Beginning Againning

Still unsure how I feel about Monday classes, instead of Tuesday. Like it was really nice not to go into class already being tired from being at the desk. On the other hand, I was sort of keyed up all day, because my brain is the "I'm leaving at 5:15, and it's 10:30 now, which is basically lunch time, and if I finish lunch at 1, that's pretty close to 2, which is basically 3, and then there's just 2 hours before I need to leave. So I better get ready now and just sit here in a cat-like state of readiness."

I reckon that will improve.

I was still tired after class; the first one is particularly physical, but less so than on a Tuesday.

I had printed class materials on Friday. When I got to class on Monday I realized I'd printed the wrong thing. In short, I have a collection of eight Week 1 photos, and I typically print four of the eight pictures. I printed three copies of two, two that I usually don't use. :/ But I remembered another teacher mentioning the box of old calendars in the supply closet, so I grabbed those. The printouts were for a lesson; the lesson still worked, it was just a little more difficult. At the end of class, I offered them a calendar to draw from and they each took one.

Both students showed up, yea! One student is retired and the other is the parent of a pre-schooler, which pretty much sums up the majority of my students. Both had taken art classes before, though some time again, and both were much better than the majority of my students. Which means I should step up my game a little bit!

Both students were engaged but quiet. So it was a little hard to interact with them, you know what I mean? Not a lot of give and take. But that's alright. 

One student arrived with just their bag. I was concerned. I said, "Ok, pull out your sketch books and a pencil. . . .do you have a sketchbook?" They said no, they didn't bring anything because they didn't know what to bring!

Okay. . . .I went to the closet but realized I don't know where the sketch books are. So I lent my sketchbook: rip out the pages she used at the end of class and return the book. No big deal. As for pencils, I always have a couple sets of pencils for students to try if they just bring one, so I lent those, too. And of course, they already get a paper stump and piece of kneaded eraser. I was quite taken aback by the whole thing but I think I did well getting the needed supplies.

I hate when my plans don't go right and here it happened twice in like half an hour!

Class progressed as normal. I want to try doing more demos this time (though maybe not as necessary with these two), so I drew the horse three times: once just free hand, second time with a focus on shapes, third time the way I usually draw.

So at the moment, trying to think about how I can elevate (for lack of a better word) next week's lesson.

Here's Little Buddy helping me get ready to go:

Mark making demo:

Horsies!