Green Stencils

Was asked about the results of a green stencil project we tried out last year and since there weren't any photos of it on the blog, I thought I would show the process all the way through.

Above, you see a frame that we used when we made our spray paint stencils. The green border is 2x2 wood with a cardboard box stapled to the back. Instead of using this frame for spray paint, we filled it with top soil. The little bag on the left is birdseed

To test out our green stencils a student volunteered this alien stencil. I will say, this stencil is much better suited for spray paint. For birdseed, you need something simpler.  You don't get the same detail with birdseed as you do spray paint. Still, we had the stencil so we gave it a go..

Next, we sprinkled the birdseed onto the stencil. The birdseed that lands on the dirt will grow. Where there is poster board, nothing will grow. We sprayed the project everyday with water from a squirt bottle to keep the dirt moist.

In a few day the birdseed began to grow. 

    

The last step was to take away the tag board to reveal the dirt below. I think this would be a fun project to do on a much larger surface area outside.

Green Screens are Cool

We had a green screen donated to Apex Art and we are putting it to good use. The green screen will make it a lot easier to cut away the backgrounds....Plus, they are cool.

In the past, the best we could do was film against the whiteboard. But that isn't as cool as using a green screen. And when people ask, how did you take the photo do you want to say, "I was cool and used a green screen"? Or be lame and say,"I took it against the whiteboard"?

If you say the whiteboard, the person will probably walk away in disgust. However, if you say the green screen, they might take you out for lunch so they can ask you all about it.

By placing the green screen on the ground it makes it easier to take photos of yourself doing cool skateboard tricks. The other reason to put the green screen on the ground is because it is too big to put upright. I guess we need a higher ceiling.

First Annual National Art Honor Society Inductions April 24th, 2013

This year was our first year to have the National Art Honor Society at Apex High School. On April 24th, 2013 we had our first Induction Ceremoy. It was a great turn out. Mrs. Brokke, Mr. Sands and Ms. Rossi are so proud of all our members and officers.

NAHS did so many fun things this year and we hope to continue next year with new members. Stay tuned for announcements at the beginning of next year if you are interested in becoming a member.

Caroline, our President, and her family.

Who are these fabulous Art teachers?

Washington DC Art History Trip 2013

On Friday, the Apex HS Art History class took our annual  trip to Washing DC. It's a long trip, starting at 5am in the morning and ending about 12am that night.

We start out by visiting the National Gallery. This is fun because the students recognize a lot of the art and I can still explain stuff about the work and the artists. 

Even if I forget and leave stuff out... like the fact that Watson became Major of London. Gee, one small fact and the kids won't let me off the hook (no pun intended)!

When I need a little help, I call in the docents. This years docents did a great job of letting the students talk about the art.. instead of making them just listen while they talked about the art.  Very interactive!

But then we went tot he Hirshhorn where I can't always explain the art. Uhmm, it's butter... made out of butter....

Stuff broke??

Snails like cabbage??

If you just tilt your head it will all make sense...

And horse, movies, stuff, things....

Well, another successful year at DC!

Zentangles of Mud!

So we had this idea... make Zentangles. Not just make Zentangles on paper, that would be easy. Make Zentangles on the walls of the school using mud.

We started on paper. Each student created their own personal Zentangle. Then, after a bit, the students teamed up to create group Zentangles on paper.

Then I thought, we should probably practice on the sidewalk. So we did. For the "mud" we made slip using both red and white clay. We also experimented with adding printing ink to the white clay for a little color.

Next, we went the courtyard. The interactive chalk murals created last semester were getting a little tired so we went right over them with the Zentangles.

Here are more of the results...

Vote Apex Lip Dub!

 

Like the sign says, help Apex win the Fox 50 Lib Dub contest!

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Forced Perspective Photography

 The day before Spring Break, I thought it might be a fun activity to try our hand at Forced Perspective Photography.

Forced perspective is a technique that employs optical illusion to make an object appear farther away, closer, larger or smaller than it actually is.

2013 Cinemagraphs!

Cinemagraphs are still photographs in which a minor and repeated movement occurs. Our Computer Art class created these cinemagraphs in PhotoShop to give the illusion that the viewer is watching a video.