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!

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SUBJECTS

3/4 VIEW CHARCOAL PORTRAITS

INTERMEDIATE 2-D ART

charcoal on paper

First the kids had to find great 3/4 views to work from,

 which they did.

Then they had to smear charcoal over the entire piece of paper,

 before erasing in their subject.

I feel like they really enjoyed this experience 

Really love the photo that senior Nathan Chong choose to work from.

He worked from the photograghs in Harry Lapow's Coney Island Beach People.

Our older generations have so much life in their faces and are wonderful subjects.

And Nathan's skill level makes this a really spectacular piece!

I'm getting so much pain and angst off of junior Elias Rodriguez's charcoal portrait.

I love when the kids take the time to find really great subjects to work from.

And then there is this amazing piece by junior Jonathon Hsu. 

Wherever do these kids find these pictures??    LOL

I'm so thrilled to show off these wonderful works by my boys in 2nd period.

3/4 View Portraits - Student Work

3/4 VIEW CHARCOAL PORTRAITS

INTERMEDIATE 2-D ART

For these 2nd year kids it was their first time to work in this subtractive technique, and they were a bit apprehensive.  To start, you cover your entire paper with charcoal dust, then you erase your subject in.  Afterwards you can go back in with a charcoal pencil to add fine edges and details.  If you've never tried it, it's actually pretty fun!  

In the past two weeks we have seen quite a few pieces by very talented senior Anne Allen.  That's because she is taking two of my courses, and she is one of the top stars in both classes.  

Anne has chosen a great subject to draw that has a bit of shock and awe as well as expressive meanings.  And her value ranges within the medium are outstanding. 

We have also been seeing quite a few pieces by senior Cathy Luo (above).  Both Cathy and Anne will be going off to art colleges, and both are tremendously gifted young artists as you can see. 

Beautiful work girls!  

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.  

3/4 Watercolor & Ink Pen

Senior Halah Elsahhar was so enamored of senior Belinda Wu's watercolor technique (below) that she asked Belinda for her secrets.  And this lovely 3/4  view is what Halah ended up with (above).

Lovely and Uplifting, thank you for sharing with me Halah.  

And Happy Birthday!!!!!

3/4 View Watercolors - Student Work

Michaela Platt, these are for you, you've only waited 4 months  LOL  Thanks sweet girl for your patience.

These works belong to my very talented 2nd year 2-D students.  The kids learn watercolor techniques in first year then we revisit it at least 2 more times in second year.  I was so impressed this year by the level of sophistication these kids brought into these pieces.  The assignment was to draw each other in 3/4 view, and then to use watercolor the rest of the way.  They had a choice between hot or cold pressed watercolor paper in 140 pounds.  I like the kids working with that weight because it doesn't buckle too badly.  

This first piece was done by exceptional designer, junior Megan Yeu.  She always brings so much style and elegance to her pieces, plus her watercolor technique is quite good!  Notice how she mounted this portrait of junior Micheala Platt?  She likes to cut her work out and do something special with the backdrop.  I love that she has brought some pen and ink work into this, along with the gold ribbons.  Fantastic piece Megan!

This next beauty was done by senior Belinda Wu.  We were all so delighted and impressed with her colorful watercolor style, and her exceptional skill level.  This is probably the most exquisite watercolor ever to be done at Whitney High since I've been teaching there. This is a portrait of senior Halah Elsahhar. 

A little detail of one of her butterflies.

And here it is, the one Michaela has been waiting so long to see posted, her portrait of junior Megan Yeu.  This piece looks exactly like Megan, Michaela's skills are that good.  Below is a close-up so you can see her lovely work.    

All my students are graded on good, solid design skills, we cover that in first year, along with craftsmanship and effort.  All three of these kids nailed each one of those.

3/4 View Charcoal Portraits - Student Work

So proud of my Intermediate 2-D kids, they knocked this assignment out of the park!

In this assignment the kids were to cover their entire paper with charcoal first then erase in their drawing.  Afterwards they could come into it with charcoal pencils to define edges and put in fine details.  They were really afraid at first to use this technique.  It was new to them and challenging.  But once they started the erasing process they were fine.

Above, I believe this is senior Halah Elsahhar's most outstanding work to date.  She was able to capture likeness to original with several values of grey and black and really make her work "POP".

In this next work senior Belinda Wu does the figure in the charcoal technique but keeps the background negative space white so that late she can come in with ink washes for her backdrop.  

I've given you some close-ups so you can see for yourself.  Brilliant work Belinda!  Wait till Mr. Z sees this one.  LOL

Junior Michaela Platt picks a subject with very dramatic eyes which really draws you into the work.  I also had to show you a close-up of her cigarette and flame, that took some real skill! 

And in this last one junior Megan Yeu has also shown us her talent as she depicts the water being  poured over his face and splashed over his upper body.  A close-up for you below.

Fantastic work you all!!!

Linoleum Printing - Student Work

Junior Cindy Kim, my sole 3rd year Advanced 2-D student, did these remarkable portraits in the linoleum printing technique.  She was required to do a portrait using shapes of shadows on the face, to print 3 pieces on 3 different papers, and to print at least one piece with multiple colors.  And then to mount up at least one of them.  As you can see, Cindy went above and beyond the minimum requirements for some great pieces of art. 

3/4 View Watercolor Portraits - Student Work

These amazing portraits were just recently completed by my 2nd year 2-D kids.  Their assignment was to draw each other in 3/4 view with graphite and then to watercolor the piece in.  

I'm in love with this top piece done by senior Crislyn Ogawa of junior Laura Kadi.  She has really captured Laura's essence and put her in an intriguing background in a limited color palette. Stark yet delicate.  

This next one by senior Jessica Liu is oh so scrumptious.  The colorway so yummy.  The pose so thoughtful and perfect of senior Michael Chen.  The talent in this group of kids is phenomenal.

Below we have sophomore Jarick Simbol who was painted by senior Janice Min.  As you can see the kids are allowed artistic license to abstract their subjects if they so choose.  Janice has a very sensitive way with the watercolor and I think this piece is playful yet lovely.

Above, senior Michelle Lee did senior Sarah Zhang's portrait.  This was Michelle's 2nd attempt at painting Sarah and unbelievably she finished it in only one day.  Michelle didn't care for her 1st attempt, so the day before the assignment was do, she decided to start over.  This is typical Michelle working mode which makes me CRAZY!

The piece below was created by senior Michael Chen, who did senior Jessica Liu's portrait.  Michael is a very talented young artist who was able to challenge the Beginning 2-D course and skip right into the Intermediate  level.  And this was his very first time with the watercolors.  Way to go Michael!!

And this is what the girl who drives me crazy looks like, senior Michelle Lee.  Her portrait was done by

 senior Sarah Zhang, and it's lovely Sarah.  It's so sensitive and really captures Michelle when she's in her right brain place.

3/4 View Charcoal Portrait - Student Work

These gorgeous pieces belong to my 2nd year 2-d class.  The kids worked in a technique that was new to them.  They used their charcoal stick and turned it on it's side and rubbed the whole paper to completely coat it with charcoal dust.  Then if they wanted to they could use a tissue and in a circular motion blend the charcoal into one perfect dark value.  Everyone used their erasers to draw in their image.  Yes, they drew with their erasers, a novel concept and outside their comfort zone.  :)  And then for the small details and various values they were allowed to use their charcoal pencils.

The top piece belongs to very talented senior Jessica Liu.

Senior Crislyn Ogawa did the sensitive portrait above and senior Sarah Zhang drew her strongest piece to date with the little girl below.

Senior Michelle Lee did the very atmospheric phantom above and we finish off with senior Janice Min who did the expressive child below.  Once again, I'm still struggling with my new camera and the lighting is off in Janice's piece and and in Sarah's we see the date and time.  Sorry!

3/4 View Watercolor - Student Art

Look at my babies watercolor! These are my Intermediate 2-d art students painting each other in a 3/4 view. They learned watercolor basics in my Beginning 2-d class, and now they are really getting to use what they learned.In the piece above senior Shabnaz Klandoker painted senior Sam Chon's portrait. And below we have senior Brandon Liao watercoloring senior Marisela Herrarte. Both pieces are so lovely and sensitive.

In the piece above we have Marisela painting Brandon and putting a bit of abstraction into his hair, and down below we have senior Ashlee Chang doing senior Heidi Chang's portrait. Ashlee is also bringing in some pen and ink work to pop Heidi's features a bit more. By doing this it really gives the watercolor a very different feel from the others.

And lastly we have senior Anne Guu watercoloring senior Marylou Bunn. Anne has also brought in some pen and ink work along with her signature text that she likes to put into everything she creates.

Julia Meng - Student Art

This was senior Julia Meng's very last piece before graduation. She only had about 5 days of school left to do them in, and the canvas' where huge. The other students and I really enjoyed watching her develop these so quickly. What a talented young woman!!!

3/4 View - Student Art

Recently my 2nd year 2-D art students completed a 3/4 view portrait unit starting with graphite then moving into watercolor. They first worked in graphite and darkened in the entire piece of paper, then using their various erasers they actually drew with them to develop their portraits. Then later brought in more graphite with their drawing pencils. The results are quite striking. From top to bottom are: 2006 Alums Jaymee Ngernwichit and Jason Wang (charcoal instead of graphite), junior Jullian Kuo, senior Michelle Bui, and 8th grader Jeremiah Kim.