Guess Who is Behind the Door A Counting Book in 4 Languages written and illustrated by Susan Novich Schiffer Publishing, coming fall 2020

 

Guess Who is Behind the Door A Counting Book in 4 Languages is a delightful way for preschoolers to learn their colors and numbers, and in a rhyming pattern.  What separates this book from the typical colors and numbers book category, is that it includes counting in four different languages.  In addition to the Romance languages, Novich includes Chinese.  It is refreshing to see eastern culture included in this valuable resource. 

As a Visual Art educator, this book is not only valuable for young readers but for students who are learning other languages.  Our English Language Learners would enjoy such a boldly colored book.  The whimsical approach to presenting this material is entertaining and is an important introduction to our current culture of learning more about inclusion and diversity.   Artistically, the illustrations are excellent examples of color theory, texture, movement, and depth.  I thoroughly enjoyed the cut-paper illustration.  The porcupine brings us on an adventure to learn nouns and verbs, as well. I think my favorite illustration is the ten porcupines asleep in a bed with the middle porcupine sprawled on the floor like any household pet or even your wiped-out child!  This book is destined to be a classic for early learners and as a staple in an art classroom.  

The Case for Copying | The Art Assignment | PBS Digital Studios

Review of Leonardo’s Art Workshop Invent, Create, and Make STEAM Projects Like A Genius By Amy Leidtke

Review of Leonardo’s Art Workshop

Invent, Create, and Make STEAM Projects Like A Genius

By Amy Leidtke

As an artist, I am inspired. As an educator, I cannot wait to share Leidtke’s projects and insight with my students and other educators.  Leidtke’s interpretation of Leonardo’s work as it relates to STEAM is rich with connections. She reaches deep into the science, technology, engineering, art, and math of Da Vinci's work.  Leidtke reminds us of the importance of low tech and how it is valuable in the design process leading to high tech, such as creating drawing tools. There is value in her insight and presentation for all levels--parent, the new art educator, as well as a seasoned art educator.  My favorite projects involved color and pigment, such as Create Paint and Dyes from Food and Color in Art and Light.   This is a comprehensive book that you can return to as a reference and it has something for everyone, regardless of your field.

Similarities in the Work of David Smith, American Sculptor & I.M. Pei, Chinese Architect

In exploring the work of David Smith, American Sculptor, it is amazing to see how his work is visually connected to the work of I.M. Pei, Chinese Architect.  Their work has a clear symbiotic relationship with the environment through the utilization of reflected surfaces.  The sharp edges of several of these artists' works cut through the atmosphere and become part of the sky.  In particular, Smith's swirling texture on the steel cubes of his work, Cubi XXVII (image inset), March 1965, has qualities similar to the work of Pei's National Gallery of Art East Building,1968-1978, in which he used steel and glass,  http://www.nga.gov/collection/20th_intro.htm  

Read more about David Smith at, http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/artists/bios/715/David%20Smith.  

To read more about I. M. Pei, visit:  http://www.pcf-p.com/a/f/fme/imp/b/b.html




What is your response the how the work of these artist compare or contrast?

Gesture Drawing, Wire Sculpture, and Mood through the Art of Paul Klee
Gesture drawing relates to wire sculpture in that both media use line. Paul Klee, painter, frequently described that drawing was like, "taking a line for a walk."  Through line, Klee was able to depict emotion.  Klee's sense of emotion is depicted in his art for a variety of reasons.

Read about Klee on the Metropolitan Museum of Art website and post a comment about how his mood is reflected in his art.  Please include the title of one of his paintings to accompany your post. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/klee/hd_klee.htm

Tale à la Hoffmann, 1921
Paul Klee (German, 1879–1940)

Reflection on Art of Islamic Pottery

6Oct14, 9:41 a.m.

kashis  or kashinis

I find it interesting that so much of the traditional ceramics of Europe have roots in Islamic pottery.  From the science of making the tiles to the designs on the ceramic ware,  Islam is a constant influence.  In reading the article, The Art of Islamic Pottery by Ernst J. Grube, Associate Curator in Charge of Islamic Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Grube discusses the use of tin oxide and "Luster Painting."    Of most importance is the innovation of "luster painting."  Luster painting is achieved through mixing a compound and adhering to the ceramics after the glaze fire.  Therefore, a third firing in the kiln takes place for this process to occur.  The use of luster painting is most popular in Iraq, specifically, Baghdad and Samarra.

Further concepts that are unique to Islamic pottery are the style in which they decorated their ceramic ware.   The artists of Islam took the designs of porcelain artists of China and incorporated it into their own aesthetic, such as asymmetrical compositions.  Islamic ceramic artists also use writing as a form of design and embellishment to their ceramic work.  The addition of color, such as, cobalt blue, was another element that Islamic Artists built upon.

Refer to the original article and view selected pieces of work.  Respond to the two questions in the "comments" section:

[PDF]of Islamic Pottery - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Question 1:  The use of asymmetrical composition found on Islamic ceramics came from China.  Using a specific piece or pieces of work from the article, what do you think of this form of composition?

Question 2:  The use of writing is unique to Islamic pottery.  Do you think you will incorporate writing into any of your work? Why or why not?