TheVirtualInstructor Blog

The Technology Divide in Education

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:41:27 +0000

It seems all educators hear about these days is "21st Century skills" and training students for the 21st Century. The irony in this statement, of course, is that we have been in the 21st Century for over a decade. I think this exemplifies the divide that we have in education. This divide is evidenced in technology and it's use in classrooms. There is a divide among most in education and the world of technology. If this divide is not narrowed, traditional education will undoubtedly suffer. When you speak to some (often those that make decisions about education) about technology, you will most likely hear about PowerPoints or perhaps document cameras. True,...

101 Sketchbook Ideas

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:52:00 +0000

Often times it can be difficult brainstorming ideas for our sketchbooks. We can all agree that the more we draw, the better we'll get. This is just one of the many reasons that keeping a sketchbook is important. But deciding what to draw in those sketchbooks can sometimes be a challenge. So I decided to the brainstorming for you and create a list of 101 sketchbook ideas. The items on this list are meant to challenge you a bit, but can still be completed in a short amount of time, making them perfect subjects for any sketchbook.

101 Sketchbook Ideas

1. draw old shoes 2. draw a glass...

Learn 3D Computer Animation for Free

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:06:12 +0000

Ever wanted to learn how to create 3D animation like you see in Pixar or Dreamworks movies? Of course you probably have. Who wouldn't when 3D animation can produce such realistic animation. And using the programs that create these illusions can be a lot of fun. (Once you learn how to navigate the interface, of course) There are two major roadblocks however that stop us from using and learning these programs. But with Blender 3D, there is hope! The first thing that keeps us from using and learning 3D animation software is money. Professional 3D animation programs like Autodesk's Maya or NewTek's Lightwave are expensive. These programs can cost...

Interactive Starry Night – Teach Students Movement in Art

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:44:47 +0000

Movement can be a bit tricky to teach to art students. Movement, a principle of art, can take on several forms in a work of art. It can refer to eye movement, or the way a viewer's eye moves through a work of art. Or movement can refer to the actual feeling of movement that is created by the application of material on the surface. Van Gogh definitely falls into the category of an artist that used brushstrokes to convey movement in his art. The large directional brushstrokes forces your eye to follow patterns, while at the same time coveys the feeling...

Think Like a Sculptor to Improve Drawing

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:23:38 +0000

Drawing well requires learning to see to the shapes that make up an object. In order to draw realistically, we must also learn to draw basic forms from these shapes. All objects can be broken down into these basic forms. When we are able to put these basic forms together to create the illusion of an object, our drawing improves. In fact, better drawing skills come from understanding the structure of the objects that we are drawing. Sculptors must understand the objects that they are emulating in order to create a representational sculpture. They must understand the forms, create the forms and then mold the forms further....

David Hockney’s Digital Art

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:43:28 +0000

David Hockney is a British painter. He is considered by many to one of the most influential British artists of this century. Painting is not all he is known for. He also is an accomplished photographer and recently, digital artist. Many artists have already embraced the digital age by creating paintings on digital devices. The most popular devices for creating digital paintings are the iPhone and the iPad. The most popular app for this is "Brushes" , which can be purchased through the Apple App Store for just under six dollars. (Try buying a quality tube of paint for six dollars.) Hockney has embraced this new and exciting medium for creating...

Color Wheel Chart for Values

admin — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:41:57 +0000

Knowing where colors are found on the color wheel is just one step to understanding color theory. You must also understand practical applications of using color theory in your artworks and designs. Seldom are colors used as their pure hue. Most often, color combinations or color schemes, implore a variety of values and intensities of the colors used. For example, if you were to use a complementary color scheme of red and green, you might use pink and a darker green. Pink, you'll recall is really the color red- a tint of red. It seems that beginning artists really struggle with this concept. It is hard for...

Create Your Own Flash Video Game for Free Online

admin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:36:53 +0000

Each year my animation students create their own video games using Adobe Flash. This assignment is coming up soon and each year I look for new ways to improve the assignment. I also look for new tips and ways that I can improve my own coding skills. My students create the games by designing the characters from scratch and writing the code to make the game work. It can be a frustrating process, because one "." in the wrong space in the coding can make the game not work properly. So I have to be on my game as well as the teacher. In my search for new codes...

More Fun with Complementary Colors

admin — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:38:07 +0000

A few posts ago, I shared a cool animation that showed what effect color can have on our minds. This animation works because the colors used are complementary colors. (You can see the animation by visiting Fun with Complementary Colors.) Complementary colors are colors that are opposites on the color wheel. Examples of complementary colors include blue and orange, purple and yellow, and red and green. (To see more color schemes visit The Interactive Color Wheel )These types of color schemes are often used in sports team's uniforms and logos because they demand instant attention. This "eye catching" effect is achieved because of contrast. I came...

The Expressive Qualities of Line

admin — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:11:52 +0000

The element "line" is considered by most to be the most basic element of art. It has an almost infinite number of uses when it comes to the creation of artwork. One of the most common uses of line is to show the viewer where an object or parts of an object ends. These types of lines are called contour lines, but most commonly called "outlines". Line can also convey movement either through repetition or by showing lines coming off of the surface of an object that is moving. Line can also create the illusion of form through hatching or cross hatching. I could go on and...