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Instead of piercing the paper with a needle, which was causing damage, i created slits with an exacto so i could slide the needle in and out instead, then placed the cutout letters on top. Aside Hybridity, I want the students to think about composition and creating emphasis.

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I had to experiment with sewing on the thick paper, the needle was too thick so I wasn't happy with the holes and creases that were being created. Unfortunately I only one developed print left so decided to change it up and try a new approach.

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Changed up my project a little. At the beginning i wasn't sure if i wanted my advanced students to paint or create a series of photographs based on a place of meaning. However, since my main concept for this project is Hybridity (Contemporary Elements of Art) I am going to leave it open. I want them to be mindful of which materials, traditional and unconventional, they choose to use and WHY they chose to use it.

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My finished painting. Always could use more time for details, but I am at this mostly finished point. I remain humbled by capturing the perspective of this stadium, and keeping gray out of every color I mix. Let's see what you all think, but my daughter is my toughest critic.

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The process... I simply printed out some of my various photos taken at different angles that day. I cut and pasted several together until I was happy with the layout. I wanted to get the figure in the picture and still show that expansive feeling in that stadium, without the figure blocking it. I used a grid to help me get my drawing up onto my canvas. I am starting to paint and remembering that you really need to be committed to an image to paint it. You really better like or be interested in the imagery to push through and persist. SHoM don't fail me now!

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The final stage of my flag. I layered dots on top of the drawing using printing ink and a pencil eraser as a stamp. My four year old daughter made one too:) It is important to display the final product in this way- on a string, hanging from grommets. Flags are beautiful objects with movement. I also like the idea of connecting meaning to symbols because it is a way to approach abstraction.

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This is the middle stage of my flag. I started looking at images of flags and came across some really cool examples of earth flags, this became my inspiration. I started with a piece of white fabric then used watercolors to create the background. Then, I used sharpies to draw "earth".

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Heather Schlesinger-Where I Live-Stage 3

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Heather Schlesinger-Where I Live-Stage 3

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Something beautiful.

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Heather Schlesinger-Where I Live-Stage 2

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Heather Schlesinger-Where I Live-Stage 2

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This is the process, things are happening. I love that I get to work big on this piece, it's 4x 3 ft. I wanted to have a blue heron as a symbol for the nature and beauty that is present here in Sacramento. Many don't even go to the river that live here. There is a lot to do, Sacramento is big, but for me the river is my sanctuary.

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Heather Schlesinger-Where I live-Stage 1

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Heather Schlesinger-Where I live-Stage 1

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This is the beginning stage of a painting inspired by a river spot that I go to often (within walking distance of my house). I wanted to do a clay piece, but the firing would take a long time and possibly wouldn't be finished before the end of the semester. This assignment is interesting because I've been thinking a lot about what inspires me, what is my story, or unique take on life. This piece is a reflection of not only where I live but where I find peace in the madness.

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This is my final piece. I started by adding the background first, layering the chalk pastels and blending, then adding my details and highlights on top. This technique is something I could demo or teach in a class using chalk pastels. The bridge is also less visible in parts because of the fog (blended soft pastel over the colored pencil on the bridge).

I decided not to add the other elements about the other places I have lived, because it would complicate the piece more. But this along with the idea of "living in my head" is something I would explore in my own work moving forward.

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Omar Rodriguez Diaz. Then I used green marker to fill in the leaf color, making sure I leave a space of white on the side of the highlight to create more contrast. My intention is for this project to be simple, graphic and stylized (think symbols and logos). The creatures are Native American hieroglyphs of a Coqui tree frog from Puerto Rico where I'm from. They create a symphony of sound at night and are a symbol of my country. Their sounds are the comfort of home for me.

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Omar Rodriguez Diaz. I started with brown marker to mark the shadows. Then I used yellow to mark the highlights.

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Omar Rodriguez Diaz. I drew with pencil the composition thinking of connecting to the edges of the space and varying size to create depth.

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This is my work in progress. I am using soft chalk pastels and some color pencil.

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A drawing of where I live + other stuff.

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This is my final version. I decided to make the figures anonymous, without color because the issue is not about specific people but about society as a whole. So I used these figures as allegories for society and the gravestones represent those who have been taken by mass shootings - both in the past, and in the present. I wanted to include the American flag with a few bullet holes to represent that this issue has attacked the entire country and has taken so many lives here. I have never lost anyone to a mass shooting nor have I been in one. I wanted to do this subject because I am very interested in social activism, and this social issue is an extremely painful one that is on my mind all the time because these events happen anywhere, without warning.

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Here is my halfway point. I was still deciding how I wanted to depict the gravestones and if I wanted to individualize the students using color or not.

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I was still considering composition when I posted my first thumbnail sketch, so here is the composition I actually went with from the beginning.

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I like how the layers of watercolor and incorporating extra water keeps some of the wet in wet look from the original wash. I like the level of contrast I created. After finishing this, I think I would like to create another example that has more line work and maybe a 3rd example that incorporates photo images and image transfers.

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Next I took some photos of myself in profile and drew the mountains and a symbolic skyline for Los Angeles. I decided that I want to combine a few outlines and paint some washes while creating some more wet in wet techniques. I have a background in architecture (my bachelor's) and I live near the Mountains, but will be teaching in the city so I feel like this painting represents part of my identity as an art teacher who brings some of the aspects of drawing/architecture and painting and my perspective from suburbs travelling into the city.

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My idea for this project is to create a profile with images of Los Angeles in the background. I considered doing a collage or an image transfer, but ended up deciding to do a layered watercolor painting. I like the emotions and effects of creating a wet in wet background in warm colors.

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As of now this is what I have. I really wanted use line do draw myself over the map. I would like to make it more of a mixed media piece by adding pastel but have not been able to find them. With that being said, this is more a literal representation of where I live placing myself on the map.

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Not having much around I thought it could be a fun element to use an old Bay Area map I had lying around as a backdrop, especially as this is where I have and currently live.

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Originally, I thought, well... I live in my mind. However, I did not have time to create a piece to represent that as it is very complex. Therefore, I am going bit more literal. I thought it could be fun to do mixed media or collage so I began with mixing the little bit of paint I have on a small square canvas I had laying around.

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This piece is my reflection on living my dream with passion. “A dream is a wish that our heart makes and there is nothing like a dream to create the future”. I have added the self-portrait to show the happiness of living my dream. Also, I have included butterflies. For me, the butterfly represents growth, success, and new discoveries of inner truth. I have used collage and printmaking techniques. I chose this technique because it is the best way to approach students’ artistic expression if they have a mental block that they are not good at art. Students will be able to find associations between their creative choices and their true self. Students will learn the mono printmaking technique using Gelli print. These techniques made me think deeply about the composition. I have used personal and traditional items to create the print. I used magazines, cardstock paper, photographs, stamps, stickers, and some personal items. I brainstormed the theme “Where I Live” by asking many questions to myself and then I collected things to create some printmaking for the base. Once I finished the printmaking and adding layers, I collected imagery to create collages on the card stock paper. I do not limit these materials to students in order to add visual stories. Students are free to use stickers, magazine cutouts, or write and paint on their own. Since it is a choice-based project, students have the freedom to create with a personal meaning.

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This piece is my reflection on living my dream with passion. “A dream is a wish that our heart makes and there is nothing like a dream to create the future”. I have added the self-portrait to show the happiness of living my dream. Also, I have included butterflies. For me, the butterfly represents growth, success, and new discoveries of inner truth. I have used collage and printmaking techniques. I chose this technique because it is the best way to approach students’ artistic expression if they have a mental block that they are not good at art. Students will be able to find associations between their creative choices and their true self. Students will learn the mono printmaking technique using Gelli print. These techniques made me think deeply about the composition. I have used personal and traditional items to create the print. I used magazines, cardstock paper, photographs, stamps, stickers, and some personal items. I brainstormed the theme “Where I Live” by asking many questions to myself and then I collected things to create some printmaking for the base. Once I finished the printmaking and adding layers, I collected imagery to create collages on the card stock paper. I do not limit these materials to students in order to add visual stories. Students are free to use stickers, magazine cutouts, or write and paint on their own. Since it is a choice-based project, students are free to use their imagination and creativity.

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Once finished with the linocutting, brush off any Lino crumbs///students will use an ink pad, pressing the ink pad ONTO the Lino cut image, pressing firmly down and making sure systematically- all areas get covered/// then- like a stamp, place the Lino down on paper-paper registration lesson insert here/// with one hand keeping Lino in place, the other hand presses down gently but firmly, onto paper/// Additional lesson: students can learn about power of multiples, adding color, 2 or 3 block/plate images, mixed-media images, colored paper option, material option: fabric, slip and clay. Many options :)

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Transfer of image, made using number 2 pencil, going over the lines of the drawing/// place paper facedown onto the Lino /// I used the back of a spoon to run across the back of the paper, to transfer the pencil image/// After paper removal: I then used a sharpie to darken the lines I would be leaving intact/// all non sharpie space is for removal with Lino cutter/// *Students would be taught different Lino cutter attachments create different lines -
working direction- away from hands, shifting Lino around while working. And remembering to breathe and smile :)

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Inked and color accented.

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Where I live Part 2... inked and ready for color accents in yellow orange... again a blending of cartoon symbolic real world environment, sleeping figure, with a pointing to symbolic or internal subconscious space of where I equally live surrounding the figure.

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This is the final stage of my artwork.  I used oil pastels on canvas.  All of my artwork is done in vibrant colors.

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Initial sketch in pencil. Plan is to ink and watercolor a limited pallet. We spend a 3rd of our time in space sleeping. Emphasis on surreal characters and imagery that surround the figure in a cartoony bed. Also a hint at expanding an environment through invention and art. Live in a rural area so art invention is equally a place to be... (in image) a circle of 'realism' surrounding the sleeping figure is built around a mental dream scape.. Emphasis for the assignment could be to focus on metaphor  and symbolism across a wide history of painting styles... religious paintings from across the world, surrealism, landscape, etc... and Emphasize cultural and natural symbols and how they tie into the personal and cultural meaning...

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/// The image I Sketched, shows two different plants leaves: The Aspen leaf at the top, representing the Sierra Nevada Mountains where I live, and the bottom, a fern, representing New Zealand, where I am from. Both places have shaped me today, so abstractly, I live in both places at once. ///The project 'Where I live' will be an introduction to the Lino cut image, using one color. I will be using a black ink pad, as I assume this will take less space and monetary investment than ink tubes and brayers (I hope?!) The project will be an introduction into mirror imaging, positive and negative space, composition on a smaller Lino piece (5"x3") cleanliness of material management and safety of Lino cutters.

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This is the middle stage of my artwork.  I am using oil pastels on canvas.  My dog is the focus of my painting because he represents where I live. Where ever my dog may be is where I live.

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The way I want to interpret this assignment is by going broad with 'Where I Live.' The answer to 'Where I Live' is the United States, and what I want to focus on is a huge social problem: mass shootings. These events are hugely entwined with the U.S. and very present in everyone's mind. Although mass shootings happen anywhere, I am choosing the classroom as the setting. My general idea is to show this theme by drawing a classroom with students as well as gravestones with bullet holes and a gravestone to represent the teacher as well. This is just my initial sketch as I'm still working on composition and approach.

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My family and I recently went to see the Dodgers play. It had been years since I had been in Dodger stadium, and it was the first time for my kids. It brought back so many memories. It was a gorgeous and bright sunny day and I just thought to myself, "I still love my city". LA is where I was born and raised. I saw the food vendors coming around and this image caught me. But I missed it at first and thought I had missed my chance. When the guy working our section came back around, I was ready and snapped this pic, wanting to catch the 'LA' he had under his board. I will change the composition a bit, but want to paint this. I think this would make a good project for HS kids - to look at their city, snap a pic or sketch an image that includes a clue, symbol, or code as to where you are. And paint it.

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I focused on a meaningful area in my house, the space I spend the most time in - my living room couch. Doesn't seem like much at first glance but it's where I've grown the most memories. I want the students to find their own place of meaning, however big or small.

I have been debating on painting this or creating a black/white photograph series. But the most important aspect is I want to include unconventional materials to highlight specific areas - the students will learn about hybridity and experiment with using nontraditional materials then combine both unconventional/trad. in a single artwork. For example, one thing I'm thinking of is sowing thin thread onto the pillows to show the traditional otomi design they have.

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This is the beginning of the flag I am making. It will represent where I live.

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Every evening I take my dog for a walk.  We walk out the front door, and I enjoy watching him play in the huge flower bed in front of my home.  I sit on my driveway for about fifteen minutes as Buddy enjoys jumping in and out of the flower bed while he chases lizards, butterflies, grasshoppers, and bees.

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This is my first sketch for the "Where I Live" art assignment. My first thought was - I live in my head. But I wanted to incorporate where I physically live, the Bay Area ( Some might not consider where I live the Bay, but it is near). I started drawing and went with the flow, so the final drawing may change a lot. I have a small window on the right upper hand side to represent that I was feeling as though I am in my head looking out into the world. I also want to add palm trees to represent California in general, as I've lived in Southern California as well. I've also lived in other cities around the world so I thought I may add elements of these different places and somehow tie this together to being in my own world, in my head, most of the time. I am not sure if I will create a lesson plan based on this topic. If I make a lesson plan around this topic would this artwork be included as an example? Or maybe I can take a different topic and make it more relatable for a a student lesson plan.

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The backyard of my house is where I sit to drink my coffee and enjoy the buzzing of the hummingbirds flying to drink sweet water and the playfulness of my dogs barking at each other. This is where I live.