the stories when I was in school with my classmates as the characters. I had a couple poems published in anthology books. Several of my childhood friends became my pen pals. Once, I also wrote a letter to the editor of our local newspaper arguing for some organizations, such as the local arts council, during budget cuts.

5. I had very long hair growing up. At one point, my hair touched my waist.

6. I graduated as valedictorian of my high school senior class. I graduated magna cum laude from my college class.


I tag Aaron & Lauren, Melissa, Jennifer, and Kristin. (Some of these blogs are for specific subjects, but we will see if anyone answers... Most of you taggers have already tagged each other!)

Walking Art

So, what does an artist and art teacher dress up as for Fall Festival?



Walking Art.....

























Here you see me dressed as Renoir's painting, "Le Moulin de la Galette,"
during my fall festival role as a face painter.

(My portrait was courtesy of a fellow facepainter, pictured below.)