Tuesday, September 24, 2013

The Seaflower

The Seaflower

______I have the same art teacher for two of the three art classes I'm taking this semester back to back: Figure Drawing and Drawing Concepts. Let me just describe how much I already adore the man who teaches it: he does yoga, he radiates vitality and an old-world coolness, he's very articulate, and he just seems like a very open, very present kind of human being. On the first day of Figure Drawing, we did some very, herm, particular warm-ups to loosen ourselves.

The Seaflower
The SeaflowerThe SeaflowerThe Seaflower

______One of these warmups was drawing like we were dinosaurs. He instructed us to put our best tiny T-rex arms on and get super intimate with the paper whilst drawing a model in quick bursts of anywhere from 5 to 60 seconds. "You're going to draw with tiny T-rex arms," he elucidated, brows furrowed, "and pretend you are ferociously protecting your dinosaur eggs. This is not just for my amusement, but it mostly is." He suddenly blasted his iPod music, an eclectic mix of sick rap beats and electronic instrumentals, and we drew with fierce, scraggly dino-arms, our faces so close to the paper we were practically slobbering on it.

The Seaflower
The Seaflower

______Next, we did "combat drawing," where you tried to draw the model again in swift, gestural bursts, but this time, someone was trying to prevent you from drawing. I suffered a few bruises and a blister from this set of gesture drawings (ha, more like scribble drawings), which is pretty dang rad. How many people can say they got bruises from art class? Some kids were shoving each other into the desks, rubbing charcoal on their opponent's faces with blackened hands, and smashing their wrists fiercely at their opponent's charcoal sticks until they broke.

______Me? I'm pretty sure I grabbed some my partner's boob a few times. Meanwhile, my at teacher was sauntering about these fierce drawing battles, laughing, shouting, "I love art class!"

______Me too, Mr. Art Teacher. Me too.

______Onward.

The Seaflower
The Seaflower

______"You guys have seen Harry Potter, right?" he inquired, searching the room. We all nodded and smiled, our hair in tangles and our arms stained up to our elbows in charcoal. "You know that part where the bludger is cursed and it beats him off his broom, and that weird professor tries to fix his arm, but it just goes all bone-less? I want you guys do draw like that." And so we had to stomp and jiggle and wiggle and even make weird sounds, all whilst scribbling madly on newsprint. I adored how nobody thought this was odd and we all began wobbling about as soon as the music began without a moment's hesitation. Even my art teacher was waltzing about the room.

______This. Man. Is everything I have ever wanted in an art teacher.

The SeaflowerThe Seaflower

______"There. Now you don't have to go do yoga," he said at the end of the class. "This class was for bonding, exercise, and drawing."

The Seaflower

Dress: via Urban Outfitters
Floral blazer: Forever 21
Red booties: Charlotte Russe
Necklace: Charming Charlie
Bling earrings: c/o Jojo Loves You

29 comments:

Londyn said...

That is so fabulous!! LOL Love it :)

OrigamiGirl said...

Thise art classes sound amazing! I have just taken up life drawing classes myself, been going for about a month and I love them utterly! About the best thing I've ever taken up, filling me with so much joy and pride. Our classes are not so chaotic, the art teacher is all about meditation. He gets us to breathing exercises, or imagining gardens, or other such things. Walks around the room giving us inspirational talks whilst we sketch. So refreshing. I'm just doing them after work and it's great. Your art classes sound mad and so much fun. We do the 60 second sketches at my classes too, at first I was terrified by them, but now I love how you are forced into confidence. You just have to go for it, no second guessing because there is no time.

Anyway, sorry for the long comment. I just love art classes.

Unknown said...

you look lovely!

www.bstylevoyage.blogspot.com
xx

ChocolateFashionCoffee said...

such a lovely blazer, dear :)



Saci
ChocolateFashionCoffee
ChocolateFashionCoffee Facebook Page

Boheme.Fille said...

Your teacher is so cool! I would have loved to have teachers like that, that could understand that you can also learn by having fun doing it! :)

Love your look, that blazer is gorgeous! And I can't stop admiring your earrings. :)

Unknown said...

I LOOOOVE having awesome teachers like this! I've had a few interesting teachers since I got to college, but the best teacher I ever had was my AP art history teacher back in high school. We would go on ridiculous field trips (3 museums in one day, anyone?) and he would do his best to embarrass the entire class out in the middle of city streets. Crazy teachers just make learning more fun!
xo Heather
http://ahopelessnotebook.blogspot.com/

Lisa - respect the shoes said...

The red ankle boots are awesome!

LyddieGal said...

Hehehe that sounds like a pretty fun class, and when you have a great teacher, it makes all the difference in the world.

Loving this fab floral blazer of yours!!
Chic on the Cheap

Unknown said...

sounds like a pretty sweet class ali. :D love the colors on your jacket and red booties! yay!

Marie McGrath (The Joy of Fashion) said...

Hahahahhaa that is sooooooooooooooooo coool!!!! So original and sounds like SO much fun!!! I'm so glad to hear you got an awesome teacher like that. Looking very pretty in this outfit too Ali, I really love the bright colors!

www.thejoyoffashionblog.com

mochaccinoland said...

that blazer is amazing and it goes well with your red boots! i'm glad you are enjoying your art classes so much :D

xoxo
mochaccinoland.blogspot.com

Inna said...

Good and nice outfit. I like and so bright for sunny september

The Dragonfruit said...

Omgsh, Ali, I ADORE your outfit in this post and the AWESOME story from your art class! I am so jealous of your amazingly rad teacher :D I can't believe he had you guys do combat drawing - that sounds so fun haha! You simply must share more moments like this, it had me in giggles picturing every warm up.

The Dragonfruit Diaries

Anonymous said...

Isn't it so inspiring when you have a wonderful teacher? Honestly, I was so bored by my high school classes and I chose a liberal arts school in New York because I KNEW my professors would challenge me and open up to me. I'm already so astounded by how inspiring my courses are- my art history professor is super hip and owns an art gallery in Brooklyn! So glad you're loving your art classes.

Xo, Hannah

sweetsweetnoir.net

Audrey said...

Art class sounds like so much fun! The combat drawing sounds like a fun get-to-know-each-other type of activity.

My teachers had us share embarrassing stories about ourselves with the class and they had to be verified by at least one person in the class so that you couldn't make something up.

Unknown said...

LOL he sounds like the best art teacher EVER! I love teachers that go above and beyond the call of duty- that really grab your attention and keep you motivated and inspired. THAT is a teacher, haha!

All of that fun stuff aside, I am swooning at this outfit combo!! Ali- you are so incredibly gorgeous and it really shines through in your creative yet classic and timeless combinations! Your jacket is so colorful and fun with that total "it" factor, love it! Amazing statement necklace too, just lovely. Happy Friday Ali!!!!

xo, Alyssa

Jessi said...

Sheesh that guy sounds awesome!! I'd love to take one of his classes. Sounds like a fun, uplifting experience full of laughter :)
And I LOVE your blazer, it's gorgeous perfection! Especially with those cute scarlet red booties.
Jessi
http://haircutandgeneralattitude.blogspot.com/

Sam said...

Hi Ali, your Art teacher sounds like a visionary, so exuberant and full of life. Thats the kind of lecturer anyone needs to push their limits of creativity. His techniques are so interesting...and funny! Love your beautifully printed blazer, the accessories are perfect with it....hope you're having a great unwinding weekend!

Alice said...

Where do I sign up for this teacher?
My art skills are basically non-existent (think Play Dough "cookies" and stick figures that 5-year-olds could draw) but if taking one of art those classes means getting to draw like a dinosaur or basically reenact a scene from Harry Potter, I'm so in that it's not even funny. It sounds like your teacher really pushes you guys outside of your box, which is so cool! I bet everyone in your class is definitely going in some new creative directions with such weird instructions. Maybe the next time I'm in a creative rut, I'll have to try one of those techniques! :)

Now before I get too caught up in your teacher's wild antics, let me just say that I LOVE the title of this post and naturally, what you're wearing. Your dress is super pretty and the colors and design of that blazer are so eye-catching and match so well with those flowers that ugh I'm communicating in one long disgusting run-on sentence now.
Actually, the colors of the entire outfit are lovely now that I think about it. While I wouldn't really imagine red and shades of purple being paired together, they definitely complement each other in your look!

~Alice
The SEAREX

Unknown said...

Ahaha that teacher sounds hilarious! I love the t-rex arms bit. That would be a fun exercise for many real life tasks...Like making the bed. Or doing dishes. Or exercising. I actually might just start doing that tomorrow to embarrass my boyfriend. He just loves when I embarrass him on purpose!

But anyway, I love love this outfit. Your white dress and red boots combination is the best thing ever. That blazer is so spiffy and colorful too. A perfect outfit!

Cassandra Too said...

This outfit is cute! I love the colors in this outfit. That blazer is beautiful.


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Cassandra | Backtofive
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Simona said...

Your blazer is just Perfect Ali <3

joy said...

That art class sounds amazing! Hahahah the dinosaur version is so cool, sounds like you are going to have a very interesting rest of the year in class and I can't wait to see the artwork that comes out of this class! Love your outfit too, the blazer has such a lovely print and I like the bright pop of red from the shoes:)

Katie Aman said...

If only more professors/teachers could be like that! Sounds like a fabulously enjoyable class and one that will help with new techniques as well. Now if only math teachers could find a way to convey information in this way...:)

I adore your beautiful blazer! It is so vibrant and pretty and just PERFECT paired with your red boots. I hope you weren't wearing the white dress in art class though...or you'd have a colorful dress too!

The Braided Bandit said...

Holy crap. T Rex drawing in art class. That picture made my morning. Maybe even my whole day! You look wonderful here Ali, loving the bold pops of color against the white dress, everything is perfecto!
Hope you're having a wonderful day!
xo Hannah

thebraidedbandit.blogspot.com
thebraidedbandit.etsy.com

Andrea said...

I am so obsessed with your gorgeous little bun and gems and I LOVE this blazer :) you look lovely!

Your art teacher sounds amazing :) I love enthusiastic teachers! Looking forward to following you and reading more about your crazy art adventures ;D

Keep in touch!!

Andrea
www.lanouvellenoire.com

xxx

Imogen said...

Wow your writing is so entertaining. I wonder how your teacher comes up with those creative ideas. The part about drawing like dinosaurs made me smile. I love your floral blazer and the lovely buns I've noticed you've been doing in your hair lately. I just adore it how you featured red accessories.

Boheme.Fille said...

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Alexandra Marie said...

I love the earring shot- so creative! Alex

tobebeautifulingodseyes.blogspot.com