I thought some people may be interested in seeing some of the work that we are creating in the Gr 9 classroom. We have and are working on collages, printmaking, colour theory, watercolour and acrylic paint, and pop-can art. Below are some examples of pop-can charicatures that I created to show students how to make the full use of their page, enforce dynamic scale, perspective, and be creative with their imagery. Of course, many other examples were used to demonstrate the efforts of the project, but these were just some fun quick thumbnail sketches that I drew to get the students minds thinking.

I was approached to test my hand at creating my own original design for the mask of the Detroit Red Wing’s goaltender Jimmy Howard. The mask painter was asking for suggestions on how to approach Howard’s new mask and this is what I came up with. I was asked to conform to including certain logo’s, trademarks, and iconography – however, my designs were ultimately not chosen.

We were thinking along the lines of Detroit Rock City (guitars and famous Michigan rock icons), Car-stripes, Detroit Landmarks, and inspiring past Red Wing players.

I do not have a background in design, and was teaching myself how to use Adobe Illustrator to create these rough drafts. I thought it would be easiest to get my concepts across by creating a rough collage in 2-dimensions. Here are some of my draft-ideas:

Here’s an old painting I forgot to post… or rather, I was submitting it in a competition and wasn’t able to post it until afterwards. It was suggested to me that I should try to paint the abstraction that occurs when skate-blades pass over the ice surface. I wanted to take it a step further by creating an evolving painting that morphs depending on the angle and lighting the viewer see’s it by. I built up layers of paint and glaze to create depth, that is light on top with a penetrating darkness below it. I also carved groove marks into the paint and added extra textures in an effort to make the skate marks pop off the board. Whether or not I was entirely successful is up to the viewer … I will probably explore this concept again later in the future.

Mr. Slotwinski is continuing to volunteer his time at St. Patrick’s Catholic High School in Sarnia as we move into the second semester. Gr. 9’s and 11 classes have a chance to be helped, taught, and work with two teachers in the art department classroom. As well, props, sets, and characters are being designed and painted by students and faculty during Art Club for the up and coming school production of Shrek: The Musical.

Two years ago I tried using pastel pencils for the first time. Later this year I was approached to recreate the drawing and I chose to use a new set of watercolour pencil crayons I recently received. Here is the before and after pictures.

Along our waterfront are many scenic places. I’ve always been fascinated by weeping willows – and I’m sure I’ll end up doing many more drawings/paintings of them in my life.