Oops!

Our attempt to show at the Red Bank Market tomorrow as planned is FOILED by time conflicts! The market was actually held tonight, 12/3 and will not happen tomorrow, 12/4 as I thought. Thanks to those who were wiling to come for extra credit; other options are available to make that up if desired!

POP! Extra Credit #2

POP! Extra credit #2*

You will change your lowest DAILY grade to a 100 if you do all of the following by Sunday 12/5, 11:59pm:

Post a link to my Website: mrsmulloy.blogspot.com to your Facebook wall with a positive comment, then tag me, print it, or text me a picture to show me you did it! I must have your documentation by the cut-off time above!
Don't have Facebook? Propose another idea to Mrs. Mulloy by Friday (12/3)!


*As mentioned in class, POP extra credit is only available by checking this website regularly. POP extra credit is not announced in class and is an incentive to use this site to reinforce and enhance my curriculum.

Week 17... Semester Exam Projects

1st and 2nd periods Ceramics classes worked diligently to construct and finish a "Choice Teapot" this week for their Semester exam project. Using the knowledge and skills acquired this semester, students must design and create an interesting teapot, employing the construction methods of their choice. There are 4 requirements for this project; the piece must: hold liquid and have a handle, spout, and lid. Other than that, students should create the most interesting piece they can to demonstrate their learning this semester. Problem-solving, attention to detail, and connecting knowledge and skills are integral in making a good teapot and exam grade! A 3-4 page IW on the project is due, along with the finished artwork, any extra credit and all previous assignments, on Friday, December 10th by 2:00pm. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED, MISSING WORK WILL RECEIVE A ZERO.

3rd period Art 3/4/AP students worked on The Sketchbook Project this week. The website for the project is http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject . Each student is creating a 4 page spread in the sketchbook based on their interpretation of the theme: "If you lived here..." Choice of materials, approach, and techniques are the choices of each student artist; the choices should reflect the knowledge and skills gained up to now in Art 3/4/AP. The 4 page spread in the sketchbook is due, along with the finished artwork, any extra credit and all previous assignments, on Monday, December 13th by 2:00pm. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED, MISSING WORK WILL RECEIVE A ZERO.

4th period Photography students continued their work investigating photographers of their choice. As instructed in Week 15, students are to complete a "meaty" 4 page investigation about the photographer and his or her photographs, to count as an exam grade. the complete requirements and details are listed in the previous blog posts! Students will have had over 2 weeks to complete this 4 page exam investigation, and should be demonstrating their investigation skills in addition to becoming experts on their photographers. The 30 day project also begin this week on December 1st. Students should take a picture every day for 30 days and complete an investigation on the project. 30 day shoots and IWs are due the first week we return in to school in January! The 4 page Exam IW is due, along with all previous assignments and any extra credit, on Friday, December 10th by 2:00pm. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED, MISSING WORK WILL RECEIVE A ZERO.

6th period Art 2 students worked hard this week creating their Choice projects for Semester Exams. Students were asked to create their own project idea, investigate it fully, and complete the project using the techniques and materials of their choice. Students were asked to create a project that would showcase the knowledge and skills they learned in this course and were advised to choose something that will appropriately and adequately demonstrate exam-worthy learning. A 3-4 page IW on the project is due, along with the finished artwork, any extra credit and all previous assignments, on Friday, December 10th by 2:00pm. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED, MISSING WORK WILL RECEIVE A ZERO.

Week 16... Thankful for Art and Short weeks!

Since we observe the Thanksgiving holiday Wed through Fri this week, we only have one or two class meetings this week.

Ceramics is lucky to have 2 class days to plan their teapots and prepare clay before beginning the real work next week (drying time and short periods prohibit starting too much!). They should have a great idea of what they want to make, research about pieces using similar ideas, colors, textures, to forms, and how to get it made. I'm Thankful for great pottery students!

Art 3/4/AP students must finish their Kara Walker inspired silhouette images and corresponding IWs. It will be a push, but they can do it! Lunch, study halls, and after school options are always available with planning if more studio time is needed. I'm Thankful for risk-taking advanced students!

30 day Clouds

Art 2 Photo students must use their time wisely to get research done for their Research project and 30 day IWs while making plans for their 30 day photo shoot to begin!  I'm Thankful for outstanding photographers!

Art 2 students also have a lot of planning and investigating in their IWs to do before beginning their MIDTERM choice projects this week. I'm Thankful for students pulling it all together!

Happy Thanksgiving to ALL!

Week 15... Student Teacher doing great!

Our student teacher still has the reigns this week with several great lessons! Her knowledge and excitement are a great addition to the art room, and with two teachers we've gotten so much cleaned and organized in the art room!

Ceramics students presented their cultural projects that were due this week. Most students did well, and we all learned a lot about 6 different cultures and their history and traditions of ceramics! The IW, Project, and Presentation were all test grades, so students were reminded to take it seriously and o well on this almost 3 week project!! Students also created a ceramic logo "stamp" to mark their pottery with. It's like a permanent personal trademark on the pottery! Students were also told about their final project: a teapot. Their instructions were to create a teapot with a spout, lid, handle, and vessel for liquid. Beyond those requirements, students can use the skills and creative abilities we've fostered this semester to create anything they want! Students must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the skills, terminology, and process learned thus far.


Art 3/4/AP students excitedly began the Kara Walker project planned by Ms. Loudermilk. After studying her work , students ware creating amazing large-scale black silhouette shapes depicting stereotypes they want to confront. These are going to be powerful works of art! The IW and project are due Tues, 11/23.


Art 2 Photography students worked on printing their best of the best projects again this week, in addition to begin prompted with the next 2 assignments, 2nd being their midterm exam project. #1 due 1/4/11, Students will investigate 365 Projects for the inspiration for their next photo shoot: a 30 Day Project. Students will take a photo every day from Dec 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. They may choose to do self portraits, the same shot every day, a certain item or themed items, etc. They should investigate information, how-to's, interesting techniques, and nice examples for their IW's. Students will post them to the wiki and be ready to discuss and present them to the class when we return from Winter Break! #2 due FRIDAY 12/10, Students will research  a photographer of their choice (who has made an obvious impact on photography) thoroughly in their IW's. MIDTERM GRADE!! They will investigate the important and relevant biographical and artistic information more fully understand the work of the artist such as:

• Birth, Nationality, family background?
• Time period, relevant events in history?
• Education, Art training?
• What age pursued art?
• Influenced by which artists?
• Influenced by which issues/events?
• Medium/a?
• Style?
• Subject Matter?
• Famous Works?
• Career in art successful during life?
• Influence to later artists?
• Influence to later society?
• Influence to your society?

Art 2 students spent later in the week taking a break from all the nail carving and paper cutting projects as soon as they finished and used mostly our brains, ears, and mouths. After a great socratic seminar on an article we annotated in class which assessed the importance of Art Education, students wrote a reflection in their IW's. We also used our class time this week to look through our IW's and write a list of things we learned form each page in our IW's. As students should have completed over 30 pages from several different assignments this semester, they had at least 30 topics or items to make a list from of that they had learned in those assignments. We then made a large poster with each student writing 5 things they had learned in the course this far. From "Don't procrastinate," to "I am better at art than I thought I was," to "The printmaking process takes patience," students enjoyed seeing all they learned spilled out there on the poster before them! Students were also told about their MIDTERM project, and to be ready to begin planning in the IW for their chosen project on Monday. 

Week 14... Cultural Awareness

Ceramics students spent the week studying various cultures from around the world and their traditions of pottery. Each student worked as part of a group to research a specific culture, then each student created a piece or two in the style of that culture, The group then created a presentation to showcase their investigations of their cultures and the pieces they made to represent their cultures.

Art 3/4/AP student finished their 12 layer canvases and corresponding IWs. They are quite stunning works of art demonstrating quite a bit of creative thinking and manipulation of artistic media. The students also learned a lot about themselves and the creative process through this lesson!

Art 2 Photography students worked on printing their final projects in addition to 2 investigations and photo shoots. #1, student investigated Light Painting. Looking for information, how-to's, interesting techniques, and nice examples for their IW's, students spent time researching and creating their own 3 light painting photos, due on the wiki. #2, students investigated a specific theme of their choice, i.e. friendship, trust, class, poverty, etc. to create a series of 5 images about. Looking for information about the theme, interesting themed photos, and nice examples of themed manipulated photos for their IW's, students spent time researching and creating their own 5 themed digital manipulation photos, due on the wiki.

Art 2 students finished their collages based on the Masterworks they brought in as part of their previously assigned investigations. After sketching the contours of the image they reproduced, they filled in areas of the image with small bits of colored paper found from magazines to create beautiful collages. The results are AMAZING work and many will be exhibited at UNUM at an exhibit in Downtown Chattanooga! Students who did not complete the Masterwork IW completed bookwork as an alternative assignment.

What's all this Wiki business?

Wondering what in the world a wiki is? Hope this short video helps!

Week 13... After the Sugar Rush

After the Sugar Rush of Halloween, students have a great week ahead working with our student teacher. Ms. Loudermilk, an Art Education student teacher from UTC, has been with us a few weeks observing and working individually with students, and will now be heading the class for a couple of weeks. Although Mrs. Mulloy will be around, Ms. Loudermilk is learning the ropes by taking over of the Art room! The students and I are excited about the fresh ideas and enthusiasm she brings to us!

1st and 2nd periods Ceramics classes begin work on their Cultural Research Projects on Monday. It is a large project that will consume a couple of weeks and count as test (pottery & presentation) and daily grades (IW & group work grade) and should be treated as such! After separating into 6 groups, each group studying a different culture (Chinese, Egyptian, Grecian, Native America, Mayan, and Japanese), students spent time in the Mac lab completing research, assigning duties and making plans for their projects. The remainder of this week and part of next will be devoted to researching the assigned culture and finding specific shapes, forms, colors, textures, and characteristics of ceramics from that culture. Once research is complete, students from each group will create ceramic pieces using the characteristics of the country they researched. After creating several pieces as a group representative of that country, students will present their work to the class. Ms. Loudermilk's PowerPoint with examples and requirements can be found here. An IW for the project is due Mon (11/15).


3rd period Art 3/4/AP class continued excitedly working on the 12 Layer Canvas project. So far, students have created new layers from the following instructions:
1. Draw a 2" grid over the entire canvas.
2. Paint in the squares.
3. Add tissue paper.
4. Add tape.
5. Add a white wash.
6. Write words.
The IW for this project should be about process, exploration, ideas for further media exploration or ideas for new projects, and a reflection on the finished piece as well.

4th period Photography students continue this week working on their wiki pages. Although I asked students to have the past assignment pages finished by Monday (11/1), only a few students had completed the work (due to a lack of work in class Thursday and no class on Friday with the half-day). Students were assigned the task this week of completing those pages of past assignments as well as the new assignment of adding critiques for 12 of their classmates. Each student must post a thoughtful critical response in the form of a comment on 2 different pages for 12 different peers. A total of 24 comments in addition to the finished pages displaying all previous Photography class assignments are due by Monday (11/1).

6th period Art 2 students are busy reproducing Masterworks in paper collages this week! After completing an investigation about a well-known work of art by a master artist, students chose one masterwork to reproduce. First students make a contour (outline) drawing of the major lines and shapes in the work, then they scour magazines for close matches to the colors within their masterwork. Depending on the effect students choose, they can cut, tear, or punch out their colored papers to act as "paint" to add the "brushstrokes" of color to fill the shapes. Students were encouraged to do a lot of accurate sketching using one of several methods (grid drawing, pencil proportions, "blind" drawing) learned previously in class to get a realistic drawing of the painting. Students were then reminded to collect a bounty of color to ensure they had all areas planned for before assembling and glueing the collage. I'm excited to see the final results! Students who previously completed this projects produced results like this!

Week 12... Wikis all around!

Students returned from Fall Break to create wiki accounts, test pages to trouble-shoot, and began creating their own pages to publish. Lots of work in the Mac lab this week!


1st and 2nd periods Ceramics students had an IW on Slab Boxes due Mon (10/25). They began the week by creating wiki accounts and test pages to learn how the wired atelier* wiki (mulloy.pbworks.com) works. Tuesday they created pages to critique one of their own pottery pieces. Using the self critique form provided on the wiki as a guide, students wrote a few paragraphs about their work. Reminded before Fall Break and this week in class, students were asked to bring a bowl to use as a mold. After the wiki work was finished, students who were prepared with their materials on Wednesday made a pinched molded bowl from small balls of clay pressed together then smoothed to a finished surface. We discussed that most pottery surfaces used for food should be smooth, as to prevent food particles and dirt getting caught in the surface of the clay. Students who were not prepared with their mold bowls were asked to figure our some way to be productive and produce work to make up for their unpreparedness. I hope students learned a lesson about listening closely to instructions and making sure they remember to bring materials when needed! The week was finished by finishing up the past IWs and pottery pieces due before Mon (11/1).

3rd period Art 3/4/AP students began the much-anticipated 12 Layer Canvas project this week. Each student got an 18x24 canvas and each day gets new instructions for a new layer. They don't know what each layer will be, so there is not way for them to plan the final result, but instead learn to experiment and learn from the unexpected beauties of exploration! Their first instruction was "Create a 2"grid over the entire canvas." Their 2nd layer's instructions were "Paint in the squares." The 3rd layer's instructions were "Add tissue paper." Students are eager to hear the next layer each day, but I'm only revealing one layer at a time. It's amazing to see the different results each student produces from the same simple instructions! There is nothing due next week, as this week we are in process, but students should always be looking and sketching!

4th period Photography students had an IW on Digital Manipulation and 5 images due Mon (10/25). Students spent the entire week in the Mac lab working on the wiki. To improve the process of submitting photos and getting feedback, students will now create a new wiki page to submit each of their photo projects. Students will then post at least 15 comments on different classmates' images to provide a virtual critique of their work! I'm excited to see if tis new process improves the process of submission and feedback! This week students spent time creating pages for all their previously submitted assignments and posted them to the wiki! All pages of old assignments are due before Mon (11/1). Go check them out here and feel free to leave some positive feedback; students have taken some beautiful pictures!

6th period Art 2 class had an IW on a Masterwork due Tues (1026). 6th period students also began the week in the Mac lab creating wiki accounts, test pages, and trouble-shotting wiki issues. Wednesday students who were prepared with their Masterwork began a project to reproduce the Masterwork through collaged papers. First, students created a simple contour-line drawing of the Masterwork as realistically as possible, keeping all objects in proportion and replicating the image as closely as possible. Students will next assemble colored papers from magazine clippings to fill the spaces created by the contour lines with color. Just as the original artist used  strokes of paint to create the image they are reproducing, students will alter the original by creating strokes of colored paper to mimic the colors in the painting. I am excited to see the finished results! Examples of this project previously completed by other students can be seen on the online gallery at Artsonia here. There is no new IW due next Tuesday (11/2).

Week 10... In Between Finishing and Starting!

As this was an "off week" after the 1st quarter and before Fall break, most of the week was spent finishing up old projects and fixing IWs.

1st and 2nd periods Ceramics students fixed slab boxes, threw on the wheel, made platters, clay leaves, glazed bisque fired pieces, and caught up on IWs. The slab box IW is due after break (10/25), so there was a lot of time to get that ready!

3rd period Art 3/4/AP students spent the week finishing up Choice project #2 and the accompanying IW, due after Fall Break (10/25).

4th period Photography students spent the week in the Mac lab learning about Digital Manipulation and the online Photo Editing program Picnik. Their assignment, due 10/25 after Fall Break, is the take an original Photo they've taken recently and manipulate it 4 different ways. The original plus 4 different manipulations of the same image are due along with an IW on Digital Manipulation and Picnik. It's a free, fun site to edit your photos that simulates photoshop's filter with "Effects," you should try it!!

6th period Art 2 students finished their experimental images used their carved acrylic plates. Students created Photograms and Oil pastel Images on the other side of the acrylic plate. This experimental project yielded some unintended yet beautiful results, and the students were able to access the Photography darkroom as a surprise! An IW on a Masterwork is due Tues after Fall Break (10/26), which we will use for our next project.

Week 11.... Fall Break!!

Now that schools start in August instead of September, we are thankful for Fall Break!!!

Enjoy, look at some art, be safe, and have fun!

Love, Mrs. M

Art Sale THIS Weekend in Red Bank

Mrs. Mulloy purchased a booth to sell artwork at the Red Bank Market to raise $$ for supplies. Please come support us!
Sat, Oct 9th 10am-4pm

Art Sale Event page


Help will be needed Friday after lunch to prepare the goods for presenting and sales. Saturday, we'll need help manning the tent in 2 hour shifts. 
Extra Credit is being offered!

Week 9.. Homecoming! Already?

It's hard to believe it's Homecoming Week at SMHS and that we've already been in school 9 weeks, but here we are! This week students did not have class on Friday, as teachers have in-service. As we near the end of the quarter, please encourage proactivity among students in making sure their assignments are completed!**

1st and 2nd periods Ceramics classes had an IW on Glazing due Mon (10/4) and glazed their 4 intro projects last week. Students who are absent are responsible for finding a way to get these projects quickly finished on their own time within the week, as clay drying and firing schedules cannot be changed, and unfinished work cannot be graded. This week, students began making a Memory Box using the slab method. After planning their boxes and measurements, students rolled out slabs of clay to the size and shape they needed, then left them out flat to harden some. The next day, the leatherhard slab pieces were scored and slipped to the slab bases and reinforced on the inside corners with soft plastic coils to construct the form of the box. Students struggled in many cases with thin, cracking, dried-out walls, but learned the hard lessons of clay: follow instructions or disaster strikes! :) Students should choose someone to write a letter to or in memory of someone to enclose in their boxes when they're fired, and should also plan the decorative glazing they will incorporate once bisque fired. Their IW on Slab boxes is due Monday after Fall Break (10/25)!

3rd period Art 3/4/AP students worked on a choice project this week. Students may choose any subject matter, medium, and idea of their own to execute this week. Some are painting, some collaging, some making photograms, some are building frames; there is a flurry of creative energy during 3rd period this week! Full investigations on their projects including critiques, as always, are due Monday, (10/11).

4th period Photo class began the week with a day in the computer lab to begin investigating photographer Cindy Sherman and Portraits. This IW is due Monday (10/11). The photo shoot this week involves a partner. Students are to shoot 5 portraits of their partner, but each one should try to show a different "person" through hair, makeup, clothes, lighting, background context, props, etc. These 5 photos are due due Monday (10/11) as well. In addition, students are also rotating into the darkroom to create their won photograms! All students should have completed 1 successful photogram by next Friday (10/15).

6th period Art 2 students continued carving their portraits into their acrylic plates using nails and other strong, sharp objects. Although taxing on hands because of the amount of pressure students have to apply to carve into the acrylic, students are achieving remarkable results! This week's lesson: Art hurts sometimes! :) I am very excited to see the finished results of these experimental intaglio printmaking projects! The IW on Kathe Kollwitz and Intaglio Printmaking was due Tues (10/5).

**Special Note: Students who fall behind due to absences in studio-driven courses like Art should ask for an alternate paperwork assignment if time cannnot be arranged in the students's day to return to the art room and work. It is the responsibility of the student, however, to seek this alternate assignment before extended absences or proposed due dates.

FYI- Trouble with Grading Software

Our new county-wide software (PowerSchool) for grading has been inaccessible most of last week and this week as repairs and adjustments are made at the district level. Although this new software is exciting and will be wonderful for teachers and parents once it is online, the bugs are still being worked out of this new system.
Please know that, though no new grades can be posted in the online gradebook, grades are still being documented and will be entered into the system once the data storage is reliable. This may result in a delay of progress reports, so please be aware!

Thank you for your patience; I'm sure practicing mine! :)

Week 8... Art studies in depth

1st and 2nd periods Ceramics classes do not have an IW due this week, as their Throwing on the Wheel investigation was due last week. Students began this week by researching Glazing. We now have several bisque-fired pieces ready to glaze, so before we begin the process, students will become acquainted with the History and How-To's of glazing. After this week, I hope our classes have glazed their Slab Texture Tiles, Coil Coasters, Pinch Pot Rattles, and even their Clay Leaves. I am excited to see how the first finished pieces turn out! The finished IW on Glazing is Due Mon (10/4).


3rd period Art 3/4/AP class worked on the Seminar Reading Project (see previous week's description of the project task and goals). After focusing last week on brainstorming and investigating ideas then beginning on one section of their work (either typography and layout or realistic drawings), students will spend this week pulling the project together to make a beautiful, meaningful work of art based on their Seminar books. Once finished, students typed a 2-3 paragraph Artist Statement to explain the piece. One student remarked last week, "It's amazing how may more details I'm noticing in the book now. Its cool how art can help me understand my book better!" Yay for interdisciplinary connections and reinforcing important ideas across the curriculum; it really does work! IWs this week should be focused in the Seminar Book project; hearty investigations of the book, ideas, and a well-done critique should all be present and are due Monday (10/4).

4th period Photo class worked on quite a few tasks again this week. They continued rotating in the darkroom to learn basic darkroom printing techniques in order to make Photograms, completed one Visual Analysis of a Photo, and copied important vocab into their IWs from a list provided. Important information on: Use of Enlargers, mixing the Chemistry in the Darkroom, and Black and White printing was covered. Notes should've been taken during Mulloy's demo, as instructed, to remind students later of the timing and process for when they work in the darkroom alone. At the same time, students are also photographing the ABC's (26 photos total, 1 of each letter) which are due Monday (10/4).

6th period Art 2 students spent the week studying and practicing portrait drawing. Tuesday was a computer lab day to do research for the IW, and the rest of the week was spent creating their projects. After getting their own photos taken, students will create Expressive Self-Portraits using an Intaglio printmaking method. Students will create the images by scratching their portrait into a clear acrylic 'plate' which will then be inked and run through a printing press. The resulting portraits should be quite Expressive, bold, gestural and hopefully fun to create! An IW on  Käthe Kollwitz and Intaglio Printmaking is due Tues (10/5).

Week 7... Seminar Books, Photograms, and Coils

1st and 2nd periods Ceramics classes created coil vases this week. Due Monday (9/20) were 5 photos of ceramics seen outside of the classroom. Students could show me camera phone pics, post to Facebook, or print out the pics. A demonstration on how to throw on the potter's wheel later in the week began the rotation of students onto our 4 potter's wheels to experience throwing. Each week, students will rotate onto the 4 wheels and hopefully create some great pottery while learning a fun technique! Students concentrated this week, howeer, on creating a solid coil construction which was: 20 coils high, included spirals, and was water tight. The different shapes and approaches have been really interesting to see in creation! Students do not have a new IW this week, as it is TURN IN WEEK for workbooks!

3rd period Art 3/4/AP class worked on the Seminar Reading Project. After investigating their seminar book by creating a summary and list of important themes, symbols, and objects from the story, students were asked to bring in 2 photos or 2 of the actual objects from their lists to draw. After making sketches and observing details, students will create a 6x9 realistic drawing of each of their objects. Students will then choose a passage or two from the book mentioning those objects and use their skills with typography to incorporate the text from the passage into the artwork. Students may propose a similar idea, such as creating a sculptural piece instead of a 2-D piece, but proposal must be made to Mrs. Mulloy before deviating from the established assignment! Due Monday (9/20) was an IW on the history of and relationship between Literature and Art. There is no new IW this week other than for the Seminar Reading project! All other IWs are now overdue and will be graded this week!

4th period Photography students learned about Photograms early in the week by doing research, then learned in the darkroom  how to create their own Photograms. Due Monday (9/20) were a Rule of Thirds IW and 10 Rule of Thirds Photos: One set of 5 centered, one set on the Rule of Thirds. Learning and practicing basic black and white printing skills in the darkroom, students gained valuable experience in traditional photography this week. Working chemical solutions, dilutions, While we were rotating in the darkroom, students also completed a Visual Analysis of a photograph of their choice, copied important photo vocab into their workbooks, and began their next Photo shoot Assignment: Photograph the ABCs, 26 photos due Tuesday, October 5.


6th period Art 2 students finished up their Summer Reading Projects at the beginning of the week. After finishing the artwork, students created Artist's Statements to accompany their art work in an exhibit around the school. Our hope is that other students will not only be able to admire the creative talent of our art students, but also reinforce the major ideas and themes of the Seminar and Summer Reading books we read. Students then began an Expressive Portrait project. They will create portraits of themselves based on photos then altered to be in a more Expressive style.

POP! Extra credit*

You will earn 2 extra credit points added to your lowest grade (not to exceed 100 pts) if you do all of the following by Sunday 9/19, 11:59pm:

Post a link to my Website: mrsmulloy.blogspot.com to your Facebook wall with a positive comment, then tag me, print it, or text me a picture to show me you did it! I must have your documentation by the cut-off time above!
Don't have Facebook? Propose another idea to Mrs. Mulloy by Friday (9/17)!


*As mentioned in class, POP extra credit is only available by checking this website regularly. POP extra credit is not announced in class and is an incentive to use this site to reinforce and enhance my curriculum.

Week 6... in the Mix

1st and 2nd periods Ceramics had an IW on rattle design and history due Monday 9/13. This week students began learning about throwing on the wheel, including a demonstration DVD by The Clay Lady, online research, and a teacher demo. Students will begin to, after this week's intro, rotate daily on the wheel; each student spending a few days experiencing and experimenting with the equipment and process over the semester. Hopefully by the end of the semester we'll actually be throwing pots! Students also made a clay leaf impression piece, using the slab method and a fresh leaf to create a beautiful and functional piece of pottery. After slabs were rolled, students collected fresh leaves from outside and pressed them into the top of the clay, creating a beautiful surface texture and reinforcing the idea of interesting surface design in addition to the importance form in pottery. Homework this week was to take 5 photos of pottery they see outside school (at stores, people's homes, etc). The 5 photos are due Monday (9/20).

3rd period Art 3/4/AP students finished up their choice projects and IWs with critiques early in the week, then began to brainstorm and investigate for their Seminar Reading Art project. After investigating their seminar book by creating a summary and list of important themes, symbols, and objects from the story, students were asked to bring in 2 photos or 2 of the actual objects from their lists to draw. After making sketches and observing details, students will create a 6x9 realistic drawing of each of their objects. Students will then choose a passage or two from the book mentioning those objects and use their skills with typography to incorporate the text from the passage into the artwork. Students may propose a similar idea, such as creating a sculptural piece instead of a 2-D piece, but proposal must be made to Mrs. Mulloy before deviating from the established assignment! Students should create an IW this week on the history of and relationship between Literature and Art, due Monday (9/20).

4th period Photo students had an IW on Camera Basics & Exposure and their 2 photos due Monday, 9/13. Students spent this week learning about different time periods and genres of photography through watching the Adventure of Photography DVD and taking notes about important events, figures, and ideas in Photography. Students also began investigating the Rule of Thirds and Composition in Photography, for which the IW is due Mon (9/20), as are 10 pics: 5 images using a symmetrical, centered composition, then 5 identical pics instead using the Rule of Thirds to compose them.

6th period Art 2 students finished working on their Summer/Seminar Reading book projects this week. They were asked last week to bring in 2 objects or photographs from their list to draw. After students completed the two 6x9 reaistic pencil drawings, they chose passages from the book and applied their knowledge of typography to paint a beautiful arrangement of words to combine with their drawn images on large paper. Projects should be completed by Friday (9/17) and are due Tuesday (9/21). For this week's IW assignment, students should research Expressive Portraits (vs Realistic portraits) in preparation for their next project. They should've already turned in a headshot photograph of themselves to use in this project in Week 4! Expressive Portrait IWs are due Tuesday (9/21).

Week 5... Busy as a Hive!

*Progress Reports go home Friday 9/9!*
Although this week was shortened by Labor day on Monday, students have been busy learning and creating in the art room this week! Mrs. Mulloy was chaperoning a STARS leadership team on Wednesday out of school, but students had a lot going on with their research and art making! Submissions for the Hamilton Place Bus design contest have been scanned in and will be submitted this week! I'll keep you posted if any Eagle Artists make the cut, and I'm working on getting our online gallery updated as well!!

1st and 2nd periods Ceramics had a History of Ceramics and Pottery investigation due Tues (9/7). This week students worked diligently creating their own ceramic rattles this week. After creating designs in their sketchbooks and investigating the history of rattles in different cultures and their use up to now with infants, students got their hands dirty! Although our shortened 55 minute periods are tough for accomplishing much ceramic work, we are learning to work quickly while having enough time to clean up before the bell rings and get to the next class (usually at the other end of the building). We are also learning a lot about the role of humidity, temperature, and trying to keep our clay wet enough to work! Chemistry is alive in the art room, as are pop quizzes! Students' rattles and investigations (3-4 pages, as always) due Thursday (9/9)!

3rd period Art 3/4/AP should have already turned in a bus design and IW last week! My students looked a lot like college art students this week; each working on their own choice projects! Creating 3-4 page investigations on their ideas, students are executing interesting works of art, from traditional charcoal still-life drawings to tissue-paper embroidered canvases! Projects and investigations, including a self-critique ( as always) are due Friday (9/10)!

4th period Photography had 7 Elements of Art photos and an IW due Tues (9/7). This week students began to learn about Camera Basics and Exposure in Photography. After a podcast series, videos, and online research time, students created a 3-4 page investigation on the topic. Heavy in new vocabulary, this week was full of talk about apertures, shutter speeds, ISOs, depth of field, stops of light, and ranges of values. In addition to all the vocab and notes, they need to use a camera with adjustable settings to take multiple photos manipulating the light, focus, and depth of field just by changing the camera's settings. They should submit 2 digi files or prints: one exposed automatically, and one showing an identical image but with manipulated exposure (blurred focus from long shutter speed, shallow depth of field from larger aperture, etc) due Monday (9/13)!

6th period Art 2 students were busy creating the 2 realistic drawings (yes, they can learn to draw realistically, no matter what!) they will use in their Summer reading/ Seminar book inspired artwork. After summarizing their book in 2 paragraphs, students were asked to brainstorm important ideas, themes, symbols, and objects from their books. Students then created small sketches of each object or symbol. (All of this work was done in the IW and should be part of a 3-4 page investigation on the Summer reading book and project!) An additional homework IW (3-4 page investigation, 50/50 images and text, with MLS sources, as always!) on Art and Literature is due Tuesday (9/14)! They were then asked to bring in 2 objects or photographs from their list to draw (the most accurate realistic drawings are done form OBSERVATION, not memory). After students complete the drawings, they will choose passages from the book to and use their knowledge of typography to paint a beautiful arrangement of words to combine next week with their drawn images on large paper. I am SO excited to see how the works of art turn out, and I hope this project will reinforce the students' interest in or knowledge of their Summer Reading/Seminar books, as well as the important relationship between Art and Literature!

Week 4... History in the Making

1st and 2nd period Ceramics had a 3-4 page Autobiography investigation in their workbooks due Mon (8/30). The students started this week in the computer lab investigating the History of Ceramics and Pottery. They are to complete a 3-4 page investigation in their workboks addressing the major questions in an investigation: Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? As always, their investigations should include 50% text and info, 50% images. They should include at least 5 sources in MLA style in their investigation! The last part of the week they created designs for their ceramic rattle!

3rd period Art 3/4 students created their final designs for the Hamilton Place bus design contest. After planning extensively last week, students have created some fantastic designs to submit for entry to the contest! After finishing their design entries, students should finish the 3-4 page investigation in their workbooks by completing a self critique! Next, Art 3/4 students began investigating and planning their first choice project which they will need to complete by Friday (9/10)!

4th period Photography students had a 2 different investigations in their workbooks due Mon (8/30): an Autobiography , as well as the 3-4 page investigation on the History and Invention of Photography we began in class last week. The students started the week creating timelines of key events on Photo History, dividing in groups to find correlating events in world history to correspond on the timleine. Students also began photographing the 7 Elements of Art, and those 7 photo files are due next Tuesday (9/7)! An investigation on the Elements of Art and their 7 Photos are also due Tuesday (9/7).Students got a day in the computer lab to do online research for those assignments!

6th period Art 2 students had a 3-4 page Autobiography investigation in their workbooks due Mon (8/30). Students created their final designs for the Hamilton Place bus design contest this week. After planning extensively last week, students have created some fantastic designs to submit for entry to the contest! To prepare for our next project, students brought in two things: their summer reading book and a "headshot" photo of themselves making an expressive face. Angry, excited, bored, blissful, whatever! Photo MUST be of head ONLY and be close enough to see details in focus!
Students began the Summer Reading project this week as well. After investigating their summer reading or seminar book by creating a summary and list of important themes, symbols, and objects from the story, students were asked to bring in photos of 2 of the objects from their list to draw. After making sketches and observing details, students will create a 6x9 realistic drawing of each of their objects. Students will then choose a passage or two from the book mentioning those objects and use their skills with typography to incorporate the text from the passage into the artwork.