The Mac Lab

A girl should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across her mind from within, more than the lustre and the firmament of bards and sages. Yet she dismisses without notice her thought, because it is hers. In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty. Great works of art have no more affecting lesson for us than this. They teach us to abide by our spontaneous impression with good-humored inflexibility than most when the whole cry of voices is on the other side. Else tomorrow a stranger will say with masterly good sense precisely what we have thought and felt all the time, and we shall be forced to take with shame our own opinion from another.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson / Self-Reliance (gender edit)

All of you should be familiar with that quotation. You’ve been instructed, twice now, to read this post. Yes, please read it again. Whether it’s for the first, second, or third time, you need to understand the 5 Stages of the Creative Process as we’re going to be using them the rest of the year. As the father of a daughter, I wish more of the quotations I post were gender agnostic rather than aimed at the guys. So, if you’re an XX chromosomer (girl) rather than an XY (boy), the sex-change operation (above) is for you. If you’re a boy, and the altered gender in the quotation bothers you, you’re a regular RWAC (Aaron L).

Speaking of Rebel, last week Theatre approached us to design the poster for their upcoming play. Our instructions (on Monday) were: Red jacket, no face, this information, and we need designs by Thursday. I tossed out the project to a few students and here’s what they came up with after only three days of work: Austin W | Christian L | Danny O | Philip B (and you’ve already seen Aaron’s). They liked all of the designs but chose Austin’s because the play is about a teenager who’s about to explode and they liked the metaphoric look of his design. Austin’s frantically working on the redesign so we can print on Tuesday. Deadlines happen.

Now, getting back to Ralph’s advice to pay attention to our own ideas… Sherman, set the WABAC Machine to 1989…

I was browsing the used CD bin in a bookstore in Santa Cruz prior to the LPQ when I happened upon a recording by Heart. But when I picked it up, I thought, for a second, that it said Earth. What the?! Looking at the typography, it suddenly clicked and I had the coolest idea for a t-shirt design. I went home and sketched it out. Today, that idea is safe, somewhere, tucked away in a box in a corner of our garage.

Over the years I’ve returned to this idea several times but never acted on it until printing a few posters last year. They, of course, sit in a box on a shelf in the Mac Lab and haven’t seen the light of day since they were created. Because I recently talked about my belief in Richard Bach’s declaration: You teach best what you most need to learn, I’m going to publish this idea right now. This is a painfully plodding rough cut of a much more ambitious concept that I’ll have to learn After Effects to produce. I’ve also ordered the first t-shirt with this artwork and will put it on the Mac Lab T-Shirt Shop for resale ASAP. (Redesigned store layout coming soon.) Since I know you’ll ask, yes, of course you’ll be able to design, print, purchase (about $20 with shipping), and wear your own custom t-shirts. Profits go to the Mac Lab Foundation.

That felt good. Now it’s your turn.

Next up are poster designs, the last shared project between classes. Those of you in 3D, listen to this: Keep it simple, elegant, and purely typographic because you’ll be taking it into Cinema 4D (that goes for your logos too). Please heed my advice or you’ll pay the price. Here are two examples of what you’ll be doing with your logos: Austin W and Trevor C (your typography will be better than those). Back to the posters. I’m opening this up to ideas beyond public service. What I care about is good composition and an appropriate message. Please read up on the Elements and Principles of Design before beginning (yes, there’s a lot of reading today). I’ve begun to set up third party galleries to give you ideas: 01 | 02 | 03. I’ll set up a couple of 3D galleries and add the links either today or tomorrow.

Mac Lab multitasking begins now. You must have an online portfolio (your Website). By Friday that portfolio will contain your self portrait, logo, and poster (coming soon). Don’t worry about finishing. Everything is a work in progress at this point. See the Project Page for links to assignments. In honor of James Cameron, I’ll be awarding extra credit for Avatars. Details will follow but you’ll be posting your proof, if you catch my drift.

Last for today, I’ve updated the time sheets (as I do every week) but this time I spent a few hours reviewing the district’s records. It’s your responsibility to check your balance (each week) and alert me if you think there’s been a mistake. For those of you who’ve cut class (according to the district quite a few of you have), the penalty is stiff. It’s your responsibility to clear truancies with attendance. I have no control over truancy records. If the district thinks you have one, you have one until you clear it. Friday is the D and F report deadline. I’ve scheduled a Mac Lab Saturday School™ for this weekend to help some of you avoid the infamy of inclusion. Look at the time sheets. Is your ID number red? See you Saturday at 7 am!

1103: Just a reminder to update your Websites. I’ll be checking them this weekend. Oh, and you might want to watch this video if you want to avoid inclusion on the D and F Report. What about the self assessment? Reminder about simplification: 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | Please review this designer’s logos: 01 | 02 | You have to learn the rules before you can break them. When we break rules (and break them we will) we will break them intelligently.

Student Logos: Gallery 021 Where is yours?

1104: Someone from Dhaka (the Rickshaw Capital of the World and the most densely populated city in the world) in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh spent a few minutes wandering about the blog to bring us to 129 countries. I wonder what he or she thought of our little classroom in the Web.

Speaking of thinking, how about you? Do you think you understand the logo project? If you do, you’re one of the few. Please allow me to explain. <<< You should probably click that link and do what it says. You must understand kerning, tracking, and leading!

1105: We’ll hit our 200,000th page view this morning. (Sitting at 199,968 right now.) That count doesn’t include videos or JPGs. Just the blog’s self-contained pages. Update: 200,002 as of 5:58 this morn. A quarter million should happen in early December. The last 50,000 views came from 47 states (+DC) and 84 countries.

Reminder: Minimum Day/Parent Visitation Day tomorrow.

Hint: Sure hope you guys (my students) have read the instructions (above). I’d hate to be disappointed when looking at your Websites this weekend. That’s all. I’ll let you work now.

1106: Visitors from 134 cities in the United Kingdom have pushed Canada (107 cities) into third place in the global visitor standings. Jolly good showing from across the pond! Likewise, the folks in 81 Florida cities have moved past New Jersey (74 cities) to take second place in the US standings.

Mac Lab students have a growing global following!

Welcome parents! Today the kids are updating their Websites using these tutorials (if necessary). Note: Use Working with InDesign — Take 2. I want to see works in progress and correctly formatted portfolios. See this video for details. (Correction: To change margins go to Layout > Margins.) Here’s the example site. Is your logo in the gallery? Get designing! (Use the graphic tips and tricks video.) And speaking of galleries, is your self portrait in this one? Let me know if you think it should be.

Free Software: Mac users, MacHeist is giving away 6 free apps. Offer expires next week. (Thanks, David!)

It seems, then, to be one of the paradoxes of creativity that in order to think originally, we must familiarize ourselves with the ideas of others.
— George Kneller

Just as we used the first self portrait gallery as a reference for our self portraits this year, so we will use the first logo gallery as a starting point for our next project. Similarly, I expect the quality of this year’s logo/identity creations to surpass prior efforts (Hannah Johansen). Today, your task is to research, to familiarize yourself with the work of others. First, as I’ve said, look at last year’s gallery. Next, I’d like to introduce you to something I call Grand Central Linkage. Please watch this short video to understand today’s quest for inspiration.

Progress Report: A word about grades. Grades are on time sheets.

1020: A bit of synchronicity in that Terry White (who’s responsible for us using InDesign for our initial Website designs) posted The Importance of Attending Workshops a few minutes ago. (He’s an early riser too!) I was at Ben Willmore’s Photoshop for Photographers seminar yesterday and boy do I have some new ideas to share with you! It’s not too early to begin exploring your photographic vision. In fact, the adventure may be right outside your door.

Want a Freebie? Have you noticed the NAPP link in the right sidebar? (That’s the group who throws Photoshop World and Seminars like I attended yesterday.) If you’re serious about learning Photoshop (and the rest of the Creative Suite), NAPP a bottomless learning resource. If you ever do join, use the link from the blog and I get a perk or two. If 12 people join, I won’t be the last technology teacher on Earth without a cell phone any more. Note: There’s a freebie for you too (see: lower left of page). Discounted rates for students and educators.

1021: Because of the presentation yesterday, most of you didn’t get a chance to read yesterday’s update. Please do so now. It’s okay, I’ll wait.

Now, while I’m at a Final Cut Studio workshop today, here’s what I expect from you. After reading and following the instructions above, explore the 5 Stages of the Creative Process. That’s a post I wrote over the summer and I want you to begin to understand the creative process. Read it. Reread it. Click the links. Ponder the quotes. Spend some time there. Have you really tried to understand? No? Try again. Yes? Watch this video. What are thumbnail sketches? Link to a quick overview. One last link. And just for students in multiple periods.

Reminder: Thumbnails are small, quick sketches of your logo ideas. You should be able to fit 10 or more on a single page. DO NOT make finely detailed drawings. This process is quick and simple. You’re brainstorming and capturing ideas without trying to refine them. No one, and I mean NO ONE will be “finished” with the assignment today.

1022: Yes, I’ll be asking to see your thumbnails today. Yes, you’re supposed to have saved them. Yes, I told you that yesterday (and the day before). Yes, you finally get to work in Illustrator today. And yes, you’ll continue to work out your ideas in thumbnail form for the rest of the year. Now watch this video.

Visitor Update: The Palestinian Territories makes 125 countries to visit the blog. Yes, I know the word “country” is a bit nebulous in this case, but it’s only a matter of time. To be honest, I never even imagined we’d see a visit from there. Our 175,000th page view will occur in a few hours. Little milestones recorded here. Side note: Both New Jersey and Florida have visited over 1,000 times (from 150 different cities).

If I were Looking for a Job: I’d apply right now. Note that an online portfolio is required. If the job is filled and the link is a 404, here’s a snapshot of the page.

1023: I just noticed that we had our 2,000th comment a few days ago. Simply amazing participation! All who’ve commented are to be commended.

Looking Ahead: Some of you are wondering what’s on the horizon and I figure now is a good time to give your right brain a preview so it can begin working on ideas while you’re otherwise engaged. (If that makes no sense, you didn’t read or understand this.) Digital Arts and 3D students will soon part company but not before both classes complete their own logos (including the Pathfinder workflow — trust me, you’re going to love it), avatars, favicons, and one optional typographic project. After that, 3D students will begin with the Mac Lab 3D 1-2-3 Intro to Cinema 4D: the spaceship, the logo animation, and the animated camera projects. (Old tutorials here. New ones coming soon.) Digital Arts will dive deeper into typography but will have expanded freedom of choice in their subject matter. Examples include redesigning corporate logos, movie or band posters, book covers, CDs or DVDs, or anything that begs for a new and improved version (including public service posters promoting appropriate causes of your own choice). The overarching goal is implementing the elements and principles of design while developing a mastery of typographic form and function.

Do you want creative freedom in here? Play by my rules and master the fundamentals. Read everything I post and follow the video tutorials. Resistance isn’t really futile, it’s just self-defeating. If you’ve not lived up to your end of the deal, it’s not too late to change your ways. And remember, if you want to catch up (or get ahead), we’ve got another Mac Lab Saturday School™ tomorrow. I’ll arrive around 6:30. As always, it’s first come, first served. Alright, back to your logos.

P.S. Almost forgot to mention that I’ll be loading piles of cool fonts (and other resources) on your computers within the next week. And while I’m mentioning things I forgot to mention, Rotoball 2010 is on the horizon (cue Shaun) as is this 15 seconds of fame project! Oh, and did I mention photography? Painting with Light? And what about… (Too much to mention. Though, interested parties might check this at home. Hint, hint.)

It’s going to be a fun year!

Opportunity: The Student Creative is asking Mac Lab students to submit designs for a logo. Who’s going to step up?

To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
—William Blake

You may or may not be ready to begin the self portrait. I’ll let you be the judge of that. But before you begin, I’d like to ask you to remember the demonstration I gave on Friday. Remember how juggling is like the Pen Tool? Master the fundamentals and the rest will follow. Please watch this video for today’s instructions.

International Update: Montenegro marks the 121st country to visit the blog.

0922: All students, watch this video. If you’re just starting or have already started the self portrait, watch this video. If you’re still learning the Pen Tool, keep at it and watch that prior video when you get to the self portrait.

0923: Last night the Rotary Club of El Cajon generously awarded the Mac Lab a $3,750 grant towards the purchase of new computers. I honestly had no idea that the Rotary Club was the world’s first service club organization with 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs around the world. And I certainly didn’t know about the Four-Way Test. In their own words, Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self. Every time I hear a story about what’s wrong in the world, I’m going to remind myself that there are individuals like the men and women I met last night who walk the talk and make the world a better place. Thank you, Rotarians, for all you do!

I want to challenge my students to examine the first question of the Four-Way Test: Is it the TRUTH? Have you been following the guidelines for success in the Mac Lab? The words and videos I’ve had you read and follow aren’t busy work or a waste of time. I’m trying to set you up to succeed but you have to do your part. I know some of you are already cutting corners. It’s not too late to go back and begin again. Launch PhotoBooth, look yourself in the eye, and ask yourself if you’ve passed this first test.* Have you done all I’ve asked? Is your answer the TRUTH? You already know if it is or not. What you do from this point forward… Well, that’s going to determine your future, isn’t it? You have a choice. Your future’s not pre-determined. Why not make it a good one?

*It has been brought to my attention that it’s impossible to look one’s self in the eye using PhotoBooth (since the camera is positioned above the screen). Johnny and James, you’re both right. How ’bout we change that to a metaphorical exercise? Or I could go all Professor Trelawney on you and ask you to look within for the answer. Your aura is pulsing! Are you in the beyond? I think you are! (Just answer the question honestly.)

0924: Back to School Night was a rousing success in the Mac Lab (or so it seemed to me). Thanks to all the parents who took the time to visit. Again, if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to see the Mac Lab in action, my door is always open and you’re always welcome.

All Students: Continue working but keep yesterday’s message in mind. Quality counts. Honesty counts more. Take pride in doing the job as best you can. Push yourself to try harder. Replay the video tutorials when necessary. If you’re confused about any aspect of the class, please let me know. Watch this video about the Twitter widget.

International Update: Someone from the Isle of Man spent almost 40 minutes exploring 31 pages of the blog yesterday. I wonder what held his/her interest. If you return, mysterious visitor, share your story in an email or better yet, add a comment (scroll to the bottom of the page) so the students can read your story. Believe it or not, your presence makes the class more exciting! Your visit brings our world-wide tally to 122 countries.

0925: What a start to the 0910 school year! Watch this video, listen to the message, and follow the instructions. Long live vector graphics!

Every start upon an untrodden path is a venture which only in unusual circumstances looks sensible and likely to be successful.
—Albert Schweitzer

Once we choose seats today, ALL STUDENTS go to the 2.0 Tutorials and follow the Accounts and Networking instructions before proceeding. I’ll be adding more of these Mac Lab Basic Tuts in the days and weeks ahead. I’m going to help you to establish good work habits this year. Please follow along. NOTE: It will be obvious if you’re not so why not spare us both the pain?

This is the second week of our journey. If you’ve completed all the requirements from last week, read on. If you’re new to the class or have yet to finish, please complete the first week’s assignments before proceeding. If you don’t follow these instructions, I’m going to react like this (Claire R). Listen to what Claire has to say, play by the rules, and we’ll all have fun.

Before I get to the projects, a nod to whomever visited from The Maldives (118th country) and to our 100,000th page view on Friday.

Completed All Tasks? Watch this video and follow the links.

0915: Libya and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay make 120 countries. When I checked the blog at 3:00 this morn, it was down (and remained so until a few minutes ago) so I couldn’t add what I’d planned. For today, follow what’s written on the board. Your tasks (in order):

1. Finish setting up the local account you signed onto yesterday.
2. Complete these tasks including watching ALL videos on Student page.
3. Watch this video.
4. Master the Pen Tool.
5. Begin your self portrait. Examples of successful projects. See Projects for details and links.

SECOND WARNING: Fail to follow instructions and I’ll react like this (Claire R)*

*Several Mac Lab veterans have started their self-portraits without following ALL of the instructions. Rest assured that these students will be repeating this project… probably several times. [shakes head] Tortoise and the Hare. How many times have I already said it this year? Tortoise and the Hare.

0916: All Pen Tool tutorials have been re-recorded. Watch this video for details and a reminder of your responsibilities.

0917: I’ve been busy creating a number of new pages you may or may not encounter today (but you will soon). Please watch this video so we can ensure that everyone understands how to translate these pages if necessary.

0918 Demonstration: How Juggling is like the Pen Tool. Don’t miss it!

Our past is not our potential.
—Marilyn Ferguson

Welcome, 0910 students, to the Mac Lab Blog. Most of you are reading this today, 090909, the second day of school; others will be joining us later and beginning right here as well over the next few weeks during the annual student schedule shuffle (three weeks of headaches for the good folks in Guidance who try to accommodate all of you). Regardless, all students are required to read the blog from this point forward each day. Because we’re all referencing the same information, we’ll eventually be in sync, probably somewhere around the sixth week. A word of advice if you want to get the most out of the Mac Lab: Don’t underestimate the value of the blog. Yes, you have to read, but isn’t that better than listening to me blab for 10 minutes every day? And if you’re absent or distracted or added the class on the first day of the fourth week (the last day to add), you can always look to see what you’ve missed. One certainty is that there’s no way to succeed in this class if you won’t read what’s written each day so you might as well either learn to love it or find another class because there’s no way around the blog.

Blog posts are typically full of links. Don’t click any links until you get to THE ANSWERS (below). For instance, there’s no way I’d have passed up an opportunity to drop an 050555 next to that 090909 in the first paragraph (but I didn’t want to distract you). So, should you click the 050555 link? And what about the Marilyn Ferguson link after the quote at the top of the page? And what’s the quote and the rest of this got to do with Digital Arts or 3D? Here are THE ANSWERS. << Put on your headphones and click that link. A few things I forgot to mention.

Ready to begin your ascent (Corey A) in the Mac Lab? For the remainder of the period, here’s what I want you to do. Quick last word.

0910: I’ve got to admit, I’m proud of the way most of you have followed the assignments so far. Practically everyone has been enthused and engaged, or so it seems to me. (Hang in there, Mac Lab veterans. Everyone on the team goes through training camp. Just as the NFL season is about to start, so are the projects in here.) I’m hoping that you’ll all find that the blog, with all its links to specific information and custom video tutorials, is an easy and exciting way to learn. I’m trying to give you the means to learn at your own pace so no one’s waiting for others to catch up or getting lost because the pace is too fast.

We’ve also talked a bit about the blog’s unexpectedly wide reach. Here’s a peek behind the scenes at what Google Analytics reveals: Worldwide Overview | City Stats | California | Visitor Loyalty | Comments About Comments | Today’s Assignment

For all those people who’ve written in the past couple of days, I’m not ignoring you. Our district email went down (yet again!) yesterday afternoon and still isn’t up this morning. I’ll get back to you ASAP. Later: Meeting after school then straight to Back to School Night. Been at it for 17 hours straight. Maybe tomorrow for that ASAP…

0911: Student feedback is one of the very cool features of our Web 2.0 presence. I’d estimate that a little more than a quarter of our students made at least one comment on the blog or forum (don’t head to the forum right now). Today we’re going to shake things up a bit as I’m going to show you two short videos at the beginning of the period and ask you to comment on one of them (or both if you want). Watch this video then this video and do what they say. This has been a good first week. Let’s end it on a strong note.

On an unrelated note, our email’s down again. Time to replace the squirrels powering the server. I’m going to volunteer to kick-start the machine when necessary. Hope someone approves this as it’s an intolerable situation!

Videos you’ll be commenting on: Brain Blender | Did You Know 3.0 |

When you’ve completed all assignments on this page, proceed to this post.

You guys are well aware of my insistence that you experiment, right? So imagine my great surprise and joy when I saw this on Kristina V’s computer. Home run! A true experimental self portrait! Well, to be honest, it wasn’t actually this version that I saw. It was something similar but with a magical geometrical quality that practically leapt off the screen. Kristina’s trying to recapture it presently and this is where she happens to be right now. You see, something happened to the original. Somehow, it was never saved. Luckily, she took a few screenshots sometime before and after I happened by but not of the version I saw. I’m not sure why she’s still taking screenshots as it’s not part of our workflow anymore but it turned out to be a lucky break. Regardless, she’s thrown herself into the effort to recreate it with a will, and I’m looking forward to seeing her final result.

There’s value in sharing unique works in progress. We learn from one another, sometimes generating additional original ideas leading to even more unique works in progress. There’s also value in sharing cautionary tales. We learn from one another, sometimes spurring behavioral changes leading away from the mistakes of our unfortunate predecessors. But sometimes we choose to fail despite our newfound knowledge. This is a mystery to me. Why choose to fail?

Eighteen students lost work this year when three separate computers went down over the course of the year. Before the first went belly-up, I’d urged all of you, repeatedly, to back up your work on the server, right? After the first computer went down, I instructed you in no uncertain terms: Back up your files at least once a week! Right? And again, after the second went down, right? But not a single student had more than a fraction of his/her work backed up. I’ve cautioned you to save your work every few minutes during the period and to save versions of projects that become exceedingly complex over days or weeks, right? Yet I still hear students cursing the computer and saying that they’d just lost an entire period’s work or that a major project has mysteriously disappeared. How is that possible? One student actually told me that he’d lost all his work, over five hours of creative effort one Saturday, because he forgot to copy the project to his computer before logging out of the Guest account. D’oh!

A smart digital artist protects his/her work! Back up your files right now. Let them copy in the background while you take care of business in class. I’m not going to have any sympathy for those who “lose” work. All computers will fail. Not some, all. Each and every one will fail eventually. Things with moving parts wear out. It’s just a question of when. And while we’re talking about computers, when’s the last time you backed up your computer at home?

San Diego County Fair Student Showcase: Info about categories and prizes here. If you’re going to enter, please put this information in my Drop Box and tell me when you do. (2 entries max per person) Use Text Edit and save it as yourname.rtf

First and Last Name: (As you want it to appear)
Phone Number: (Home Phone) 10 digits, no parenthesis or dashes i.e. 8587551161
Email address: (Home Email) all lowercase unless case sensitive
Zip Code: (Home Zip Code) 5 digits only
Title/Description of work: (proper grammar — will appear with artwork)
Division and Division Number: (What category is your art?)

New US Visitors Yesterday: Alabama and South Dakota (46 states)

New International Visitors Yesterday: Sweden and United Arab Emirates. (74 countries)

Some of you are rising to the challenge and I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it is to see so many students pushing in so many different artistic directions. There are more of you beginning to touch excellence than ever before. Of course, that’s been an unbroken pattern in the Mac Lab but every year is another experiment in 21st century media arts education, though none more so than this, and one never knows how the natives will react to new circumstances. When I threw out the second semester plans and set you on that inspirational scavenger hunt the entire first week in January, we were truly in uncharted waters. The introduction of the blog three days later nearly led to an insurrection but thanks to unrelenting daily updates (which I’ve tried very hard to make both interesting and relevant) and quasi-Machiavellian enforcement of the requirement to read and act on the post of the day, it looks like the start of something revolutionary in the Mac Lab.

As I told you yesterday, blog posts will continue throughout Spring Break and I’m giving you this one last reminder to download trial versions of Adobe and/or Maxon software if you’d like to keep the momentum going because I’m going to add new tutorials (don’t forget these too) as well as inspirational material and assignments for the final. No, you’re not required to do a thing over break but like I told you, I don’t want anyone suffering withdrawal symptoms. You will, however, be responsible for all of it when you return, so it’s your choice: do it now, or do it later.

What? You want to know what’s going to be required on the final? You want specifics? Alright, here’s one for you. All students are required to have at least two projects demonstrating advanced typographic skill-sets. One is a logo/logotype (3D students, one still render — enhanced — and one animation) and the other is an expressive project that you’ll satisfy in a manner of your choosing. It might be something like this (Austin W) in 3D or like this (Sarah S) in Digital Arts. (Note: Digital Arts is required to submit two typographic examples, one public service poster, the other, a subject of your choosing (but appropriate for high school with typographic elements). Sarah might also submit this one.) All students are free to include additional examples but I only want to see high-quality work in your portfolio.

Yesterday I had a conversation with a student who was quite unhappy with his grade on the Progress Report. The problem, I explained, was that he’d not even tried to experiment, and that if there’s been one constant this semester, it’s been my insistence that students experiment, that you try new approaches to your art, that succeed or fail, you at least try to do things you’d never attempted before. I’ve spoon fed every class link after link leading to wonderful examples of artistic experimentation and high-quality step by step tutorials to help students discover their own creative zone. As for myself, I was determined to continue my own experimentation in this quixotic quest to finally rid the Mac Lab of the dreaded flatliners.

Last June I wrote, “Every year there’s been measurable progress but last year really was amazing. The only constant is the flatliners: those students who begin to learn then get lazy and coast, repeating the same lame excuses for digital art or 3D design the rest of the year. It’s the flatliners I’m going after this year.” This year I’ve gone on my ethical rants, tried to prod your personal perspective, and challenged you to live more responsibly but thieves and vandals still haunt the Mac Lab, many portfolios reflect little to no real creative progress, and I’m still pulling plastic bottles out of the trash cans at the end of the day. Moral, ethical, and creative flatliners! Of course, on the flip side is the unprecedented creative explosion in here. As Charles Dickens might have written (had he been a teacher), “They were the best of students, they were the worst of students…” But in our Tale of Two Classrooms, there’s still time for those in the latter group to change their ways, to join in on the creative fun, and to succeed.

Everyone, I’d like you to consider a snake for a moment. Not the one that accompanies this post but a living, breathing, slithering snake. Reflexively, many respond with either fear or loathing but I doubt if Chelsea B’s illustration conjours either emotion. Hers is a beautiful experiment in shape and color. What I’d like you to consider is a living snake’s POV. Think about how it sees the world as it moves through its day from point A to point B. Quite a different perspective, eh? Now look at your own work again but this time with a more critical eye. Really look. Have you honestly and truly tried different types of experimentation? Have you pushed your skills as far as you’re able? Are there still techniques you’d like to learn and make your own? There’s still time to finish strong, and that’s a challenge I’m throwing out to all of my Dickensonian students.

An all-day grading grind yesterday and I’m still not through. Formal assessments are almost enough to make me want to quit this dream job. Why won’t kids just do what I ask? Why won’t they act in their own best interests and take the easy road to an A? Why do so many make me work so hard to find excuses NOT to fail them? (Insert blood-curdling, bone-chilling, student-scattering, barbaric yawp here.)

I’ll tell you one thing, finals this year are going to be a different story in here. I’ve added a final 0809 tag so you can find exactly what’s required. No excuses. Details will follow. For now, use this last week before break to sharpen your skills and think about how to finish the year at the top of your game. There’s not a lot of time left so you’re going to be racing the clock (Amelio S) all the way to the finish line. Your assignment today is to take a good, hard look at your Webpage. What might be improved? What might be deleted? What might be added? After a serious look at your own work, turn and ask the person next to you what they think of your work (and review their work in turn). Again: What might be improved? What might be deleted? What might be added? If there’s no one sitting right next to you, get up and find someone to interact with. Anyone who chooses to ignore this assignment will win 5 Hours of Fun™ on April 25 and referral for defiance. Those of you in multiple periods are required to repeat the assignment with due diligence. No one is exempt. Everyone plays along every period. Be honest with yourself and with others. Help one another. Take at least 10 minutes to complete the assignment. Work with more than one other person if you want.

Now, get on your metaphoric motorcycle and win this race to excellence!

I’m beginning to think your 3D teacher should be fired! I mean, if he can’t motivate the students, he’s not doing his job. Hey, I know you’re working and I know some of you have winning creations but where are they? I’d love to share your work with everyone but if you’re not going to submit, it kinda makes it hard for me to feature you, right?

I went digging through Wayne V’s computer this morning looking for the Cinema 4D and Photoshop files that led to one of the jpgs he submitted. This is one of those hybrid 3D/2D compositions I’ve been pushing some of you to try and I wanted to check his workflow. Digital artists, this is going to be part of our curriculum as well next year and the creative possibilities boggle the mind. (I love it when that happens!) For those who might be interested in what I’m talking about, see the work at Aeriform and you’ll instantly understand (because you’ve seen oh-so-cool work like this many times this year).

As for Wayne’s PSD, never did find it. Wayne? And while I’m asking questions, why is the matrix-extruded sphere out of focus? Is that intentional? As for the rest of you, watch this movie. I expect you to understand resolution/print size from now on (no more remedial lessons). This short video should clear up the last of the confusion. Watch it! Learn it! Special invitations to 5 Hours of Fun™ await those who ignore this fundamental information after today.