Here's a site I came across today: Masterpiece Art Instruction. It's specifically aimed at homeschoolers, so I think you'll find it particularly useful. There's a monthly newsletter with lesson and project ideas, online classes, free download-able lesson plans and project templates, and also lessons and other products for sale.
Masterpiece Art Instruction is a very well designed site, simple and easily navigable. It's rare to find such a website that's not stuffed to the gills with banner ads or awkwardly designed. Simple and easy to use, with helpful information for your art teaching--it's definitely worth a look.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Resources: The Cool Hunter
One of my favorite websites ever is The Cool Hunter. Basically, it's a website all about creativity:
"The Cool Hunter is not a trend-spotter, trend-watcher or trend predictor. We select and celebrate what is beautiful and enduring from all that is sought-after in architecture, design, gadgets, lifestyle, urban living, fashion, travel and pop culture. We remain relevant by staying ahead of and outside of trends and fads — the fickle shifts in taste and style. The Cool Hunter digs deeper, finding tomorrow's icons and classic phenomena. We are a prized reference point of choice for a global creative community." You can read more about their mission here.
I would suggest this site for your artistically inclined teenager. It just broadens your horizons on so many different creative pursuits: from the expected-- art, architecture, music, design-- to the unusual-- food, gadgets, treelife. Your definition of being artistic has to expand when you browse this site. It can open your child's eyes to new possibilities and careers utilizing their creative skills and passions. And it's just plain fun to look at all the pictures. The Cool Hunter is big on showing, not just telling, which as a visual person I highly enjoy. Every article is accompanied by multiple gorgeous pictures.
A word of caution: some of the articles on the Cool Hunter can contain sexual innuendo/content at times, not often but enough that I want you to be aware of that. As in most places in our world today, sex and sexuality are hard to completely avoid. You could use that as a springboard to have a discussion about why advertisers and designers feel the need to use sex/sexuality to promote products and grab consumers' attention. It's a really good conversation to have with a teen who wants to pursue a career related to the creative arts; it's something they'll have to confront eventually. How can they stand out from the world around them while pursuing excellence in their chosen field of study? It's easy to cater to the lowest common denominator, make work to please the masses while lowering your standards...how do you stay true to who you are? How do you engage with the world around you without being pulled down by it? Do we run from our culture or perhaps work to change it from within?
"The Cool Hunter is not a trend-spotter, trend-watcher or trend predictor. We select and celebrate what is beautiful and enduring from all that is sought-after in architecture, design, gadgets, lifestyle, urban living, fashion, travel and pop culture. We remain relevant by staying ahead of and outside of trends and fads — the fickle shifts in taste and style. The Cool Hunter digs deeper, finding tomorrow's icons and classic phenomena. We are a prized reference point of choice for a global creative community." You can read more about their mission here.
I would suggest this site for your artistically inclined teenager. It just broadens your horizons on so many different creative pursuits: from the expected-- art, architecture, music, design-- to the unusual-- food, gadgets, treelife. Your definition of being artistic has to expand when you browse this site. It can open your child's eyes to new possibilities and careers utilizing their creative skills and passions. And it's just plain fun to look at all the pictures. The Cool Hunter is big on showing, not just telling, which as a visual person I highly enjoy. Every article is accompanied by multiple gorgeous pictures.
A word of caution: some of the articles on the Cool Hunter can contain sexual innuendo/content at times, not often but enough that I want you to be aware of that. As in most places in our world today, sex and sexuality are hard to completely avoid. You could use that as a springboard to have a discussion about why advertisers and designers feel the need to use sex/sexuality to promote products and grab consumers' attention. It's a really good conversation to have with a teen who wants to pursue a career related to the creative arts; it's something they'll have to confront eventually. How can they stand out from the world around them while pursuing excellence in their chosen field of study? It's easy to cater to the lowest common denominator, make work to please the masses while lowering your standards...how do you stay true to who you are? How do you engage with the world around you without being pulled down by it? Do we run from our culture or perhaps work to change it from within?
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