New Entry in "Field of Opportunity"

Hi Gang,

There's  new entry in the "Field of Opportunity" so check it out. You should enter, so check it out!

Visiting Rock Stars!!

Be at the Dodd Center tomorrow, Thursday the 9th, for a "Mocktail Party" featuring our four FAB-ooo-lous visiting author-illustrators: Rudy Gutierrez, Alison Paul, Chris Raschka and Javaka Steptoe! Yes! Can you believe how lucky you are?! Me neither! It starts at 5 pm.

Check out their work, remember to comb your hair and brush your teeth and you'll be ready. See you there.

On Friday the 10th we'll see you in the Class of 1947 Room at the Babbidge Library for a presentation by all four that begins at 11:30 am (be there at 11:15- bring questions and a sketchbook!). That lasts until 1 -pm.

Then, as though it could get any better than that, Seniors return for a 2-4 pm Master Class session. Bring a few samples of work!

W  W  W  W  O  O  O  O  O  O-  H  H  H  H  O  O  O  O  O  !  !  !  !  !

Tips & Tricks: Add Yours!

Hey All,

Some of you have logged into the class WIKI to share your ideas/concerns/frustrations with the current assignment. Click on the title of this post to go directly to these pearls of wisdom- you won't be sorry!

Collective? But I'm a Lone Wolf...

Computer Arts - Collaborate! - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Computer Arts - Collaborate!

A lot of our alums (your predecessors) attend ComicCON in San Diego each year. It is, as I once heard a much smarter person say, the largest visual culture event in North America. No foolin'! And folks like us RULE that place!

How great is that?!

Here is a camera-hungry Shawn McCauley, on the SUPER-SECRET alumni website, showing off his activities. I'm gonna make him come talk with us this semester. Even if he says, "no."

He'll do it. He owes me.

Let's Think A Little Bit More About Images That Communicate

As promised, here is a paper-free article for you to read. This article, "Ode To Illustration," by Steven Heller, appeared in AIGA magazine in 2004. AIGA, if you don't already know, is a professional organization and AIGA magazine is one of their publications (hard copy and web). It is centered on visual communication and the issues and developments therein.

In short, they write about visual stuff you'll find interesting.

But (and here's the bad news), you do have to read. Yes, read. Terrifically old-fashioned, I know, but still one of the best ways to engage information in a participatory (not passive) way. That's important.

Do it. And feel free to peruse related links that come up on the right hand side. You won't be sorry! Sign up for a "web account" (free) for some expanded access.

We're Back! Welcome to Our Newest Contestants!

Hi Folks!

First, welcome.

No,... for real.

It's good to be back.

Well, it's been a helluva summer with a lot of illustration activity and news. I'll try to recount some of that here so you can share in the EXCITEMENT!! I know you want to! We've also got some good stuff coming up, so check back here regularly to see what's happening.

Here's a special shout-out to the two new ART 272 sections (now known as ART 3210). Your trial-by-fire is about to begin! The old guard will help pull you through. Of course, you'll have to pay them off, but they'll help you for a very reasonable fee.

Speaking of FIRE, don't miss Rudy Gutierrez and DK Dyson this Friday (29th) at Convocation!! It's free (which is a lot of the same letters as "fire" but much, much better!), and will change your life.

Dig Our Current Student!

Ok, I know I miss out on LOTS of accomplishments, but sometimes I'm able to catch something and put it up for posterity.

"Posterity" is a big $10 word that means "forever." Only it sounds smarter. Feel free to use that.

Here is the article on Laura Byrne's book, of which we are all jealous but happy at the same time.

There will be a lot of that happy/jealous dichotomy in your life (if you're lucky) so be of good cheer and offer congrats to Laura. Laura, keep pursuing projects like this one!

TRIPLE-B* Countdown, Spring 2008!

Spring semester is about to mercifully slide into eternal oblivion and your blogs still S*CK! Can that be any clearer? Yes, probably so, but then  your parents would take me to court and I'd end up in jail. Hmmm... then I'd have lots of sketchbook time and plenty of source material, eh? It'd be like a 5 (to 10) year artist's residency.

By the final (May 10th- 8 am) your blogs MUST:

1. Link successfully from the class blog
   
2. Include images of all your finished work from the semester
   
3. Include brief but scintillating text along with your finished work
   
4. Include some process/sketchbook work (if you want to really look good)
   
5. Link successfully to your CafePress store (make the link obvious to us. Don't let it fall below the browser window)
   
6. Link successfully to your Flickr space (make the link obvious to us. Don't let it fall below the browser window and don't overwhelm your work with your family vacation pictures)
   

In turn, your CafePress store must have:

• Multiple items featuring your great artwork (and not just two)
  

In double-turn, your Flickr account must hold:

• Multiple images (not just two) of great work from your other classes or personal projects
  

In addition:

• Get more selective with the "look" of the blog. If your blog is still the default design selection that Blogger provides to you, well, change it! Look around, make some choices about layout, color, type and more.

This is not hard to do but you do have to make some time to do it. Now is the time. The blog counts as a project (which you already know. I'm just sayin'...). You need this in more ways than one:  Why you need this blog

*BIG, BADASS BLOG

Free and Faboolous Events!!

Want to see something interesting, fun and F R E E  (yes, F R E E) this Sunday?!

Go to the Co-Op at 3 pm. Author/illustrator Anna Dewdney will be there to talk about her work. While you're there...

Stick around and attend a reception for your friend and UConn IllustratioNation alum, Bonnie Sullivan, at 4:30 pm. She's done a mural for the Co-Op's Children's Section and they're celebrating! Go. After all, you're family!

R+E+A+D For This Week

Greetings, Studio Survivors,

Please do some research on Shepard Fairey and his work (conveniently, two great links are provided in the post from 4/18). In addition, you can add this gallery archive of work:  This is the gallery archive

A helpful hint: explore different areas of the Obey Giant website. Don't just land on one page and only look at that. You won't get a sense of his work that way and you have to be able to discuss this in class.

How is he making his work? What is he using for content? Why? How/why is this controversial?

From My Deathbed...

4/24/08: "Birds" studio time

Come with 8.5 x 11 piece as a dummy with values (gray marker set). Bring as many cards as you have done. Prepare to go forward great guns with both! More! More! MORE!

InDesign demo (if enough of our computers are working- all bets are off, as you know)

Scan your calendar pieces!
Calendar wrap-up information: where we can print and how

5/1/08: "Birds" due: critique on final art (we will pop into layouts during studio)
Calendars, continue; InDesign continues
Appropriation vs Plagiarism: "Obey Giant" or "Obey Plagiarist"

Final: You are online moguls! Everything will be online!
Individual blogs up and complete: all work from the semester with some genius text!
CafePress stores stocked!
Calendar specs for ordering!

This is AMAZING!!

I still feel lousy.

In the immortal words of one Dan Clowes, comic genius and author of "Art School Confidential,"   "Hope I die soon."

But, if not, I'll see you Thursday (that's actually my preference).