Teaching Day 3 & 4

 This week. Has been a long long week... 
Personal Logos

Students all know brands and logos so I decided that for my work sample we'd do our own personal logos. 


Students wrote a "Bio-poem" about themselves and chose words that represent them to illustrate and combine into a logo. 
I wanted students to feel what it was like to make their own logo and the processes.
Unfortunately this lesson didn't go over as well as I wanted it to and I learned that high schoolers can be even more immature than I remember. 

on Day 4 my supervisor attended my class to watch me teach. I was pretty nervous but I think it went alright. Though I did get comments like I was weak, I should be more mean, and I should be louder... I think I'm pretty loud but you know how it goes. 


Students made 5 different logos and picked one to put on their portfolio. 

Student Work>>>

Dremel Time

I found a new hobby :)


So I bought this... because it was suggested somewhere... :D
haha it's an awesome drilling tool and super fun to use. 


So Alex and I went strolling on the "beach" coast thing, "sound" ... yah. and we found lots of awesome cool shells. it reminded me of home (except it was FREEEEZING) 


and this is the result >>> 
dremel + shells = awesomeness! 
It's got a hole at the top to become a necklace :)
I hope to do more creative things with shells so I guess I have to go back to the Seattle area more often ;) 

Teaching Day 2

About me circles. 
This is supposed to be a day project. 
I wanted to get to know the students and I did this project was something I did in High School. 

About me Circle:
1. Think of 5 things that describe you.
2. The whole circle must be colored with color pencil
3.You cannot use words to represent your symbols. If you like baseball draw a baseball. Don't write baseball.
4. Use neat and awesome craftsmanship! 


My example: Things that represent who I am
1. I'm Japanese
2. I love my family
3. I like to write/draw
4. I like animals! (I want a dog)
5. I love bacon... :D
Over acheivers could do more than 5. so my 6 is I love outdoors. :)


Many of the student work turned out super nice! I love it! It is displayed in our foyer just outside our classroom for all to see :D

Teaching Day 1

So I've decided that this will also be a place to update how my classes are doing. :D
Perhaps I'll post some pics of what kids are doing (of course not their actual work... cuz that's not really allowed...) But I'll post examples etc. 


Right now I'm just teaching two drawing classes and helping out in Stashia's painting classes. 


Day 1 (drawing) 
Super fun! I really enjoy teaching!!! :D 
We made name tags in drawing and I really enjoyed talking to everyone. All the students seem like nice kids and I can't wait to teach them actual projects. 

The name tag requirements:
1. Name in bubble or block letters
2. Fill the whole paper
3. You MUST have 6 colors in your name tag


I gave them one color pencil each... 


They had to talk to each other yay!
But they were cooperative and talked and borrowed colors from each other. 


Yay teaching!

"Making" New Friends

Well hey! Long time no see! おひさしぶり！
So yesterday i decided to paint... and failed! haha but I found lots of felt sooo here are my results!



They don't really have names yet. but if you'd like to suggest some names tha'd be cool. 


I love making things. I feel like it validates me as an artist somehow. :D

These are very simple to make and are really good for sewing practice. Basically here is what you do:


1. Have a picture of what you want to end up with in your head. Do you want it to be fat? skinny? big head? small body?


2. (i don't measure... or plan out...) so cut your desired shapes out. remember your friends would probably appreciate all of their limbs... so don't forget them! 


3. Lay all parts out and sew together parts that will be stuck on the same big felt. (don't worry about limbs those will be sewed together when you sew the two bodies together.) So parts like the eyes and the face would be sewed together now. :)



4. I use elmers glue to keep the limbs in place while sewing the bodies together. 

5. Stuff!!! Give them guts!!! and give them BRAINS!!! 

Now you have yourself a new friend!!!! and now you can make your own army of feltish friends!!! :D 

Have fun!!!

(>>> fail painting... I forgot what I wanted to paint after I started painting... :P I'll get it one day :)

Wishing Stars

Beaded Temari Earrings

Though I am an artist, I can confidently call myself a seasoned crafter :)

I've been doing crafts ever since I could remember and this is my latest creation!
The plan is to sell them so I will have more money! and who doesn't need more money! 

Christmas is just around the corner! (literally... it's christmas in all of the department stores already... and Thanksgiving hasn't even passed yet!) 

I'm charging $8 a pair. 
If you are interested in purchasing a pair (...or two!) of these earrings, please send an email to:

  

miejapoki@gmail.com

  

Buy lots!!! :D

Take it easy :)

Boy meets girl

So if you know me well... YES! 


You know that I love to bake!


My mentor teacher brought to my attention of a recipe called...

"Blueberry Boy Bait"

Yes, yes, yes it is an awesome awesome name for this awesome awesome cake. I made some for my boy and I'm sure he enjoyed it :) 

You can find the original baking master and recipe Smitten Kitchen at:

http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/07/blueberry-boy-bait/

I decided that today was a good baking day, it was cold outside. Warm cake is perfect for snuggling into the couch and watching TV. 

Anyways... if you also know me well... you know that I don't really like...

FRUIT!!!

I know I'm crazy... :P 

I began thinking... (surprise I know)... anyway...

CHOCOLATE!!!

Of course!!! Chocolate! add chocolate chips and what?!  

AMAZING!!!

<<<<< this is the result :D I love food. 

So half of the pan was blueberries and the other half chocolate. 

And herein lies the perfect combination of loves. 

Blueberry boy bait 

meets 

chocolate girl cake

Love is born.

Purple strands

Strands
acrylic on 18 x 24 canvas

Strands

This is another addition to my series of paintings. I wanted to do something different than the others. I enjoy the negative space here and I hope you can just let your eyes wander on the different strands presented. 

Purple is such a fun color to work with. Such a nice color. 

Relaxing yet regal in a way. These strands are like braids or chains coupled with a multi feeling-full color. 

Purple used to be my favorite color in elementary school. yay!

maybe I'll do a green one next. :D


Hope you all had a happy halloween!!!