1. Color Game – Method of Action This website is a color-matching game. Method of Action was born in 2011 and was a collaboration between María Munuera and Mark MacKay. They created these games as part of an online course for learning design by practice. 2. The X-Rite Color Challenge and Hue Test The X-Rite Color Challenge […]

How many times have you sat at your planner and wondered what to do with half a class on a Friday afternoon? Or had one section of an art class that was inexplicably a day ahead of another section? Or facing the revolving door of attendance that is the end of the school year. So […]

A common complaint of art teachers is the destruction of art materials by students. You know the behaviors; particularly the bent or broken rulers and erasers that you find carved, stabbed, or broken. Middle school is the age where these behaviors seem to peak but it’s still evident in lower-level high school classes. In my […]

Every art teacher enjoys a good art teacher hack. A clever or elegant way to make life easier? Yes, please! Art teacher Aaron Shirley uses a 3-D printer to make his own art room tools. He writes, “For example, Linoleum Cutter Handles can be around $5-10 each depending on where you order, these handles cost […]

I have to confess I held a certain disdain for holiday art projects. Over the years, I softened those stances. It’s dark and bleary in February here in New England and Valentine’s day comes just at the right time to distract and entertain us. Plus, some great artists were inspired by Valentine’s Day themes. Jim […]

There are certain personality types you will come across while teaching art. One is the perfectionist. Sometimes spotting a perfectionist is obvious but other times it’s not. Perfectionism may take the form of a student who fills your trash with beautiful work because nothing he or she creates ever feels “good enough.” It may be […]

Let’s talk about teacher burnout. Burnout is a state of chronic exhaustion that occurs after prolonged periods of stress. Art teachers are no strangers to burnout. Lack of support for the arts, extra demands on art teachers, and poor supply budgets has always been stressors for art teachers. Added to that are problems made worse […]

What is scratchboard art? “The Scratchboard technique is a two-dimensional, subtractive process. It involves the use of abrasive tools to directly remove a surface layer of one value (typically dark) to expose the second layer of a contrasting value (typically white). The values within the artwork are predominantly achieved by varying the amount of surface […]

A Crash Course in Typography: The Basics of Type Teach yourself and students critical design info like Typefaces vs. Fonts: Difference?  If you or your students are intimidated by typography this site is for you. KernType: A letter spacing game” This game will teach you what kerning is and will have you learn like a […]

I went back to school for graphic design and fell in love with type. I love projects involving type; you don’t need a graphic design background to do many of these lessons. Zentangle-inspired letters Check out Margaret Bremner’s blog for inspiration as well as Mr. MintArt’s blog.      .  Text portraits and figures Check […]

Last week I wrote about strategies for how to combat, “I can’t draw.” As teachers, we don’t always have all the time we would like to convince every student that, indeed, they are capable of drawing. So, instead, we must reach for the words or actions with the most impact. These strategies won’t solve every […]

Do you need a quick, inexpensive idea for Halloween this year? I have inspiration for you then in the form of art teacher, Megan Henry. Henry has a tradition you might want to start. She’s been doing art history-inspired cardboard masks. Not only is this a super fun Halloween idea, but you could also definitely […]

I don’t know why people need to announce they can’t draw. But they do. It comes from students, parents, colleagues, administrators, and total strangers as soon as they hear I am an art educator. And it comes in such strange forms. “I can’t draw a straight line!” “I’m not talented in art.” But I can’t […]

As long as there have been artists, artists have found inspiration from their environment. I live in New England and the fall season is particularly inspirational and is hands down my favorite time of the year. The leaves change color, the apples are ripe for picking, birds are migrating, folks are stocking up on candy […]

There is no worse phrase in the art room than “I’m done. Now what?”  It’s inevitable that some students will finish before others.  While we can close the gap to some degree, we can’t avoid the reality of early finishers. If you teach middle school or intro high school classes you know it’s imperative for […]

What to do with earlier finishers? Students may start a project all at once but each student will cross the finish line at a different time. Some students are always slow, careful, and deliberate in their work while others may be spontaneous and quick-paced in their approach. Some students do the bare minimum while others […]

Let’s talk about figure drawing. Figure drawing is hard! It’s also hard to get a classroom of students who aren’t confident with their drawing skills to get excited about figure drawing because very few people do it well off the bat. Drawing the human form takes basic drawing skills plus an understanding of the human […]

Let’s talk about imposter syndrome. Most of us have been there at some time or another. I experienced it on occasional parent’s night and once while driving the school van for a field trip. It would only hit me on some parent’s night, I guess to keep me on my toes. While I was comfortable […]

When I was in my first years of teaching my now husband and I had an occasion to visit Ikea. In the store was a desk with golf pencils and paper so customers could take notes of product items they wanted to buy. All I could see was FREE pencils. I shamelessly filled up my […]

You have one shot to get the right planner for the year. Art teachers like Planbook, a web-based lesson planning system that encourages students, administrators, and other teachers to interact with a teacher’s plans. Try it free for thirty days. Erin Condren Planbooks are also highly thought of. This planbook, similar to the Eric Condren […]

As we think about what you might start the year with, we often naturally turn to collaborative project ideas. Why use collaborative projects? Well, first, it is a great way to get to know your students. Who are the leaders? Who has good communication skills? What personalities work well together, or don’t work well together?  […]

Some teachers like to start the year with a project involving students’ names. It helps you learn each student’s name and makes identifying students during those early days a breeze. You can use these as stand-alone projects or create the designs on sticky label paper to mark their portfolios. 1.Blogger Katherine Scott Maghini does these […]

In the US right now we are seeing a record number of job openings. People are quitting or changing positions, reflecting continued strength in the rapidly growing labor market. Employment of high school teachers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2020 to 2030. In some areas, administrators are reporting small applicant pools to hire […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Books and art were the mainstays of my childhood summers. What can be more entertaining than a book about art? I have compiled a list of 12 books for Art Teachers to jump-start your summer. From books to inspire artists to books that delve into art […]

June is Pride month. Did you know that a recent survey showed almost 14 percent of middle and high school students identified as having a sexual orientation other than straight and about 3 percent identified as someone whose gender identity did not correspond with their birth sex? We’ve come a long way from my days […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases I have always enjoyed the challenge of gift giving. What can you buy that will thrill and delight a person. What can you give that says you know that person, you tuned in. For one friend, it was the pop-up James Taylor book (she loved both […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases While school breaks for summer, students often fill their schedule with “fun.” Camps, day programs, and vacations are all the stuff summer evokes for many students and parents. I am often approached towards the end of the year by parents and students to ask about creative […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases Then the end of the school year is in sight. Congratulations! Now is the time to clean and organize. So, this week we have a dozen end-of-the-year cleaning and organizational hacks to share. 1. Rulers Recently an art teacher was asking for ways to organize rulers. I […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases The end of the year always brings a certain kind of stress and chaos. Portions of students missing for testing, field trips, and whatnot. Early finishers. Lack of motivation- for students and teachers! You just want to call the year done, but you know the phrase, […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. As a department chair, it was both my honor and privilege to give out awards to art students at my school. In my first year, I carefully picked out lovely medals (I like these medals, https://amzn.to/3FxYQVS (image 1) sold in a ten pack on amazon) and certificates […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. So, last week I started talking about art show planning. This week we are talking art show nitty-gritty. The nitty-gritty includes figuring out how to best display the work, gathering the work, how to hang the work, and more. I’m exhausted just thinking about it! Display […]

Spring conjures up many images. Cherry blossoms, baby animals, longer days to name a few! For the art teacher spring conjures up Spring Showcases. Ahhh, only a school art show can both instill pleasure and pain at once. There is nothing like seeing all your students’ hard work on display to make you feel proud. […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Once in my career, I was asked as part of a school’s interview process, to come in and teach a lesson to an art class. I was given a little background on what the class had been doing and given a 45-minute period to present my […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. One of the things I proudly accomplished as an art teacher and department chair was starting a school gallery. At the time, I had a promising art student who was killed in a car accident. As I struggled to come to terms with her death, I […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Linoleum/relief printmaking can be a great project to include in your curriculum. I found my high school classes usually enjoyed relief printmaking and for students who enjoy processes, it can be especially rewarding. There are a lot of high-level thinking skills involved for students. For teachers, […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Utilize Tate Museum’s project packs. The packs offer a range of activity ideas to explore with learners of different ages and levels or to spark further collaborative activity ideas of your own. Bookbinding! There are so many good resources out there, like this one. Consider having […]

So, you’ve had some daydreams of quitting your art teaching position. Then you remember student loans, family obligations, mortgage payments, etc, that keep you showing up at that job. My husband calls this the “I Owe, I Owe, So Off to Work I Go” factor.  Maybe you are ready to throw in the towel but […]

Last week I wrote to you about signs you may need to think about a career change (Read that article, here). As I already mentioned, changing careers is a process. As entertaining as those social media posts about quitting may be, quitting one’s career shouldn’t be an impulsive act but rather a well-considered plan executed […]

When I started to teach it was the early 90s and I was 22. As most new young teachers are I arrived at my first job with a large dose of idealism. At my school, there were a handful of teachers just marking time until retirement. You would not see these teachers doing extras like […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. In 2006 I returned to work after being home with my youngest daughter for two years. When I returned to work, I faced a new challenge; cell phones were now in the hands of high schoolers. Literally, on the first day of school, I had to […]

There are a variety of cutting plotters, or computer-controlled cutting machines you can buy these days, the most popular types being the Cricut or Silhouette machines. I have been hearing more about the possibilities of a Cricut for the art classroom. I decided to get up to speed a few months ago by taking a […]

1. When you need a smile  Have a file in your desk where you keep all those positive notes you receive. The thank-you notes from students, parents, administrators, or whomever. The notes which touched you when you received them and even now remind you that your work is valuable. Every day, in big and small […]

There are predictable times of the year when teachers treat the art room as their own supply closet. Before winter break is one of them. It starts off innocuous enough, with a knock on the door and a request for 25 sheets of green construction paper. Maybe you owe that teacher a favor or happen […]

Have some time to kill this week? Consider an animated short. All of these animated shorts are festive and age-appropriate for 5-12. We have previewed and put our stamp of approval on all these, as well as our comments. What can you learn from an animated short? Composition, storytelling, form, lighting, character development, etc. If […]

*When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.  I will confess to an Etsy addiction. Everyone in my family knows that an Etsy gift card is the go-to gift for me and I receive as much enjoyment from the browsing as I do the buying. Unlike Amazon and other […]

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude. It’s fine to admit you are grateful for the time off from teaching! Maybe you have 2 or 3 days at school this week and you need a filler. I have some ideas for you. Watch these animated shorts about gratitude and create a storyboard with your own gratitude-themed story. […]

Way back, at the beginning of my career, I was hired by a regional school system. I graduated with my art teaching certificate in May in addition to a raging case of mononucleosis. I desperately wished to be employed and out of my parent’s house by September. With a little luck, I both surprised my […]

I am happy to say as a teen I attended a portfolio review day and it left no emotional scars. My students have gone to portfolio reviews and events like National Portfolio Day and most walked away from the day encouraged and excited about artmaking and their future. I see it as my job to […]

How important was art education to you when you were school age? In the 7th grade I had a fantastic art teacher with a huge classroom filled with every kind of art material. The walls were covered with art. Sculptures of clay and paper-mache sat on most shelves and even hung from the ceiling. She […]

We are teaching in unique times, my friends. There is a nationwide labor shortage and that includes educators. Substitute teachers are scarce. Teacher morale is low. Turnover is high. I’ve noticed in my art education group, I am seeing comments that many teachers are landing their first art teacher position during this shortage. In addition, […]

I have a confession. I still get a little nervous on parents’ night. For a profession built on public speaking, it’s a terrible thing to be hit with a sudden case of stage fright.  How do we manage? While we can’t prevent nervousness, we can make sure we feel prepared and have systems to rely […]

As teachers, we love to see our students grow and learn. Our students aren’t the only ones growing and learning though. Our professional growth needs to be attended to. Maybe you work for a district that requires teachers to set yearly professional growth goals. Maybe your school requires “SMART” goals. SMART is an acronym that […]

I have a line on my resume that reads “Planned and initiated a chapter of the National Arts Honor Society.” It’s a humble little line. As Department Chair of the Visual and Performing arts, I also had my hand in initiating honor societies for theater and music as well as for art. It was a […]

If you are fortunate to have a computer lab, carts, ipads, etc. available to you, there are a lot of educational options out there on the web for substitute days. 1. Pixel Art This instruction website on pixel art is a one stop shop for everything a student would need to know to create Pixel […]

Do you look at a class, stuffed to the gills, and feel overwhelmed at the the thought of committing to memory all those names? And i’s not just one class, but many classes? I had a new administrator one year who magically new my name. “He’s one of THOSE people,” I thought. Well, my husband  […]

When my oldest was little relatives bought my child a new Barbie Doll. Not just any Barbie Doll, but Art Teacher Barbie. We had a good laugh at Art Teacher Barbie! First of all, she was wearing heels! Strike one, art teachers are on their feet all day.  Barbie was also wearing a tight skirt, […]

A while back, a teacher suggested tackling classroom rules through memes. Which made me wonder, could it be done through art history memes? So, here is what I came up with. Use them as-is, modify them, add to them and let me see what you come up with (info@content.myartlesson.com). While you’re going through them, feel […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  I was never one of those artists who carried around a sketchbook. I am not sure why but I can say I was intimidated by the perfection of a sketchbook- the binding, the pages, the potential of each crisp white page. Would I make something worthy?  In […]

An ice breaker is an activity, game, or event that is used to welcome and encourage conversation in a class. It’s the beginning of the year getting-to-know-you activity. An icebreaker can run the gamut from painful and awkward to fun and engaging. A well-done icebreaker can go a long way to set a positive vibe […]

As a teacher, I often marveled at how other people manage their 9-5 jobs. How did they ever make it to the doctors or pick up that jacket that was “Dry Clean only?” During my parenting years, I was always grateful to be able to be with my children over the summer. On the flip […]

            Book: The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo Author: Irving Stone Synopsis: A compelling portrait of Michelangelo’s dangerous, impassioned loves, and the God-driven fury from which he wrested the greatest art the world has ever known. Book: Rodin’s Lover Author: Heather Webb Synopsis: The tale of Camille […]

  Book: Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers Author: Michael Linsin Summary: Teaching 400-600 students every week presents the ultimate classroom management challenge, one that if you’re unprepared for can bury you in a mountain of stress and misbehavior. Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers is a proven solution that will transform […]

The other day, a teacher confessed to having a difficult time transitioning to summer mode. She described feeling adrift and isolated. My first instinct was an incredulous “Why?!”  I recall the first few days of summer bliss as I slept passed my usual up with the sun September to June lifestyle. Then I was reminded […]

1. Exit Through the Gift Shop Where can I see it? Amazon Prime, Rent 3.99 Own 7.99 Time: 1hr 25 min Rated: R Summary: Shop owner Thierry Guetta’s project to document the underground world of street art takes an unforeseen turn when he meets Banksy, who in turn films the shop owner’s attempts to be […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases 1. Clever Art Awards! High school art teacher April Eason recycles old trophies for my Art awards each year. 2. Ruler Skills Hack Middle school art teacher Jackie Dehring is on a quest to teach ruler skills! Don’t we all know how necessary that is! Dehring […]

You’ve ran the gauntlet. You’ve crafted the resume, practiced your interview skills, and dressed for success. The triumphant moment has arrived and you’ve received the job offer! It is a thrilling moment but not the end of the story. Not every offer is accepted and not every yes to a job offer ends happily. Maybe […]

The end of the year is in sight and administrators are turning their attentions to hiring for the next school year. If you are job hunting you may be wondering how to best prepare for interviews. Here is a list of questions art teachers have reported being asked in interviews or using when being involved […]

How important was art education to you when you were school age? In the 7th grade I had a fantastic art teacher with a huge classroom filled with every kind of art material. The walls were covered with art. Sculptures of clay and paper-mache sat on most shelves and even hung from the ceiling. She […]

I’ve written on this topic before but there is a constant demand to educated art teachers on this topic. Let’s cover this reverse image search thing again, and some other nifty ticks as well. Let’s say a student turns in a work that just isn’t plausibly theirs. How do you prove it?  We are going […]

At the most essential level a school attempts to provide for each learner’s optimal academic, emotional, physical, and civic growth. To be an administrator in a school requires passion, dedication and much hard work to ensure all the moving parts of the educational machine are running smoothly.  So tell me, what is the health of […]

There has never been a time when saying thank you to educators has been more essential. As we approach Teacher Appreciation Week (May 3-7, 2021) it’s easy to reflect on the challenges this past year has brought. Teachers are a resourceful group and without a doubt we have proven that throughout the covid crisis. There […]

As an art teacher, conversing with parents about art class can be an adventure. Parents can have some odd misconceptions about art and their child’s growth potential in the arts. If you’re an art teacher you may have heard some of the following questions and comments from parents. “I can’t draw a straight line.” “I […]

Have you heard of 36 Days of Type? Me neither! But as a graphic designer and art educator, I approve! 36 Days of Type is a project that invites designers, illustrators and graphic artists to express their particular interpretation of the letters and numbers of the Latin alphabet. A yearly open call exploring the creative […]

1. Young-Deok Seo South Korean artist Young-Deok Seo uses recycled bike chains to create stunning sculptures. Note: Some of his sculptures show nudity, edit or use discretion. 2. Zarria Forman Zaria Forman documents climate change with pastel drawings. She travels to remote regions of the world to collect images and inspiration for her work, which is […]

  This week I saw a question in an online art teacher forum from a principal who was asking about becoming an art teacher. The person was certified yet admitted they had little art making experience, didn’t have a stash of art lessons, or feel able to put a portfolio together. I am going to […]

  I ran this article March 29th of last year. When the going gets tough, artists get drawing. At least that is what one artist and educator did. Heidi Hurley committed to a drawing a day until everyone was “back in school full time.” Well, like many of us, Hurley is teaching both live and […]

Mélissa Nadeau is a high school art teacher in Laval, Canada for 17 years. She is also the creator and organizer for an upcoming virtual show of student work created in response to the Pandemic. Mélissa Nadeau contacted me last week after My Art Lesson ran the post, One year with Covid: Artistic responses in […]

  Every generation has events they experience collectively that leaves a mark. Man landing on the moon was one. Nine-eleven is another. We can now add Covid-19 pandemic to the list. The pandemic has now stretched out over a year and has taken a toll in ever facet  of the human experience. In our dual […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases When I was a new teacher I enrolled in a master’s program shortly after I began teaching. Towards the end, I had to pick out a topic for a thesis. The topics were things I perceived as esoteric. Here I was during the day struggling with […]

Here are ten black artists you might know already or might want to get to know and incorporate into your curriculum. Kehinde Wiley 2. Faith Rinnold 3. Simone Leigh 4. Amy Sherald 5. Charles McGee 6. Titus Kaphar 7. Jean-Michel Basquait 8. Jacob Lawrence 9. Louisiana Pettway Bendolph 10. Mark Bradford https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5mhdCvhDtQ&feature=youtu.be       […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. They say great minds think alike. Well, here is a collection of ideas pooled together by art teachers everywhere. If you have a great idea, write us and we’ll add your idea. Meanwhile, here are 50 ideas to get you started. Some can be done virtually […]

Let’s talk about the art club. If you’re an art teacher you would be the natural person to supervise an art club. I know in one of my schools a student approached me about starting an art club and I have to admit, I groaned. Of course, I want students to make great art and […]

January represents a time of renewal. A time to look to the New Year and start fresh and build new habits. This calendar change, the world seems more then ready to put 2020 to rest. The new year brings us hope. As we start second semester on this optimistic note, many of us will start […]

This month, on November 15, artist Wayne Thiebaud turns 100 years old. So, this month I have some related content if you should you opt to do a Wayne Thiebaud style project. Preparing the content made me reflect how, in my house, November is all about food. First, we enter November on Halloween’s heals, candy […]

Ted Talks My New Year’s Resolution was to watch more Ted Talks. And I turned to my creative friends for inspiration. All 12 of these were curated from art teacher suggestions. Of course, if you haven’t watched Sir Ken Robinson’s Ted Talk called, “Do school’s kill creativity?” do watch it first. I enjoyed watching all […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  Necessity is the mother of invention, so they say. These art teacher hacks prove that when the going gets tough, the tough get creative. Found Space, Converting potter’s wheels into Individual work stations. Idea from Emily Michelle. “My classroom has the large wooden shop tables, meaning […]

What are college admissions representatives and officers looking for in an art portfolio, exactly? That’s a good question as portfolios are the most critical part of an application to an art school, particularly a competitive art school.  Just like Rome wasn’t built in a day, your art portfolio won’t be and shouldn’t be a slapdash […]

Mobile Directions: Click on your profile picture On your home page, click on your circular profile picture again. A menu of choices will pop up. Click on add frame. In the search bar search for “My Art Lesson” or “National Arts in Education Week” It will show the current available  frame overlay with your current […]

There is nothing better than finding the perfect way to entertain your students while you are out for a day. Did I say entertain? I mean educate. Well, let’s be real, it can be both and ideally is both. As a young teacher, a little bit before the internet, I took a personal day and […]

On a recent forum, someone asked, “What are the creativity killers in the art classroom?” Good question. What stops students from reaching their creative potential? There are some creative killers that seemed to come up frequently. The larger question though is, how do we combat these creativity killers?  So, here are the three most common ones […]

  My teacher boards were full of art teachers talking about their school anxiety this summer. Those back to school stress dreams were an all summer phenomena. Some teachers coped by preparing- rooms being rearranged for required distancing. masks and scrub suits being purchased and, IF budgets allowed, kits being assembled of art materials. While […]

I had a Ceramic class that perpetually had a lot of drops in the first cycle of classes. Most of the reasons were intrinsic to the school I was at and had nothing to do with me. In my efforts to combat the drops, I learned from students that one of the ways to hook […]

Mobile Directions: Click on your profile picture On your home page, click on your circular profile picture again. A menu of choices will pop up. Click on add frame. In the search bar search for “My Art Lesson” or “Art Belongs in Schools” It will show the current available  frame overlay with your current profile […]

In my last post I wrote, “Design is more than prettying up your resume. It’s about how you group and present information. It’s about organization, hierarchy, and editing as well.” I will mention that there are templates you can find but just because they exist out there doesn’t mean they are good, you need some […]

A new teacher wanted advise on her resume in an online art ed group. People criticized her color scheme, her headshot, all her content etc. Someone described her resume as “juvenile.” She bristled. She went on the defense. What she really wanted was compliments and minor edits. She defended every bad choice she made. She […]

Mobile Directions: Click on your profile picture On your home page, click on your circular profile picture again. A menu of choices will pop up. Click on add frame. In the search bar search for “My Art Lesson” or “Art Belongs in Schools” It will show the current available  frame overlay with your current profile […]

I wrote an arts advocacy article recently for a company that does school art related fundraisers. I could have written it in my sleep. I am not going to preach to the choir, I know my audience and I know you all see the value in arts education. I’m writing this for every new, old, […]

I was once asked, “How easy would it be if you had all the answers to the test?” I answered, “It would be a cinch.” “Well, it’s all in here,” the wise person retorted as they pushed the books and notes at me. Interviews are a bit in this vane, no? Sure, there are the […]

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. As an Etsy Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  I know some of you may need to mask up for this school year. If that’s the case for you, I hope you can enjoy these art history-inspired masks that will have everyone asking. “Where did you […]

This was used with permission from the author, Nicole Raneri This is going to be hard to say and admit who I was, but I grew up a racist. A white privileged racist. I grew up to stay near mommy and hold her hand in “bad” areas. I grew up to walk on the other […]