QUIRKY THINGS IN THE ART ROOM pt. 1: BOB

There are a number of odd and 'quirky' things to take note of in the CIS Art Room.  The room is really an extension of my personality, so of course it's going to be as odd and weird as I am.  :)  One such quirky item is my pet skull, Bob!  Well...this year I've promoted Bob to 'sidekick' status because he's not really a 'pet'.  Sitting on his perch atop the golden toilet, Bob sits and listens and takes note of all the happenings of the art room.  Once a month, Bob, the last king of Atlantis, has some wonderful and glorious idea...a "thought"...and we have a "WHAT'S BOB THINKING DAY" at the start of art class.  One lucky student from each class gets to pull this thought from Bob's brain and share it with the class.  Bob is a bit of a 'trickster' though and is often trying to convince the classes to spend some of their highly coveted "Weller Bux".

Bob has been a part of my art room for many years...and the kids love listening to the 'arguments' and 'disputes' we get into.  It's been a long-running joke that I can hear Bob talk whereas the kids cannot.  It's quirky...and often times fairly humorous...and just one of the wonderful experiences kids love about the CIS Art Room.  

And after reading this if you're wondering..."Weller Bux?"..."golden toilet?"...I'll cover those in the next few installments of "Quirky Things in the Art Room"!  And I haven't even mentioned my rubber chicken, "Snickers" yet!!!  :)

Have a great Thursday!!!

I'm a Keith Haring

Keith Haring is by far my favorite modern artist.  Actually...he's probably my favorite all time artist, comic book and comic strip illustrators aside...but I think it's my love of comics that has drawn me to him.  Aside from enjoying and appreciating his art, I also LOVE to teach his art to the kids!!!   The fifth graders are currently 'modifying' Keith Haring's artwork to create wonderful self-portraits of themselves in a project I call, "I'm a Keith Haring". 

 Typically in years past I have done this project with sixth graders and this year...well...it's a long story...but ultimately I opted to go with the fifth graders for this project which will serve as their Art to Remember fundraiser project...which again I'll touch base on later this month (WOW, that was one long run-on sentence!).  Have a great Wednesday, everyone!  

6th Grade Sketchbooks!!!

Starting today, my first semester sixth graders will be assigned sketchbook assignments on the first of each month.  The videos, directions and due dates for these assignments will be on your student's Schoology account on their visual art page.  Students will have nearly the entire month to complete them and turn them in for a grade.  These assignments are not meant to be long, drawn out, hour-long art making sessions.   I ask the students to put forth their best effort, but each assignment should only take 15-25 minutes to complete.  The assignments are a great way for me to hit some of my drawing standards that I'm unable to hit in the classroom due to only seeing the kids for a semester.  

Please...if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!!!  

@WellerArt

In addition to the daily blog, I also 'communicate' via Twitter!  You can follow the tweets from the CIS Art Room by following "@WellerArt".  Don't mind my icon...that's just a cartoon image of my 'pet skull', Bob.  He's been a permanent fixture of the art room for the past thirteen years.  Maybe I'll introduce you to him in a future blog post.  :)

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!  Hopefully your kids tell you about the exciting RISE RALLY we had today!!!

drweller@mevsd.us

@WellerArt on Twitter

Evolution of Art

Every summer I try to come up with some new and exciting projects to create with the kids.  I'm not too big on 'repeat' projects...and when I do repeat projects each year, I at least try to include a new twist to them.  One of the ideas that I thought about this summer...has kind of evolved into the first sixth grade project of the year..."Lego Self-Portraits" (I know...I need a 'snappier' name for that...it'll come to my eventually...).  The kids seem to be pretty stoked about starting this project, and I'm really looking forward to the finished results.  These projects will also be used for our Art to Remember fundraiser...but more on that in a month or so!  :)

Happy Wednesday!

...there will be no blog post tomorrow as I will not be in school.  We are moving our oldest daughter into her college dorm at Kent State, so it's sure to be an exciting an emotional day.  I'll be back on Friday with more 'news from the art room'!

Paper Ninjas?

No...these are not paper ninjas before you...just a bunch of goofy sixth graders.  Jumping right into things this year, we made our 'zine books that the kids will have the full semester to complete.  You're just seeing the 'zine PRIOR to it actually looking like a book, lol.  All sixth graders in my first semester have now been assigned the 'zine project, which is due on December 11th.  I always get some great books created...can't wait to see what this year's sixth graders come up with!  Full details and requirements for this project are located on your student's Visual Arts Schoology website.  If you have any questions...please ask!  :)

Welcome to the Art Room!

Hello and welcome to the beginning of what will surely be another great year at Creevkiew Intermediate!!!  I'm so excited to get things going, and thought maybe it wise to start the year with a 'general' information post about myself and the CIS art room!

My name is Mr. Weller, and this is the start of my 15th year teaching art, all here in the wonderful city of Marysville.  I'm somewhat of a Star Wars and super hero 'nerd' of which you probably guessed if you popped into the art room during last week's "Meet the Teacher" evening.  I'm also in the process of writing and illustrating my very first graphic novel which I hope to have published within the next five years. 

Please make sure you check my CIS Art Blog semi-regularly as I do try to post updates daily.  If there's something super important that I'd like to share with you, I'll probably kick out a reminder e-mail as well.  For example...all of my first semester students will be starting their first art projects in the coming week which will also serve as their "Art to Remember" fundraiser project.  I'm sure many of you have heard of Art to Remember...but if not, no worries...info will be here on the blog in the next week or so.  

With that...welcome to another year.  Please feel free to e-mail me ANY time you have a question or concern.  And again...check back often and see the amazing art being created and the crazy shenanigans happening in the CIS Art Room!!!

drweller@mevsd.us