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Testing Season (Week 32)

“Standardization of our educational systems [which includes testing]is apt to stamp out individualism and defeat the very ends of education by leveling the product down rather than up.” ~Harvey Cushing

May . . . the month of testing. AP testing begins this week and continues through next. After that we have STAR testing. My least favorite part of the US education system . . . testing.

I am believer that:

“One must learn by doing the thing. For though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.” ~Sophocles

The test, if you want to call it that, in the Mac Lab is to improve your own skills; to make better artwork at the end of the year than you could have at the beginning of the year. The test is against yourself. Some of you have failed. Others have flourished. In the second semester you have largely been in control of your own learning. Many of you have flourished others have wasted the opportunity. You have nobody to blame but yourself if you do not have the grade that you desire. There is about a month to change course if you so desire. The challenge is yours alone.

We will be having a final project in here for you to demonstrate your mastery of the Elements and Principles of Design. More information in the coming weeks.

Artwork courtesy of Clayton A. One of the first Cinema 4D projects.

New Media

Finish up your Vector Illustrations. Was it easier this time? It should be. Think back at how hard the Pen Tool was the first time and look at what you can do with it now. Many of you are already exerts and ahead of many college graduates in graphic design.

When you finish your Vector Illustration (don’t forget to bring into Photoshop and to put on the Web), continue on the To Do List. You will be exploring Photoshop next.

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Like a Rolling Stone (Week 31)

“You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat / Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat / Ain’t it hard when you discover that / He really wasn’t where it’s at / After he took from you everything he could steal.” ~Bob Dylan

We just had Every 15 Minutes. Prom is coming up and there is going to be pressure from a boyfriend, peers, etc. to do things that you may not want to do. You may think these people have your best interest at heart; that they are your friends. You are responsible for your actions. Make good choices.

That goes for school, too. The last progress reports go out this week. Notices are going out to Seniors for non-grad/possible non-grad status. Some of you may not be were you want to be grade wise. You may not have made the best choices up to this point, but there is nobody else to blame. It is up to you now. Your mom can’t do it for you.

New Media

You get the freedom to choose what you are going to do for your Vector Illustration. However, make sure you choose something that will challenge you. The difficulty of what you pen tool will be factored into your grade.