Comics in the Classroom in the News

A few weeks ago, the news crew from WETM came to my classroom to see how kids are using comics to learn to read, write, and draw. According to Bart, our school's IT, it took "some tears and a couple quizzical looks and some stress balls may have died" -- but it can now be seen on You Tube here.

Toying with Texture: Creating Art using Everyday Tools

Although I usually only write about comics art, it's worth taking a look at the textured paintings of Paul Bozzo. Both of our local newspapers have articles about Paul this week (here and here). Even though I already knew him, I learned a lot about his unique textured paintings.

This artists makes paintings on masonite panels using drywall joint compound. He uses just about everything you can imagine to create textures.

Like a lot of artists, a key element of the art comes from childhood experience,

As a child the artist had small, plastic toys of cowboys, which featured a
saddle that appeared only as lines in the plastic and weren't painted. A friend
of Bozzo's noticed he could make the saddle appear more visible if he rubbed
paint onto the toy. From that experience, Bozzo developed his art later in life.
"Who knows what's in your mind that you might use for something else one day,"
Bozzo told the students.

From what I have read about a lot of artists, it's not unusual for something
that intrigues that artist in childhood becomes something they revisit in
their art again and again. That's why I consider it an honor and a trust
to present children with experiences and opportunities that just might
lead to a lifetime of enjoyment in art.

Check out more of this artist's work at Bozzo Art.

The Maus that Roared

I found a very interesting interview with Art Spiegelman, the Pulitzer-winning cartoonist of Maus. You have to listen to some newscasters for a little while, but it's worth the wait.

Check it out here.

Comics in Education Workshop at Mansfield University

Yesterday I presented a workshop at Mansfield University for future teachers and teachers -- both art educators and regular educators. Paul Bozzo took this picture and did a nice write up on his blog. I think he says what I said better than I said it! Check it out here.

I like how Paul summarized that our goal as teachers in using this kind of material is to help kids want to put down their joysticks and read!