Asian Art

Students are doing some experimentation with bamboo brushes and sumi ink. I have them practice Chinese kanji and bamboo as one of the preliminary activities to landscape scroll paintings.
#rrghst #brianbachisin #asianart

Drawing from Obervation

Students were required to do thumbnail sketches to plan out a composition for these coffee cans with various objects and figurines. still lifes. Here are some results of the final still lifes done in pencil and sharpies. Some ideas I like to focus on:
• seeing, not just looking
• observing light and shadow in real life objects
• observing shape, line, and form and recording them 2 dimensionally
• sketching multiple times to familiarize yourself with objects
• tools for creating interesting composition
• sketching as a rough draft and for practice

#brianbachisin

Abstract Mobile Sculptures

To give an idea of what those positive/negative space drawing turned into take a lol at my classroom ceiling. I made photocopies of the drawings which the student mounted onto cardboard. Using the cardboard, students created abstract sculptures in groups of 3-4 people. Student group came up with concepts for their sculptures then did some thumbnail sketches. From there, they started building using hot glue guns and string. We did some artist studies prior on Alexander Calder, Picasso sculptures, and the architecture of Frank Gehry. The results of these sculptures were fascinating as students enhanced team-building skills, overcame hurdles, and problem solved throughout the process; and my classroom looks amazing.

Back to the Grind

Mural Club is back at it again. Finishing some old work, beginning LOTS of new work. A new set of freshmen to join the current team of talent, hard work, and dedicated artists.

Hot Ideas For A Cooler Planet

Students travel from around the world to use the valuable cultural resources in NYC. Sometimes we take it granted how much educational wealth we have to take advantage of for our students to learn. We get caught up in the routine of the classroom or experience the pressure of test scores/ evaluations leading to class time feeling more valuable. Other times we just don't want to spend the time or go through the hassle of permission slips, coverages, or placing students not attending in other classrooms because it is time consuming and tiring. Knowing students learn best from seeing first hand and experiencing, as opposed to the monotony of just reading and writing about a historical site, work of art, or architectural landmark, pushes me to get students out of the classroom as much as possible. I learn the best that way so some of my students probably do too.
Just strolling around the local neighborhood around Richard R Green HS I encounter many of these awesome resources within a square mile of the school; Battery Park, Statue of Liberty, Fraunces Tavern, Staten Island Ferry, Brooklyn Bridge, sculptures by Kieth Haring, Alexander Calder, Jean Debuffet among many others, The Jewish Museum, 9/11 Museum, The Museum of the American Indian, African Burial Ground, and Trinity Church just to name a few within walking distance.
Taking advantage of the warm December weather I decided to take my advisory to the Hot Ideas for a Cooler World exhibit in Battery Park. Each student was assigned an artist's globe to write about. They focused on the way the artist displayed how we can conserve energy as beings on this planet. There are around 15-20 globes at the outdoor exhibit. We were back within a 50 minute period. Every student showed a willingness and curiosity to learn more. This exhibit is done by different artists in NYC, Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco, San Diego, Geneva, Amsterdam, Vancouver, Boston , Houston, Copenhagen, and LA. For more info go to coolglobes.org. Here are some pics from our local field trip.
#brianbachisin #rrgart #richardrgreen

Positive/Negative Space Drawings

Works by Kimberly Mendez, Ashley Ren, Ana Prieto, Tia Callwood, Anjelie Ramkirath, and Sabrina Persaud

Works by Ishika Hussein,  Rene Terrero, Sandy Baeza, Kaziah Rosa, Jaslyn Villa, and Casey Curran

Students created sharpie drawings using pattern and design with the focus on positive and negative space. They will later use these drawing as the surface to an abstract sculpture. I will post pictures along the way of this process.

Breakfast of Champions

The freshman teachers organized a special breakfast for 20 freshmen students who exemplify leadership, respect, resilience, trust, inclusion, and collaboration in their daily practices at RRGHST. It was refreshing to be a part of an awesome team of teachers who can plan an event focusing on positive behavior in a place that can be overwhelming with struggle at times. These students make the struggle that much easier.

RRGHST Artist of the Month

I am proud to display this piece in the window of Principal Nigel Pugh's office facing the sidewalk on 7 Beaver Street, NYC , for thousands to see. Freshman student Kim Mendez exhibited an interesting abstract composition, good use of value and gradation through colored pencil, and original imagery depicting Pop Culture in this drawing. It was my pleasure to observe this student grow artistically, pay attention to mysterious detail, and spend many class hours creating this piece as her first Studio Art 1 project.

Abstract/ POP Art Drawing: Student Activity Guide

Here is the student guidelines to the first project we are working on for Unit 1 Abstract Art.  I will post photos of the progress of this project.

Click here for student activity guidelines

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iltaHHvsm1zNAxYSTTDxG7W82TYKkJx9ohRAy1ig2Y0/pub