Ice Eggs

This is a project we did back in 2009. however, the post has since lost it's images so I'm reposting what I've got. I was looking to do some sort of biodegradable art project and came up with the idea of filling water balloons with colored water. we used food coloring. Next we hit the beach.

We were spending the week on Emerald Island in NC. The ocean was nice and left us seaweed to play with. The seaweed made really nice nests. We set up nests up and down the beach and laid :) the eggs in the nests.

A lot of people didn't even pay attention to the nests. They just walked on by. 

But the seagulls thought they were interesting.

NAEA13 - Fort Worth TX

I'm back from my trip to the National Art Educator Association's 2013 Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Look, they hung up "Art Matters" banners all around town because they knew we were coming. Mayor Betsy Price even gave a formal proclamation.

Anyhow, since so many people have asked me, "How was Texas?" I thought I should write a short post highlighting just a few of the events.

The photo above is from one of the general sessions. Most everyone attends these sessions that are held in the ballroom. Not sure if you can count them all but there are probably some 4,000 art teacher present. So I guess there were a lot of subs back home. I was sitting on the floor when I took this photo cause there weren't any seats left.

Besides the general sessions that everyone attends, there are break out sessions going on all day long. I attended many of these sessions. The photo above is of Olivia Gude who is one of my art teacher heros. Doesn't it look like she is pointing at me? I think she was pointing at me :)

This is a session with Jessica Balsley. If you don't recognize the name you might recognize the blog. She is the founder of the Art of Education blog. it's the one we received our blog award from. She even mentioned our blog during her presentation.

So this is where it gets kind of corny. I am friends with a lot of art teachers on Twitter. Some, like  Jessica Balsley, I had not even met in person till this week. Still, we help each other out, share lesson ideas and information online all the time. We call it our PLN (personal learning network). 

Just for fun, we all decided to buy super hero shirts to wear from Ink Pixi to the conference. One of the teachers, Stacy Lord, made the image of us as lego people. On Saturday morning we all met in person for coffee. It was a chance for a first time photo opp. I'm the 3rd lego from the right.

Part of the convention includes a huge room full of venders who sell art supplies and the like. One of those venders is Davis Publications. Not only does Davis publish a lot of art ed text books, they also publish the art ed magazine, SchoolArts.

Davis is so nice that they gave away this month's issue of SchoolArts. In this month's issue of SchoolArts is an article about a project we did right here at Apex High School. Hannah (seen above) was nice enough to let me take a photo of her holding up the magazine turned to the article.

Not only did I attend the conference but I was a presenter. Seen above, I'm presenting about one fo the Computer Art projects titled the Barbie Project. To the left of the photo is my con-presenter Robb Sandagata.

Craig Roland and I (who I claim responsible for really helping start our PLN) looking super!


There was way more.. too much to post. I will tell you that I got a lot of great ideas!! For example, after compiling all the information, I have a new approach to teaching that will really empower the student to make choices with his or her art. I plan to roll out in Art Two next year.

Stay tuned!!

Ian Sands

Southwest Wake News Like Critters

The Southwest Wake News like Critters, especially Crittacolors. Aliana Ramos stopped by the Apex high School art room and asked a few questions. the she typed up the following article.

You can read the the article here -->

http://www.southwestwakenews.com/2013/01/22/31167/critters-run-amok.html

CrittaColors Traveling Further

CrittaColors are starting to get out there. Sure these things always start local. Like the CrittaColor above, caught and colored right here in Apex, NC. However, it doesn't take long for these things to start traveling.... 

This guy showed up in Cary, NC. OK, not that far of a stretch. Cary is right next door to Apex but still it shows they are on the move.

What about this one? Which Wich is in Raleigh, NC. OK, we are still in the ballpark but at least this one os a double, right? :)

How about this little guy all the way in Boone, NC! Sure it's the same state but if this CrittaColor had traveled north or south instead of west, that distance would have put him in VA or SC respectfully.  

You can follow all the adventures of the CrittaColors on their Facebook page Facebook.com/Zonkeystreet!  Like it today!

Crushing Turtles : Done

Two years ago, while taking a vacation on Bald Head Island, I started a chapter book titled Crushing Turtles. This book was something much different then anything I had written before. A strange title, a strange subject matter and a little dark. I liked the characters right away, especially their voice. Of all the  parts of writing, voice has always been my favorite part. In fact, it was probably the character's voice that originally masked the dark storyline I was writing. 

Not long after starting the story, I stopped. I thought to myself, "Self, this isn't the type of thing you write." I was right of course. All of my previous chapter books had been whimsical. The topics were playful and the characters, though witty and perhaps charming, didn't discuss anything too deep.

Since that time, I tried my hand at writing several other books. Two failed attempts at writing art history books. Another incomplete chapter book and even an incomplete romance novel (though I still have it in my heart to finish that some day.)

It wasn't until I saw a tweet about NanoWritMo that I decided to pick up where I had left off. Even though it was deep or dark or whatever, I just wanted to see where the characters would take the story. I revised the old plot outline and began writing. 

I wrote a lot in November but it soon became clear that I would not finish this book by the end of the month. December rolled around. I had a decision to make. Shelf this book for another year or push through. I continued writing.

Chapters took forever. Where I had previously raced through a chapter in one seating, now took four or five nights just to write a few sentences. 

Then, the night before last I made a break though. I realized I had just written the second to last chapter. The most important chapter. The chapter that brings the story to it's ultimate climax. The rest was easy. 

So tonight I put the finishing words on a 5,000+ word chapter book that has taken me two years to write.  That might seem a less than heroic accomplishment to brag about.... 

but I'm still bragging. 

:)

Now for the revision process...

CrittaColors Out and About!

The CrittaColors are starting to pop up. The most recent sightings are local, staying close to the Raleigh, NC area but you know how these things tend to spread ;)

First up, Thursday... CrittaColor at the Music and Rock School learning to play guitar.

http://musicandrockschool.com/

Next stop, Friday: Look for this CrittaColor right around the corner from San Remo Italian Restaurant in Cary, NC

http://www.sanremoitaliangrill.com/main/

Third stop, Saturday: On The Border, Cary NC

http://www.ontheborder.com/location.aspx?RestaurantId=417.002.0038&Tab=0&OnlineEnabled=True

Keep up with all the places CrittaColors are popping up by Liking us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/ZonkeyStreet

First Batch of CrittaColors Released!

Released the first batch of CrittaColors tonight starting in Raleigh, NC. 

CrittaColors are blocks of wood  with coloring book style art on the front and instructions for photographing and posting to our Facebook fan page on the back. Hot glued to each side are 3 crayons so you can color your CrittaColor.

Our first stop, the Tir Na Nog Pub in Downtown Raleigh  NC.  Released two CrittaColors there. Look for them next to the free magazines when you first enter the restaurant. 

Second stop, Cafe Luna. Cafe Luna is an Italian restaurant right around the corner from the fore mentioned pub. It is also right next to the bus depot where two other artworks have previously been displayed as part of the Art-On-The-Move program. Look for this CrittaColor right on the seat when you first enter the Cafe. 

Last stop for the evening was the Homewood Suites by Hilton in Apex, NC. Left on the table right by the fireplace. This is also part of the breakfast area so someone will have something to do while enjoying their morning coffee. 

If you find a CrittaColor or just want to follow along with all the Critter excitement, check out our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ZonkeyStreet

A Look Back at 2012

The New Year is always a good time to reflect on where you've been and set a course for where you are going. 

In some ways, 2012 marks and end to many things... for example I retired from hockey, decided not to show in galleries anymore and stopped making cut out critters.. 

In other ways, 2012 marks a beginning for new thing... I delved into the world of iPad art, signed up for a mud run and started a new band.

Here are my picks for the Best of 2012...

January: Interview for the Block Gallery Exhibit

As part of the gallery exhibit, I was scheduled for a TV interview. Clcik below and watch the entire interview .. that is , if you need to catch up on your sleep :)

February: The Block Gallery Exhibit

In February I had my final exhibit. I decide after this show that I really didn't enjoy exhibits and needed to get back to my real love, interactive/public/street art.

-------

March: Critter in NYC

In March I attended the 2012 NAEA Conference. you know, the conference with all the art teachers. I presented as well as distributed a handful of Critters. 

-------

April: Dinocow Hits #1!

My publisher did a free promo for e-books. The promotion sent How To Milk A Dinocow all the way to #1 on Amazon's Best Seller for Children's eBooks list.

-------

May: Zonkey Says

I know, I said I wouldn't do shows anymore but this was a special exhibit for Apex High students. I created this piece called Zonkey Says which really, really helped me decided to stop making these pieces. Time to move on. 

-------

June: iPad Art

I got a stylus for my iPad and that really made drawing on the iPad fun! I started combining different apps to make ipad art. 

-------

July: The Zonkey Army

The Zonkey Army was another attempt by me to recreate the excitement and enthusiasm I created with my foam Critters. These were cute and fun to make but fell short of my goal. I'm telling you, 2012 was a rough year.

-------

August: NCMA Street Art

In August I was asked to teach a workshop on street art at the North Carolina Museum of Art.  So yes, I did that and it was fun!

-------

September: Renoir's Red Hat

Renoir's Red Hat is a silly poem/story I wrote about a kid who goes to the art museum and steals art.. not really steals it, sort of imaginary steals it. You sort of need to read the poem then it makes sense. 

-------

October: How Technology Helped Me Paint With Mud

I was asked to create a video presentation for the 2012 K-12 Online Conference. When I first put this video together I thought I had made a big mess. But I got a lot of nice compliments and retweets on it. So maybe it's not as bad as I first thought. 

-------

November: How To Draw A Zonkey

In less than two minutes you can draw a Zonkey! This informative and education video takes you step by step through the entire process. :)

-------

December: CrittaColors

Did it really take me a year to get back to my roots? Will these CrittaColors produce the enthusiasm and excitement that my original Critters did? Or will they fade to the wayside like the short lived Zonkey Army or the even shorted lived Magazine covers?? 

Only 2013 will tell!!

CrittaColor Prototype ...

I take the first interactive Crittacolor prototype out to be released.  Before I do, I stop off for a bite to eat with Kim.  We're sitting there having lunch and she asks, "What's that?" 

I start to explain but before I'm even done she rips off the crayons and starts coloring... 

I'm like, "What are you doing?!"

"Coloring."

Then the waitress comes over and asks about it. So Kim tells her the story. Now she wants one. 

Needless to say, the first Crittacolor was not successful release. However, judging from the initial reaction, I'm thinking they will be a hit.

Luckily, I'm working on a first set.. -->