How to Write About Your Art Work

How to Write About Your Art Work

If you’re taking an advanced placement art class, you know that you need to write about your work, but you need clarification on what to say and are even more confused about how to say it in 100 characters. Writing Sections: You’ll start by adding writing to each of your digital images. A reminder that […]

Creative Prompt: Julie Mehretu

Creative Prompt: Julie Mehretu

I first encountered Julie’s work while teaching AP Art History, or at least that’s the first time that her style and name connected and cemented in my memory. Her piece, Stadia II, 2004, ink and acrylic on canvas, 108 x 144 inches, is part of the 250 images in the image set. The movement, depth, […]

Get More Eyes on Your Artwork

Get More Eyes on Your Artwork

If you love making art and hope to pursue it as a career or have the goal of having more than just your mom and art teacher look at your work, you will need to write an artist statement.  Artist statements help the viewer understand your work better; they are a way to provide additional […]

Revision and Starting Over

Revision and Starting Over

We’re taught that revision is essential but shouldn’t like it. It means that we should have done it better the first time. What if you looked at revision as a sign of learning, a way to demonstrate that you know more now than you did yesterday? An indicator of a desire and willingness to grow. […]

Visual Literacy/Communication: Learning to read pictures

Visual Literacy/Communication: Learning to read pictures

Quickly, observe what’s around you. Did you see shapes, colors, objects, or pictures? Visual elements and images are all around us. Visual elements (line, shape, color, texture, space, form) are a tool that artists, designers, markets, illustrators, and even YOU, use to communicate. There is no escaping visuals, which is why it’s important to learn […]

Improving your Visual Literacy Skills

Improving your Visual Literacy Skills

You’ve likely heard of the terms visual literacy and visual communication, but do you understand what they are, and how it applies to you and your life? Visual literacy includes a set of abilities that allows you to be able to find, interpret, evaluate, use, and create images. Visual literacy helps you understand how to […]

Another First Day

Another First Day

It’s another first day of school for me, I’m not really sure how many first days there have been if you count teaching and attending school. For example, a few months ago, I had another first day of school as a student, as I returned to earn my Senior Product Management certification. Today is the […]

Homeschool PE Curriculum

Homeschool PE Curriculum

How to use The Body Book as your homeschool physical education curriculum. As a new year begins, you’re spending a lot of time looking for curriculum materials and planning what your kids are going to do each day. Running around in the backyard or playing on a sports team might be part of your plan […]

Understanding Art through Artle

Understanding Art through Artle

Students often ask me how they can prepare for AP Art History or AP Studio Art over the summer, and my response is usually more straightforward than expected.  Look at art. Make art.  And while looking at and making art and still the foundation of preparing for any art course, I’m going to give you […]

Reading Art Without a Deep Meaning

Reading Art Without a Deep Meaning

The elements and principles of art make up part of the language that artists use to communicate meaning through their work. Artists use the elements and principles as organizational tools to create a composition.  As a viewer, your understanding of the elements and principles helps you “read” the work of art and unpack what story […]