Unintentional Cropping & Hilarious (and unintened) Consequences

This is why we go to an art school! :) Thanks to Ameera Reece, who contributed this early work of her from 8 years ago, as a lesson on "how not to crop"! :) Thanks Ameera, this definitely makes the point!

Ok, it's a little late, I know :]

Time does go by fast!  Looking forward to another one of those!

2012--->2013!

*Artist- Ai Weiwei 艾未未

From Beijing, with love.

The China Central Academy of Fine Art (CAFA) will be exhibiting twenty one faculty member's work at the New York Academy of Art (NYAA) on 01/22/2013.

 New York Academy of Art

 111 Franklin St New York, NY 10013
Reception: 01/22/2013 5:00pm  
List of Artists:  Hong Ling, Hu Jiancheng, Jia Difei, Kang Lei, Li Yanzhou, Lin Xiaochu, Liu Gang, liu Shang Ying, Liu Xiaodong, lu liang, Ma Lu, Ma Xiao Teng, Pei Yongmei, Shen Ling, Shi Yu, Sun Xun, Wang Shaolun, Wang Yuping, Xie Dongming, Yu Hong, Zhang Yuan,
(Select an image and left click "view image" to view larger version)

Atten Fine Art students or emerging artists: CAFA offers a full scholarship based ph.D program to foreign students.

Read an article about CAFA on NY Times here.

Still In Shock

I was finishing the last part of the student review when one student walked in and asked if I had known about "the News",  having been inside all day with no time for internet-surfing which provided me with little imagination to what was happening to the outside world. That's when I heard about the horrific and completely shocking news.  It was instantly heart wrenching.  I can not begin to imagine the pain that the parents and their loved ones were going through... to started a normal day, to have made holiday plans, and suddenly this reality -- waiting heart broken while the police had to finish the procedural work before the parents could even begin to take their babies home for burial, 10 days before Christmas.  This is just sick. Anyone who murders innocent babies, is coward, sick, a sociopaths who does not deserve to take his own life.
Guns don't kill; sick, coward, terrible people do.
Our hearts are with the victims. Our mind are with many suffering parents, their loved ones and friends. 

A very happy class

The Construction of Excitment

Sometimes a white piece of paper can be so exciting and scary at the same time, because of its endless potential in pictorial depiction (or literature of you can fit everything;)). Artists are natural "drama queens", because we know to place objects in certain way to create suspenseful scenes. However everything has its integraty that can't be mocked unless one is willing to test the fire -- short cuts come after the settlement of uncertainty. Anyway that being said, here's some example on how I critique the students work generally.  I don't dictate the subject matter, my goal is to cultivate the student's cinematographic skill as much as I can within the time span.

Panel 1 [student original]  Panel 2&3 [Instructor suggestion]

Panel 1 [student original]  Panel 2&3 [Instructor suggestion]

Thumbnail for "The Bakers"

Working out the panels & composition etc for "The Bakers". A funny take on the current "medicinal marijuana" debate. Check back for more update work!

Rubric from the rubric of rubric resulted in rubric

Now I totally get it!

Happy Thanks Giving!

 I'm so proud of my students and the works you're doing! The walls are looking great folks! Thank you for making me look good too! :}

Happy Thanks Giving!  Have a great holiday!

*Friendly reminder, 2 more weeks to finish your work don't forget!

It's time to start cranking!

4 more weeks to go for my students to enjoy a very happy holiday before moving on to the graduating semester. The vöglein are flying out the nest soon! :)

I will miss you (just a little bit!:))

知己知彼，百战不殆

Large part of my classes are about how to construct a successful and suspenseful composition. My suggestion is to never be satisfied with the drawing within the viewfinder -- draw through it; draw the whole thing, then find the perfect scene. If one is only willing to draw within the little box, she/he will not have constructed a believable scenario for the viewers (remember, your viewers are toddlers in the sense that they need clarity and attraction.)  The more you understand, the better you draw; and the better you draw, the more intriguing it is to your viewers.  That is what I believe in.
There is the famous saying from one of the famous military strategist 《孙子·谋攻》：“知己知彼，百战不殆。” (Meaning "The focus was entirely on understanding the enemy and oneself".)
Your viewers are certainly NOT your enemy,  however your success ENTIRELY depends on whether they are truly intrigued by your work.  So be careful and be mindful.
Remember what Neil Gaiman said -- "MAKE GOOD ART".

Thumbnail Example/demonstration for students 

Click to see larger version

Post Storm Humor

Folks, the storm took a hard hit on several state...DE, PA, NJ and NY---
Hope everyone made out alright!
 Here's a little post storm humor--
"...Fascinating! Incredible! From the "Dead Sea" Dead Sea! 
I present you---
The Dead Sea Squirrels!"

 

The this a commission I'm working on at the moment. 

SHALOM!  

LAMACORN MONDAY

Super cute Lamacorn made with oven clay by one of the DCAD talents! Yay way to go!

Back to the roots

30 sec, 2 min & 5min

A little school humor

Folks, here you have it! ;)

Expression Study -- making faces

MIDTERM WARNING

IT'S THAT TIME -- AGAIN!

  Now that's the spirit!  >=)

The Anatomical Project!

The goal is to paint the muscular structure on the morph suit and have a brave soul (we might have to hire one) wear it for class demonstration. Inspired by Heidi Klum's last Halloween costume.

Soon we will have a walking anatomical phenomenon! Aren't you excited? Oh-Come--on! You've gotta be! =)

Gesture Drawings

It's not hard to draw figures but one mustn't rush and skip the most important part of the training--gestural drawings. These are simple quick studies on human bodies with no details but indications of the line of action, as well as the proportion of the figure.