Things will happen when you are ready to accept them.

A bit of my personal Kuntz philosophy:

Struggle with ideas and they will fight back.  Release the desire to control and you will overcome the obstacles that you've placed before you.  When you stop searching in panic for an idea to come, it will come of its own accord.  Life is a wonderful mystery and you are the detective.  Stop trying to be great and you will be, by default.  I believe in all of you.  Give this thing called art the time it needs to develop and you will be paid back ten-fold.

I promise.

...stop using only black and white.

Class today...

I tend to go on a bit - passion for teaching and art carry me away.  Just a few more thoughts...

1.  The real world will not be kind to you.  Be ready for it and don't miss deadlines now.

2.  Deadlines are meant to be respected.  While there may be wiggle room, treat them as if your life (and your next job/client) depended on making them.

3.  Change is scary.  Embrace the fear.

4.  Remember the shell and celebrate your knowledge of it.  You were where the Art 3 kids are now.  Look how far you've come.

5.  Scholastic is around the corner.  You're going to New York.  End of story.

You can do this, too.  It's just a grown up shell.

Where is the work?

Looking...still looking...and I need EVERYONE to have the capability of allowing comments to their sites.  Please be mindful of the deadlines.  Regardless of whether I'm in class or not, you need to have the work ready and available.  

Post your sketchbook ideas soon, please.

AP Masterwork Sketchbooks:

Let's get to the point about the sketchbooks and what is expected so I can clear up any confusion (I admit even I'm a bit confused!).

1.  I want to see posts on your personal sites for the work you are doing in your Masterwork sketchbooks related to the concentration pieces you WILL be creating.  It makes no sense to show the sketchbook AFTER the piece is done.
2.  You should have many thumbnails, color ideas, font studies, whatever relates and inspires for the piece you are working on.  You could also show the piece in its progress state along with the sketchbook as they relate.
3.  You should be posting often - for the concentration pieces at any rate - so we can see the thinking you are doing (and the "we" here is "me").

Please let me know if this makes sense and if you have other suggestions.

See you in class!

Due this week:

Reminders brewing...don't forget the critique for Breadth #2 on Friday, September 14th.  It needs to be a NEW breadth piece I have never seen before, portfolio quality, with a reflection.  Size, medium, title, etc.  Yes, post it and bring it to class.  

Also due this week - your concentration statement posted on your blog by September 15th (Saturday!). I would like it to be at the top of your page so I can see it when I look at the work.  You will be altering it as you go along, and as your work begins to take on its own life as a concentration.

Kristina Lahde - beauty in things we rarely notice - old envelopes.

Comments, anyone?

Good morning children!  I just spent a lovely half an hour or so looking at your sites and posting comments (when I could) and sending comments (when I could) to each of you.  I'm not certain how often you are visiting this site but I need to have you make it a habit at least a few times a week.  I saw one comment from one of you to another but that was all.  I saw one concentration statement and know I'll see the rest by the 15th.  I am seeing some nice work but now I need to have you take a SERIOUS look at what you have up and ask yourself the most important question:  Is it portfolio ready?  If not, alter, re-work, re-think, remove and put up a piece that is.

The sketchbook you are all maintaining - that hasn't changed and the "Masterwork" chapters should be evident.  I would like to have you create, if you haven't already, a link to that sketchbook and I would like to see the work you're doing on your concentration pieces.  You can keep this as private as you like with only me seeing the link (I know you all know how to hide what you don't want the world to see!).

I also want to see/hear comments from ALL of you - I need to know you're out there working and listening.

This is going to be a great year.

...overdone, I know but relevant to all of us...

Keep looking:

Jenny Morgan portraits

Work to look at - Jenny Morgan.  While the eyes are definitely arresting and grab hold, not letting go (isn't that what art is supposed to do?), the treatment of the hands is amazing.  What about YOUR work grabs the viewer and doesn't let go?

The deadline for posting Breadth #1 and creating your AP blog is now one day late.  

Get on it, please.