"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.

Photography on Duke University Campus

Title: "Thought Processes"
Medium: Digital Color Photography

Date: March 15, 2009

Title: "Geometric Study"
Medium: Color Digital Photography
Date: March 15, 2009

Click here to check out my travel blog, Trips and Treks, and see more of my photography around the Duke University Campus.

What does Doodling Mean?

This is an interesting news report on "doodling." I doodled quite a bit in high school in the margins of my papers and would sometimes turn in informal assignments with the doodling in the margins. Now, sometimes I doodle on a separate sheet of paper in meetings. I often doodle when on the phone as well. Doodling for me just happens while I am thinking about something else. When my doodling changes over to art, I start thinking about what I am drawing and organizing the page.

Embedded video from CNN Video

More "White" Photography

Taking photos yesterday, while it was still snowing, sleeting, and raining, was a bit difficult, especially in protecting my camera and lens. I snapped a few more shots today and will possibly use a few as inspirations for a painting or drawing.

"White" Photography

Capturing compositions in nature....

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This reminds me of a colored pencil drawing.

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Experimenting with contrast and cropping...

Photo Compositions from a Day Trip

In my photography, I enjoy exploring light and shadow and a range of compositions, particularly cropping, altering the photo plane and angle, and capturing compositions in unexpected places.

Zooming in to capture details is like painting a small object in a large, abstract way.

In portraiture, I experiment with backgrounds and how to make the person blend in or stand out from his surroundings.

Click trips & treks, my travel blog, for more info

about these locations and my day trip to get here.

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."

Drawing with Lines, Shapes & Patterns

Title: "Keeping the Beat"

Medium: Ink

Style: Abstract

Materials: Ballpoint Pen

Date: February 3, 2009

I had fun with this drawing.

The large, white "music notes" provide an interesting contrast to the details in the background. The layering and overlapping of shapes and lines give the illusion of depth.

This drawing was actually a gift for a buddy who is my former high school chorus and music teacher.