Stop-Motion Animation

My Video Production students are about to embark on the journey of stop-motion animation.  They seemed a little hesitant to create their own animations after watching a few professional examples in class.  On my way home from school that day, I decided to stop at the dollar store and pick up a few toys/items. 

When I got to class the next day, each row (group) of students received a mystery envelope with one of the toys inside.  They had one period to create a stop-motion animation while using this mystery item.  Some students had time to add sound to their works as well. 

This video represents the stop-motion animations that were made in class just this week.  The students are just finishing up their planning and each will create a 30-45 second stop motion that revolves around the theme of process or struggle.

Heroes and Self-Portraits

In my 3D Art and Design class, students are currently finishing up their clay self-portraits.  They have already worked with clay material during 1st semester and in this project they work with both additive and subtractive methods in clay.

Students first practice by looking in the mirror and becoming familiar with their features and the proportion of the face.  They will then journal about a hero they have and collect visual references of this hero.  Students can choose to depict their hero, or blend characteristics of themselves with the hero as a means to "follow in their footsteps."  Some students may choose just to work more expressively with their own features or symbolically through fictional characters that they have brought to life.

Each student receives a 25 pound block of clay to begin the subtractive process.  They use large loop tools and wire cutters to carve out the head.  Some students start with the coil method to build up shoulders and then attach a head later.

After the piece has dried to just before leather-hard, they use the wire cutters to cut the head in half (top of head behind ears, to shoulders/neck) and then hollow it out and score and slip it back together.

Here are photos of works in progress:

Plastic Tape Casting

As a method to learn casting and work with life-size sculpture, I have my 3D Art & Design students work on packing tape casting.  This is less expensive than plaster and much easier to clean up, not to mention a lot faster!  The tape is a great medium because the transparency allows for interior experimentation.  I have had students place lights, colored paper, and objects within their forms to portray different concepts and ideas.

Students can create the sculpture piece by piece and attach once finished with a limbs.  They wrap the sticky side out first, twist the tape around, and then complete an additional 3-4 layers of tape sticky side down.  Tape is then cut off of the body using scissors and taped back together.  When completing the head, I recommend students to place a grocery bag over their hair or use a shower cap.  Of course, they leave the nose open and add that in later.

Students use the school's library as a place to display the work when finished.

Fun with Photoshop

I challenged my students to use the school as their environment to capture multiple compositions to help them understand design and camera functions.  After we imported these photos, they were then asked to practice using Photoshop to enhance or modify value and color.  Their work was pretty impressive!

Working with Concepts in Photography

My students were given different themes to create a series using their new understanding of photography compositions and image adjustments using Photoshop.  They chose between 7 Heavenly Virtues, 7 Deadly Sins, 6 Pillars of Character, Phobias, Myths/Superstitions, or Fairy tales.

This project gives them an opportunity to put this new knowledge to the test, but also allows them to have fun with costumes, makeup, and props that they bring in to school or set up at home.

Fear of Being Alone by Eric K.

Fear of Germs by Mikel H.

Gluttony by Bailey H.

Greed by Breanna S.

Fear of Being Trapped by Jacqueline L.

Lust by Kara E.

Lust by Todd Y.

Bloody Mary by Miranda B.

Persistence by Caitlin F.

Pride by Sarah M.

Fear of Open Spaces by Stephanie P.

Fear of Hell by Torey K.

Working With Composition

During the first few weeks of my Photography & Photoshop class, we explore a variety of compositions to use when planning out our camera shots.  This allows students to think about how they are organizing their subject within the viewfinder while choosing designs that are more advanced than your typical snapshot.  Below are examples of their work while taken at school.  These images have not been adjusted aside from possibly re-cropping in Photoshop.

Rule of Thirds by Tyler B.

Rule of Thirds: This device keeps your focal point or emphasis away from the center to create more visual weight on one side.  This creates an interesting asymmetrical balance to the work.

Leading Lines by Rachel H.

 Leading Lines: Finding natural lines in your environment that lead the eye to your subject or through your work.  They can be actual lines or implied lines.

Framing by Lauren K.

Framing: Capturing subjects in the foreground that help to frame your main subject or using subjects to create an artistic edge to your work.

Close-up by Rahela G.

Close-ups: While using Macro mode on the camera, get in close so that you can capture detail in your subject.  In this composition, your subject should take up most of your frame.

Abstraction by Megan L.

Abstractions: This works nicely with close-ups in getting close and creating a sense of ambiguity that keeps the viewer guessing about what it is they are looking at.

Reflection by Kylie N.

Reflections: This device can help to repeat your subject if you or create layers in a work.

Shadows by Efren L.

Shadows: This will show the importance of dark values in a work while capturing interesting shadows of your subject.  This can help to create patterns or keep your subject ambiguous.

Using Light by Kayla A.

Using Light: Take the time to see how light interacts with  your subject.  Notice natural light during different times of day and the difference between natural and artificial light.  

Unusual Angle by Gracie H.

Unusual Angles: Capture your subject or environment at an angle or view that is different from the norm.  This can help to exaggerate your subject or allow the viewer to see from a direction that is unfamiliar and more interesting.

Changing Focus by Kylie N.

Changing Focus: When selecting a subject and focusing in, it may be important to eliminate distracting details in the background or foreground.  Your camera will do this for you if it is on automatic focus.  This effect may also be used when choosing your Macro mode during close-up Photography.  The distracting details in a photo will be blurred out so that more emphasis is placed on your chosen subject.

Kiln Gods

During the 1st week of my 3D/Sculpture/Ceramics class, I like to introduce the creation of kiln gods.  Historically, kiln gods were used as "good luck charms" during firings to protect the work from explosions.  In the creation of kiln gods (or kiln creatures) new students are introduced to the clay media and have a lot of freedom of expression, while getting to create something right away.  I stress that that experiment with texture, and later can experiment with glaze colors.  Since the purpose is to stay small, it also doesn't use up a lot of material. Once completed, these gods/creatures stay on a top shelf in my kiln room to "protect" our firings. 

Kiln gods waiting to be fired.