Facing Some Real Challenges

If you have read my blog before, than you may have read my little blog about fear: Something that I seem to feel a bit more intensely than is normal at times. I ended up in my own little corner again (pic above). But I am on my way back and plan on being back to work soon.

My heart is becoming more like this guy. I have a bit of a connection with both Tigger and Piglet. They both represent two major facets of my personality.

I am revamping my "Fear No Teaching" image for my students at Dekaney. They are the WILDCATS so I had to adjust the image:

I will colorize/watercolorize it and show y'all later.

Using my skills: Making a Teaching Tool

This is my Chart intended for NOISE control in the classroom. I will have an arrow which will point to the acceptable level of noise at any given time. This way no student can play dumb and feign ignorance.

My indicator. An Imp riding an arrow. Some of my personal "flair".

A Work of Love

In the Literary canon, none have been as influential and dynamic to me as Bill Watterson's "Calvin & Hobbes". When I decided to add Calvin and his existential buddy in my Literary Character Avatar project, I wanted to do them justice. Calvin I have already posted. I have just recently finished Hobbes.

Hobbes took a lot longer to interpret due to the difficult proposition it is to take such a lovable, dynamic, inquisitive, intellectual individual and represent him in a way that encapsulates his "cartooniness" and yet gives him a more realistic representation. It was quite a fine line to try to balance.

Thank You Bill Watterson for such a rich and edifying commentary on the living plight of humanity!

More Avatars for my Grammar Game Project

I have already come to terms with the fact that I will not have this ready this year. I will continue to use this project as an escape from all of the other work I will have to do for the year and hopefully I will have a better idea of how it will work by next year.

Lancelot: the ultimate knight

the ultimate brat: Calvin (Hobbes is in the works)

another one of your fairy tale standards: Gremlins

whether he is battling the all-seeing eye or cobbling your shoes, this Elf is the dude for the job.

One of my favorite things to draw in Jr. High School and a Comic Icon

This Generation's ultimate Wizard . . .

A Classic tall-tale and a Legend


Preparation is what dominates my days right now. Anticipation can be a killer.

Literary Character Avatar Project

I have been working on an idea I've had concerning grammar. A few drawings of literary characters that I intend to use. I will probably use my watercolors to color them later.

                                                                         Beowulf

                                                                    Red Riding Hood

                                                                The Big Bad Wolf

                                                                     Puss in Boots

                                                                           Troll

I am "THE EDUCATOR!"

I have officially accepted a position this morning as an English teacher for the Freshman/Sophomore level at Dekaney High School in the Spring Independent School District. I have crossed over into the scary realm of public education. It helps that I am relatively naive about what I am getting into. Student teaching can only show you so much.

Reflection: Fear

We all experience a wealth of human emotions. The rainbow of human experience allows us to soar upon the wings of euphoria. On the other end of the spectrum, we are mired in the sludge of depression or are assaulted by agitating pangs of Fear. All of this got me thinking:

An image came to my mind that perfectly describes the suffocating nature of FEAR. Imagine you are encased in a substance that resembles a tough and tacky cellophane. The real kicker is that without exertion on your part, the blob will shrink you until you are incapable of movement. You may even feel your insides shrink as your skin begins to buckle beneath the pressure of this voracious malady:

Freedom only comes through real effort on your part-- effort that allows you to move and to be with some semblance of freedom. But the moment you shrink away from something and begin to allow that fear to have any room..... ZAP!! You're shrinking under the pressure all over again.

This image above was only the basic idea when I pictured how one struggles with fear inside. The next one wasn't as effective as I wanted it to be either.

The stretchy cellophane appears too pliable and stretchy. I felt that Fear ought to be more effectively portrayed as something that doesn't give an inch at all. Emily helped me figure out how to more effectively portray a material that is thicker and less pliable (she works with fabric a lot). I think the following image is much more effective at what I am trying to portray.

Do you think this is an effective portrayal of Fear? What are your thoughts?

Father's Day

I like posting the gifts I make for others the night before they get them. I am secure in the fact that barely anybody reads my blog so it's okay. I was thinking about how much My Father and my Father in Law have taught me so much and it got me thinking about all of the classic stories and the mentor who helps the Hero learn how to be a Hero. I can equate that mentor role to that of real Fatherhood. So I spent the past two days making this image to my two Fathers. Kudos.

"Favorite Mentors"

A tribute to my Mother in Law

I am BLESSED to have one of the coolest mother in laws in the PLANET! Sunday is her birthday and I made her a personalized card. She doesn't read my blog (at least I don't think so) so I am posting this image now. She is known for her devotion to personal preparedness and self reliance. She's the one to be with when all nature goes berserk and you don't even have a flashlight on you. Her personal symbol that she "collects" is Noah's Ark. For those of you who have read the Old Testament than her choice makes sense. For the rest of you, I suggest you read the book of Genesis in the King James Version of the Bible. Wonderful time. . . great stories . . . and you'll probably learn a few things too. Anyway, this image will adorn her birthday card from me. I think I nailed the mood I was going for so I'm pretty happy with it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

It's been a quiet, good day. Like this lucky guy over here.

Bloom Where You're Planted

"Bloom Where You're Planted"

First off, Apologies to Greg Newbold. Let's just say your image inspired me and I had to personalize the message by doing my own version.

The Article is found in the June 2011 Edition of "The Ensign Magazine": a religiously themed magazine published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The article was a person's experience with frustration after ending up in a place where he didn't want to be. But a Dandelion growing out of a crack in a wall reminded him to "BLOOM WHERE YOU'RE PLANTED" which is exactly what he did. We cannot usually choose our circumstances, but we can change our attitude which can make what was once inhospitable into our personal sanctuary. That includes if the intolerable place is within one's own skin.

Courage: A reflection of the past Nine Months

School is officially over for the 2010/2011 school year. I participated till the very last day: volunteering to help out the staff oversee the eighth grade end of school carnival. My biggest relief is that I no longer have to dread telephone calls from the Substitute office @ Five in the morning. But is also means that the future is totally uncertain for me and my family.

I made this piece as a tribute to spirit of education that I had the opportunity of partaking. It isn't by any means easy, but it is worth it. It is essential for any hope of our future.

Dekaney: Epilogue

If you look at one of my previous posts, you will see clearly illustrated how I felt about my upcoming student teaching experience @ Dekaney High School. Well, in the literary tradition, this is the Epilogue or how I felt about the experience at the closing of that experience.

It was a definite challenge, but there were so many students who I came to know and appreciate. It was a wonderful experience.

"Conscience"

Short Story Sketches

I went on a visual rampage as I was reading these stories for one of the classes I help teach.

D.H. Lawrence's "The Odor of Chrysanthemums

Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown"

Steven Crane's "The Open Boat"


These were done in spare minutes here and there and were nothing less than a labor of love. A labor of love for my students that is. Anything that can inspire them to enjoy good literature the way I do.

Short story sketches

Being an English teacher, I've gotten the opportunity to reread a lot of classic short stories that have inspired me.

Ralph Ellison's "Battle Royale"
and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper"

I have forgotten how amazing the world of Literature is. The creative spirit is rejuvinating to me and an excuse to wear down and my pens and watercolor pencils.

A Slogan and a Cover

This came from a sketch I was doing with some down time at school one day. I had some good reactions from the kids so I decided to do something with it.

Decorative Piece. . . and a bit of an Icebreaker

I made this as a "cover" for my Teaching workbook. I keep the workbook on my desk for quick refrence so it's not unusual to have at least 3 different students ask me if I drew the picture. It's been a perfect opportunity to strike up a short conversation and get to know the student better. It's been really effective.

Icarus

I did this a few weeks ago as we began studying mythology in Miss Kaiser's English II class.

Poeism

I got to reread THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER for an English class I'm student teaching. I was iNSpiRed.

An Internal Reflection

A Reflection on the Situation of teachers in the Public School system at times and those who are looking to go into the field. It can be intimiating.

Continuation on a Popular Theme

I was having so much fun designing these mischeiveous little critters that I thought I would do another drawing. This time me as myself. . . being their ring leader. The idea kind of springs from a comic released in the 90's where an assassin is given control over the little demons from Hades. Mine is much more on the lighter side. These guys may be a little scary, but evil they are not. Mostly just misunderstood.

Gaboochies!

I did this in response to a story my mentor told me about how her husband scared their daughter into staying away from the attic because the Gaboochies lived there. Classic childhood fantasy material!

Assignment

I have been in my Clinical Teaching Program only three days and already I have gotten a chance to use my "skills" Three of my classes are reading "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton. We have an assignment comming up that focuses on each character's personality traits but the worksheet itself was only half done. Clipart was used for pictures of each character and they were poor! So I offered to redo the worksheet to make it a little classier.

Here are some of the sketches I made of the main characters to use for the worksheet:

The Two Unlisted ones are Ponyboy's big brothers : Sodapop and Darry