USING EACH OTHER AS SUBJECT MATTER

3/4 VIEW WATERCOLOR

INTERMEDIATE 2-D ART

watercolor & felt tip 

This is the first large scale work these kids have done in watercolor 

on good quality paper (Arches 140 lb.)

 since learning to use this challenging medium in Beg. 2-D.

The assignment was to draw each other in 3/4 view,

then to watercolor their subject.

They could abstract the piece by changing up the color,

but they had to try to keep the drawn portrait as realistic as possible.

Let's see how a couple of them did.

We begin with senior Eileen Lee who created this portrait of junior Samantha Tun.

Eileen was inspired by several past works I had bought from alumni that were on display.

She gravitated to the ones that had used all the colors from the wheel.

This is an incredibly difficult way to proceed

but as I watched her work it just seemed to flow effortlessly from her. 

After the paint was dry she came over top of it with a thin felt tip marker,

not exactly outlining,

 but just letting the pen touch here and there with different pressures.

Lovely Eileen!

Senior Malaya Sithichai worked so delicately with her watercolor.

A big thing we talk about is keeping the paint transparent.

She also brought in a touch of felt tip.

I just wish my photo was better so you could see it more distinctly.

I really like how she abstracted senior Kevin Mao's hair 

by using blue to tie the piece together with the blue of the shirt.

Very nice likeness Mayala!

And we finish with senior Ayesha Durrani's watercolor of senior Jazzarie Lo.

Ayesha has such a wonderful imagination and enjoys building stories around her subjects. 

More work?

Yes.

Extra Credit?

Yes.

And so appreciated. 

All three of these seniors are off to study art this year in college.

I'm so very thankful that I had one more year with them before they flew away. 

THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS

3/4 VIEW WATERCOLOR PROFILES

INTERMEDIATE 2-D ART

watercolor

Watercolor is such a tricky/difficult medium to teach and work with.

To me it's like playing a round of golf.

You have the best intentions,

but the results are never the same,

no matter how much you practice.

Highly frustrating at times,

but when you nail it,

complete exhilaration!

The piece below by senior Bernice Lin reminds me of the Bette Midler song 

Wind Beneath My Wings every time I look at it.

Senior Katherine Ku posed for her.

This was by far one of the most stunning pieces of art done this year by a 2-D student.

It was also a favorite when it was displayed at the District Art Show 

and again at the Senior Awards Banquet nite.

You really outdid yourself Bernice!

You've managed to capture so many of the Design Elements and Principles;

movement, color scheme, value, balance, the list is long.

And now we take a look at Katherine's watercolor of Bernice.

What I love about teaching art is how no two pieces are alike.

I really loath how some art teachers try to have the kids all do the same exact thing,

leaving no room for creativity.

Anyways, 

I really feel like Katherine has captured Bernice's inner angst,

not only in the drawing but in the color scheme she picked as well.

I also like that both girls did not try to watercolor over the entire paper.

I feel like leaving a bit of white paper showing helps the piece to pop,

and gives it that brightest value as well as more dimension.

Bravo to the both of you!

And know Kyla Balquin,

I wanted to include yours as well here but I couldn't seem to find the pix on my camera.

So I apologize to you my dear.

Klya also did Katherine,

and immersed her in a tranquil waterfall setting.

It was really lovely.

If I ever run across it I will be sure to finagle it in here.

A LITTLE BIT OF WATERCOLOR IN OUR LIVES...

3/4 VIEW WATERCOLOR PORTRAITS

INTERMEDIATE 2-D ART

watercolor with a bit of pen & ink

makes me a happy camper.

I adore watercolor,

so when I teach this unit,

 I really enjoy being surrounded by all the pieces from years past that I have bought from the students. They make terrific examples to teach with,

and are a delight for both young and old eyes.

Other art teachers often ask me if I show off only good examples when I start a new unit.

The answer is no.

I also like to show pieces that are not designed well,

or where the specific technique was not used correctly.

I think it is important for my students to also see at least one professional piece

 that I've either purchased, 

or that the kids can view on my blog.

And I use my blog quite often as a teaching tool.

The pro piece in the photo above is 2nd on the right,

bottom row, 

done by watercolor artist Jim Chapman.

Probably the most exceptional piece this year at our Open House show was this watercolor

by junior Jonathan Hsu of senior Jovani Garcia.

Whitney science teacher Mrs. Z is now the very proud owner of this work.

Jonathan chose the largest piece of watercolor paper I had,

30" by 36" Hot Press Arches for it's size and smooth surface.

Expensive?

Yes.

But look at the results I'm getting with decent materials.

He made a quick sketch in pencil of Jovani,

and chose this lovely primary color scheme to work in.

Then he started adding interesting elements around the head,

 and man oh man,

the crowd loved it!!!!

Next we have junior Elias Rodriquez.

He loves doing watercolor backdrops and is known for that amongst his peers.

This is his portrait of senior Nathan Chong,

and the very delighted owner is our new Dean of Discipline,

 Craig Spratt.

Another question I am often asked is how do you afford to give your students 

such expensive materials to work with?

After all,

 you are only a public school.

Yeap, that's right.

Sadly,

 this year I was given only a little over a $1000 dollars for 150 students for the entire year.

I spent it even before school started just getting in my ton, 

yes one ton of clay,

also glazes and oxides.

I am able to ask the parents for fair share donations,

and about 3/4 of the parents contribute.

So that helps a lot!

My husband and I do a lot of garage sales and dumpster diving on the weekends 

to supplement the much need consumable supplies.

And the rest is up to me and my pocketbook.

I share a lot of my own equipment with my students like looms, 

spinning wheels and sewing machines,

 and all the paraphernalia that goes with them.

These last two were both done of junior Elias.

The top one belongs to Nathan.

I really like how he morphed the hoodie into the black background.

He did this with India ink.

This one of Elias was done by senior Michael Cantu.

He was inspired by a portrait he saw of Martha Stewart

 that I had in my file folder,

(artist unknown)

 and asked if he could bring in pen & ink to draw in details like he saw in the example.

The result was spectacular and one of Michael's best works.

Also note that he used the exact same color palette that Jonathan used of Jovani.

Not until we put them up for critiquing did we notice this simaliarity,

 and how well they flowed together on the wall.

I think the shade of blue that Michael picked for his background

was the perfect compliment to his piece. 

Bravo young men,

you do me proud!

An Addition to 3/4 View Watercolors

Not sure how I missed not including this piece when I posted 3/4 View Watercolors this last school year, but sorry Kevin Tang, I did.  What I was really excited about in Kevin's painting of Halah was that he incorporated some of his 3-D class skills into the work.   Look closely at all the machine stitched lines, I just love that he thought to bring that into his piece.