It inspired me to give it a try as I can see this as something my grade 6 or 7 students would enjoy. At times I wish I was still an elementary classroom teacher as I would use this to inspire creative writing (do the art first and then look at it to see what story comes to them).
First create a line doodle and then start looking for images to fill in. My first photo is the original doodle and the second is the completed piece. Click it to take you to the larger Flickr image. I used B2 sized paper (500mm x 707mm) and marker. There’s also a simple video below showing the stages of development.
I was inspired by this video to try something new with my artwork (thanks Craig R for sharing it). Though it is good to develop personal style, I find myself doing the same thing over and over. With time on my hands I gave the technique a go a few days ago.
The premise is to be influenced through music to explore creativity. I chose “In Sickness and in Health” by The Legendary Pink Dots from their The Whispering Wall album. I had no plan in mind and simply went with it, playing the song over and over for about an hour until the work was complete. It’s harder than it sounds and I doubted myself throughout the whole experience.
My goal was to simply break out of my comfort zone and explore new possibilities and various techniques that I usually don’t use. I used graphite, pastel, ink, coffee, charcoal, gouache, watercolour and collage.
The final piece itself is not a work of art, but a document of an exploration process, something newer art students may struggle with. I recorded the process in the video below and sped it up reducing it from fifty minutes to approximately three (you may also click the photo to take you to the Flickr page).
We are about 2 months into school now. I don’t know about you, but I am BUSY. Swamped actually. Every year seems to grow and get busier and busier. More stuff gets added but it feels like not much is taken out. With this, I ponder if I continue to challenge my students out of their comfort zone in Art. Are they challenging themselves or simply giving me what I want for assessment purposes? Do I encourage them to experiment enough or do I rush them?
I was flipping through some bookmarked videos and stumbled across this one again (video below). Not fully related to what I am writing but it made me wonder if I am understanding my students. I can’t remember who passed it on to me, so apologies. It’s in Japanese with Korean and English subtitles. Some food for thought.
Stimulating Imagination Through Constraints is an interesting article from Psychology Today. As a specialist teacher who often visited classrooms in the past, I have seen several teachers simply ask their students to “be creative” or “use your imagination” for project tasks. Too bad it’s not that simple. Students will not usually know where to start. Nor would I.
In the classroom we need to be ‘clear and explicit about definitions, concepts and processes.’ Being creative does not simply mean to create something with no limits in mind. Usually such an open task will lead to more frustration and poorer quality of work. How will you then evaluate when all was simply asked was to be creative and imaginative? Providing some constraints can help define the problem and assist in solving the problem in creative ways.
(Read the full article through the link provided above).
Unique TV Series Episodes That Inspire Creativity from Smashing Magazine:In this article you’ll get inspiration from the area of creative writing in popular television series episodes from the past 40+ years, and we’ll discuss how the creativity achieved in these particular episodes can motivate all of us, as artists, to always strive to prevent our creations from being too normal and predictable.
Free Tools to Back Up Your Online Accountsfrom Lifehacker: Cloud computing means you can store your data in web applications and access it from any browser, anywhere—but that doesn’t mean you don’t need a backup plan. Safeguard your data when a storm’s a-brewing in the cloud with these tools.
15 Great Free Online File Sharing Alternatives from Hongkiat: Here are some free file-sharing sites we come to know and if you share files with friends or peers via Internet frequently, you might want to consider getting them done this way.
Free and Commercial Stock Photography Sites from Smashing Magazine:Here are a handful of sites to check out when considering the use of stock photography on your next project.
Our new school year began this week. As in any international school setting, teacher/student turnover occurs every year. Sometimes it may be as high as thirty percent. To get everyone on the same page, why not consider experimenting with some new tools for your class/grade level projects? (Remember though, pedagogy first, tools second.)
I have posted many of these before and most essentials are filed under the “Cool Web Tools” tab above here on this blog. I have also made some further additions to my Creativity 2.0 wiki (pictured below). If you are busy, skim through and look for the RECOMMENDED! sites as pictured right.
I have done my best to make the navigation on the wiki simple. I would advise starting with the Presentation section. You may also find something useful under the “Other Good Stuff” area too. Click on the picture below to take you to the wiki. If you have any further recommendations, I’d love to hear from you! Lastly, consider looking at Alan Levine’s 50+ Web 2.0 Ways To Tell a Story. (Remember, most 2.0 tools require sign up.)
My job position has changed this year. I am teaching grades 6-9 Art as well as grades 1-3 Drama. My involvement in IT at my school may be minimal. However, it should not affect the posts on this blog. Let’s face it, all teachers are in IT now.
In this engaging and thought-provoking lecture, public intellectual and best-selling author, Richard Florida, explains how creativity is revolutionizing the global economy. Drawing from his research in his popular books The Rise of the Creative Class and, most recently, Who’s Your City? , Florida traces the rise of this new social class and its impact on cities, business, and society at large. Richard Florida is Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute and Professor of Business and Creativity at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. (Published Nov. 15, 2008)
It’s kind of late in the school year, but save this for the beginning of the next. Give The Brainstormer a spin to help generate topics for drawing, writing, cartooning or for improving. What can be created for something like “letting go/intergalactic/volcano” or a “self-preservationist/cannabalist/golf course.”
My previous post reminded me of an activity I did with Olivia Gude a few years ago in a workshop. We were given a photocopied sheet of ink blotched onto paper similar to that of the first picture (note: coloured paper works better).
Using coloured pencils, we were asked to find images within the smudges and blotches by rotating the paper. Next, we did a gallery walk where we gave ‘psychological’ titles to the works of the other participants. The activity was geared towards inspiration and simply letting go of traditional drawing methods. It may also be extended by attempting to incorporate the images into a painting.
Click on the images to see an enlarged view. Feel free to use them in any way you see fit.
It is an advertising campaign for Panamericana School of Art and Design and encourages people everywhere to test their creativity.
The objective is to draw as many things as possible that originate from X’s or O’s.
I have decided to try it with my students at the beginning of the next school year (or during a PD presentation). Feel free to use the PDFs if you wish.
I loved the following video of Chris Piascik drawing found via the Drawn! blog.
Stimulating Imagination Through Constraints
I have posted many of these before and most essentials are filed under the “Cool Web Tools” tab above here on this blog. I have also made some further additions to my 
