Saturday, October 31, 2009

My Five Year Growth Plan - Government Legislation

Grade Nine Weekly Sketch "In the Kitchen"
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The new arts document is a chimera; long awaited, tantalizing, and PROMISED for September 2010.



I was fortunate enough to be invited to a session with ministry officials three years ago. The purpose was to gain feedback from teachers, and to show off parts of the documents that were ready to go at that time.



It was a good learning experience for me, in terms of process and seeing the language of the document itself.



If the document appears in September, the plan at my school is to implement any changes starting immediately, in consultation with our sister schools in the board. Quite often, we are given PD time as a department, and work with the other schools. As far as I am aware, there is no deadline and the process of full implementation may take years.

Sunday, October 25, 2009
















Other Work Continued
















Other Work Continued
















Other Work
















Goals for the future

In terms of teaching, I would like my high school to offer two new courses: Photography (Grade 11, then grade 12), and an Arts and Crafts course.

I am of two minds about the arts and crafts. Would it be better to offer this course with no pre-requisite? It would catch those students who can't see themselves in a traditional art course, but who would like to take an art course instead of drama or music for the OSSGD diploma requirement.

Or, would it be better to offer this course with the understanding that students have already taken grade nine art, and have some training with basic design and colour theory?

Right now, photography is only offered as one unit in AVI3M1.

Personally, I am very satisfied with my craft and mixed media work. It gives me tremendous satisfaction, and it is very manageable, in terms of time. I might not have time to work on an oil painting, but I can manage a small collage in a day or two, and not neglect my marking!

I have set a goal to have my work published in a magazine.

I want to continue to improve my photoshop skills, and learn more about this amazing piece of software.

I would like to take a quilting course, but every time I register, the course is cancelled because there are not enough students.

When I retire, the sky is the limit. My husband and I will be retiring to a small village just south of North Bay called Restoule. We have acquired the land, and are dreaming and planning our dream home. An integral part of that plan is a studio for me. The property has a lovely view of Restoule Lake, and my studio will most likely be in a walk-out facing that view.

I will most likely continue my craft work, and have time to work on larger projects including painting. I enjoy painting, but right now it is so daunting, because we have a small home, and no dedicated space for my work. My studio is really just the kitchen, and storage is downstairs in the basement.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Wearable Art (Mixed Media Jewelry)


I also enjoy making one of a kind pieces of wearable art for friends. Since I give most of these pieces away, I only have a pic of one example.
This is a bottle cap, vintage image, crystal effects, paint, charm, beads and jewelry findings. It is a lapel pin.