I've been lurking for most of last semester, trying to keep my negativity to
myself - but I am back with a slightly improved attitude, and a little more
enthusiasm.
Last semester was AWFUL, from day one, I was so unprepared. Thanks to many
of you, I had a few days worth of warms ups, after my mom died to get the
semester started with, and I did get my act together to some degree, but I
spent all semester feeling as though I was one step behind every step of the
way.
So, that's over with.
I spent winter break giving my art room a much needed purge, and found some
things I not only didn't know I had, but am not too sure what to do with -
so - I am looking for suggestions. On some of these it is not that I don't
have lessons, but I have been unsuccessful with the media and I am hoping
someone out there has some tips and tricks for me:
such as:
non-drying modeling clay... how do you explain to itty bitties that they can
play with it, but not keep it? OR is there someway to do something with it
that will give it permanence? I tired coating with an acrylic clear coat-
that just made a mess... any thoughts? I have a few pounds of brightly
colored bricks of modeling clay.
and:
Sheets of metal, for decorating, with a dull nib... then draws on with
permanent markers? I ve seen finished pieces, but never directions - or
background.
AND - my deepest secret- scratch board:
1st, I've heard tell, that you can make your own with crayons covered with
India ink, but I have yet to succeed at that , (I tried putting plaster
powder over the coloring- that made a mess... ) and I have some store bought
boards, and stylists - and they DO NOT WORK.... I can not get them to work,
it just trashes the surfaces - I suspect I am doing something terribly
wrong, and do feel pretty foolish - But I am confident someone out there
will set me straight!
Now to the exciting part:
In my spare time, I have somehow completed more than 2/3rds of my course
work for my Masters Degree (it's not that I learned a great deal about
specific art projects- it is more that I learned where to go and when to ask
for help).
AND - for my Elementary Methods class, I need to interview art teachers
from schools with varying socio-economic populations. So I am looking for
some of you who might spare me a few of their precious moments (probably on
the weekend) where I would call you and pick your brain for about 20
minutes. I world really appreciated it.
oh - as far as varying socio-economic backgrounds go, I teach at a (nearly
broke) charter school, with a very diverse population, so even a pretty poor
traditional district school is varied from ours, and I guess we'd be
considered at least URBAN, if not inner city. While it is not the Bronx, or
East L.A., we are the second biggest city in Colorado, and I am deep in the
heart of "Downtown!"
