Teaching

The school year is in full swing now. Time is moving at a very fast clip. I always think I'm going to be ahead. Silly of me...eh?

Here is a link to the main website at my school. We are rockin' it this year. Please take time to view the video. This is a wonderful piece done by HPVideo along with our own multi-media instructors- including myself (that's me teaching graphic design). We are very proud of our accomplishments and our school.

We are so lucky to have wonderful students who are coming to school eager to learn. Engaging, excited teachers who love teaching and who are collaborating wildly through technology, in hallway moments and during development meetings. And we wouldn't be where we are without our amazing administrative staff. I don't know if they know it, but we faculty love them.

At some point I will create another blog to separate all the facets of my world. I wish for this blog's focus to remain as a place to post my new works, but since my new works are currently students, my art must take a back-seat occasionally. That time thing - just not enough hours in each day. I love my life! How can anyone be bored?

Enjoy. Have a great weekend and remember to hug a teacher soon. The hours are long, but the rewards are forever.

Revisiting Theatre Scenic Art

A few years ago I enjoyed a multi-production stint at a local theatre. I have (during my varied art career) had the pleasure of being scenic artist for multiple productions at various theatres here. Since I started teaching graphic design my colleagues and students only get to see one side of me. They don't know that I paint with real paint and brushes as well as computer software. I love both worlds but I gotta tell you - I miss the theatre from time to time.

This morning I was browsing through some of my digital photos and came across a few to share. In the above photos every painted surface is my work. I did not design the sets. Several good friends who are set-designers conceived the actual floor plans and what would become the flats and fly-ins. They hired me to paint everything and turn it into 'brick and mortar New Orleans', 'Singer-Sargent-esque portraits', and 'creepy Brooklyn florist-shop interiors'.

Those not practicing art sometimes think special tools and exotic (and expensive) paints are necessary to create. Not true. Just today I discovered an artist using found objects to create cool face sculptures using toilet paper rolls. All the paintings above, including the portraits, were painted with common hardware store brushes and donated interior house paints. Most theatres aren't flush with money and large budgets and depend upon donations for most of their productions. Which means we artists have to be very flexible and creative to give the directors and set-designers what they want without compromising the integrity of the finished product.

I'm not saying that a portrait I would paint for a commission or myself would utilize flat-wall interior paints, but for the purpose of viewing something from 25 feet (or better) away and is not intended* for archiving, it works just fine.

I hope you enjoy this glimpse into an one area of my past art adventures. When I dig out the film shot photos of previous works I'll post them. In the meantime - Enjoy life and be creative!

*while most theatre sets are repurposed later some things do get saved. I understand the 'portraits' for Mame are now in the private collection of the lead character. They should last a very long time because house paint is acrylic too.

Photo Illustration Work

Original Scan of Jonathan's Photo

Photo manipulated for inclusion in poster

Photo composite and manipulation for poster (note 'tear' and distress).

While painting and drawing are very important to me as an artist, I also enjoy working digitally. A lot of the work I do for clients. Some I do for me. The above photos show how vacation photos can take on a whole new life and meaning with a little imagination and technology.

A few years ago my twin sons took a trip to Amsterdam and Germany with their very good friend. Their adventure included a visit to the uncle of the friend and that European experience which the youth of America have sought for centuries.

One of my sons took a 35mm film camera along. They all had their digital cameras as well, but like their mother, they enjoy photography. Jonathan wanted to capture his version on film. He managed to take about 25 rolls of it. They returned home happy, tired, and, of course broke. The film sat in the camera bag until early Autumn. It was along about the time I begin my annual "Christmas/Chanukah (yes we celebrate both)Whaddya need/want/desire shpiel" that he thought about it. Since our children are now adults, the gifts are less in number and we focus on our being together more than gifts, but we still want to exchange some tokens of love and appreciation during the holidays. Jonathan asked if we would have his film developed. Indeed.

I bought a really nice leather album to place the photos. But I could not just leave it there. As I looked at the photos he had taken I saw Old World. I saw atmosphere, setting, adventure, dark alleys, intrigue, mystery. I have not been to Europe so my imagination as to what was around the corner ran wild. My son also likes Bram Stoker's "Dracula". So do I - and this is what fed my imagination.

I 'aged' the photos to add to the mysterious tone and to the suggestion of time passage. I used other articles, scans, objects, and drawings to put together a "Jonathan Harker's Journal". Now his European adventure looked like a REAL (or really scary) adventure.

I have several clients whom I have done digital works for in a similar fashion. While I adore working traditionally I equally enjoy creating with the computer. As I tell my students - "the computer is just another tool in your creative arsenal. It takes YOU and your imagination to make it all happen."

Be Well, Be Creative, Be Happy!

Painting in Progress

A current painting I'm working on for my daughter-in-law and son. I still have quite a bit to do, but I wanted to share it in progress. This is a hastily snapped image. I will continue to post as I finish it. The painting is 18"x24" acrylic on canvas. The subject matter reflects both their Celtic heritage and elements of color and icon (trinity knot) from their wedding ephemera. The path leads to places unexplored just waiting for them to take it. I was relieved when they (especially my daughter-in-law) liked it. If they had not I was tempted to keep it here as a reminder of possibilities just around the bend.
More later.

Cluck, Cluck, Tweet!

If you are interested the latest stream of thought, check out the Twitter updates on the right. They will direct you to ideas, concepts, or technologies that I am discussing with colleagues and others.

The image left is one of my photo-illustrations. I took the photo of the hen at the Fair and the photo of my woods and put them together. She is so happy to 'twitter' about everything.

Be Fabulous!

Artists That I Admire: James Gurney

If you remember "Dinotopia" you know James Gurney's work. I've long admired his wonderfully rich paintings and illustrations. His great attention to detail and the formal elements of art are the magic that keeps us entranced.

He has been posting, on his blog Gurney's Journey , the process he uses as he works up a poster for the Utopiales Festival in Nantes, France. The links will take you to his blog site or check out my Reader shared items under the Cool Stuff banner on the right. If you haven't discovered him before, I hope you'll take the time to do so now.

BTW - If you have read National Geographic in the last few years, you have most likely seen Mr. Gurney's talented illustrations. Go ahead, read his blog. You're going to love it. Please come back here though. I may not be as talented or as prolific, but I'll keep trying.

Be Creative!

From Artists I Admire: Which Student are You?

Check out this post by Chuck Dillon. I love these. I teach high school graphic design and I recognize these students. When I was in art school I was a mixture of several of these. For those of you who know me, which ones do you think best describe me? Hope you enjoy these. Thanks Chuck for all the fun.
blog 30 x 30: Which Student are You?