Field Sketch

I am really digging plein air painting. I feel like I did in art school – painting straight from life and very spontaneously. It's a nice break from the illustration series that I am working on at the moment. Though, all the outdoor sketching I had been doing is paying off – the scenes in the illustration take place outside. And it was much easier to set up the backgrounds having painting so many trees, grass and landscape in the last few months. The trick is going to be the dinosaur (you'll see what I mean when I finish). In the meantime, let's enjoy a day at the basketball courts. I even captured a few young players too.

More Time Sketching

We took the kids to the park yesterday. While they played, I sketched the playground they played in. Where are the kids, you may ask? Well, I'm pretty good at capturing people on the move in my sketches, but my kids move at the speed of lightning!

Adventures in Education

In the midst of a presidential debate, a floundering economy, and global warming – what is it that I, as an art educator, worry about? Last year – my first year –was so valuable even though it was so challenging. There are things I learned that has almost become second nature to me this year. Classroom management is still a struggle, but new insight has given me a better outlook on how to handle many situations. It has given me more room to focus on individual students. And I have begun to discover some of the pain these kids must suffer in their lives – the things we as adults tend to forget that come along with being a child.

A lot of what I'm finding are children who need validation, attention, love and encouragement. I learned at the end of last year and over the summer that there are educators who believe that classroom management should deal very little with consequences. By that, I mean that if we took a more proactive approach – where we focus mainly on relationships, monitoring and encouragement – then consequences become less of an issue. So I am trying this approach this year and there is some truth to that theory. But there are a handful of students that I am focusing on that really struggle because they feel out of place everywhere else and thus carry that with them into my class. True, I only have students for 25 minutes at a time, twice to three times a week, but I still feel compelled to reach out to them. One in particular actually thinks that I do not like him at all. I've given this particular student a lot of thought this week. My personal goal is to reach out to him, to let him know that I do care. And I hope to see him try to make more positive choices. Because I get a feeling that few adults have really done that for him.

It also strengthens my resolve to become a better father to my own children. They are definitely more privileged than most of the children I teach, but there are universal needs that every child has – no matter their financial and family situation.

Struzan in Training

Where has time gone? Since school started, I have been concentrating on classroom management, modifying my lesson procedures and plans and even starting an Art Club. It's going to be quite a year. I really hope the students get a lot out of what I have to offer this time around. Judging by their work so far, things are looking really good. At night, I have begun work on the series of illustrations centering around Molly and a friendly dinosaur (you can find the sketches in the sketches section). And speaking of unfinished work, I dug up an old drawing I did when I was 12. Looks like even back then, I had a fascination with Drew Struzan's work.

At Least Someone in This House is Doing Art!

Well, I've got to hand it to Jacob. I set out some paints and paper, and he produces. Meanwhile his dad only manages to get one out of three 7x10 drawings transferred to illustration board. I'm thinking I may have Jacob start doing my art for me.
:)

Dual Passions

I was wondering,​what do people do who have dual passions?​How do they keep themselves​ motivated to maintain both?​ For instance,​ I am a second year art teacher.​ I couldn't be happier with my career change.​ And it takes​a lot of work to not only plan the days,​but to inspire and manage children in a classroom.​ But I also love painting and drawing.​I lead a second life as an illustrator and to be successful,​one has to continuously paint​ and generate presence by self-promotion.​ Whew!​ What to do.​.​.​.​ because what I SHOULD do when I get home from school is continue painting.​ But what I WANT to do is sleep​!!

Impromptu Illustration

It's a few days left before the weekend – then school starts. Being the art teacher, some of my colleagues will ask for a favor here and there to help decorate their room or hallway. This year, I am helping the first grade team by creating a hallway banner and t-shirt for their theme, "Dive into learning." I thought it would be a good opportunity to do an illustration. So, based on a concept from the 1st grade teachers, I came up with this in one sitting. It also gave me an excellent chance to try some different watercolor techniques.