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Lesson Plans


Re: sketchbook debate...(long)

From: Karlawald
Date: Fri Jun 02 2000 - 09:10:23 PDT

  • Next message: Holly112: "Re: sketchbooks- a response (Peg)"

    MaryB,
    I agree that students don't always know what's best for them, and I don't let
    my courses get run by the whiners. However, the point I was trying to make is
    that I believe there is a difference between the work I assign to them and
    the intense personal-ness of a truly successful sketchbook, which I would
    like to be driven by them. I'm trying to instill in them a lifelong habit of
    using a sketchbook for the right reasons. It will not become a lifelong habit
    if I force them to use a sketchbook according to my regulations. It will be
    an assignment. And there are reasons for a sketchbook that I haven't even
    thought of yet, so why limit these students?

    I agree that structured and open-ended drawing assignments are needed, for
    both your middle school and my high school students, and I''ll continue
    assigning them. But they think of the sketchbook as THEIRS, and I'm trying to
    learn something from them They complain good-naturedly, and I consider it a
    voice to listen to. They are screaming to be seen as individuals, and can
    learn to love art more if they feel their art is serving to reveal their
    individuality.

    So I am breaking away from the assignment-oriented sketchbook, at least in
    the more advanced courses of juniors and seniors. I will probably have a
    limited sketchbook for the "fine arts credit-seekers" class that will be
    predominantly drawing assignments. But my advanced students will be expected
    to create their own assignments, to solve their own problems.

    And I want those advanced students to know that they, and they alone, are
    responsible for the content of their uniquely personal sketchbooks. I can
    certainly see the possibilities of having them keep a sketchbook for MY
    assignments, and a separate one for their own ideas. It might teach them to
    use different sketchbooks for different facets of their artwork. Which I
    think I'll start doing, myself, by the way.

    MaryB, I'm not trying to prove you "wrong", I very much believe your methods
    are sound and good. I'm just trying to point out another way of looking at
    the usefulness and psychology of sketchbooks that has piqued my interest
    lately.

    Karla 

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