Find New Ways to Fill Your Sketchbook Page
I went through middle school, high school, and college believing sketchbooks were only for drawing. They needed to be beautiful, something people would ooh and ahh about if they were lucky enough to flip through the pages. So, I never used a sketchbook. My process is messy. I write ideas EVERYWHERE. Collect bits and pieces […]
The number one mistake that you’re making when working on projects
In class one of my students asked, “my friends and I want to study art in college, but how do we know if we’ll be able to handle all of the work.” This is a really good and common question that I get from high school students, and the answer is, that you need to […]
Are You Misusing Reference Images?
Everything around you is communicating. The question is, are you listening, are you looking, and do you understand? The color, texture, proportion, and scale tell you something. Is it safe? Playful? Hot or cold? Look in the mirror; what does your style communicate? Does it say you’re friendly, under 20, following trends, or breaking the […]
Is Your Sketchbook too Expensive?
Designer Pep Carrio has this to say about how he works in his sketchbook: For me, a sketchbook is like a kind of portable laboratory, a space to mark with references, to capture the immediate, to experiment; a memory warehouse to which I can return whenever I am searching for an idea or when I simply […]
What is a Sustained Investigation?
Creating a sustained investigation and documenting your process I’m talking about a sustained investigation through the lens of an advanced placement studio art course. However, you can apply the concept of a sustained investigation to anything in your life. The college board defines sustained investigation as: A section of your portfolio shows related works demonstrating […]
The Breakdown
Monitoring Standardized Tests Ten years ago, when I was teaching 9-12 art and started this website, we had to complete professional development that led us to monitor standardized tests yearly. We learned things like never sitting down, not being on your computer, and reading a book while students tested. We even saw examples of how […]
How to Find Ideas to Inspire Your Work
“ The arts allow us to dance on the edge of uncertainty and invite in creativity, expanded awareness, expanded perception, play, and more prosocial behavior.” Barbara One of the best ways to learn how to build a body of work is to look at bodies of work and reflect on what you love and don’t […]
Be Creative: Experiment
Kids love to learn until it seems like, suddenly, they don’t. Observe any kid under eight engaged in endless imagination, experimentation, and questioning, leading to learning. They learn a new word or skill almost daily, but why does it stop? Research shows that kids’ love for learning tends to drop off in third grade. Why? […]
4 Questions to Help You Choose a College
If you’re a junior in high school, it’s the time of year when people ask you where you will go to college. It’s not easy to answer, so you’re likely asking your teachers for recommendations and turning to the college board for research. Create a list of schools to research and visit by reflecting and […]
How to Develop and Design A Postcard
Design My husband just walked through the door with his first tip of the holiday season; he’s a letter carrier, which reminds me that I need to figure out the design for this year’s thank you card. When developing an idea or new design, giving yourself some rules is essential. Don’t worry; you can break […]