Last Day of 2019

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Today is the last day of class for 2019! Have a terrific holiday break and I hope you have a fantastic New Year, let's hope 2020 is a happy, healthy, and successful year for all of us!

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National Art Honor Society- Holiday Party

Today in National Art Honor Society and it's our last meeting of 2019 so we will celebrate with our annual Holiday Party complete with pizza and art and then some more pizza and a bit more art.
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Studio Art- Explorer Classroom Talk

Yesterday we talked with scientist Mark Elbroch from @PantheraCats with a live @NatGeoEducation #ExplorerClassroom web chat & learned about learned about big #cats & #pumas for our upcoming #STEAM project in #art class! pic.twitter.com/CLMcgpv9s3

— Tim Needles (@timneedles) December 18, 2019

Yesterday in Studio Art we had a chance to talk with scientist and photographer Mark Elbroch from Panthera in our National Geographic Explorer Classroom live chat.  We will reference what we learned in our upcoming #STEAM project after the holiday break.

Digital Media: Digital Zentangles

In Digital Media class this week we will be drawing and designing Digital Zentangles in Adobe Photoshop.  The file size should be 8.5" x 11" (US Paper) and students can create any kind of ORIGINAL design (don't copy and paste other people's work) to fill the page with doodles.  They work best with a central design element (shape or word) but feel free to be creative!

Digital Media: National Geographic's Explorer Classroom talk with biologist Alex Braczkowski

Today my @SCSD_HSE digital media students had a terrific #ExplorerClassroom talk w/ big #cat biologist @AlexBraczkowski who’s studying tree climbing lions in Africa w/ @NatGeo, great learning about the #photo & #video tools he uses & his techniques for making amazing images! pic.twitter.com/gFoD915swn

— Tim Needles (@timneedles) December 13, 2019

The Digital Media Art Class had an opportunity to talk with big cat biologist, photographer, and filmmaker Alex Braczkowski on Friday thanks to Nat Geo's Explorer Classroom, he’s been studying tree climbing lions in Africa with National Geographic.  Below is a tweet with a clip from the talk in which Alex discusses the camera traps which we've been interacting with in class to learn about AI Machine Learning.

Great to talk to big #cat biologist @AlexBraczkowski about using #camera traps w/ @NatGeoEducation #ExplorerClassroom today after my @SCSD_HSE digital media students learned about #ArtificialIntelligence in @codeorg’s #HourOfCode & sorted trap images w/ @the_zooniverse this week! pic.twitter.com/qAKOwMa750

— Tim Needles (@timneedles) December 13, 2019

Digital Media: AI for Mountain Zebra National Park

This week we learned about how AI and Machine Learning works with Code.org’s AI for Oceans and then began use the skills we learned to work on the snapshot project for Mountain Zebra National Park by finding animals, fires, or people in photographs take by camera traps.  Today we will move onto the next step and classify 10 of those animals and prepare to talk with biologist and photographer Alexander Braczkowski who uses these AI tools as well as drones and robots while studying and filming tree climbing lions in Africa.  We’ll be speaking to him as part of National Geographic’s Explorer Classroom series this week.

National Art Honor Society- Artist Trading Cards and Holiday Cards

My @SCSD_HSE AP #art students created some #creative artist trading cards this week, we’ll be exchanging #ATCs with students in Idaho, Wisconsin, & Texas this year! pic.twitter.com/OP5E4quQ1D

— Tim Needles (@timneedles) December 11, 2019

Today in National Art Honor Society we'll finish working on our Artist Trading Cards and Holiday Cards!

Digital Media: STEAM Career Infographic

In Digital Media we are creating a STEAM Career Infographic based on a career of interest and we will be including an AR component.  We will research and answer 5 basic questions about the career as well as giving a basic description and examples of successful people in the career on the poster.

We will also be learning about AI and machine learning for HOUR OF CODE this week with a new code.org assignment on the topic: AI oceans puzzle

Drawing: Looking at the work of James Victore

In Drawing class we'll look at the work of artist James Victore today and using it to inspire out next projects based on his design class.  We will alos be working with a new drawing medium, ink so well learn how to use Japanese ink and Acorn ink in class.  The 3 short assignments that we will do after seeing his work are below, we'll collect and critique all 3 on Thursday:

1. Put yourself into your art
2. Draw a randomly generated word
3. Create a motivational poster for yourself

AP ART: MIDTERM ASSIGNMENT

AP ART MIDTERM ASSIGNMENT

1. Identify a topic 
2. Ask essential questions about the topic
3. Inquiry, research, collect data, and analysis data
4. Identify big idea
5. Ask essential questions about the big idea
6. Inquire: research and analysis
7. Visualize the findings (through 4 art works)

Due: January 24, 7am

Drawing: Illustration Friday- Brain

In Drawing class we are going to revisit Illustration Friday in preparation for our Illustration Unit and this week's theme is: Brain.

National Art Honor Society- Artist Trading Cards

 This week in National Art Honor Society we will be creating Artist Trading Cards to trade with AP Art and National Art Honor Society Students in Idaho and Wisconsin.  The cards should be 2.5" x 3.5" and the subject matter and medium is up to you!

 Here's a few examples of ATCs from the past few years, we will also be taking a photo with our final Wyland painting which was submitted last week and working on creating homemade holiday cards for our Adopt a Family program!

National Art Honor Society- Artist Trading Cards

Digital Media: Video Games

In Digital Media class this week we will be finishing and completing our Video Game then playing and critiquing all of them.  Below is the rubric we'll use to judge the video games so make sure you have a working link like this example from Alexa (screen shot's above): SCRATCH: Sweet Social Hour.

Using the rubric you'll score the 3 categories each of which have a max of 4pts (12pts would be a perfect score).  For clarification, in the game play the term "hard to play" means clarity not difficulty.

We all learned a great deal about designing characters, animating, and coding video games so now it's time to share the fun!  Below are a few of the student video games that were rated the highest in out BETA testing period so far this year, try them out:

Haunted   Swish or Miss   Zoo Day   Fighter Game   Sweet Social Hour   MrSpring

Because the class enjoyed the project so much we will try collaborating as a class on a video game next quarter to build our skills even further and continue learning about the process!

Daniel Gale Art Show

Today is the Daniel Gale Art Show from 5-7pm so come join us in celebrating the work of fellow artists from Smithtown High School East!

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Today we are working on submitting work into the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards so make sure the work is submitted by midnight tomorrow!

AP Art: Water Conservation Mural and Storm Drains

Today is our final day of painting the water conservation mural that we've been working on with National Geographic and the video above shows our whole process.  We learned a great deal from the research and used it in our mural so now it's time to begin sharing some of what we learned with others!  We'll post the video and the final mural pictured below on social media and put together a campaign in the spring that includes the beach cleanup we organized so the community can take action.

We will also be participating in another Google Hangout with the science classes at Smithtown West 5th period today to continue our collaboration on the smaller storm drain murals that we will be painting in the spring.

National Art Honor Society- Handmade Holiday Cards

In National Art Honor Society we will be creating 20 handmade holiday cards for our local Adopt-A-Family program this week leading up to Thanksgiving and completing our Wyland mural painting as well as the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards which are both due on December 3.

National Art Honor Society: Cyanotypes

Today we have a special National Art Honor Society collaboration with the Makerspace to celebrate my new book STEAM Power, we are learning to create cyanotypes!  Above is a cool example from artist Karen Molloy and below is a great example from artist Essye Klempner which was shown the Queens Museum.

National Art Honor Society: Contests

In National Art Honor Society today we will be working on finishing our Wyland mural and the individual storm drain mural for Smithtown as well as planning our induction, first field trip, our first collaboration cyanotype project with Makerspace club for my upcoming book STEAM Power, our Holiday projects, and upcoming contests such as Scholastic Art and Writing.

AP Art: Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

The deadline for the Scholastic Art & Writing awards are coming up so our next assignment is to create a NEW work for our AP Portfolio that can also be submitted for the competition.  If you win the prize is an award at Carnegie Hall and up to $40,000 plus you get an actual gold key just like the one Andy Warhol won and is wearing up above! It can be in any medium and any size under 20" but needs to be handed in by next Wednesday November 27 and submitted online at: www.artandwriting.org

Digital Media: Lets make a Video Game

In Digital Media we have now done all the preparation creating characters and backgrounds, props, and animations so lets now actually make our Video Game!  We will be using SCRATCH to code, if you're an advanced coder and want to use something else just speak to me.  The game will be due on Wednesday November 27 (last day before Thanksgiving break) and should also be submitted to Scholastic Art & Writing Awards if you feel like it's complete by December 1.

We'll start by setting up an account and figuring out what we need to do to make our game a reality- there are many great tutorials on you tube available for people who have not coded before that can give you step by step instructions.  Here's a favorite below.

Drawing- Sketchbooks

In drawing class we are focusing on sketchbooks in advance of the sketchbook project.  We learned about a range of well-known artists who used sketchbooks so study them on our class quizlet to prepare for a short quiz on Friday.

This week we will begin working on our Sketchbook designs following a different prompt each day (listed below). You can see some of my sketchbook advice and practice on the Sharing Our Notebooks Blog and I'll do a few short tutorials this week as we work.  We'll be learning about the Sketchbook Project (The Telephone Game) as well as a few new drawing terms during this assignment.  

• Tuesday- Words- Geometric Shapes/
• Wednesday- Portraits
• Thursday Asymmetrical Balance
• Friday- Analogous Color

NAHS and Makerspace Collaboration Friday: Cyanotypes

This Friday the National Art Honor Society and Makerspace will have our first in a series of collaboration as I share a project from my upcoming book STEAM Power and show students how to create Cyanotypes.  Check out my Pinterest Cyanotype Page for some inspiring images to get an idea of what they look like and get some fodder together to create a print on Friday!

Water Conservation Mural Project

We will continue working on our Water Conservation Mural Project in classes today in our to complete it by December 1.  Don't forget to submit your individual entries and photographs as well!

National Art Honor Society- Wyland mural

We will begin painting the Wyland mural today in Art Honor Society.  We'll be recording video for the National Geographic capstone project and working on the local storm drain murals as well.  We also have a special collaboration with Art Honor Society and the Makerspace club Friday for a creative Cyanotype project.

Digital Media: Basic Principles of Animation

In digital media class we are learning the basics of animation and focusing on Frank & Ollie's Twelve Basic Principles of Animation.  We watched the video series above showing how of the the rules of animation apply and what happens when you don't follow the rules.  We will now incorporate the first 3 rules into our first animation challenge (squash and stretch, anticipation, and staging) which can be done digitally on Piskel and is due Friday.


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AP Art: Wyland Mural Painting

Our National #ArtHonorSociety students began #drawing out our collaborative @WylandORG water conservation #mural this week, the project is part of my certification for @NatGeoEducation so I’ll be sharing the lesson & process soon! pic.twitter.com/JeRV1ApfPm

— Tim Needles (@timneedles) November 8, 2019

We will begin painting the Wyland mural today and continue this week in AP Art and Art Honor Society.  We'll be recording video for the National Geographic capstone project and working on the local storm drain murals as well.  We are also scheduled to have a special collaboration with Art Honor Society and the Makerspace club Friday for a creative Cyanotype project.

Last Day of Quarter 1

Today is the Last Day of Quarter 1 so we are 1/4 way through the school year! Make sure all assignments are in and enjoy the 3 day week, be sure to get some sleep and be ready for quarter 2!

AP Art: Artist Quiz

This is the last week of the quarter so we will have a quiz on Friday on the artists we learned about in class. Today we'll begin by covering David Carson Andrew Wyeth, and Swoon and tomorrow we will review the artist we looked at to prepare.

Art Honor Society: Anti-cyberbullying art contest

In recognition of Bullying Prevention Month, the Town of Smithtown's Youth Bureau held an anti-cyberbullying art contest. Smithtown High School East junior AP student-artist Nethmi Withanage was declared the winner.

The poster showed how she perceives cyberbullying and its impact. She will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Nov. 14, and her poster will be featured in the lobby of the Suffolk County executive's building in Hauppauge.

https://patch.com/new-york/smithtown/smithtown-east-artist-recognized-anti-bullying-poster-contest

Drawing: STEAM Power book

I’m excited to reveal the cover #art for my first book, #STEAM Power from @iste, it features my #3dprint design & is now available for pre-order: https://t.co/tAgSnMaTaP #ISTEsteampower pic.twitter.com/GgzMsrdiUM

— Tim Needles (@timneedles) November 3, 2019

Since we only have one day before you have election day off, I'll share some of the process of creating illustrations and the cover image for my new book, STEAM Power.

Drawing: Figure Drawing

Celebrating #Halloween today @SCSD_HSE by #drawing our #art students in their creative #costumes! pic.twitter.com/1VbMNOS2IU

— Tim Needles (@timneedles) October 31, 2019

We celebrated Halloween in class yesterday with figure drawing our fellow students in their Halloween costumes. We'll continue today and learn some tips and tricks for great figure drawing. Here's a link to some things to keep in mind: 5 simple figure drawing tips

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! Today Art Honor Society is canceled so you can go out and rock the candy or whatever teenagers do for Halloween, enjoy!

Classes today will be work as usual...

Digital Media: Video Game Character Design

In Digital Media class we began work on our Video Game Character Designs yesterday in Adobe Photoshop.  Each student should create 2 character designs with at least 3 different perspectives and a full body drawing as well as the name and a short bio of the character on each page.

Here are some professional examples of character designs from the Simpsons to use as a reference.  We are not drawing as many perspectives or showing how the characters move and articulate but it's helpful to consider it before beginning your video game.

Celebrating #GlobalMakerDay in digital media class today by #drawing our original #videogame characters using the @wacom tablets on @Photoshop for games we will be #coding next month! pic.twitter.com/V3U01mZEQm

— Tim Needles (@timneedles) October 29, 2019

AP Art: Science and Art collaboration

Today the AP Art class will continue our Science and Art collaboration with a Google Hangout period 6-7 and we will work with a local artist and learn about the program.

National Art Honor Society: Spooky Hallways

National Art Honor Society had a great time at Spooky Hallways running a photo booth, an augmented reality drawing station, and doing face painting!  Here's a few photographs from Friday's event.

NAHS Spooky Hallways

Today is our Spooky Hallways from 3:30-6:30 at High School East and we'll be running a photo booth and drawing station.

National Art Honor Society: Spooky Hallways

In National Art Honor Society this week we will be preparing for Spooky Hallways tomorrow by creating signs, drawing areas, backgrounds, collecting candy and toys.  The program runs tomorrow from 3:30-6:30 and we'll be in front of the library.

The National Art Honor Society will be participating in the Spooky Hallways #Halloween event this Friday, #NAHS will be running an #AugmentedReality dance & photo booth with face painting and candy! pic.twitter.com/TnRRGHrYvb

— Tim Needles (@timneedles) October 23, 2019

Studio Art: Augmented Reality Pumpkin Carving

In Studio Art will will again revisit the craft of Augmented Reality with some virtual Pumpkin Carving with Quiver to support this week's Spooky Hallways program on Friday.  We will create a series of virtual pumpkins the will adorn the photo booth for the visiting kids!

AP Art: Artist Research Project

In AP Art Class we are beginning our Research Project this week. Below are the basic outline of the project which you can create in Google Slide and submit via Google Classroom.

Google Slide Presentation:

• Cover page with artist, image of artist, name/class/year
• Birth/(death) date with 10 bulleted facts about the artist & link to where you got the bio info
• Famous painting with 5 bulleted facts about it and reference images
• 15 full size, full page images of the artist's work

Here are the artists to research with links to biographies:

1. Hannah- Johannes Vermeer, Amy Sherald
2. Alexia- James Victore, DAIN 
3. Gianna- Sandy Skoglund, Peter Max
4. Ashleigh- Dima Drjuchin, Daniel Danger
5. Payton- Tristan Eaton, Yayoi Kusama
6. Kiersten- David Hockney, David Carson
7. Allison- Swoon, Andrew Wyeth, 
8. Erin- Andy Goldsworthy, Claes Oldenburg
9. Alexandra- David Salle, Henri Matisse
10. Julianna- Tara McPherson, Beau Stanton 
11. Kelsey- Wayne White, Marjane Satrapi
12. Megan- Alphonse Mucha, Esao Andrews 
13. Nethmi- Marilyn Minter, Chuck Close
14. Needles- Robert Rauschenberg, Edward Hopper