You're An Original

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CCS's budding artists will be studying and making portraits this Fall. This process will entail students looking at and discussing qualities of well-known portraits, working with a variety of media and techniques and eventually creating a self-portrait to display in the CCS Hallway Gallery. Moms and Dads will want to be on the look out for sales on picture frames this year.


Before Drawing, Seeing

I can explain to someone exactly how to draw a circle, but if I place a circle before them and ask them to draw it and they draw a square… well, that is all about seeing and not drawing. The ability to see, and after that the ability to render what you see… that has to be developed. For most that means a lot of drawing and a lot of looking.

The ability to see doesn’t spring up overnight, and I often tell eager young artists they have about 500 or so bad drawings in them they have to draw out first before they start noticing the subtle things that hide inside the human face.

Every building, no matter how complex, starts out with a foundation and framework. Look at this simple drawing:




Place these shapes in their proper relationship, and you have a human face. It really is that simple. Drawing the shapes accurately, so they recognizably represent the subject’s features, is the basis for a good likeness. Beyond that is nothing but details… things like dimples, wrinkles, eyelashes, cheekbones, etc. They are the decor to your building… the millwork, furniture and drapery that makes the place unique and filled with life. Without the strong foundation, however, it can all come tumbling down.

The Young Schoolmistress
probably c.1735-6
Jean-Siméon Chardin
 (1699 - 1779)
The National Gallery, London

In closing, Jean-Siméon Chardin’s painting "The Young Schoolmistress" inspires a meditation on learning and hopefully leads the child to ask God, “Help me to listen to everybody who is good and wise and not think that I already know everything.”

Oh, The Places You'll Go in Art!

* You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go.

* You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

* I'm sorry to say so
But, sadly it's true
That bang-ups and hang-ups
Can happen to you.

* On and on you will hike, And I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up of course, as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
And remember that Life’s a great balancing act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

* Will you succeed?
Yes you will indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

- Dr. Seuss

Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, wrote and illustrated dozens of children’s books and other media. His well-known images we’ve all grown to love were often inspired by his father, a zookeeper, who would send him horns, antlers, and other sundry animal parts.

Whether someone is out to convince you of lies or truth, keep your eyes and ears open. Do a little research and you’ll be okay. As it is with everything in life, you can’t be fooled by what they’re selling unless you’re buying. Learning about artists, looking at works of art and making all kinds of your own art will help you decide for yourself what the word “art” means.

Oh, and before I forget, be prepared to make big messes and "never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left."

Pissarro, French Impressionist Painter

Camille Pissarro. Landscape at Chaponval. 1880. Oil on canvas.

Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France. Source: Olga's Gallery

"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing." ~ Camille Pissarro (1830-1903, French Impressionist painter)

Links to Famous Works of Art

1. Henri Matisse
2. Paul Cezanne
3. Raphael
4. Michelangelo
5. Pierre-Auguste Renoir
6. Edgar Degas
7. Claude Monet
8. Illuminated Manuscripts
9. Georgia O'Keeffe
10. Vincent Van Gogh
11. John Singer Sargent
12. Fra Angelico
13. Saints in Art (various artists)
14. Madonna and Child (various artists)
15. Biblical Art (various artists)
16. Marc Chagall
17. Still Life (various artists)
18. Gustave Caillebotte - French
19. Portraits
20. Fiber Arts (textiles, weaving, etc.)
21. Ceramics
22. Illustration
23. Leonardo Da Vinci
24. Images of Christ in art
25. The Annunciation in Christian Art
26. Grant Wood
27. Thomas Hart Benton
28. Camille Pissarro
29. William Blake
30. LANDSCAPES
31. Children

Video on block printing