Safety Posters 2013

Time again for safety posters. Last year I had one student make the finalist list but didn't quite make the calendar. The year before that I had a student win a spot on the calendar along with $200.00. This year my hopes aren't incredibly high, but I participate because the Utah Labor Commission gives $300.00 to my art program plus matching money for any of my students who win prize money. I also like that this assignment makes the kids think about their community and the types of jobs their parents do and the potential dangers that go along with those jobs.

I always enjoy seeing the unintentionally funny posters just as much as I like the really well executed ones.

First category for this year:

Nonsensical:

What do you do when you accidentally leave the "R" out of "first"? Just go with it. A fist wearing a hard hat- that makes sense, right?

This poster teaches me that I might want to avoid giving Mr. Potato Head a weapon when playing 'tato with Aven. Just for the record, we have many Potato Head accessories at our house and I have never seen Mr. Potato head packing either a gun or a chainsaw

"Coconuts: 150 deaths a year". Ya, so I looked that statistic up for the kid who made this poster. So, I guess you should stay away from palm trees and cacti. Also, penguins are cool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Next up:

Disturbing

For the second year in a row I have received a condom themed safety poster. I tried to discreetly explain what it would mean to have to wear a condom in the WORKPLACE to the kid who made this. After several different attempts he finally got it and said "well, I guess prostitutes need to be safe, too".  Hand to forehead.

I have some students with parents like this. They definitely tend to annoy.

Next:

Almost There

 

Well done, cute illustrations, but I don't know that safety is the key to life as a whole. I think it's reaching a bit.

This one could have been great. They could have used that loopy Pinterest font for the lettereing and drawn all the safety gear in little squares like you see on Pinterest. Alas, this one slips through the cracks.

Last:

Likely Winners

Probably the most likely to win out of all the submissions. Emotionally hard hitting, clear, easy to understand, and really nicely done.

There is some definite awkwardness in the drawing, but the slogan is pretty great.

I'll be waiting with bated breath to see if any of my students take home a prize this year.

Motivation

The poster below was made by a student who has done next to nothing in my class all semester. The assignment was for the students to come up with an original movie concept and design a poster to advertise the movie. This particular student came up with the title "When a Hobo Falls in Love" and thought I wouldn't let her do it. When I said 'yes' she was ecstatic and worked incredibly hard to complete the mediocre-at-best poster you see below. I actually gave her an A because she worked so diligently to complete it on time.

Yes, the hobo is holding a sign that says "I don't have calsones [underwear]". Yes, the hobo has peed his pants. Yes, I let her turn it in even though it wasn't completely colored and she still had one day to work on it in class. Yes, I allowed her to do these things because every time she asked if she could add another ridiculous detail and I said 'yes' it inspired her to work harder and be more creative, and in the end, that's what my job is really about.

Altered Book

Altered Book: Take a discarded book and turn it into a work of art.

-Open up.

-Be Honest.

-Be powerful

-Make thumbnail sketches.

-Make your mark.

-Lightly gesso some pages.

-Use different mediums.

-Be funny.

-Make a social comment.

-Editorialize.

-Conceptualize.

-If you don't know what to say just start and it will come.

Include all of the following:

-Start with a 'me' collage and a handprint.

-Create a found poem.

-Create collages from magazines or your own drawings.

-Create a cool cover for your book.

-Include some of your own drawings. Draw right on the page.

-Write your own poem. Illustrate it.

-Carve it out.

-Include political satire or a comment on our government policies.

-Create a collage using found content other than magazines.

-Punch holes, tie it together.

-Use white glue or gesso to create a raised texture.

-Glue a small picture on a page. Draw or paint all around the the sides of the picture to extend the picture.

-Create some watercolor paintings.

-Use mixed media on the same page.

-Your own creation.

What do YOU want to say? How will you say it? Go further, further, further. Above all, have fun and let your creativity out!

A fellow teacher from South Jordan Middle introduced us to the concept of altered books during district collaboration. I haven't had so much fun with art in a long time. I've really gotten into the process and it has inspired me to get back to into making art for myself, not just for my job. I'm really excited to start this project with my Drawing 2 students in a few weeks.

I found this book in one of my storage rooms at work. The binding was a little iffy, so I drilled holes and sewed the book together with embroidery floss.

Right inside the front cover.

An homage to skiing and winter.

Quotes I love.

I work on this page when I'm craving things I can't have.

Rawr!

Starry Night interpretation plus a found poem. 

This is the second time I used these lyrics and this imagery in the book. Apparently there's a strong connection there.

Drawing right on the page.

Fun with watercolor and colored pencil on a gessoed page.

Snowflake stamps I made for my Christmas cards this year.