I have been paint for awhile but love most arts. With school last year, I really didn't have time to paint with planning for classes. I had to learn the Mac, Photoshop, Illustrator, Digital Art etc. I did silk screen printing and linoleum cuts with some students. It was hard watching them print and not being able to do you own art.
I do like painting. I have worked for years working on perfecting my art. I have different types of paint and have tried different surfaces. I have tried the plein air painting and like doing it at my leisure but get stressed when it is for a contest. If I want to paint other than in my studio it involves a packing of bags of equipment.
After painting for awhile and also teaching printmaking at school, my desire was to do printmaking for awhile. I like the look of the prints, that sometimes you can do all the work and have more than one, and that you can use your painting techiques to do mono prints. The more that I have gotten into printmaking this summer, the more I see how creative and flexible it is with experimentation. I had never heard of Kitchen or wood lithography, and pronto plates before or how I can use my printer. I have cut and printed some linoleum blocks with my wooden spoon. I use oil based ink and sometimes find them at the thrift store if I am lucky. I can use some of my oil paint and Golden open up on monoprints. There just see so much opportunity to be creative as a printmaker. Maybe in the future I will be taking my printing stuff along with my during a plein air event and be printing off monoprints or linocuts instead of painting on paper and canvas.
What this also leads me again to is back to paper making. It is like that "If you feed a mouse a cookie thing" and once I get started, who knows where I will end up at. I am excited about the possibility.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Friday, October 18, 2019
Fall 2019 Life of the unexpected
So, last year I did a long-term subsitute postition for Middle School and High School. It was interesting and stimulating to say the least. I did not apply for that job but did apply for a couple of others this summer. Was unsuccessful - which turned out to be good. A dear friend wanted me to be her long term sub for her maternity leave and I said I would.
I began my summer being a super gardener. Things were going well, but it was a heavy tick year. I ended up with 4 ticks - 2 being deer ticks and called it quits even though I had covered up and sprayed. It sounds like they can float on the wind. My garden is a weed pit now and I need to spray up and see what actually made it past my neglect. Each time I got a tick bite, the area would redden and swell and the last time half my windpipe swelled also. I haven't gotten a tick bite in years and was afraid that I was getting an allergy to the saliva. My next step may be to see an allergist or wear my bee suit and boots when I garden. It has been a wet year and that is part of it.
The rest of my summer started out ok. We went fishing and enjoyed the days when it wasn't raining again. I began to work on linoleum prints. I even have a fish in my freezer to print. I began to have a health issue and went to the doctor. My physical turned out well except for the one issue. I was diagnosed with endometral cancer. It was not something that I had heard about to even watch for. Leading up to the surgery, it was nerve-wracking with the not knowing. After the surgery, it was what does the future hold? Will it come back. I think of those that have gone through much worse and are suffering from various things for years. I know we never know when we will go and could be hit by a car before I would have died of natural causes.
I cancelled my friend's long term sub position, because teaching art requires stamina and I didn't know if I would have it by then. I am sitting here, not knowing where I should go from here. This is my 13th year as a Substitute Teacher and it has been a good job around family issues, my appointments, surgery and recovery. I am ready for something else - maybe less stressful if at all possible. I have a friend that wants me to work for her son. My sister has an opportunity for me also. I am just beginning to look.
So, I feel like I am standing on a mountaintop. I survey different paths and opportunities. I am not sure what my future holds and where I will be going after this. It has made me value life and how fast everything can change. I don't want to waste away what is left - whether it is only a few years or if it is 30 years. It is being immersed in life - family, friends, others.
I began my summer being a super gardener. Things were going well, but it was a heavy tick year. I ended up with 4 ticks - 2 being deer ticks and called it quits even though I had covered up and sprayed. It sounds like they can float on the wind. My garden is a weed pit now and I need to spray up and see what actually made it past my neglect. Each time I got a tick bite, the area would redden and swell and the last time half my windpipe swelled also. I haven't gotten a tick bite in years and was afraid that I was getting an allergy to the saliva. My next step may be to see an allergist or wear my bee suit and boots when I garden. It has been a wet year and that is part of it.
The rest of my summer started out ok. We went fishing and enjoyed the days when it wasn't raining again. I began to work on linoleum prints. I even have a fish in my freezer to print. I began to have a health issue and went to the doctor. My physical turned out well except for the one issue. I was diagnosed with endometral cancer. It was not something that I had heard about to even watch for. Leading up to the surgery, it was nerve-wracking with the not knowing. After the surgery, it was what does the future hold? Will it come back. I think of those that have gone through much worse and are suffering from various things for years. I know we never know when we will go and could be hit by a car before I would have died of natural causes.
I cancelled my friend's long term sub position, because teaching art requires stamina and I didn't know if I would have it by then. I am sitting here, not knowing where I should go from here. This is my 13th year as a Substitute Teacher and it has been a good job around family issues, my appointments, surgery and recovery. I am ready for something else - maybe less stressful if at all possible. I have a friend that wants me to work for her son. My sister has an opportunity for me also. I am just beginning to look.
So, I feel like I am standing on a mountaintop. I survey different paths and opportunities. I am not sure what my future holds and where I will be going after this. It has made me value life and how fast everything can change. I don't want to waste away what is left - whether it is only a few years or if it is 30 years. It is being immersed in life - family, friends, others.
Monday, May 6, 2019
End of the Year teaching Art and the Overload
So, this fall, I was asked to teach MS/HS Art. The teacher had left right before school started. I knew the children and the staff so it was an easy transition. I ended up cleaning up the back storage room and the upstairs storage room finding treasures and throwing out dusty stuff from the past two art teachers. I had to switch to Mac since that is what the school used and also was hooked up with the Adobe Suite which was upgrade 1/2 way through the first sememster. I have a new computer also that I have not moved into yet. At this point, I may not.
I decided not to apply for the position when it was posted. There are many reasons. There are many nice children and teens taking the classes. There are some that do not stop talking and they are loud. There are some that argue about getting off the phone. But there were other reasons that I won't mention here. We had 11 snowdays and during one of them I fell leaving and broke my arm. It is mostly recovered. I still get numb fingers when I type or drive. I am still thinking about the carpal tunnel surgery to take care of that. I am, however, able to still throw a pot on the wheel, which made me very happy.
So, I am looking at my next steps. I didn't do any Art shows this whole 9 months. Actually none last year, and sadly, I hardly created anything at all. I need to get a tent and get back into it. I have been selling a few prints on Ebay - which is good but. I feel like I am starting over again. I did Daily Paintworks last year and that did motivate me. While I only sold one item while I was on there, I miss the excitement of seeing people looking and comment on my art. I am thinking of doing it again. I am taking my art off of Etsy and moving the art to just one Ebay store. The website idea may come up again, just not sure when.
I am in a transition mode. One of the things about teaching is the bit with learning new programs, systems and materials. If I am shopping, I feel like I am in overload - looking for me but also ideas for them. Maybe I am burnt out with the multitasking? I have a problem, since I am a working artist, to limit my materials. I paint with Acrylic paint but also have the sets of oils, watercolors, an inktense blocks and pencils. I sew and am behind 6 grandkid quilts. I have gardening season coming up and just found out about Farm Forests and feel like I should try that also. My bees didn't make it so I want to take a sabbatical from them and maybe have a garage sale instead because then I won't have any unwanted visitors. I love sculpture the best but how do I fit it in? For my sanity artwise, I want to limit my mediums but the teaching sends me further and further into more and more materials to learn and teach. For my sanity, I need to go the other direction.
Thinking out loud - We are in an Art and creative glut. There are creative things going on all over the place. On top of that I see where people have stolen other artists designs and are making money off of copyright infringement. We are importing cheap things from China (who also steal designs and innovation) which adds to the stuff that surrounds us. Savers and Goodwill and Hobby Lobby are full of these things. As a teacher, I see a paradox. All this creative, visual stuff out there, but the students don't have the skills to do or make things for themselves. I have a Crafts class teaching students basic crafts that I thought that they should have done as a child, and a 7th grade class teaching them how to tie a knot.
As an artist, what can you still do to make yourself stand out? Anything online is risky but that is where the collectors and shoppers are. Does one still make "Art" or does one make functional things for people to handle, use and enjoy? My thoughts go in circles just trying to sort this out. It comes down to what medium do I want to do, what do I want to make and honestly right now I do not know. Maybe it is teaching skills outside of the public school where I do not have to worry about grades or semesters. Time will tell. Will have to see what opportunities open up or are found.
I decided not to apply for the position when it was posted. There are many reasons. There are many nice children and teens taking the classes. There are some that do not stop talking and they are loud. There are some that argue about getting off the phone. But there were other reasons that I won't mention here. We had 11 snowdays and during one of them I fell leaving and broke my arm. It is mostly recovered. I still get numb fingers when I type or drive. I am still thinking about the carpal tunnel surgery to take care of that. I am, however, able to still throw a pot on the wheel, which made me very happy.
So, I am looking at my next steps. I didn't do any Art shows this whole 9 months. Actually none last year, and sadly, I hardly created anything at all. I need to get a tent and get back into it. I have been selling a few prints on Ebay - which is good but. I feel like I am starting over again. I did Daily Paintworks last year and that did motivate me. While I only sold one item while I was on there, I miss the excitement of seeing people looking and comment on my art. I am thinking of doing it again. I am taking my art off of Etsy and moving the art to just one Ebay store. The website idea may come up again, just not sure when.
I am in a transition mode. One of the things about teaching is the bit with learning new programs, systems and materials. If I am shopping, I feel like I am in overload - looking for me but also ideas for them. Maybe I am burnt out with the multitasking? I have a problem, since I am a working artist, to limit my materials. I paint with Acrylic paint but also have the sets of oils, watercolors, an inktense blocks and pencils. I sew and am behind 6 grandkid quilts. I have gardening season coming up and just found out about Farm Forests and feel like I should try that also. My bees didn't make it so I want to take a sabbatical from them and maybe have a garage sale instead because then I won't have any unwanted visitors. I love sculpture the best but how do I fit it in? For my sanity artwise, I want to limit my mediums but the teaching sends me further and further into more and more materials to learn and teach. For my sanity, I need to go the other direction.
Thinking out loud - We are in an Art and creative glut. There are creative things going on all over the place. On top of that I see where people have stolen other artists designs and are making money off of copyright infringement. We are importing cheap things from China (who also steal designs and innovation) which adds to the stuff that surrounds us. Savers and Goodwill and Hobby Lobby are full of these things. As a teacher, I see a paradox. All this creative, visual stuff out there, but the students don't have the skills to do or make things for themselves. I have a Crafts class teaching students basic crafts that I thought that they should have done as a child, and a 7th grade class teaching them how to tie a knot.
As an artist, what can you still do to make yourself stand out? Anything online is risky but that is where the collectors and shoppers are. Does one still make "Art" or does one make functional things for people to handle, use and enjoy? My thoughts go in circles just trying to sort this out. It comes down to what medium do I want to do, what do I want to make and honestly right now I do not know. Maybe it is teaching skills outside of the public school where I do not have to worry about grades or semesters. Time will tell. Will have to see what opportunities open up or are found.
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Teaching Art
I was hired at the beginning of the school year as an Art Teacher. Because of the timing being right before school, I was put in as a long term sub - ie a temp. I recieve minimal benes and pay is less than a first year teacher. This year was a record-breaking snow year. Today makes 11 snow days for the year. I get 2 personal days - so the rest is without, but I do like being home to work on my art and catching up on school things - but it is mostly school things that I am volunteering my time on.
All along, I said when I asked if I am staying on I would say that "I don't know". I was always afraid to get my hopes up and say "yes!" when I knew that they could hire somebody else - like somebody that could coach or be involved in sports. After yesterday, I am saying "no". I am considering my future without subbing. This made my 11th year and I am ready for something else. I was going to do something else this fall but got sucked into this. The Senior High students work and have good behavior, you can tease and have fun conversations with them. The Middle School students are rough around the edges. It is hard to make a difference in their lives when they are sneaky, argumentative, loud, talk and interrupt constantly and break my supplies. There are many, many good students in the group but the few wreck it for the rest.
Even without the kid issues, a big part is the support from the top down. That goes wherever you are. I did not get a mentor because I was a sub. All info and program issues I ended up hunting down the answers. There was not any plans, curriculum, information on procedure, grading, etc and a new principal. Emails were not answered, problems, behavior issues not dealt with from above. A lot of times I felt out to sea because when I needed help I had to find it elsewhere. There was no welcome packet with every password and information of all the programs you are going to be using - you are just on your own to hunt it down. I have a new laptop sitting on my desk still waiting to be .set up but haven't had time to focus and do it because it was lessons, grades, orders and everything in between.
I gave them extras - a lot. The big storage room was a major mess with a vintage pool table down the middle heaped with stuff. I got that out and found tables to go in their place so my independent study students have a place where they can work with nobody touching their things. CESA came through and said everything had to be at least 2 feet from the ceiling so the stuff on the top shelves came down and I found a way to squeeze them in. I was told the upstairs storage had to be cleaned also - there were 600 ceramic molds to get rid of as well as going through stuff from 2 art teachers from the past 30 years. I still have some molds up there and a few piles of trash and misc things to go through. I found treasures that I could and have used like a printing press and stacks of linoleum blocks and printing paper. There were also vintage silk screen frames, a roll of ss fabric and a new roll of Ulano blue 3. I have hauled down several boxes of carving wood. So much has mouse poop on it too so when I grab a box, I do not know if a friend is going to come out of it or not. When I came, supplies were low so I ordered and now have to do another order, but there are things to work with and hopefully the worst of the stuff is cleaned out so they can start fresh.
So, the reset, cleaning, is my gift to them. This is the first school I signed up to sub at and know the children and teachers. That really helped walking in for this job. I was given classes that were only a thought in the past teacher's mind - like Video Game Design and recently the Print Shop that I had to develop from scratch. It might be good to bring that experience to the next place if I do apply for a teaching job somewhere else.
So, for this year, I did have a job offer elsewhere that I turned down, there was this year-long sub job an then I also turned down a Middle School Art teacher long term position because I was already booked. I really need to find something different. We will see how the search goes. I want to walk away from this one with positive feelings. I did my best for the time and materials I had. I gave the students experiences and projects that they haven't had before but should have. I hope when I leave, I will also leave behind good memories of me in the minds of the staff and the students. That is the best I can hope for.
All along, I said when I asked if I am staying on I would say that "I don't know". I was always afraid to get my hopes up and say "yes!" when I knew that they could hire somebody else - like somebody that could coach or be involved in sports. After yesterday, I am saying "no". I am considering my future without subbing. This made my 11th year and I am ready for something else. I was going to do something else this fall but got sucked into this. The Senior High students work and have good behavior, you can tease and have fun conversations with them. The Middle School students are rough around the edges. It is hard to make a difference in their lives when they are sneaky, argumentative, loud, talk and interrupt constantly and break my supplies. There are many, many good students in the group but the few wreck it for the rest.
Even without the kid issues, a big part is the support from the top down. That goes wherever you are. I did not get a mentor because I was a sub. All info and program issues I ended up hunting down the answers. There was not any plans, curriculum, information on procedure, grading, etc and a new principal. Emails were not answered, problems, behavior issues not dealt with from above. A lot of times I felt out to sea because when I needed help I had to find it elsewhere. There was no welcome packet with every password and information of all the programs you are going to be using - you are just on your own to hunt it down. I have a new laptop sitting on my desk still waiting to be .set up but haven't had time to focus and do it because it was lessons, grades, orders and everything in between.
I gave them extras - a lot. The big storage room was a major mess with a vintage pool table down the middle heaped with stuff. I got that out and found tables to go in their place so my independent study students have a place where they can work with nobody touching their things. CESA came through and said everything had to be at least 2 feet from the ceiling so the stuff on the top shelves came down and I found a way to squeeze them in. I was told the upstairs storage had to be cleaned also - there were 600 ceramic molds to get rid of as well as going through stuff from 2 art teachers from the past 30 years. I still have some molds up there and a few piles of trash and misc things to go through. I found treasures that I could and have used like a printing press and stacks of linoleum blocks and printing paper. There were also vintage silk screen frames, a roll of ss fabric and a new roll of Ulano blue 3. I have hauled down several boxes of carving wood. So much has mouse poop on it too so when I grab a box, I do not know if a friend is going to come out of it or not. When I came, supplies were low so I ordered and now have to do another order, but there are things to work with and hopefully the worst of the stuff is cleaned out so they can start fresh.
So, the reset, cleaning, is my gift to them. This is the first school I signed up to sub at and know the children and teachers. That really helped walking in for this job. I was given classes that were only a thought in the past teacher's mind - like Video Game Design and recently the Print Shop that I had to develop from scratch. It might be good to bring that experience to the next place if I do apply for a teaching job somewhere else.
So, for this year, I did have a job offer elsewhere that I turned down, there was this year-long sub job an then I also turned down a Middle School Art teacher long term position because I was already booked. I really need to find something different. We will see how the search goes. I want to walk away from this one with positive feelings. I did my best for the time and materials I had. I gave the students experiences and projects that they haven't had before but should have. I hope when I leave, I will also leave behind good memories of me in the minds of the staff and the students. That is the best I can hope for.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Cardinal Print Shop -Setting up a Print Shop at school - intro, Week 1
I had mentioned in my last post that I have a first- time offered class that is the Cardinal Print Shop. Last Semester I had a first-time offered class of Video Game Design. I have a lot that I did with that class and what I want to do with both of them, is blog what I did with the classes so if you want to do it with your class, you will have some of my information as well as see some things that I crashed on. Each group reacts differently and what works or doesn't with one group may not or may, work with another. The Video Game Design Class I will blog about probably during the Summer when I have more time. This one is about the Cardinal Print Shop.
Cardinal Print Shop - This was set up as the vision of the previous Art Teacher and the Shop Teacher. Mr C. Mr C. has successfully set-up and established Cardinal Manufacturing. It involves the whole department where students learn skills (and positive behaviors) through their Middle and High School classes and in their Junior year can apply to be in the program the following year. Students in the program create and repair things for the school and community and distinguish themselves with their attitudes and skills so whatever they go into, the program listed on their resume gives them a plus. Even if they do not go into manufacturing, they are positive, responsible workers and leaders. With Cardinal Manufacturing built up as much as it has there are even scholarships for the students involved. The Print Shop is being set-up to be similar in perspective with helping the students develop some printing skills but also positive attitudes and hopefully scholarships in the future.
So, this is where I come in. I was asked to take the Art Teacher position right before school started. The Art teacher had gotten another position. He was just setting up this class and most of the information about this class came from Mr. C. I had subbed for the previous Art Teacher and he lives close to me so I am able to email or call him with questions. My background is that I have done silk-screen printing - which right now is what most of the class will be for now. I learned how when I took a class at a quilt shop and used it for quilting and cards. At one long-term position, I built some silk screen frames from heavy-duty unused meat trays and have taught silk screen printing to 5th graders at 4 schools. I have taken college classes with printmaking so I feel very comfortable teaching this. The other part is that I have had several businesses - selling honey, crafts, paintings with online sales from 3 stores. This initial class will be researching and setting up the details and starting to print. I am having the students research and report information back and we will make decisions as a group. Even purchases will need to be made on a vote basis.
I have set aside $2000 from my budget for materials and equipment for this class. What I have in my backroom already are stretcher bars and a roll of screen material. There were quite a few silk screen frames without the screen in an upper storage area, but they look like something I may use for a different project and start this class with fresh stuff. There also is quite a bit of fabric and other silk screen ink. On one of the carts in the room, was a machine. When I researched it, it turned out to be a thermal printer from the late 1950s early 1960's. The way it makes silkscreens is pretty slick. When I asked the past Art Teacher about it, he said that it needs refurbishing. I had also found out that the prepared screen material is quite high and often in the US, it is out of stock for a long time. I found a roll in the upper storage room still in the package. One of the things the students will need to decide is if it is worth the cost of refurbishing and the purchase of materials to make the screens. If not, should I list it on ebay and then put the money from it back into the class funds. This is less mess and you are not dealing with painting on the emulsion on screens before developing with light.
Second Semester - first day of class, started on Tuesday.
1) I did the regular intro about what the class is about, rules, goals. I will be having the tech dept send them links to download the Adobe suite. It told them they need to share their resources - each know something different computer and otherwise, and if they can help somebody out, then they should.
2). I divided the groups into teams of 4 and had them research different places to have t-shirts printed, the methods and the costs. They had to choose 2 local and 2 online POD. There was quite a range of prices and costs. I then had them report to the class what they found out. It seems like many of them are more of an iron process vs the silk screen method, so we will have to explore that more.
3) Michaels had a one day sale on buy one, get one free on the t shirts so they were $1.99 each. I had the students vote if we should spend the money on a shirt for each student in the class and they said "yes". I went out and got the shirts. Part of the shirt deal is that they will be able to print their own shirt but also evaluate the shirt and ink, how it holds up with washing probably the right way and wrong way. We will need to see if it needs to be heat set and then vote on heating machine/ iron if it does.
4) I gave each group a three-ring binder to put their information in. With their initial research, I had them each do one company and put their name on the evaluation sheet. I don't have dividers for them, but that may come or they will have to make their own.
5) After spending the money on the shirt, I wanted to have a treasurer to keep track of outgoing and incoming money. We may be buying shirts and then getting paid back for materials and shirts later. I want the bookkeeping to be something that the whole group learns about. The treasurer position was taken on by a group of Seniors with them knowing it was not just one person, but rather that any can do it and step in if the main one was gone. They needed to find and download the ledger paper and set up their books.
6) Assigned a group as Secretary - the same as above. We need somebody/group to keep track of the decisions and activities of the group. These positions can be like a club also or like a business.
7) Orders - a third binder and group for orders We already have a few orders that I will be doing this week so we need to have a binder and sheet made up for the information. They were tasked with creating an order form. It has to have the date, who wants it, quantity, colors, sizes, if they are providing the shirts or if we are etc. The orders we have already are - The Spanish Club, MS Robotics Club, the Model RR Club, the History Club, and I think maybe one more at this point. We are starting this class in the Spring Semester so there may have been more orders in the fall, but this year, they can set things up for another time.
8) Because a girl whined about wanting to make something and my goal is to take them through the silk screen process, I got out my small silkscreens and demonstrated that and how to use paper patterns to demonstrate it. I have different plastics in the room already and xacto knives to have them learn to cut stencils and use that method also. I want them to try out, research, evaluate the different ways to get at what they want to do. I am trying to take them step-by-step through the process and not let them push me faster than I want to teach them. I also have a little bottle of diazo to try and some screen filler. I bought my own Cricut because there was a sale and the one at school didn't connect to my computer. I have cut some stencils from home. I will be testing the History club screen with that stencil. For now, the History Club is the only stencil I have to make. The other ones were made by the previous Art Teacher.
One of their research projects - once they have hand-cut some stencils - is to research and decide on the different cutters and plotters that we should research. They will evaluate the home ones such as the Silouette, Cricut and Brother machine as well as plotters.
I have to consider grading issues and with the research and groups, I don't want to give the same grade to a student that just sits and does nothing. I am designing it so they have work they need to do as an individual and then discuss it as a group. I have a sitter already that I need to talk to. With the research they did, I had them put their name on it so I can give them credit for what they have done. I know I have some shy ones and if it is ok with their group, another student can present the research that the other one did. They will be evaluated on their stencils, projects and prints.
Looking ahead to this second week, this is what I am planning on. I know things may flex and change, but that is how it goes.
M - I have a premade stencil for the Robotics Club. When I tested it because it looked funny, there were some areas that printed that shouldn't have. I will be demonstrating how the block filler works, et it dry and then print the stencil again. They will be working on their silk screen print with the paper block-out/stencil.
T - May let them test print. If they want to try another thing, that is good. I have to work out the Spanish Club stencil with the president who is in our class and did some silk screen printing with the past Art Teacher. There is one premade stencil of the logo, there will be separate stencils for the letters. She is having the shirt printed front and back. I will need to buy the t shirts for this one and get reinbursed. I have a stencil cut on the Cricut for the History Club so will show the student how to weed the letters. I cut it on Oracel. I hope it sticks on the screen permanently. I put it on the outside of the screen instead of the inside. This will be out test of the material.
W- The advisor for the Robotics Club is coming with her shirts to print. I will be doing it after school so if they want to come they can. . They can work on their test prints. If they want to make cards or something from their prints, that is fine.
Th/F - pretty much printing. If they finish, I can go over making a blockout stencil from clear contact paper. Discuss the reversal of the letters.
I will be reporting on how it went issues that came up, problem-solving etc.
Cardinal Print Shop - This was set up as the vision of the previous Art Teacher and the Shop Teacher. Mr C. Mr C. has successfully set-up and established Cardinal Manufacturing. It involves the whole department where students learn skills (and positive behaviors) through their Middle and High School classes and in their Junior year can apply to be in the program the following year. Students in the program create and repair things for the school and community and distinguish themselves with their attitudes and skills so whatever they go into, the program listed on their resume gives them a plus. Even if they do not go into manufacturing, they are positive, responsible workers and leaders. With Cardinal Manufacturing built up as much as it has there are even scholarships for the students involved. The Print Shop is being set-up to be similar in perspective with helping the students develop some printing skills but also positive attitudes and hopefully scholarships in the future.
So, this is where I come in. I was asked to take the Art Teacher position right before school started. The Art teacher had gotten another position. He was just setting up this class and most of the information about this class came from Mr. C. I had subbed for the previous Art Teacher and he lives close to me so I am able to email or call him with questions. My background is that I have done silk-screen printing - which right now is what most of the class will be for now. I learned how when I took a class at a quilt shop and used it for quilting and cards. At one long-term position, I built some silk screen frames from heavy-duty unused meat trays and have taught silk screen printing to 5th graders at 4 schools. I have taken college classes with printmaking so I feel very comfortable teaching this. The other part is that I have had several businesses - selling honey, crafts, paintings with online sales from 3 stores. This initial class will be researching and setting up the details and starting to print. I am having the students research and report information back and we will make decisions as a group. Even purchases will need to be made on a vote basis.
I have set aside $2000 from my budget for materials and equipment for this class. What I have in my backroom already are stretcher bars and a roll of screen material. There were quite a few silk screen frames without the screen in an upper storage area, but they look like something I may use for a different project and start this class with fresh stuff. There also is quite a bit of fabric and other silk screen ink. On one of the carts in the room, was a machine. When I researched it, it turned out to be a thermal printer from the late 1950s early 1960's. The way it makes silkscreens is pretty slick. When I asked the past Art Teacher about it, he said that it needs refurbishing. I had also found out that the prepared screen material is quite high and often in the US, it is out of stock for a long time. I found a roll in the upper storage room still in the package. One of the things the students will need to decide is if it is worth the cost of refurbishing and the purchase of materials to make the screens. If not, should I list it on ebay and then put the money from it back into the class funds. This is less mess and you are not dealing with painting on the emulsion on screens before developing with light.
Second Semester - first day of class, started on Tuesday.
1) I did the regular intro about what the class is about, rules, goals. I will be having the tech dept send them links to download the Adobe suite. It told them they need to share their resources - each know something different computer and otherwise, and if they can help somebody out, then they should.
2). I divided the groups into teams of 4 and had them research different places to have t-shirts printed, the methods and the costs. They had to choose 2 local and 2 online POD. There was quite a range of prices and costs. I then had them report to the class what they found out. It seems like many of them are more of an iron process vs the silk screen method, so we will have to explore that more.
3) Michaels had a one day sale on buy one, get one free on the t shirts so they were $1.99 each. I had the students vote if we should spend the money on a shirt for each student in the class and they said "yes". I went out and got the shirts. Part of the shirt deal is that they will be able to print their own shirt but also evaluate the shirt and ink, how it holds up with washing probably the right way and wrong way. We will need to see if it needs to be heat set and then vote on heating machine/ iron if it does.
4) I gave each group a three-ring binder to put their information in. With their initial research, I had them each do one company and put their name on the evaluation sheet. I don't have dividers for them, but that may come or they will have to make their own.
5) After spending the money on the shirt, I wanted to have a treasurer to keep track of outgoing and incoming money. We may be buying shirts and then getting paid back for materials and shirts later. I want the bookkeeping to be something that the whole group learns about. The treasurer position was taken on by a group of Seniors with them knowing it was not just one person, but rather that any can do it and step in if the main one was gone. They needed to find and download the ledger paper and set up their books.
6) Assigned a group as Secretary - the same as above. We need somebody/group to keep track of the decisions and activities of the group. These positions can be like a club also or like a business.
7) Orders - a third binder and group for orders We already have a few orders that I will be doing this week so we need to have a binder and sheet made up for the information. They were tasked with creating an order form. It has to have the date, who wants it, quantity, colors, sizes, if they are providing the shirts or if we are etc. The orders we have already are - The Spanish Club, MS Robotics Club, the Model RR Club, the History Club, and I think maybe one more at this point. We are starting this class in the Spring Semester so there may have been more orders in the fall, but this year, they can set things up for another time.
8) Because a girl whined about wanting to make something and my goal is to take them through the silk screen process, I got out my small silkscreens and demonstrated that and how to use paper patterns to demonstrate it. I have different plastics in the room already and xacto knives to have them learn to cut stencils and use that method also. I want them to try out, research, evaluate the different ways to get at what they want to do. I am trying to take them step-by-step through the process and not let them push me faster than I want to teach them. I also have a little bottle of diazo to try and some screen filler. I bought my own Cricut because there was a sale and the one at school didn't connect to my computer. I have cut some stencils from home. I will be testing the History club screen with that stencil. For now, the History Club is the only stencil I have to make. The other ones were made by the previous Art Teacher.
One of their research projects - once they have hand-cut some stencils - is to research and decide on the different cutters and plotters that we should research. They will evaluate the home ones such as the Silouette, Cricut and Brother machine as well as plotters.
I have to consider grading issues and with the research and groups, I don't want to give the same grade to a student that just sits and does nothing. I am designing it so they have work they need to do as an individual and then discuss it as a group. I have a sitter already that I need to talk to. With the research they did, I had them put their name on it so I can give them credit for what they have done. I know I have some shy ones and if it is ok with their group, another student can present the research that the other one did. They will be evaluated on their stencils, projects and prints.
Looking ahead to this second week, this is what I am planning on. I know things may flex and change, but that is how it goes.
M - I have a premade stencil for the Robotics Club. When I tested it because it looked funny, there were some areas that printed that shouldn't have. I will be demonstrating how the block filler works, et it dry and then print the stencil again. They will be working on their silk screen print with the paper block-out/stencil.
T - May let them test print. If they want to try another thing, that is good. I have to work out the Spanish Club stencil with the president who is in our class and did some silk screen printing with the past Art Teacher. There is one premade stencil of the logo, there will be separate stencils for the letters. She is having the shirt printed front and back. I will need to buy the t shirts for this one and get reinbursed. I have a stencil cut on the Cricut for the History Club so will show the student how to weed the letters. I cut it on Oracel. I hope it sticks on the screen permanently. I put it on the outside of the screen instead of the inside. This will be out test of the material.
W- The advisor for the Robotics Club is coming with her shirts to print. I will be doing it after school so if they want to come they can. . They can work on their test prints. If they want to make cards or something from their prints, that is fine.
Th/F - pretty much printing. If they finish, I can go over making a blockout stencil from clear contact paper. Discuss the reversal of the letters.
I will be reporting on how it went issues that came up, problem-solving etc.
The Second Round
I haven't been on here for awhile. I have been busy. I am still doing my long-term Art Teacher position for Middle School and High School Art. It is not as idylic as it sounds. It is amazing to see the behavior of students - like they think it is acceptable to yell in your face or at you, not do their work, throw markers across the room. I have had Middle School Lunchroom duty also which included gym time afterwards. I was hit in the head by a basket ball once and in my upper, sensitive part of my torso another time. With all the balls flying, I am lucky I didn't develop PSTD. I don't know how the kids do it, but maybe they are oblivious. With the semester change, I now have High School lunch duty. Things are not as loud and calmer in both the commons and the gym. I had the opportunity to see kindness and including others in their game which really blessed my soul!
The semester change brings different classes and different prep. I now have 7th graders which actually after a couple of days have been better behaved than the 8th graders, but will need to stay firm to keep it from getting out of control. There may be a lot of talking, but they seem to have different abilities and like art more. I had a boy ask if they were going to get to do airbrush. I didn't know how he knew that we had the equipment, but no, it will be in high school. I think these two groups will be fun.
My Senior High classes are -
Crafts - I was disappointed this was on the menu because it does not seem like Art, however, students are looking to make things and probably feel uncomfortable in Art. Things that in the past were considered crafts have made it into an Art form so, hopefully they will find something they enjoy doing from my class. I have a vast range of skills that are considered crafts and I have quite a few that want to learn crocheting and knitting so, this may be fun. The semester switch was just this week so I wanted to start them out with a bang. We did marble painting, shave cream marbling, and water color paint effects - washes, salt etc. I think we will next do perhaps paste paper and then with this make collages and cards. It has been nice to see them so eager to learn things and also they are good at cleaning up after themselves!
Next, I have the Print Shop. Our school has built up their regular Shop Classes into a big deal. The district has allowed the Shop Teacher to expand his vision on what the shop is. They build and construct things for people and businesses in the area. His senior group is hand picked by their behavior, working skills, ethics and they are able to earn scholorships. Locally based companies that have a global outreach have helped support and sponcer them. He has set it up as a business and people come from all over the country to see his set-up. His goal is to train students to be good,responsible workers for the manufacturing industry if that is what they choose to go into. It is nice if they have good skills, but he is also looking for good attitudes, responsible students, so skills alone do not guarantee them an in. They have to apply to be accepted.
This is the first time the Print Shop has been offered, so there is nothing for me to go on. They are hoping it will build up into a similar thing like the Shop has become with a separate work area and supervisor from the classroom. It may take ten years for it to get there. There is nothing for me to go on, so I am winging it as I go. I am setting it up with teams of students doing research, keeping the books, doing the work. The want the the Print shop to be able to print t shirts and other printed material, create logos etc. It will start out adressing the needs of the school and then maybe with other nearby schools and businesses. I was told there was a model in the Twin Cities which is about 100 miles to the west, so I may have to research and see if they have days that explain their process or a time to tour and ask questions. I started them out this week by having them research POD shirt companies and demonstrating silk screen printing. right now they want to jump in and make something. I also assigned a group as secretary and a separate one as bookkeeper. I have taken $2000 out of my budget to buy equipment and part of their job in this class is to research and decide as a group what equipment they want to spend the money on. I bought - with their approval - blank t-shirts for each of them at Michaels on sale and that was $40, so I think they will be surprised how fast it goes. I have also said that we are tapping into the experience of the students in the group so they need to share what knowledge they have. I know some are more technologically saavy than others, but they can share what they know. The school has just gotten the Adobe CC suite, so I will be having access to that sent to them so that will have it's own learning curve. I think this may be the class I will be blogging about mostly this spring.
I have Studio Art with about 10 students. This is where I am going to focus on the Elements and Principles of Art. I want them to learn good design skills. I also have Ceramics again. It is the same time and group that my Painting class was last semester so we all know each other and it should be fun.
With this job, I acquired the back storage room and an upstairs storage room that needed to be cleaned out. So, I have been doing lessons, making lessons up, grading, meetings and the full clean out. There is some vintage stuff from the past two teachers. Some is dust covered and when I am upstairs, I am aways afraid that I will put my hand in a box and find a tenant! I have found some treasures upstairs. I found an old printing press that I need to clean up and see if it works. There were three blankets for it still in plastic. There was quite a bit of linoleum blocks and paper to use also. There are tons of silk screen frames that have a wonderful patina of old age as well as paint on it that would be great for a project. I found something I can do with them - repaint and make as a birdfeeder, but now I wonder the type of ink - oil or water-based.
Anyway, it is a little daunting now with starting a new semester but it seems like I have some pretty good and eager students and that helps that I have a great team on this adventure.
The semester change brings different classes and different prep. I now have 7th graders which actually after a couple of days have been better behaved than the 8th graders, but will need to stay firm to keep it from getting out of control. There may be a lot of talking, but they seem to have different abilities and like art more. I had a boy ask if they were going to get to do airbrush. I didn't know how he knew that we had the equipment, but no, it will be in high school. I think these two groups will be fun.
My Senior High classes are -
Crafts - I was disappointed this was on the menu because it does not seem like Art, however, students are looking to make things and probably feel uncomfortable in Art. Things that in the past were considered crafts have made it into an Art form so, hopefully they will find something they enjoy doing from my class. I have a vast range of skills that are considered crafts and I have quite a few that want to learn crocheting and knitting so, this may be fun. The semester switch was just this week so I wanted to start them out with a bang. We did marble painting, shave cream marbling, and water color paint effects - washes, salt etc. I think we will next do perhaps paste paper and then with this make collages and cards. It has been nice to see them so eager to learn things and also they are good at cleaning up after themselves!
Next, I have the Print Shop. Our school has built up their regular Shop Classes into a big deal. The district has allowed the Shop Teacher to expand his vision on what the shop is. They build and construct things for people and businesses in the area. His senior group is hand picked by their behavior, working skills, ethics and they are able to earn scholorships. Locally based companies that have a global outreach have helped support and sponcer them. He has set it up as a business and people come from all over the country to see his set-up. His goal is to train students to be good,responsible workers for the manufacturing industry if that is what they choose to go into. It is nice if they have good skills, but he is also looking for good attitudes, responsible students, so skills alone do not guarantee them an in. They have to apply to be accepted.
This is the first time the Print Shop has been offered, so there is nothing for me to go on. They are hoping it will build up into a similar thing like the Shop has become with a separate work area and supervisor from the classroom. It may take ten years for it to get there. There is nothing for me to go on, so I am winging it as I go. I am setting it up with teams of students doing research, keeping the books, doing the work. The want the the Print shop to be able to print t shirts and other printed material, create logos etc. It will start out adressing the needs of the school and then maybe with other nearby schools and businesses. I was told there was a model in the Twin Cities which is about 100 miles to the west, so I may have to research and see if they have days that explain their process or a time to tour and ask questions. I started them out this week by having them research POD shirt companies and demonstrating silk screen printing. right now they want to jump in and make something. I also assigned a group as secretary and a separate one as bookkeeper. I have taken $2000 out of my budget to buy equipment and part of their job in this class is to research and decide as a group what equipment they want to spend the money on. I bought - with their approval - blank t-shirts for each of them at Michaels on sale and that was $40, so I think they will be surprised how fast it goes. I have also said that we are tapping into the experience of the students in the group so they need to share what knowledge they have. I know some are more technologically saavy than others, but they can share what they know. The school has just gotten the Adobe CC suite, so I will be having access to that sent to them so that will have it's own learning curve. I think this may be the class I will be blogging about mostly this spring.
I have Studio Art with about 10 students. This is where I am going to focus on the Elements and Principles of Art. I want them to learn good design skills. I also have Ceramics again. It is the same time and group that my Painting class was last semester so we all know each other and it should be fun.
With this job, I acquired the back storage room and an upstairs storage room that needed to be cleaned out. So, I have been doing lessons, making lessons up, grading, meetings and the full clean out. There is some vintage stuff from the past two teachers. Some is dust covered and when I am upstairs, I am aways afraid that I will put my hand in a box and find a tenant! I have found some treasures upstairs. I found an old printing press that I need to clean up and see if it works. There were three blankets for it still in plastic. There was quite a bit of linoleum blocks and paper to use also. There are tons of silk screen frames that have a wonderful patina of old age as well as paint on it that would be great for a project. I found something I can do with them - repaint and make as a birdfeeder, but now I wonder the type of ink - oil or water-based.
Anyway, it is a little daunting now with starting a new semester but it seems like I have some pretty good and eager students and that helps that I have a great team on this adventure.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
October 2, 2018 and the teaching thing
So, I have completed the first month of Long Term Subbing Art 6-12. I like the school and teachers. It was the first school I began to sub at 11 years ago. I know most of the students also. It has been interesting.
I view this as my dementia protection. I keep learning new things like different computer programs I have to use as a teacher. and those "by the way' things. I am putting grades in one program, documenting behavior in a different one, learning mac, learning Photoshop to teach it and maybe learning Unity and Scratch in a little bit for my computer design class. I am working on how to keep my Middle School kids from coming in wild, talking loudly all through class and not interrupting.
My Digital Design class has been tough because the different abilities of the students but also by just having a boring book to go through with them (maybe it is just me making it boring). I was blessed when I found the Adobe Exchange with different things to do with them - like interesting projects to try. This class is the one that I am having to learn the most to teach.
With stepping in at the very last minute before school started, I have been working on getting meaningful lessons together too. Then there are the "surprises". I keep hearing about. The school has a fantastic shop program where people come to check it out and a big factory in the area is giving them a matching grant to expand and also do a Print Shop. That is where I come in. In the Spring Semester I will be teaching the basic print shop even though I have no information, equipment or space. It should be interesting too. I am working with students now to introduce the idea of the printmaking. I am starting my 8th graders on silk-screen printing and found a way to give my Digital Art students a fun project too by using the computer to do color separations so they can do the silk screen printing too. There project may be a little bit off for now.
My newest thing yesterday was finding out about Thermal silkscreen printing. He has the machine from like late 50's-60's that I am figuring out. I found a brochure and it is an interesting process. I can take a photocopy (needs to have carbon on it) or a print from a laser printer and put this mesh over it and it cuts/burns the stencil that is attached to the screen. Easy peasy. I went online and the mesh / is out of stock until the end of November when I could use it now for printing t-shirts. I saw something similar on Ebay that says mimeograph film which I think may be the same thing in a hold ya over state.
So, that is my life right now. I am hoping things will settle in and not be as time intensive but it is fun to see what different projects are out there. This is Homecoming week. Today the teachers are dressing up as "Where's Waldo". I have my red and white striped shirt and my glasses and red cap are at school. It should be fun!
I view this as my dementia protection. I keep learning new things like different computer programs I have to use as a teacher. and those "by the way' things. I am putting grades in one program, documenting behavior in a different one, learning mac, learning Photoshop to teach it and maybe learning Unity and Scratch in a little bit for my computer design class. I am working on how to keep my Middle School kids from coming in wild, talking loudly all through class and not interrupting.
My Digital Design class has been tough because the different abilities of the students but also by just having a boring book to go through with them (maybe it is just me making it boring). I was blessed when I found the Adobe Exchange with different things to do with them - like interesting projects to try. This class is the one that I am having to learn the most to teach.
With stepping in at the very last minute before school started, I have been working on getting meaningful lessons together too. Then there are the "surprises". I keep hearing about. The school has a fantastic shop program where people come to check it out and a big factory in the area is giving them a matching grant to expand and also do a Print Shop. That is where I come in. In the Spring Semester I will be teaching the basic print shop even though I have no information, equipment or space. It should be interesting too. I am working with students now to introduce the idea of the printmaking. I am starting my 8th graders on silk-screen printing and found a way to give my Digital Art students a fun project too by using the computer to do color separations so they can do the silk screen printing too. There project may be a little bit off for now.
My newest thing yesterday was finding out about Thermal silkscreen printing. He has the machine from like late 50's-60's that I am figuring out. I found a brochure and it is an interesting process. I can take a photocopy (needs to have carbon on it) or a print from a laser printer and put this mesh over it and it cuts/burns the stencil that is attached to the screen. Easy peasy. I went online and the mesh / is out of stock until the end of November when I could use it now for printing t-shirts. I saw something similar on Ebay that says mimeograph film which I think may be the same thing in a hold ya over state.
So, that is my life right now. I am hoping things will settle in and not be as time intensive but it is fun to see what different projects are out there. This is Homecoming week. Today the teachers are dressing up as "Where's Waldo". I have my red and white striped shirt and my glasses and red cap are at school. It should be fun!
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