Every Student In Every School Should Learn To Code

Code.org is a non-profit foundation dedicated to growing computer programming education.  Our goals include:

  • Spreading the word that there is a worldwide shortage of computer programmers, and that it's much easier to learn to program than you think.
  • Building an authoritative database of all programming schools, whether they are online courses, brick+mortar schools or summer camps.

Our vision is that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn how to code.  We believe computer science and computer programming should be part of the core curriculum in education, alongside other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, such as biology, physics, chemistry and algebra.

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Artist's Tip - Compare Shapes and Directions

It is important to compare shapes and directions when you draw. Usually people see objects in isolation; for example, landscape is seen as first one tree, then another, and then a background. As an artist, you need to learn how to see and compare all these features simultaneously, and use background features as a check for shapes.

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3D Scanned Humans

3D Scanned Humans

For adding some human warmth to your images & animations...​

I looked high, and low, for good 3D people. I landed on Human Alloy, and I was pleased with them.​

​Lobby Rendering Using 3D People Scans

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Go Beyond Literally Copying the World

Conception and creativity have always been part of the artists impression, it is usually a matter of  degree as to how much an artist use their imagination and how much they use their perceptual vision in the selection and development of their rendering.

Artist, therefore, go beyond verbatim copying and transform into their personal style. Capable artist, whatever the level of creativity they employ, are able to convince us that the fantasy is a possible reality. Any successful work of art, regardless of the medium, leads the thoughtful observer into the persuasive world of the imagination.

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Render, Render, and Render Some More

Render, render, render. Don't be afraid to experiment. Play. Once you've learned to do something, don't keep doing it the same way over and over - get out of your comfort zone. Use what you can from others and believe in yourself. Don't render for grandma, don't render for the market - render to please yourself and you'll be OK.

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10 Rules for Being a Professional Artist

You may have been one of the lucky readers who got their hands on a hot magazine that Artists Network published several years ago: Acrylic Artist.

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If you didn't happen to get a copy (digital issues of Acrylic Artist are still available in NorthLightShop.com), then you may have missed the work of Mark Gould. I was browsing through an issue recently, and his acrylic landscapes once again caught my eye, such as his painting My Neighbor's House 816 (above; acrylic on panel, 24x36). In this feature article, Mark shares his philosophy for professional creatives that I thought was worth passing along here: 

Mark Gould's 10 Rules for Being a Professional Artist

1. Creative efforts take priority over other activities whenever possible. 
2. Simplify all aspects of life in order to think and act creatively.
3. Ensure the creative process is always challenging and enjoyable; always balance a risk of failure with the potential for success in order to keep efforts honest and engaging.
4. Be the eternal student, always willing to learn.
5. Welcome other opinions-good, bad or indifferent-but never relinquish final judgment to another.
6. Seek out people who are positive in their approach to the creative process and welcome their constructive critique. Avoid negative people and their attitudes, even when personal sacrifice is required. 
7. Think before committing time, money or other resources to any future aspect of the creative endeavor. Be certain that both feeling and logic regarding the decision are sound.
8. Release to the public only those works that are fully "competent and satisfactory," those that are properly executed with a high degree of creativity.
9. Never become problematic for any gallery or collector. Be sincere and forthright in all gallery dealings. Require absolute honesty in return.
10. Be truthful and self-aware in regard to your creative efforts. Only then can artistic vision be trusted and improved.

Great reminders! If you're ready to take this advice to heart, especially the points that are on the creative side, Acrylic Solutions: Exploring Mixed Media Layer by Layer by is a great resource. In it, Chris Cozen and Julie Prichard share more than 30 painting lessons to keep you actively moving toward your own art goals

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The Sketch Is Where It All Begins

The idea for a rendering may be derived from anything, really - a flash of sunlight, the tilt of a head, a glass on the table, but the sketch is where it all begins, the point where inspiration meets artist. Gloriously free of the need to get it right, the sketch is where possibilities are explored, compositions are found and visions come to life.  Sketches represent the art in its raw form.

Sketching is messy, unfinished and noncommittal. It allows you to have fun and think about things more unconventionally - without the expectation that it has to lead to anything at all. Sketches are a byproduct and castoffs of a thought in the process.

Year ago I would jump right into a rendering as soon as I got an idea. This would occasionally result in a decent rendering, but not as often as I'd have liked. When I started planning first and working things out in advance, my success rate tremendously went up. Sketching is unquestionably worth the time. Sketching has taught me that it's all about balance - between planning everything out and following that plan, but also allowing for hidden surprises and spontaneous happenings.

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Acrobat 9 Pro: Creating Multimedia Projects with Brian Wood

Acrobat 9 Pro has the ability to integrate JavaScript, multimedia, and Flash within interactive PDFs. In 

Acrobat 9 Pro: Creating Multimedia Projects

, Brian Wood teaches web developers, graphic designers, and anyone else how to use Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro. He shows how to create visually exciting PDF presentations, documents, and interface elements for distribution on the web, on CD/DVD, and via email. Brian explains the difference between embedded and linked media elements and shares several JavaScript examples that relate to all aspects of multimedia. Exercise files accompany the course.

Topics include:

  • Working with the new Flash CS4 video integration Embedding and linking to all types of multimedia Creating links, buttons, and other navigation systems Integrating layers and buttons for web page-like effects Adding sounds to complement embedded video action Using buttons and bookmarks to interact with layers

Acrobat9Pro Creating Multimedia Projects Certificate Of Completion

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