ART CLASS INFO (READ THIS! LOTS OF ANSWERS!) :-)
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers for art class at Patapsco Middle. If you have any questions not covered here, please feel free to send a comment, and I will answer!
1. “But what if I’m not any good at art?” In Middle School, the range of art ability I see in students is enormous. I have students who rarely create art and many who do create art on a daily basis. I have students who know they “love art” and others who feel nervous and worried about what they think they can or can’t do. You take a class to LEARN NEW SKILLS, right? Even lots of parents believe that either a person is born with artistic talent or they’re not, and it’s just the luck of the draw. THAT’S THE BIGGEST ART MYTH EVER. Sure, we all have our natural gifts, and hooray for that, but if art-making isn’t a skill you think you have, don’t worry for one second! You’ve learned to read, write, do math, and probably even ride a bike, play a sport, swim, or even play a musical instrument. You had to LEARN and PRACTICE these complex skills to master them, and so it is with art. Your job is to show up to class, and be ready to take risks and try new things. My job is to provide you with real, practical skills and techniques and a place to practice them. If you TRY, you WILL see improvement no matter what!
2. “What do I have to bring to class?” A pencil and a big eraser. I provide everything else. The eraser is SO important. Please have one!
3. “Do I need a sketchbook?” I am no longer allowed to require that you bring a sketchbook. However, the fastest way to improve your skills is to draw all the time. Sketchbooks are handy for that. Stumped on what to draw on your own time? Try anything and everything. Draw from your imagination and please, PLAY with materials you like, but if you really want to get better, DRAW WHAT YOU SEE. This is called Observational Drawing. Draw your half-eaten breakfast, your pet, your hand, the inside of your closet–ANYTHING! Not all of your sketches will look fantastic. But every observational sketch will improve your skills! I promise!
4. “How will I be graded?” All art assignments are graded on a point system. Every project will have clear, achievable objectives which I will give you when you start. Each objective will be worth a certain number of points. You will have the chance to grade yourself with a check sheet before you turn it in for my final grade. *Even if you don’t like the way your piece looks, you can still get an A if you followed all objectives and gave it your personal best effort!*
5. “When do we get to do clay?” Your long-term ceramic work is done in 7th grade. BUT, 6th graders do a small scale clay project for service learning hours too. In addition, I make sure that every class at every grade level works with both 2D and 3D processes and materials.
6. “Ms. Mitchell, you drew that?!” I will frequently show you the work of many artists from history and those who are currently working. We will look at art made all over the world by people from every walk of life. Sometimes, I will show you my own work, both current and past. It is important to me that you know that although I am your art teacher, I am also a working artist who makes, shows and sells art. I make art just about every day. All that practice means that I’ve gotten pretty good! 
So, yes, I did draw that!
7. “What are we doing today?” When you come to class, take a look around for some clues. Read the objective on the board. Look at the images on the screen. Take a moment to remember what we did the last class. Do I have new materials waiting on the counter? See if you can guess what we might be up to!
8. “When do I get my art back?” Most of the time, you will receive your art back at the end of a unit. If your work is selected to go into one of the many, many county art shows this year, it could be many weeks or even months till you get it back. If your work goes to the Columbia Mall show and is then chosen to be displayed at the state level, it could be one to three years before it makes it back to you. I try my very best to take digital images of all work shown at the county level and of much of the work just coming out of class. Just ask if you want a digital image emailed to your parent! I’d be happy to send it! PS–if you do not put your NAME on the back of your work, you might never get it back. I teach almost every student in the school, so I NEED your name on your work!!
9. “What is GT Art?“ Howard County Public School System has a Gifted and Talented Visual Arts program that is free to students who submit a portfolio of work and are accepted. It is highly competitive, but two to four Patapsco students have been accepted every year I have been teaching here, which is great! There are very specific portfolio guidelines and deadlines. If you apply this year and are accepted, you would start the GT program in the fall of the 2011-2012 school year. It is a Saturday program, and attendance is mandatory if you are accepted. As your art teacher, I can help you with individual portfolio development. Read more about it, and download the application PDF file here: http://www.hcpss.org/arts/visualarts/
Those are all of the questions that I can think of for now. I’ll post more as they come to me. In the meantime, if YOU or your parent have any, please comment on this page. I will post the answer as soon as I’m able!
