Badlands Residency Day 7
Thursday November 8
My last day at Red Cloud Indian School. I'm rather sad not to be coming back tomorrow; it's been really nice sitting in class with these students, watching them work, helping where I can. I really hope to see some again at the youth camp this spring. A few expressed sincere interest in the idea. Red Cloud's art teacher seemed to feel the week was a real success and that her students greatly enjoyed the experience. She invited me to come back to teach again anytime I'd like. It's a long shot, but there's a chance it could work out to teach there next spring before the students from Calhoun School arrive from NYC for the youth camp. It would be especially rewarding if the NY students could spend a day at Red Cloud with some of the kids I worked with. We'll see. Either way, I'd like to go back to Red Cloud.
One of the most rewarding moments of my week came toward the end of the day. The student who had shared photos from a hunting trip a couple days ago talked to me some more. I had figured out that his photos were from the south rim overlooking the Palmer Creek Unit of the park, and we talked about that briefly. We also talked about some watercolor techniques, including salting, which his mom had mentioned to him the day before. I showed him how it works, and he later said that he is connecting with watercolor and that he now intends to pursue it as his medium when he goes off to art school in Santa Fe next year. I gave all the students my contact information and website in case any should ever have questions or want to say hi. It is most rewarding to know I helpe a student discover something that works for him, and sincerely hope to hear from him some day. There were a handful of other students who came to me with in-depth questions about how I achieve certain effects when painting. Things like reflections in water, the color of the rocks, the feel of the road, the look of the grasses. The answer is a simple one: put the right shape of the right value and color in the right place, and you'll have it. The trick is learning to accurately see values, shapes, and colors. It takes much practice and patience to develop seeing skills, but it's not magic, anyone can learn.
It was a successful and rewarding week, though very tiring. It will be nice to sleep in a little and stay closer to home. Thanks to everyone at Badlands and Red Cloud who made this week possible!
Here is a link to the route I drove to Pine Ridge this week. Red Cloud Indian School is a little west of the town of Pine Ridge.
http://goo.gl/maps/Ue3Jv
Photos below are a couple of my favorite areas on the drive from Interior to Pine Ridge, SD. These were taken out the window of a moving car, hence the less than great image quality.
http://goo.gl/maps/Ue3Jv
Photos below are a couple of my favorite areas on the drive from Interior to Pine Ridge, SD. These were taken out the window of a moving car, hence the less than great image quality.
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