Eighth graders here at Marshall Simonds Middle School learned how to use Photoshop while creating posters of inspirational figures. We mind-mapped famous people who have made a difference in this world. Students brainstormed important issues for which they are impassioned. It was an excellent assignment to get students on the new Macbook Pros and teach Photoshop to middle school students. I was a bit nervous as it was my first time getting middle grade students using the Adobe programs. I have found that many students have trouble moving from an iOS device to a Mac OS, but it worked very well. I set my expectations low and these students far exceeded them! I see students 2 out of a 6 day rotation schedule and I would estimate that this assignment took about 8 classes to complete. 

To adapt this assignment for those students who do not have Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Mix is a great app to use although the options are a bit more limited.

Click here to view the Google Doc assignment

Gustav Klimt uses abstract imagery coupled with realistic painting techniques in order to juxtapose the two together, creating a beautiful dichotomy.  Seventh graders at Marshall Simonds Middle School learned about pattern design, the art of Gustav Klimt, and also learned how to professionally photograph art. What I love about these designs is that they empower students to feel like they can make art by focusing on patterns and shapes. The designs were a lot of fun as well. Take a look at how students took their figure and created shapes and patterns that worked with the figure in some way (either the figure's pose, clothing, or mood).

Here we are back in another school year! With this being my first year teaching at the middle school level, I have had a lot to learn about this age group. It has been such a wonderful experience thus far. What has been really great is getting back into fine art. I haven't taught much drawing and painting in my last ten years of teaching.

Now let's get back to the art! I hope to post much of my student work this year here on my blog.

How to Draw Your Own Selfie

This year the Burlington High School Art Department hosted the 46th annual Art + Fashion Show, where students from a variety of courses came together to exhibit the art that they have been working on since the beginning of the school year. Hundreds of pieces were on display from courses like Architecture, Drawing & Painting, Design, Photography, Web Design, and Ceramics, to name a few. Additionally, the fashion class hosted the always popular fashion show, walking down the red carpet showing their original designs. 

BHS Alumna, Sam Marchese (Class of 2016), came to visit the fashion class and also spoke with some marketing students regarding her experience after high school. Sam recently spent the summer in New York doing costume work for an independent film that will soon be released. She showed photographs of her experiences being on set and filming with the crew. Sam talked about how she was given a budget for clothing, purchasing many items for all of the actors in the movie -- relying on their self-taken measurements. 

While Sam was in high school here at BHS, she was an extremely successful fashion design student, taking fashion for three years. She also worked part time at the costume room in Burlington, helping out with costumes for the Burlington musicals and plays. She works in the costume department at Providence College currently.

Currently Sam is a junior at Providence College, majoring in Marketing, with a specialized minor in costume design. Sam hopes to be a professional costumer in the future. Now with experience in the film industry, she has more options for her career.

The slideshow below is comprised of this year's design winners. All of these designs are exhibited in the Cambridge Street Gallery at 123 Cambridge Street.