Tuesday, March 31, 2015

NAEA CDs and Kits

I just finished updating the JFJ website, and I have included the CDs from our presentations at the NAEA Convention in our Shop. Available for purchase for $13.00 each (includes shipping and handling). So if you missed picking one up, go to the Shop, or click the Buy Now buttons below.

The Journey to Choice
This CD includes a wealth of information and images making it valuable to any art educator who wants to move away from cookie cutter projects and into more authentic means of artmaking for students.
The CD includes:
  • The PowerPoint and Notes from the presentation
  • Assessment information
  • Nearly 40 instructional menus including clay, paint, collage and more
  • 100 images of student work
  • Photos of Eric's classroom and center set-up
  • Several sample lesson plans
  • A free journal tutorial and a free print out of prints and cards
$13.00
includes S&H


Visual Journals 101
This CD includes a wealth of information and images about the visual journal making it valuable to not just art educators, but to anyone interested in the visual journal. 
The CD includes:
  • The PowerPoint and Notes from the presentation
  • Assessment information
  • Assignments and Prompts
  • 100 images of Eric and David's journal pages
  • 100 images of student pages (high school)
  • Resources and How-tos
  • Workshop Packet
  • A free journal tutorial and a free print out of prints and cards
$13.00
includes S&H


I have also included two journal kits that we have used in recent workshops including our Pre-Convention Workshops for NAEA. For more information, go to the Shop.

Journal Kit 1 - $37.00, includes shipping and handling.

$37.00
includes S&H




Journal Kit 2 - $32.00, includes shipping and handling

$32.00
includes S&H


Monday, March 30, 2015

NAEA in New Orleans



We just got back from six days in New Orleans for the National Art Education Association's annual convention. Over 5000 art educators from around the world ascended on the Big Easy, and it was a truly amazing time.


We arrived on Tuesday, a couple of days before the official start of the convention, and enjoyed walking around and taking in the some of the sights. Of course, we stopped in at Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter for coffee and beignets. Well, Dave had the beignets since they're not vegan.


We kicked things off on Wednesday with two Pre-Convention Workshops on the Visual Journal, and we had about 30 participants in each session. We shared a variety of ideas for working in the journal, and there was just a positive buzz in the air.


The official start of the Convention was Wednesday, and it was awesome running into so many friends, like Melissa Ledo above, and colleagues. Dave said that it was like being at a family reunion except you like everyone. We also rocked two presentations that day. The first focused on my journey to teaching a choice based curriculum, and the room was packed (see the photo below). There was such a crazy amount of positive energy flowing in that space, and I was completely floored by the sheer number of people who came in. People were standing in the back and sitting on the floor. Unfortunately, I ran completely out of the CDs that I made with lots of information and resources about Choice Based, but I will be making them available for anyone who missed out. Stay tuned.

photo by Michelle Harrell
Later in the day on Wednesday we had a panel discussion on the visual journal and how it can be used in the classroom at any level - elementary through university. Our friends Sam Peck and Michael Bell joined us for the talk as we all shared what we did and how we engaged our students.


Dave and I did another packed presentation on Friday on the visual journals, and we think that we got a lot of educators excited about the journal for themselves and for their students. Again, we ran out of CDs for the session, so we will be making them available for purchase on our website and blog.

On Saturday, we got to meet and talk to a lot of wonderful people as we signed books at Chester Book Co. in the exhibitors hall. We are very grateful to Alan and Heather for giving us the opportunity to promote our books.


Dave and Sam also got to share about their collaborative journal project tet[R]ad on Saturday, and they had a bunch of excited people flocking to hall in order to be a part of the project. And finally, Dave presented with a colleague from Australia, Lexi Cutcher, about their international collaboration they organized for themselves and their university students.


It was a crazy busy convention, but well worth it. The energy of the location, the people, the conversations was all extremely positive and motivating. It is a true indicator that we are moving in the right direction. Thank you to everyone who came out to one of our workshops or presentations, who stopped by Chester Book Co. to buy a book, and who stopped and chatted. We are grateful for the support.

Though the convention was fantastic and it was wonderful being surrounded by so many dedicated art educators, it was good to get back home to my wonderful wife and my snuggly animals. I am always appreciative of my wife's support that allows me the opportunity to travel and share, and I am always in awe of the comfort and love my animals bring. It's always nice to travel, but it's always nicer to get back home.


Friday, March 20, 2015

The JFJ Gear Up for NAEA


We're gearing up for the National Art Education Association's annual convention in New Orleans next week. We're excited to be presenting something each day, so make certain to check out one of our sessions if you're an art educator and will be attending.

We fly in on Tuesday so we can kick the Convention off with two Pre-Convention Workshops on Wednesday, and we present at least one thing each day. And there might be a book signing in there as well. We're also going to have artwork, books, stickers, and CDs for sale!

It's going to be a busy four days, but we are excited!

Here's what's going on, so mark your calendar:

Wednesday, March 25 - Pre-Convention Hands-on Workshop - Hilton Hotel/Elmwood/3rd Floor
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Initiating a Successful Visual Journal Practice

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Visual Journals: Developing Rich Layers of Meaning

Thursday, March 26 - Presentation - Convention Center Room 223
12:00 PM - 12:50 PM - The Journey to Choice and Authentic Artmaking in the Art Room

Thursday, March 26 - Panel Presentation - Convention Center Room 222
4:00 PM - 4:50 PM - The Visual Journal: Hinge Pin to a Successful Art Curriculum with Michael Bell and Samuel Peck

Friday, March 27 - Presentation - Convention Center Room 206
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM - Visual Journals 101: A Crash Course

Saturday, March 28 - Presentation - Convention Center Room 222
2:00 PM - 2:25 - Building a Creative Community Through Arts-Based Collaborations with Samuel Peck

Saturday, March 28 - Presentation - Convention Center Room 217
5:30 PM - 5:55 PM - International Collaborations: Preparing Visual Arts Teachers Through Shared Art Making with Lexi Cutcher


We can't wait to rock New Orleans!

Saturday, March 14, 2015

And the Winner Is...


First of all, thank you to everyone who entered the JFJ's first materials give away! I loved reading about all of your favorite materials, and I definitely need to try out some of the ones I'm not familiar with.

I went old-school with how I picked a winner. I typed up a list of everyone who entered and printed it out. I cut the list up into strips, and I folded them up and put them in a bowl.


I swirled the names up for a couple of minutes, and drew out one name. And the winner is. . .


Dana of the blog The Daily Dose!!!! Congratulations!


Dana wins the Journal Fodder Junkies basic supplies kit, and it contains some great materials for any journaling practice. Dana please email me, or private message us through the JFJ Facebook page with your contact information, and I'll get you prize shipped out as soon as possible.

Congratulations, Dana!

Friday, March 6, 2015

The JFJ Giveaway!

We had some kits left over from some recent workshops, so we thought that we would give one of them away before putting the rest up for sale. This will be the first of many giveaways to come!


We are often asked what kinds and what brands of materials we like to use, so we put together a basic kit. Now's your chance to enter and win some of our favorite journaling supplies.

The kit includes:

  • a 9.5"x7.5" mesh zipper bag
  • a 12 color set of Prismacolor watercolor pencils
  • an 8 color set of Prang watercolor paint
  • a jumbo UHU glue stick
  • a yellow Crayola marker
  • a black uni-ball Vision pen
  • a silver metallic Sharpie
  • an official JFJ sticker
That's $45 worth of merchandise! And we're giving it away - FREE!

How it works:
We're going to pick one lucky winner from the comments to this blog post, and only this post. To be eligible to win, you must leave a comment below describing your favorite material to use in your art or your journal. You have until midnight Eastern Time on Friday, March 13 to enter. We will randomly select and announce a winner from all eligible entrants on Saturday, March 14. The winner will then have until Wednesday, March 18, to email us with their shipping information, and we'll ship out your prize - FREE! All you have to do is leave a comment. That's it!

Don't need the materials? Enter anyway! The kit makes an awesome gift for a friend or relative.


Enter now by leaving your comment below. You have nothing to lose, and make certain to share with all of your artistic accomplices!