Instructions for Oil Pastel and Acrylic Resist Color Wheel

I have saved the instructions in jpeg.

But I have it as a pdf.

Loadiing it as a pdf takes work. 

So if you want the pdf, email me at 

emilymclemore [at] yahoo.com

Remembering Lindsey: in Linoleum Print

Some people make a permanent mark on your heart.

Lindsey was one of those.

Recently I was looking at some photos of her and I just felt the need to 

create a linoleum print of her hands creating art.

Here is one of the prints from the first series.

I like the dark ink on the light paper. I also like that it's a little heavy in places.  It's not a "perfect" piece and Lindsey would have never been able to create a "perfect" piece by traditional art standards.

But I wasn't in love with it.

So I went back to work and after a few hundred (at least it felt like it..)

Here is one that I absolutely love!!

In person, it's much lighter and softer, but it doesn't show up on the screen well so I had to darken it. The paper is really white and the colors are soft.

I am so happy with the final product. In the end, this was a piece that I created for myself with only my memories and emotions as a guide. Artistically there are changes I would make, but since I'm not selling it and not grading it, I consider it to be finished!

And as a side note, if any of you out there miss Lindsey and would like an artist proof of the above print, I have a dozen or so that I don't have any need for, but I don't want to throw them away! 

An artist proof means that it's a print from the working linoleum block. No two are alike as I would print one and then cut a little more away and so forth.

10 Bandaids So Far....

I've been working on a printmaking piece over the last week or so. I'm on my third try. The thing with printmaking is that you carve out the area that you want to be white. But once it's carved, it's gone. There is NO putting the linoleum back.

So there is a fine line you have to reach. My first two plates I went to far. This time, I'm trying to stop right at the line. I want the details, but I want the viewer to be able to feel the piece as well.

Yesterday at school I had my student's critique the piece. They were a little leery and you could tell that they DID NOT want to hurt my feelings. But I told them that I needed their feedback, that I am a working artist, not just a teacher and want to make sure that the piece "reads" to the viewer.

It was fun. 

Here is where I am at.  What do you think? Should I take anymore of the black out. Remember, I can't put anymore black in it.

And now that you have looked at it, what do you see? I SO want to tell you, but I'm trying to not lead you!

Weaving Project. Another Art for All Abilities Project.

I teach a myriad of students.  From the valedictorian to low functioning special education students.  Doing so keeps me on my toes!

And it challenges me to find projects that are inclusive and differentiated for all students.

Weaving is one of those projects!

Recently, I had the opportunity to write for an Education Foundation Grant that paid for the supplies for my weaving project.  That is always a plus!! $500 of unexpected funds for me to purchase looms (traditional and chipboard), yarn and 120 plastic needles!! 

With all projects, there is a learning curve. One of the unexpected learning curves came with the very first task. Students started with a 3"x6" piece of chipboard and they had to MEASURE and CUT every 1/4 inch. This was incredibly difficult for a lot of students!!  What a great reminder to me that one of the jobs of my classroom is to reinforce the "common sense" stuff. The same students that can answer complex math problems, struggled with measuring and cutting precisely at 1/4 inch intervals.  WOW! And they say my class isn't a core class!


The students used the small chipboard looms to practice the fundamentals of weaving. No requirements were given for the little weaving project beyond it had to be filled. This was very doable and not scary.

I am using these small pieces as thank you gifts!!

Then we moved on to the larger chipboard looms.  These were pre-scored. hallelujah.

For the large project, students had to use 6 different types of yarn and 6 different types of stitches.  This is where modifications came in.  Obviously, 6 stitches were not possible for all students.  But every student was able to do the in and out motion with the yarn. Granted, sometimes the in was on one side and the out was 15 strings over, but successful weaving is in and out. right! :) Using the needle was optional.

  

An interesting thing that some of the guys figured out was that using the needle was a drag. It was hard to handle and so forth. But their metal ruler with the hole in the end of it worked perfectly!! How cool is that!!  I will so be using this as a modification in the future!

And then finally, what about the advanced students???  The advanced students were challenged to use the traditional loom and to create a more intricate pattern while still incorporating 6 different stitches and 6 different yarns. 

You want to see the finished products?  Well, they will be on display at the art show in May, so I don't want to ruin the surprise!!  I'll post pictures after the exhibit goes up for all you non-local peeps!

Art for ALL Abilities.. an opportunity for everyone to help!!

As the Visual Arts Teacher at Stephenville High School, I get the opportunity to teach some pretty amazing students.  Everyday I am wowed by someone.  It might be their detailed watercolor of a home, or an abstract acrylic of a hand, or maybe the unique random dots on a piece of paper.  You see, not only do I have the best artists in school, I also have the priviledge of teaching our lifeskills students. 

Over the last couple of years I have seen the faces of my students change from blank expressions to engaged learning.  I have seen students (who I had been warned that they just sat and picked their noses) create beautiful and detailed works of art.

It is because of these students, that I am asking each person to go to Power A Bright Future and register as a voter and vote EVERYDAY from today, October 5th through November1st.  I have submitted a grant application with Clorox and now it's up to the votes. 

The grand prize is $50,000!! I can not even describe to you the joy these funds would bring to our art program and to all of my students.

So please, for the sake of my students of ALL ABILITIES, vote for us!!