If I may direct your attention to ERATS

Hey! Did you know I've been a for real art teacher for a couple months now? I have my own classroom and every thing. I even just made a new blog for the goings on in there. ERATS Art Room. It's still pretty fresh so there's not too much content just yet. It'll bloom soon. For now enjoy this image of me as my own many students.

Here kitty kitty kitties...

I am always shocked and pleasantly pleased at my abilities to make the arts. I hardly oil paint, but when I was student teaching at Moorhead HS that's what we did. I did a side project of my cats just to refresh my skills. Apparently people can make big bucks painting portraits of people's animals. I may have to market it myself as well. Anyone want an animal portrait? $1 billion. Cash only. j/k... I accept checks ;)

Moorhead High Goodbye

Golly gee wiz, I do not post enough! I wanted to share the art I left behind at Moorhead High School now many months ago. The advanced students all got a 12x12" canvas to leave their mark on and I took part as well. I painted a scene from the class to commemorate my time with them. I felt pretty pleased with the result.

Collaborative Coil

I had the high school sculpture class create a collaborative coil vessel this quarter. Each student had to make one coil to attach to the project. I can't tell if it turned out ugly or beautiful. At one point I had to save it from collapsing from the weight of the chunky coils. A couple other students painted it. I think it's pretty lovely and a bit whimsical, but everyone has their own opinion. It was a nice effort at least. 

6th Grade Art

Today is the last day of my 6th grade student teaching experience. The kids were so great! I am very proud of every single one of them. The lessons I was able to create and teach were one-point perspective, optical illusion paper weavings, and sewing creature toys. Here are only a few wonderful samples of some of the final projects. They are all so creative! My favorite lesson by far was toy making. The little creature/monster/adorable guys turned out amazing and some of the stories on the tags are hilarious.

Fat Printed Creatures

After years of drawing cartoons I kept being told that I would love printmaking because my graphic style lends well to the medium. Last semester I finally took a printmaking class and I must say, I loved it! Here are four prints from what I call my fat mythological creature series. First is a woodblock print, next is a linoleum print, and the last two are screen prints. Fun times were had by all. 

Upcoming BFA Show

Coming soon to a college art gallery not near or near you: Alisha Hagen, MSUM BFA show. In one month I will have some art in my college's gallery. Last semester I worked on creating these awesome zoetropes for the installation. Blood, sweat, and tears were shed while welding and animation the contents... maybe not so much blood, but some sweat and tears. The images are a quick preview, but you'll have to check them out for yourself on March 2nd if you really want to get the full effect of the amazing-ness.

The final product in motion.

My pre-animation tests