Mark Rothko's abstract paintings have long been recognized for their simplicity, elegance, and profound emotional impact. However, Rothko's work is not often associated with the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which emphasizes the beauty of imperfection, transience, and simplicity. In this essay, I will argue that Rothko's paintings embody the principles of wabi-sabi aesthetics and demonstrate … Continue reading Wabi-Sabi Aesthetics in Mark Rothko’s Paintings
Overview of a Unit Plan on Teaching Self-Portraits, Expressionism, And Oil Pastels
Note: This is a generic Unit Plan that would be modified for student age/grade, include consideration on diverse learners and inclusivity, and show prototypes and detailed procedures. It would also contain objectives contained in the local school ministry requisites. Finally, it would include cross-curricular competencies covered in the making & reflecting process, including the use … Continue reading Overview of a Unit Plan on Teaching Self-Portraits, Expressionism, And Oil Pastels
Working out an Inspiration – T’Hed Fifty-Seven: A Deconstructed Italian Flag?
See T'Hed Fifty-Six for more... Ok, so maybe I'm reaching with my title question... a red stripe... a white stripe... where's the green stripe? Perhaps the yellow and blue floaters have the answer... if they combine... Yes, I'm reaching! The rough and raw feel (ie: messy) that I love works on this one and gives … Continue reading Working out an Inspiration – T’Hed Fifty-Seven: A Deconstructed Italian Flag?
Working out an Inspiration – T’Hed Fifty-Six: The pros and cons of small faces
See T'Hed Fifty-Five for more... It works... I think it works, right? The crayons spread the China marker and muddy the colours I choose for the skins... it shows less on larger faces, but adds some volume to these smaller ones. The subtle background colour choices really helped with allowing the gouache to make more … Continue reading Working out an Inspiration – T’Hed Fifty-Six: The pros and cons of small faces
Working out an Inspiration – T’hed Fifty-Five: Using Mistakes
See more at T'Hed Fifty-Five... I think the use of more subtle colours over the surface is allowing the black outlines to jump forward. As I went through a couple of inches of China marker making them, regardless of my fruitless attempts at not breaking it. I might have to retry charcoal with other materials... … Continue reading Working out an Inspiration – T’hed Fifty-Five: Using Mistakes
Working out an Inspiration – T’Hed Fifty-Four: Trusting the material a little more…
See more at T'Hed Fifty-Three... I feel this might be the best of the five I did this same day. Maybe it's the bigger face that allows the contracting colours to sine individually, or it's that I was using the materials a little better to cover the surface, or my colour choices just worked better... … Continue reading Working out an Inspiration – T’Hed Fifty-Four: Trusting the material a little more…
Working out an inspiration – T’Hed Fifty-Three: push to conclude an experiment
For more explorations, see T'hed Fifty-two... First let me say I did the following five pictures on the same day... the purpose was to push an experimentation with the previously prepared papers (collaged with wallpaper and music sheet paper, and painted with gouache)... When I last wrote on T'hed, I wanted to get away from … Continue reading Working out an inspiration – T’Hed Fifty-Three: push to conclude an experiment
Pride in my Students’s work: Assembled Identities – Legacy Mural project – Part Two
Please check out Pride in my Students's work: Assembled Identities - Legacy Mural project - Part One for the students' reflections and processes... What follows are the students' artwork as they are displayed in the common spaces of the school.
Pride in my Students’s work: Assembled Identities – Legacy Mural project – Part One
The graduating class (Grade 11) of visual arts students at Pierrefonds Community High School were given a particular challenge this year… To leave a piece of themselves behind that will both express their growth while here and inspire future students coming to our school… It all started with the following statement & question…”In a few … Continue reading Pride in my Students’s work: Assembled Identities – Legacy Mural project – Part One
The New Renaissance Mindset 