Dragons!

Here are some images of recent student work. We just wrapped up an exhibit at Barnes and Noble in Madison. The show was in conjunction with a performance by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary. Students at Walbridge created their own dragon interpretations based on the song "Puff the Magic Dragon."

New Work

I've started a new series of small square paintings. I'm not focusing on one subject matter this time. I'm mixing portraits, landscapes, street scenes, etc. They'll all come together when the series is finished. I've discovered that working small makes me feel so much more productive. I also have tons of photos I really want to paint but haven't yet. This project is the perfect way to turn all those photos into paintings once and for all.

A Semi-Successful Experiment

I'm not sure that this record of my painting progress has been the most successful experiment. I'm not diligent enough at the moment; however, my schedule is finally falling into some kind of rhythm. I think if I tried again it may be more useful. The lesson I have learned is that it isn't really great practice to share a painting in progress. I'm too protective, which I think is a good thing--And I'm not protective in the sense that my process is so highly sophisticated and wonderful that I can't possibly share it...quite the contrary. My process is unruly and somewhat inconsistent and not exactly picture perfect. Oh well. I'm saving my pennies so I can invest in a new set of paints. I feel a change in palette coming on.

Painting

Here is my progress so far...still tweaking colors and need to eliminate white! Talullah the kitty is helping.

The Process Begins

I've decided to post a photo every day--or so--to track the progress of my latest painting. The painting is of my grandparents commissioned by my aunt and uncle. I'm excited to see what unfolds. This will either be very enlightening and or it will be a record of every re-paint I make--I'm expecting both outcomes!

So, post No. 1. Here is the gray-scale ink sketch. Next step: Wait for Fed Ex to deliver the canvas from my good friend Mr. Dick Blick and get started!

Settled

Officially settled in Madison...thank goodness. All is great! My studio is all put back together, ready to start mass creation!

Got Moving!

The moving process is under way! My studio has been completely disassembled. T-minus 6 days before I can get working again.

Gestures of the Heart

I now have my own line of blank greeting cards! Check out what I have created so far on my website www.laurapahlas.com

The cards are prints from my original work. Most of them are gesture drawings done in ink and watercolor. I am toying with the connection between the spontaneous nature of gesture drawing and a spontaneous gesture of sending someone a card out of the blue...or on a special occasion. That is my inspiration right now anyway. This venture will continue to grow. I may even extend into the realm of custom design for invitations, etc...not sure yet.

Good bye to the Northwoods

Our northwoods adventure is coming to an end. We are moving to Madison in 12 days! We are really excited, but it is somewhat bittersweet. I will miss the woods and water and silence of Rhinelander. It has been great. On the other hand, Madison is great too. We have to go where opportunity calls us. I really think it would be a frustrating waste to stick it out up north where there are very few jobs. (Joe and I both have jobs in our field in Madison--although mine is very part time.) I may think differently if I were a hunting/boating/fishing enthusiast--sadly, I am not.
So, thank you woods and water and silence for your comfort and solitude. I will think of you always.

Author's Pen

Here is a great writing example from one of my students in Author's Pen. On the first day of class, I asked them to write a description of what makes for good writing or a good book. This is what Brittany had to say:

"First of all, I really only like fantasy with a bunch of action, with drama and passion, an author that's not scared to kill off a main character, a touch of funny here and there, an adventure, a road trip, then a dramatic battle at the end with a big boss. Great descriptive paragraphs and a sort of mystery intertwined in the plot of all of it. A book that has a betrayal of a friend and sucks you into it. If they say something funny, you laugh. If something sad happens, you cry. That is what I look for in a book and what makes a book good."

I love this job!

Summer School 2010: Rhinelander, WI

Summer school in Rhinelander just ended last Friday. It was really fun and I learned a lot. I taught two courses--Author's Pen and Thinking Beyond the Box. I was a little worried about teaching classes that were not art classes, but I am actually really grateful I had the experience. It was a challenge, but I got a whole new perspective on my own teaching abilities and gained a lot of confidence.

I wish I had started this earlier so I could have tracked the whole four weeks of school, but I will do a basic overview.

I taught students going into 3rd through 6th grade. Author's Pen was an interesting class to teach and really eye opening. My students' abilities were all over the board. Some students were amazing writers and others needed a lot of help. I was shocked at how few students knew how to spell very simple words. The thing that stood out to the most as an art teacher was the lack of visualization skills in a lot of students. They really had a tough time visualizing or imagining something happening and then putting it in writing. I have a lot of ideas now for incorporating writing into my future art curriculum. I think all students would really benefit from this.

The Thinking Beyond the Box class was a bit more up my alley. I used a lot of art related projects. I had originally planned to play a lot of group games...based on the previous teacher's lesson plans I was given. She did a lot of "icebreaker" type games, which I am really not a fan of! Thank goodness it quickly became apparent that students weren't too crazy about them either. So I shifted gears and presented students with a series of building projects. I brought in all the recycled materials my mother has been hoarding for me and every couple days I would present students with a different challenge. They really loved it. I was amazed at how engaging such simple materials could be. They seemed starved for the opportunity to work through the building process and then make something.

All in all it was a fantastic experience, and I feel really lucky to have been given the opportunity to teach in a district where no one knows me at all!