Welcome

The smART studio at DeWitt Middle School emphasizes three main tenets; creating and learning through design process thinking (studio habits of mind), thoughtful verbal and written reflection on Visual Language and it's conversation with the self and humanity, and connections between each other and the world outside our school environment.

So, find your interest and feed the curiosity! Investigate, explore, sketch, create, review, revise, inspire, be inspired and create again. The cycle of learning—the cycle of design—is more than a privilege, it's the pathway to understanding. Through the Arts we cultivate self-directed, self-motivated habits of mind that lead us through a life-long pursuit of learning and participating in society.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Visual Journal Challenge!! (4)

Visual Journal Challenge.


The Challenge:
•Design a visual journal page around an important event in your life. OR you can visually communicate an emotion that you experienced over the past week.


•Include at least 4 descriptive words integrated into the design.(creatively included)
•Include at least 3 different kinds of ART MEDIA! Including one that you have NOT USED in a visual journal assignment yet!


And the student responses....





Monday, December 3, 2012

Visual Journal Challenge!! (3)

Visual Journal Challenge: A person you admire.

•Create a visual journal page based on a person who has inspired you.
•Creatively weave at least 5 descriptive words into your design.
•Use 3 different ART MEDIUMS (including one you have never used on a VJ before!)


And the student response...








Friday, November 30, 2012

Visual Journals!! (2)

Visual Journal Challenge.


The Challenge:
•Choose a song that you like. (It must be school appropriate.)
•Design a page inspired by the song.
•Include at least three lines of lyrics
•Include at least 3 different ART MEDIUMS!




And the student responses....









Visual Journal Unit!!

The visual journal is a creative way to explore, express and record your thoughts, ideas, life’s experiences, emotional reactions and our inner world. The visual journal uses both visual and verbal communication, strengthening the understanding of both. It is also a tool to becoming a more observant person, to being more creative, more willing to take the risks necessary to learn. It is also about discovering our own ways of learning, as each person has a unique and individual thinking process.

In essence, the visual journal is not only a major component in our art making process, but in our process of learning about the world!!

Start one today!!


Search 'Visual Journal' on this blog to see some student work form Quarter 2!!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Bring Your Family to School Night!

WELCOME  new 6th grade parents and returning 7th and 8th grade families!!  Check in with the art room blog  now and then to see updates on students projects and some cool videos and links!!

Have an AWESOME year!!

Best,

Mrs. VanderMaas

Value, Contrast & Shading techniques....

Check out how this artist uses charcoal to create a high contrast (highlights and shadows) while shading   to create the illusion of 3D!!

Friday, September 7, 2012

8th Grade Syllabus!

WELCOME BACK 8th graders!!

As 8th graders you now have ART every other day for an entire semester!

Remember to bring in your sketchbook and 1" binder NEXT class.

Below is the syllabus for reference. Your fist assignment is due NEXT CLASS (the book!).


Good Luck!

Mrs. VanderMaas




Thursday, May 31, 2012

Stop-Motion Animation!!

Eight graders have started their final project of the year—a stop-motion animation project! Below you can view some demo and practice videos. As part of the creativity process, students brainstorm, plan, sketch and explore the medium before starting on a final project. Enjoy!








More 'practice" videos to come. And, stay tuned for the FINAL PROJECT VIDEOS!!

-Ms. V

Friday, May 18, 2012

Flip Books!!

The flip book is a great way to learn drawing skills and concepts of movement, space, rhythm... and the list goes on! But most of all...its FUN!! Check out a few inspirational videos below and some from our one-day class activity too!!

INSPIRATIONAL VIDEOS FROM YouTube:










HOW TO FOR A SIMPLE FLIP BOOK:




FIRST FLIP BOOK FROM OUR ONE-DAY CLASS ACTIVITY!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Social Media and the Global Community!!

This short film sparked an awesome discussion between students in my art classes about how the internet and social media has changed the way we share, communicate and become participants in the global community!!




The Sketchbook Project!

Check it out. Enrollment is open now for the sketchbook project!

http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject

Friday, May 4, 2012

Typography

Eight grade students did an awesome job with their first photoshop project, Type as Image! Below, students used Photoshop type tools to manipulate size, color, font, orientation, and scale. With type as their medium instead of paint or oil pastels, students created images of objects that hold personal meaning to their lives.



Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Radial Symmetry Name Design

Below are the steps for our Radial Symmetry Name Design. By the end of the designing process, you can't even read the name! But, you are left with a stunning, well thought-out design!



1.Brainstorm 3 different ways to create a name design (typography!) and draw them inside a triangle shape.







2.Fold a scrape paper so you have 16 boxes created by the creases. Use at least 8-10 of these boxes to draw patterns and designs you like. Use the Zentangle examples for inspiration!



3.Use a 12”x12” piece of paper and fold it in half from side to side AND top to bottom (These are called “bookfolds”). Then make two diagonal folds. You should have 8 triangles created by the creases. In one of the triangles draw your favorite name design. Use a “heavy hand” and make the pencil lines a bit dark.

4.Fold your paper in half backwards (mountain fold). You should be able to see your name design on one side. Take that side, with your design on it, and place it face down on a window or a light box. You should be able to see through the paper sheets to see your design. It might be backwards! That’s okay! Trace your design.





5. Open the paper up and then fold it another way. REMEMBER your name design must be facing out. Don't fold it to the inside! Again, place it face down on a light source and start to trace. Do this until all triangles are filled.

6.Now.. go back to your sketchbook and create three different color combinations by drawing a box with an large X across it. Each of the four spaces created by the X should be filled in with a color combination. Think, cool colors, warm colors, bright colors, dull colors, muted colors, punk colors, mellow colors, pastel colors, etc.



7.Once you have decided on a good color combination, start to color in the shapes on the name design! PLEASE USE markers “line by line” or color with some kind of “order”. The marks made by coloring with marker are usually visible an so, in this design of symmetry and order, the marks need to add to that sense and not detract by being scribbles!!




8. Now pick a few designs/patterns from the options your created earlier. Using an ultra find sharpie, fill in some of the colored shapes with patterns to add another layer of interest!





























Project Rubric
(click on the image to enlarge)



Monday, April 23, 2012

Drawing with Light.

Here is an amazing video that shows artists drawing with light! Observe closely and see if you can figure out how they were able to achieve these images?

WELCOME to Quarter 4 Art!

To all 6th & 7th graders starting Quarter 4 Art—remember to bing in the following for credit!



1. A sketchbook about 9"x12"



2. A 1" binder (preferably your favorite color!).



3. Signed syllabus and media release forms!



And.. check out on of the videos below, just for fun!












Friday, March 23, 2012

6th grade Origami UPDATE!

Here is the first 'draft' of an origami 'how to' movie created by 6th graders at DeWitt. They are using iMovie to capture the footage. Next comes the voiceover—stay tuned!




Daily Visual Journal 3.23.12

Diego Rivera
One of Diego Rivera's mammoth Detroit Industry murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts. 






Thursday, March 22, 2012

Daily Visual Journal 3.21.12

NO visual journal assignment due to critique day!!

Daily Visual Journal 3.22.12

Another logo design from Milton Glaser.

Food for thought: Why use an image? Why is the image of a heart more compelling and accessible than the word "love?"

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

are you ready for Stop-Motion!!

TOMORROW stop-motion animation club begins!!  Just to get your brainwaves movin'....check out a few more short clips I found on YouTube.




Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Daily Visual Journal 3.20.12

Picasso.

7th graders -> In addition to your daily sketchbook questions, also comment on this art piece as it relates to your current project!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Daily Visual Journal 3.19.12

Paul Rand.  (click the link to find out more about Paul Rand!)
The interplay between images, letters and words is endless. Here, master designer Paul Rand makes it look easy!