Click the video to watch the Art for Kinds Hub instructional video or find more cartoon inspirations in their playlist. My weekend project is shown above.
A lesson in graphic novels and comics this week turned into a time-invested drawing project, reminding me of all those days in childhood perfecting my adaptation of cartoon characters I spent time watching. Though this time the character was unknown to me at the start — only a basic familiarity with the Japanese Pokemon universe — by the end I was Googling font types, backdrops, and more for the character I had re-created on my page.
On suggestion from a Grade 9 student, I encouraged my class to try their hand at following instructions in a comic character drawing tutorial found online; the character (quite by chance and nothing more), Charmeleon. A fire-type Pokemon evolving from a cute little dinosaur-inspired Charmander. More aggressive and charged by other strong opponents, Charmeleon (I would learn) will seek out a battle and not relax until that battle is won. A fire-breathing warrior who strives to be victorious and takes no pity on its enemy.
All this learning about a character-type because of a chance lesson in comic art. A Friday afternoon lesson with teenagers evolved into a multi-hour personal commitment to a weekend drawing event; sparking memories of characters pasted in my notebooks over the years.
Exploring graphic novels this year in senior high ELA led to a reading of Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist. Reading this text could not be done without presenting the idea of looking inwards ⎯for both teachers and students alike⎯partly in response to two years worth of experience of pandemic living, and likely pandemic fatigue. To appreciate Santiago's search for treasure, we all had to examine what we are in search of as well. As a lifelong learner, I have come to realize that this search for treasure too is lifelong.
Students learned about a mandala (Sanskrit, meaning 'circle'). A mandala is a geometric design consisting of symbols which is used in many eastern faiths such as Hinduism and Buddhism to help focus attention in meditative practice and be used as a spiritual guidance tool. It is purposed to help transform ordinary minds into enlightened ones and to assist with healing. Each symbol/shape/colour represents an aspect of wisdom or experience reminding the meditator of a guiding principle that is valued in living.
While reading The Alchemist, students were invited to think about the qualities of their own personality and consciousness that will bring them the 'treasure' they seek in the future. I also turned my attention inwards for some reflection on where I am currently in my personal growth; what skills and traits and experiences have I noted that are of value to me to create the life I aim to live. My mandala was inspired by interests that I have committed to in the last few years of middle age such as gardening and creativity; while others are passions I have been known to have since early childhood like reading and observant curiosity. The colour scheme also combined bright and bold with soft and muted colours; to look on this, I wonder if this is a reflection of the way I view my own personality and character. I can be confident and willing to lead when comfortable in a setting, while also feeling secure and content being quiet, and listening in the background. I have my teacher persona, a character that has been formed through a reputation established in a decades-long presence at the same school. But I also have a reserved and shy persona that follows me everywhere else; the one that has not changed a great deal over my lifetime and the one family and old friends will likely recognize as 'more like me'.
Creating a design like this was enlightening by its thought and creative process, having to think of what mattered to me (what mattered to my students). It was enlightening also by its simple repetitive pattern.
On a Friday night in April (April Fool's Day as it happens) it was animal sketching I was looking to do. Something easy. Something to prime the creative flow that was beginning to move within. A love for animals my whole life, it is great being able to bring life to one on the page. I had grown up having the experience of gazing at the flowing fins of angel fish in a tropical tank, so it was an easy sell to find this DIY video on sketching these small sea wonders.
The fish created here is a good practice in using lines and cross-hatching to create a shade and tonal value in a graphite sketch. Following the video tutorial i was able to feel successful in creating what i thought to be a fairly successful sketch.
In my art class, our dip into portrait drawing was to create a face not from a photograph or even a mirror, but one that was purely imaginative. To see who would be revealed as the graphite was applied to the paper. I will admit to cheating a little; I looked up a photo of someone famous to try for some inspiration. And though it inspired a face to emerge, it was not to emerge on this specific page. (Head over to another portrait showcased here to see the famous muse.)
This portrait took on many different faces in its progression; at times, I was not sure who it might become. However, as it came to life (and after many re-directions) I wonder if my reading of VE Schwab's The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was the inspiration for this face. Not happy. Not sad. Just longing for something different. So much so that she is willing to sacrifice what her life may have become for the uncertainty of immortality.
Coloured pencils & oil pastels on paper (5X5)
November 2022
Tasking my students with a representing project was a good opportunity for me to also remember history through an artistic project.
Black ink on cardstock (8.5X11)
November 2022
Graphite pencil & Chalk Pastel with thread stitching (5X7)
December 2022
Charcoal & Chalk Pastel (9X13)
December 2022
July 2022