Sunday, January 12, 2014

What the Art Teacher Wore #85 and Book Club Contenders!

Welcome Back, Tuesday: So we managed to score an extra day of winter break because of the weather (thank you, Mother Earth, you're a dear!) which pushed back our return to Tuesday. It was a no-kids-all-day-faculty-meeting kind of day in the gym...where the heat had not been on for two weeks. It was definitely a BYOBEBandEC affair (that'd be: Bring Your Own Electric Blanket and Extension Cord...which I totally did). scarf: I forget!; sweater: DIY here; dress: TJMaxx; tights and leg warmers: Target?; boots: Anthro, last year
Hello, ya'll! I hope you all have had a great week. I went back to school for a coupla days this week...which happened to be just the right amount. Too many nights of staying up until the wee hours partyin' (which, around here, means crafting) made it super tough to get up and get moving. One big motivator for me this past week was introducing my first and second grade students to the art of suminagashi (which is Japanese for "floating paint"...or paper marbling). We had big fat slimy fun with that and I can't wait to show you the results.

A week or so ago, I ran the idea of a book club past ya'll and what an enthusiastic response I got! So I spent some time searching for books I thought looked promising and I've put together this list. Some books are about teaching, a couple are about exploring drawing/painting, and a few about creativity. I tried to give you a variety to choose from. I've added a tiny blurb about each book with a link to amazon where you can read the full description. If you are interested in joining the fun, read these descriptions and cast your vote on the right hand side of the screen. You don't have to type in a code or any other silliness to vote. Just pick and click. I'll leave the voting up for a week and then announce the chosen book.

 Once we've chosen the book, then we can read and chat! If you happen to have a blog and you'd like to let others know about our book club, that would be great. I say, the more the merrier, don't you think? 

And then I got ANOTHER idea...if you happen to join the book club AND are attending the NAEA Conference in San Diego (like me, eeee, so excited!), what do you say we have an actually book club meet-up? Details on that to come, just wanted to throw that thought atcha.

Okay, without further a do, here's the Book Club Contenders!
Why Are All The Good Teachers Crazy? by Frank Stepnowski A refreshingly honest look inside the teaching profession, Why Are All the Good Teachers Crazy? is a captivating collection of hilarious stories and unreserved observations from one man’s odyssey in the classroom. 

Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire by Rafe Esquith Perhaps the most famous fifth-grade teacher in America, Rafe Esquith has won numerous awards and even honorary citizenship in the British Empire for his outstandingly successful methods.

Easter Egg Wednesday: I know, I know, I look like the Easter Bunny exploded on me. In January. I can't help it, I need color to deal with all this gray! dress: The Limited; sweater: DIY here; tights: Target; shoes: thrifted
The Artists Way by Julia Cameron  The Artist’s Way is the seminal book on the subject of creativity. An international bestseller, millions of readers have found it to be an invaluable guide to living the artist’s life.

One Drawing a Day by Veronica Lawlor Through 46 daily exercises which make up a complete 6-week course, you will keep your artistic skills sharp and your imaginations fertile by doing One Drawing A Day. Each spread in the book features a beautiful drawing by one of 8 professional illustrators, with a description and comments by the illustrator as well as a companion exercise.
One Watercolor a Day by Veronica Lawlor  Spark new ideas and increase your creativity with One Watercolor a Day. This enchanting art book contains six weeks’ worth of daily watercolor paintings and exercises to help you cultivate your imagination and develop your style.

Thursdayness: I got these amazing bakelite bracelets from my mother-in-law for Christmas. They are my new favorite thing and I wear them all the time. Bakelite is like super duper pricey...and I lose every ebay auction I attempt. So I'm glad to have these lovelies! felted sweater: DIY here; blouse: gift; skirt and tights: Target, old; boots: Anthro; necklace: thrifted

Out of Our Minds by Ken Robinson In this extensively revised and updated version of his bestselling classic, Out of Our Minds, Ken Robinson offers a groundbreaking approach to understanding creativity in education and in business. 
 
Friday, You Got Here Fast!: Thank you for hearing my prayers. By the way, did you notice I wore a felted sweater every day? Yeah, it was kind of my theme...which I've noticed that having a theme makes getting dressed in the morning so much easier. For me, anyways. sweater: DIY here; dress, belt and boots: Anthro; tights: Target; necklace: gift


Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon You don’t need to be a genius, you just need to be yourself. That’s the message from Austin Kleon, a young writer and artist who knows that creativity is everywhere, creativity is for everyone. A manifesto for the digital age, Steal Like an Artist is a guide whose positive message, graphic look and illustrations, exercises, and examples will put readers directly in touch with their artistic side.


24 comments:

  1. I'd be fine with any of them. we could definitely save the other ones for later book selections. I have read a few of them, but all of them seem like good books! Im most interested in the One a Day books but I'd be up for any of them. The crazy teacher book sounds interesting too.

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    1. I know, they ALL sound great! I've started The Artist's Way a couple times...this might motivate me (or not!). I'm also curious about the crazy teacher book. That author actually has a couple books that sound good...and I've not read any of them! So many good choices...I'm glad ya'll are picking ;)

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  2. Hi Cassie
    I'm in! All the books sound good. The one drawing a day, steal like an artist look good.
    I'll be at NAEA (I live here in San Diego) and look forward to book club!
    Rina at www.k6art.com

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    1. Yay!! So glad to have a book-club-meet-up buddy :)

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    2. P.S. I'm going to check out your blog!

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  3. I think I would pick the one a day drawing..... something I just don't do enough of on my own.... maybe we can all promote enough to inspire us to keep up with it! :) New Year's resolution type of way ;)

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    1. That's why I'm kinda hoping we pick the One A Day series...how fun would it be to share our work?! AND I could totally use that kind of inspiration!

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  4. I like Easter Egg Wednesday. Brightens up the nasty gray winter days. Im telling you should start a line of clothing.

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    1. I think I'd only appeal to Punky Brewster set. And that was in the 80's...so I'm kinda outta luck ;)

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  5. You came up with some good titles! They all appeal to me - my problem will be squeezing in the reading time!

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    1. I know! I actually thought of that! AND if we pick a book about creating...squeezing in time to create. WHICH could be fun :)

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  6. They ALL sound good to me (even though my choice didn't make the list) except the watercolor one. I like teaching watercolors but actually despise using them. And I'm going to try my darnedest to participate. Now about that San Diego meetup... 3000 miles away....I'm trying to find the way to justify the expense of airline tickets for a long weekend, knowing that the best part of going would be meeting blogger friends. You will be there?! I went to the conference when it was in NYC a couple of years ago, and the truth is, I was disappointed in the workshops I attended. I thought the ones at my state conference were better. I'm thinking if I fly all the way to San Diego, I may want to go to the BEACH more than sit inside at workshops. Maybe it's just the ugly weather outside right now...

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    1. What book did you suggest, Phyl? I'm sorry that I didn't include it! The only one suggested was The Artists Way...the rest I just threw together. I ALSO hate watercolor, how funny is that!? Mostly because it's a fickle pickle that I've not learned to master. Yeah...about the conference. So many of the offerings are lame-o: too much techie/researchy stuff not enough hands on. I plan on meeting up with art teacher buddies and hitting the museums during my off hours.

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  7. I would pick the one drawing a day book! I wish I could attend the San Diego conference but since I'd be on my own financially to fund the trip (how come schools can't pay for teachers to attend porofessional training like companies grrrr?,) I just can't :( Which is a bummer bc i have good friends having a baby soon there and I'd love to see them too!
    > This Old Art Room

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    1. That is a bummer. My school is footing the bill for the conference itself...the rest is up to me. So sad you cannot make it but glad you are joining the book club!

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  8. I am in. I like out of our minds, but hey I will read any of them just pick one and I will be fine :)

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    1. yeah, they all sound great. The dude who wrote out of our minds has speeches on Ted Talks if you are interested...

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  9. I'd like to participate too-what a great idea!
    I read some great reviews on the last book- Steal like an Artist. It's supposedly a short and really inspiring book! This is my first choice-
    My second choice would be the draw or watercolor a day-Practice makes perfect and keeps you creative!
    I worked through the Artist's Way as part of a group in 2005, when I was at a turning point in my teaching career. It was very helpful then and I still go back and use the exercises and inspirations Cmaeron offers.

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  10. Anonymous1/13/2014

    I have The Artist's Way and liked doing the exercises but never finished it. I read Robinson's The Element and enjoyed it so Out of Our Minds is probably a good read too. I love the title, Teach Like Your Hair is on Fire and think it would be a fun read. I am a bookaholic so really any of the books sound great! Rachelle

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  11. Christy1/13/2014

    I would love to work through The Artist's Way. I have started several times . . . the others sound great too. So does this mean you will push us to finish the book? I was just telling my friend this weekend that I usually get to 80 to 90% finished but very rarely completely finish. Hmm, most projects in my life are the same.

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  12. Anonymous1/13/2014

    Cassie, I love, love your style!! I makes my heart sing to see a sea of colour and nary a whiff of black! Winter days are bleak enough. :) Why Are All the Good Ones Crazy sounds great! My husband is a teacher and all the teachers I have fond memories of during my school years were certifiable!

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  13. I vote for a one a day or Out of Our Minds.... I was required to read Teach Like Your Hair is on Fire when I became a new teacher in my district and it is a great book but yet another inspiring teacher book where the teacher essentially has to give up any aspect of a life outside of work to work their magic...(which I'm not convinced is a healthy approach in the long run) I plan on going to the conference this spring...I just have to prep my hubby for three days alone with the 2 year old first ;)

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