Cave Art and Why it's the Beginning

How many of you have seen cave art?  Good, most of you have.  You may not know where or exactly when, but you've seen it.  Do you appreciate it? Do you respect it as having high quality? Do you accept that there isn't a lot of realistic quality to the subjects? 

I introduce cave art as the first lesson in drawing one courses for numerous reasons.  Discussions range from early human records, minerals, animals, and the urge to create with the importance of historical records. 

• Do you like the art work you see on the cave wall?
• What do you think they used to make the different marks?
• How did they make the color? 
• How did they apply the color to the cave walls?
• Pigments, and minerals discussion: Science hallway
• Historic implications and timeline comparison: History Hallway (Math Hallway?)
• Line Quality, 
• Composition, artist intent, etc.

For years I began Drawing 1 classes with the cave paintings of Lascaux, France.  Now I've changed to the movie by Werner Herzog "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" 2010, the cave art of Chauvet, France.  Cave of Forgotten Dreams is the result of Herzog's exclusive access to the recently discovered Chauvet caves in the South of France, and their truly extraordinary cave paintings, dating back 32,000 years.

But, the Lascaux story must be told to students first (Finding Lascaux). I still begin the school year with the story of the discovery of one of the most famous caves of art and how some teenagers and a dog were the ones to do so.  

Finding Lascaux
Four Boys and a Dog


In September 1940, four boys and a dog set out on an adventure in Dordogne. The boys - Marcel Ravidat, Jacques Marsal, Georges Agnel and Simon Coencas – where intrigued by an old legend about a tunnel running under the Vezere River linking the old Castel of Montignac to the Manor of Lascaux. According to the legend, this tunnel would lead to a second tunnel and a treasure hidden deep in the woods of Montignac.

Robot the dog with two of the four cave's discoverers




Finding Lascaux

FULL LASCAUX WEBSITE

This is the best cave art "MOVIE".

Cave of Forgotten Dreams. 

Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Mankind's Lost Masterpiece

The Art of the Chauvet Cave

I play the beginning of the movie on Netflix in class and don't provide much information prior. The documentary speaks for itself.  Even with Werner's weird accent.  The beginning of art.

Twisted Sifter is a site that posts a lot of art and photography about random and amazing things.  There always seems to be something new and interesting to look at.  Don't worry, there are tons of links to follow to find out more about what is shown in pretty much every article.  Here are a few of the links that are really worth sharing.

First is a gallery of 40 different fore-edge paintings, something that I had never heard of.  I know the edged of pages in books were commonly gilded, but I was not aware that some books even have paintings hidden in there when the pages are fanned.  It's really amazing stuff.  A piece of art, hidden where almost no one will see it.  Check it out for yourself: Twisted Sifter Fore-Edge Painting Gallery.

Is that not awesome?

Next is a gallery of Alex Seton's marble carvings of common clothes items.  These sculptures use marble, a very hard but beautiful rock, to represent soft materials such as cotton, denim, and more.  Twisted Sifter Marble Clothes.

No, this is not the Invisible Man.

Finally, here is a link to gallery showing Yang Yongliang's matte paintings evoking ancient Chinese art.  Personally, I think they would have been a lot cool if they were ink drawn and not photo manipulations, but they are still impressive nonetheless. Twisted Sifter Modernized Chinese Art.

Just some impossible mountains

As some of you may know I am now employed as a Graphic Designer for Eastern Michigan University for their advertisement, websites, and social media.  My job involves creating, designing, printing, cutting, delivering, laminating and matting amongst other things for Eastern Michigan Universities Residence Life, Dining Services, Website, Facebook, Twitter, as well as any events happening on the campus.  Its all a lot of work and new to me, but I am learning a lot at a very fast pace.

I have my own desk, my own dual-monitors, and the power to pick my own work schedule to accommodate my needs and more.  The perks seem endless and range from a free Meal Plan so I can eat every day (including summers and weekends!) and free prints every month in our awesome printing lab for my personal work, to the massive amount of work experience on a professional level in a professional setting that will empower my portfolio and resume.

Now I know all this sounds nice, but it didn't come to me easily.  I had to learn typography, graphic design and illustration aspects I didn't have any knowledge of before this summer, work my ass off all summer making a portfolio with Illustrator (which I had never used before), I had to go through an extensive interview unlike anything I had experienced, and I had to make some connections and network myself around campus to get my foot in the door.  I feel pretty lucky in all honestly to have this job, but I guess I made my own luck.

I just started working here but the assignments are already rolling in rapidly.  I will be sure to update a portfolio once I have a new body of work ready and continue to post progress with my job and new experiences as a graphic designer.  I honestly never really saw my self being a graphic designer, but if this is where the money is at it might need to be where I continue to focus my time.

As well as working professionally as an artist for a multimillion dollar corporation(I just like the sound of that and I cant get enough of it), I have been active on campus designing things for different student organizations that provide a heartbeat to the life and spirit of campus life.  I am the creator of the current official Inter-Fraternity Council logo on campus, and have designed a lot of shirts and flyers for other orgs. Its such a cool feeling walking around campus and seeing stuff and being like "oh I made that, and that, and that one too". Its insane. I love walking around seeing people I dont even know in shirts I designed.  I plan on continually being involved both socially and artistically in student affairs and will also keep documenting my progress on work I make on the side.  Drawing was my first passion, but graphic design has recently been extremely rewarding to me so I really need to continue to pursue this direction.

At my interview they asked me why I wanted this job, and I just told them I wanted to leave my mark here at EMU.  They told me afterwords that was all they really needed to hear after seeing my portfolio. So to any highschoolers questioning their likeliness to find employment as a young artist, just know that its possible if you bust your ass and go for it.

1st Day of Art Class Sch-peel and the Problems With Society

Last Thursday at the football game I saw a sophomore girl who I had seen on my class roster that I had checked.  I said "Hey I see you took drawing, I'll see you Tuesday (for the first day of class).  She replied, "Ah no, I switched out. I decided I can't draw".  Me, "What??? Is this something your parents had said? like they can't  draw,  so you probably can't". She said "yeah actually they did."

Then and there I went into my first day of class sch-peel (since 1997 it seems) with my survey questions:

Can you speak German?  If you take a German class for 20 weeks, will you learn some German?
Can you play guitar?  If you took guitar lessons for 20 weeks, would you learn to play some guitar?

Math, Science, History, do students walk in with a PRECONCEIVED ability for the class?  "Oh I don't know anything about history; I'm going to do terrible." Of course not.

ART IS NOT GENETIC! 

Seriously parents, you are such a detriment to us art teachers!  Parents, just because you may not have done well in a certain subject, or skill, don't tell your child,

 "I was awful at art; it's OK that you are probably too." 

Anyone can learn the skills of art, like any other course.  From these technical skills if someone enjoys them, works at them and masters them, they may want to continue on.  Those students who enjoy it, and continue on, learn to see things differently and creatively. It doesn't just happen or is given to them.  

My 1st Day Sch-peel

First:  My Name, written the same on the board, every time, year after year,  Mr. Rheault (Row), telling them to always make people pronounce your name correctly. You'd be shocked at how many students just say "that's fine" on mispronouncing their names.  No it is not.  Yes some are difficult and thus a nickname is formed (that will be stuck with them through life probably).

Dry Erase Board

Second: Attendance, always precious attendance. "1st Day Present" selected from the pull down menu on every student. The roll call even brings students personalities to light.  I ask them to say "Here" in a resounding voice I can hear to match the face with the name.  Just that act can establish a certain personality, the student with the attention seeking answer or the shy don't acknowledge me answer.  You can imagine all the responses I've heard.

Third: Class Survey, "Raise your hand above your head". The all important grade survey. Seniors can't wait to hear it on the first day "How many Seniors?" Oh how they smile and you can see how proud they are. It's probably the first time in front of other underclassmen they have been called out to be acknowledged.  This is a deserved life moment all students have earned - except for the kid who's not sure because they didn't have enough credits as a junior. Juniors, sophomores, and then I say "The all important number I'm looking for, freshmen". That's another story in its self.  I go on to ask each student "How many have had an art class in this school before?" "What were those classes?" asking each student. And for those that haven't, "What assignment do they remember from middle school?" This includes freshmen. Trying to jar loose some prior knowledge.

Then it gets good.  Standing by the classroom door, "How many of you either in halls talking to friends or just prior to walking in the door said out loud or to yourselves, I can't do this, I'm terrible at art"? Along with, "I can't even draw a stick figure"?

Today one class of Drawing 1 students had six students raise their hands without hesitation that they just did this. 

And there it is!  How has this happened?  I then make the point that if we all visited an elementary school 2nd or 3rd grade class, none of those kids would say they are terrible at art. Hell no, they would be jumping at the chance to be in an art class that very moment.  So what happened?  Our society, and obviously teenage peer pressure pushes young adults from taking risks and expressing themselves personally.  They don't want to be judged by others; they don't want to be criticized or compared.  The comparison in art to masterpieces or high level works cannot be attained by a beginner.  Students think that if they don't do perfect art, they can't do ANY art.  Why is it not the same as a beginning foreign language class, a history class, science class etc?  We offer art classes to learn, not to showcase talent.  (I showcase the hell out of talented by the way.)

Sch-peel Continued

Your homework, I say, "Tonight over spaghetti dinner, which many of you will have tonight, when your parents ask about your first day of school, and they will by the way.  Oh and what an opportunity this is for you.  Look them in the eye, talk about each class you have, take advantage of this opportunity!  They will tear up, actually tear up!  'My child is talking to me' they'll say to themselves, maybe a raise in the allowance even.   

Tell me if your parents interrupt you, mid forkful, and say "I can't even draw a stick figure." 

This is how I draw/teach stick figures by the way.

FYI I can no longer teach my unit on Figure Drawing/Stick Figures.  So many class days have been cut out with assemblies, tests, and whatnot, I removed this unit.

Another Tangent

I usually also discuss another aspect of the quote:

When I am introducing myself to other adults, with an extended hand to shake even, on contact, the other states with a big smile "I CAN'T EVEN DRAW A STICK FIGURE".  This happens all the time to those of us in certain positions, English teachers get "I can't write/read" or "I hate reading/writing" or "Are you going to correct the way I talk?"  Good times.