Comments on: chicago workshop summary

By: CaroL Barber

CaroL Barber — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:13:50 +0000

I think the disappoint was purely my fault. It was my first time teaching and I have to learn how to pull from the students what I expect. And I have to learn what is important to expect. They did beautifully on some of the other more tested projects.

By: alex

alex — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:39:48 +0000

Penelope and others. I guess I shouldn’t have spoken since I don’t know what the students were like, and Penelope if they really were not trying I guess dissapointment is right on target. But I have to wonder why. I guess I have gotten to philosophical these days, why were they not trying, why did they take the class in the first place if it wasn’t in line with their major. Were they all just there for easy credits or was something more at stake.
I guess there is a reason why I never signed up for art school after all. I am way too senstive.

By: Annie

Annie — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:04:20 +0000

Oh I envy those students! I would love to learn from you on how to come up with better ideas. Will you be coming to northern Alaska anytime soon? Hah ha just kidding. In art school I took Concept Development and I remember the teacher telling us to make lists based on the subject- one list of synonyms and one list of direct opposites…and that is supposed to get the ideas rolling. It never seemed to work for me, not sure why. I havent done any editorial work but I know that whatever the category of illustration, coming up with better ideas is fundamental in improving one’s work. I am inpsired to go check amazon for some books on the subject…thanks!

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:32:21 +0000

I wish I had been there to take your class. It sounds wonderful. Maybe at Squam next year.

Don’t be hard on yourself. I’ve been teaching college students off and on for nearly 20 years. They have to meet you half way. Some will. Some won’t. And then some others will take the lessons learned and process them later. The most difficult lesson I’ve learned as a mom applies to teaching – learning the hard way is often the best way. They may have to learn on the job to remember the lessons you taught. You may never hear their appreciation, but trust me, it will be there.

Keep the chin up and keep taking those fab photos of the little things in life.

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:07:23 +0000

“Students will float to the mark you set.” -Mike Rose

And some are gonna take longer than others.

Keep on truckin’ girl! xxoo C

By: lepetitdoodler

lepetitdoodler — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:26:21 +0000

What’s the difference between a “good” and “bad” editorial illustration project? I’d like to know as to avoid having my work fall into the latter group……. Penelope, help?!

By: wee

wee — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:58:38 +0000

Alex… just my two cents: I have no problem with Penelope expecting better results from art students and for being honest if they failed to deliver. I can’t speak for the students’ experience at Columbia College, of course, but when I was an art student (in Illustration and Design) we were completely accustomed and indeed expected brutally honest critiques from our teachers and received them often! I never thought the teachers were trying to be hurtful… I understood that they were trying to prepare us for real world challenges and critiques we would receive as creative professionals. I think that at the college level, you do no favors by molly-coddling students in the name of inspiration and encouragement. I think it is far better to be honest and let them know that in order to compete on a professional, they would have to lift their game and apply themselves appropriately.

By: penelope

penelope — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:47:59 +0000

Alex: Yeah, I guess it is kind of astonishing. And I certainly don’t mean to hurt anybody’s feelings. I just think that the students really didn’t put their best efforts into their work, to be honest. (And again, they were mostly fine artists, not used to working with such restrictions as illustration brings.) I think maybe they were so stressed by the timeline that they didn’t really allow themselves to be free with it. I mean, people were turning in their work early and saying “I really don’t like this” and I said “How could you improve it?” and the response I got was: “Well, I have other things to do today, so it’s good enough.” THAT astonishes me. :)

By: penelope

penelope — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:42:24 +0000

Carol: Putting exciting design first does make sense if it were any other type of illustration beside editorial. So, yes! I agree. But with this class, we were stressing concept and ideas were supposed to come first. So in that case, I guess it was a success. There were some good ideas on paper.

By: alex

alex — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:38:12 +0000

It was so interesting to read this, to read “I was a little dissapointed.” I was astonished to read these words by a teacher, I wondered how I would feel if I was a student and in your class, if I read it, how these words would affect me. Admittedly, I am really hard on myself. Also admittedly I have only taught non collecge level classes, but I am always impressed and astonished by how the students stretch themselves, maybe it isn’t perfect but it is there best. Funny to think that could be dissapointing. Anyway I didn’t say this to be harsh, just to share some ideas.