10.2.13 Class Notes

On an iPad/iPhone:

-ArtStudio

-Procreate

-Sketchbook Pro

-Brushes

-MyBrushes

On a computer:

-Illustrator

-Photoshop

-Gimp

-http://www.creativebloq.com/digital-art/art-on-the-ipad-1232669
-http://www.macgasm.net/2010/05/18/amazing-art-apps-ipad-review-comparison/

-http://www.techshout.com/features/2012/19/best-art-apps-for-android/

-http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/gustav/ 
-artpad.art.com (it shows the process of drawing/painting as well as other peoples' works)

Working on these devices 
-No textures
-There are often differences in colors between those on computer screen and those on papers

Lesson plans:

-making symbols that represents "me"

-drawing on black background with white lines

Presenting/practicing digital art:
-context before content
-audience as active/passive participants in exhibitions
(e.g. MoMA experience which no longer exists made the audience draw and write about exhibitions, scanned the note/doodles and projected them on the wall) 
-using traditional practice for presentation
(e.g. Jeff Wall uses light boxes for installing his works)

Jeff Wall's works on light boxes

Consciousness/unconsciousness
-people doodle and scribble on paper unconsciously, but they suddenly have to be conscious of their movements if they are to doodle or scribble on their digital devices

People nowadays are used to NOT to move

Photographic Assignment:
Leave the classroom for a few minutes to do this assignment. Walk around. Notice something. Take a picture. Share it in class.
-I took a picture of an elevator sign, thinking why there are only men? Why not include women? Am I too a feminist? Where are they going...up in heaven?!or down in hell?!

-I also took a picture of an emergency sign, thinking the person seems very calm...hmmm

Next assignment...will be posted on the class blog!

Revisit PiratePad (http://piratepad.net/c2BDDZJxlA)

e-flux similar to Google Docs to share and post for the limited guests
(e.g. http://www.artandeducation.net/client/e_flux/)

Homework 4

I found these four amazing software/applications that are available for free.

Using these tools, I decided to draw an apple without using a mouse/tablet pen. I chose to draw an apple on a photo I took before just because I thought the idea of an apple on Apple products was funny :P

A photo I took a while ago

1) The first one is available online. The following is its address: http://www.mrdoob.com/projects/harmony/

Pros
-A full color wheel available.
-Available for free
-Available on any computer device

Cons
-No undo/redo
-No eraser
-Cannot write on an image with different fonts and sizes
-Cannot upload/edit an image

An apple drawn on http://www.mrdoob.com/projects/harmony/ 

2)The second one is an application called "Whiteboard" which I downloaded on my iPhone.
Pros
-A full color wheel available.
-Available for free
-Can take/upload an image and draw on it
-Can share a created image by sending it in Email, posting it on Twitter and/or Facebook, etc. 
-If you erase, it erases everything even an image underneath the drawing/painting

Cons
-Can use only if downloaded
-Limited effects of brushstrokes
-Cannot write on an image with different fonts and sizes
-Can draw on an uploaded image but cannot edit the image itself

An apple drawn on "Whiteboard"

3)The third one is an application called "PicsArt" which I downloaded on my iPhone.
Pros
-A full color wheel available.
-Available for free
-Can take/upload an image and draw on it
-More effects (e.g. collaging different images, different effects on an image, different types of brushstrokes, different shapes, etc) available 
-Can write on an image with different fonts and sizes
-Can share a created image by sending it in Email, posting it on Twitter and/or Facebook, etc. 
-Can erase just a drawing/painting without any changes on the image underneath

Cons
-Can use only if downloaded

An apple drawn on "PicsArt"

4)The last one is an application called "Adobe Ideas" which I downloaded on my iPhone.
Pros
-A full color wheel available.
-Available for free
-Can take/upload an image and draw on it
-Can work with layers 
-Can erase just a drawing/painting without any changes on the image underneath
-Can share a created image by sending it in Email, posting it on Twitter and/or Facebook, etc. 

Cons
-Cannot write on an image with different fonts and sizes
-No effects (e.g. collaging different images, different effects on an image, different types of brushstrokes, different shapes, etc) 
-Can use only if downloaded

An apple drawn on "Adobe Ideas" with 2 layers

An apple drawn on "Adobe Ideas" with 1 layer
(Oops...I have marks which I didn't see when I worked with another layer)

If I were to teach art to students using one of these softwares, I would use the "Adobe Ideas." I think it would help students understand how to work with layers, and this would better prepare students for Photoshop which is more complicated software. One might argue "PicsArt" is better than "Adobe Ideas", but a student can add texts and/or effects (like those on "PicsArt") on his/her image if he/she wants by editing his/her image on a computer.

But, you know what? I am not a computer person... I found working with these devices very limiting, difficult, and even frustrating. The canvas was not big enough for me, and I could not do what I could do with traditional media.

9.25.13 Class Notes

"eEtiquette" is written by diverse people

Need to remember that NOT every school can provide a computer for every student. 

Digital technology itself gets updated/upgraded, and so people (esp. teachers) need to keep on learning new things.


Software/Programs that are helpful:
-Zotero.org (helpful for writing footnotes, bibliography, reference, etc)
-Wikispace
-Piratepad.net

Tagging?!
-tagging people on pictures on Facebook
-Instagram
-iTunes U
-tagging is helpful to find images, music, and movies and to organize files, etc.

-examples of tagging: name, time, released, descriptions on Podcast as tags

Social Bookmarking:

-send links to each other

new media in art class vs. traditional practice in art class??
(+) of new media in art class

-children are drown to and grow with technology, and so they need to learn proper ways to use technology

-having an equal access in classroom
-motor skills (e.g. typing, using a mouse, etc)
-easy access to archives on the internet
-help develop research skills
-digitize archive their ideas and works on computers
-how to use it productively instead of just using it for fun
-art can be portable

(+) of traditional practice in art class

-need these foundations for understanding not only concepts (e.g. painting) but also new media 
-engage all the senses for brain development
-understand history

-need for children's physical, tactile and artistic development (spatial awareness, dexterity, etc)

-learn how to fail and fix problems, and thus develop problem-solving skills

-learn to explore and experiment (beyond just art making)

-learn how to be proud of their creativity and accomplishments (e.g. making a new color by mixing two or more colors) 

-individuality 

-share their ideas and/or collaborate during the process of making (cannot if students only work on computers (block conversations among students))

-students use new media anyways

-cost a lot less

-learn to be respectful of others (e.g. by clean-up)
-learn to share space

-develop time-management skills

-learn to be patient and to be self-reflective of their process and their works
-learn to appreciate the masterpieces

***It is important to fight for both!

-piratepad.net/C28DDZJX1A??

-place of drawing? and painting? on drawing pad?
-what's the chance when we move into the digital realm?
-Stylus,screens.tablets
-Tools (brushes, Picasso, Artstudio, Kids Doodle)

Homework 3

1) The followings are three quotes I found meaningful and interesting from the website (http://eetiquette.com):

"Do not forget the power of the pen. A handwritten thank-you note will have a much greater impact than a digital message with equivalent content." (http://eetiquette.com/24/)

"People first: a real person always has priority over a device and deserves your full attention." (http://eetiquette.com/71/)

"Don’t live each and every moment through your digital camera." (http://eetiquette.com/133/)

2) A piece of technology I brought into class the other week was my iPhone. We could use it creatively in an (art) class by taking and/or downloading pictures and/or videos and/or then by using applications that are available and/or softwares on computers. Perhaps, Students would be able to listen to music, watch videos, and/or web search on iPhone for their inspiration.

3) A K-12 art teacher who uses new media in his/her classroomI found is Mrs. Sheena Vaidyanathan (aka Mrs. V). She hold undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computer Science and a Certificate in Studio Art. Currently, she is a Computer Science and Math teacher in the Los Altos School District, in Los Altos, California. Having taught Computer Science, Digital Art and Visual Art in the Los Altos school district for 7 years, she has also worked for over 10 years in Silicon Valley in technology as a computer scientist and technology entrepreneur.

She created her own website (http://www.computersforcreativity.com/home) called "Computers for Creativity" as a place to put up her students' works, and share her teaching experience with other educators. Check it out! ;)

Homework 2

So, the below is one of my mother's many recipes printed on fax printer. Most of her recipes are faded out, so I decided to digitize her "cinnamon pie" by taking a picture and actually try it before I would not be able to read it. 

So, here are the ingredients: 

-all purpose flour

-sugar
-baking powder
-butter
-whipping cream
-cinnamon powder

I did as instructed on the recipe, but I could not read some parts of it. I did my best with what I was given, but I thought there was something wrong with this because the filling seemed too watery.  

However, I put it in an oven anyway with fingers crossed. 

It was an expected outcome...a failure...a half-baked cinnamon pie...

But, the crust was still good enough to eat ;)

I think I should have whipped the cream more... Well, people say "failure is the mother of success." So, I'll try it again on Wednesday before class, and we'll see if it works ;)

9.18.2013 Class Notes

Homework for next week:
-read articles
-read over a list on the posted website, and find and post the most interesting one among the listed etiquettes ("To Do's" and "NOT To Do's")

-"netiqutte" has been always a part of our life
-is it negotiable or not? 

-how do we use technology in our daily life?

Visual Representations:

-people get impatient because people now grow with technology which is supposed to work instantly. Waiting a technology to load/buffer/get results from online search=not allowing you to go outside or look at a whole image clearly on screen/blocking yourself from the outer world

-a phone in/out of a box with glitters on with word "connect" on the top: pictures of her, her friends and family. If a phone is out of a box, you can call or text them. If a phone is in a box, you cannot connect to them by texts, calls, etc. Yet, you get to spend more time with people one on one. It reminded me of my own box in which I collect letters I have received. It almost made a phone as a keepsake which captures moments and collects memories.  

-a phone in a jail with flowers outside: the message is "you don't notice beautiful things that are around you if you are on the phone." 

-she often uses the internet for inspiration when making art. So, she went to the Met instead, and made a drawing inspired by a sculpture piece at the museum. And, she made another drawing of the same sculpture without changing any pose, but she added a phone as if he was on the phone. It reminded me of people on the phone while walking on the streets who might not recognize that others might see or listen to them. 

-make a keyboard without regular letters, but with words with things that you can ONLY do without technology (ex. hiking, playing, etc)?!

-she made a juxtaposed maps of Manhattan and Africa with technologies she has used in the region next to the map.

-she made a drawing of different illustrations which show her feelings when she was doing the on/off experiment (unorganized->uncomfortable->willing to escape->sick->depressed). She draw them with markers, and then she scanned them. 

-she took a nap most of the time for the on/off experiment. she uses her phone for alarm, and she had the best sleep when she had this experiment because the alarm never went off. she made a reference to traffic lights to how much a phone is charged up. she made a parallel how we need to be recharged as much as a phone does. 

-she turned off her TV. And, she taught her husband how to make a painting on a easel with acrylic paints. He made a painting of a beetle. While her husband painted, she made calligraphy and practiced her Chinese skills. She loves technology, art, language, etc and she wanted to combine anything she liked. "Instead of being a consumer, I was a creator."

-he made a piece inspired by a question "what if everything disappears?" light and fire are the most important things. he decided to find trash and build a fire because he did not know how things work (e.g. how TV works, how to make fire, etc). 

Homework 2

1) Give an account about how you implement technology in your daily practice (blog, 2-3 paragraphs). 

My day actually starts with turning off my alarms on my iPhone. Then, my husband and I watch TV for news every morning while preparing the breakfast. After my husband leaves the house, I wash the dishes while watching TV. Then, I turn on my computer to check emails and Facebook. 

I was amazed by not only how much I am and have been surrounded by technology but also how technology is being used everywhere and every time.  


2) While having been with your computer/digital device for a while, decide to leave it and turn it off. Find artful ways to exit the online world. Monitor closely your Turn-on/Switch-off experiences and make them be the beginning of a creative experiment. Document your experience on your blog (2-3 paragraphs) and bring the visual representation of what comes out of this into our next class so we can share the outcomes. If you don't manage to finish this assignment within 1 week because you need more time, please let me know.

So, I decided not to use 3 BIG technologies-which are my iPhone, TV, and computer. For example, I did not watch TV and turned my iPhone off while cleaning up the house. Because I did not know whether any important email or phone call came in or not, I was nervous and kind of panicking. 

At the same time, however, the experience was very helpful for me to get focused and to be reflective of myself. Because I was not distracted, I could get things done a lot more and a lot faster. 

At the end of the day when my husband got home, he asked me why my phone was off. He told me he called me and sent me an email. Because I did not give him a call or email back, he told me he was worried. I told him it was a part of homework, and he was relieved. But, he apparently did not like the homework. I felt bad yet good...maybe because I felt like I was being loved and hard to get?! ;)