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Artist Tip
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8 thoughts on “Artist Tip”
What do you do about artists that try to be too perfectionist and that are not done with the drawing by the time the re-tell is done?
I just showed them examples of other OWI’s/drawings but two kids just don’t get it.
(1) Fire them, (2) Let them choose a second artist to sit next to them and color in and shade – this is the most practical solution.
Also, Tina wants to know if they are sketching with a pencil or not. They need to use a marker. Tell them that we are not here to produce fine art, but commercial art. Crank it out fast.
And only hire kids who can listen well and draw well. That right there makes this job perhaps the most challenging one of all.
Also, if you can’t even find the artist (or a student who can do ANY of the jobs), fill the position. We don’t coddle. When a class sees on the gallery that theirs is the only class not producing artwork, things tend to fix themselves fairly quickly.
They CANNOT use a pencil in my class. Just markers. Otherwise they will be penciling in and erasing the guidelines for the character till Kingdom Come. I want them DONE at the end of the period.
Right now I’m trying out many different students as artists, and different combinations. I’m looking to see how different kids work together. It’s interesting to see how they work together even if they’re not good friends. So far, everyone has gelled as an artistic team and worked together to make it happen. They want to do the best job they can. I e not overheard any squabbles or criticisms between them. What a great way to build collaboration!
Ben, when you came to Moraga, where Don was teaching, you told us that you were looking for the artist as you walked around looking at cards. I have been using that since last year. It have worked really well. At the beginning, when I pick someone as the artist, they go slow at first and let them know that with time they will get it cranked out.
I love the “commercial art not fine art” directive.
Thanks for the reminder Steven. Another Steven, a new member here in MN, Steven Sebold, ironically suggested the same thing about finding the artist from the cards so I must have forgotten that I said it in Moraga. The thing that came out, again, in MN this week (just got home last nite from that LONG TRIP), is that the way Dana is working it, making sure she gets the right artist pair, is big. If we mess up on the artist, we mess it all up, because the quality, colors, lines, all of those things form the FEEL for the entire Invisibles process. Thanks for your comment.
Love love love this. I think I’ll do this tomorrow:
We will describe together our “cornichon”, and then do a Gallery Walk. Each one will be numbered. Students will jot down the number of their favourite. Then, they vote on their favourite by pasting a little sticky note on the one they each like the best. This person will be our artist for this story (if it ever becomes one)!
Next time we’ll pair up for the art…element of surprise for the kids.
Hope that makes sense. Why couldn’t the artist be different each time? I love the voting power of the kids.
You’re correct — if they can’t produce it quickly they can’t get the job! Real world consequences!
…Why couldn’t the artist be different each time? …
In the beginning of the year they can be different. This gives you the chance to find the best person for the job. Then I keep the best one for the rest of the year, the one who can create bright, colorful drawings that grab the attention of the viewer and build an actual class brand. There is only one job more important in my view than the job of the artist – that of the Story Driver.