The rounded rectangles remind me of looking out of the window on a plane. I like the window seat.

A flowering vine is always an fun subject. I think about balance and rhythm in constructing the drawing. I started with a random line on the page and just let the drawing happen.

This is a peek of a picture book I am working on. It is in the story development phase. I am hopeful that the story is to a point that it is ready for submission. I just need to let it simmer for a few days.

Over the River and Through the Woods is the first page in a new sketch book. I need to get better at drawing directly into the computer and I want a non threatening page to sketch on once a day.

Rules: one page a day analogue or digital, only black and white, 15 minutes drawing and 15 minutes writing.

What if?

I am surprised and pleased at how much this looks like a child’s drawing. When examining the work of Paul Klee he seems to show no fear in his expression. His images are filled with “What if?” explorations. This is a place where “What if?” can exist.

Brush Stroke Shape from BYU-Idaho Art Dept on Vimeo.

Imposto action from BYU-Idaho Art Dept on Vimeo.

I have had a great time working on this project. The image that I am showing here is for the cover of the concert program but I am also creating images for projection in a massive way as background for the concert at the BYU-Idaho center.

The concert explores traditional christmas music with other music from Africa, the Caribbean and Brazil. The paper cut addresses the traditional and the warm painting of colors in the background address these warmer cultures.

Skoughtee Texture No.004

Skoughtee Texture No.004

Skoughtee Texture No.003

Skoughtee Texture No.003

This is my submission for the Brigham Young University-Idaho Art Faculty Show (summer of 2013). 3 Inkjet prints, each print is 24 x 34 inches

detail

Diamond Point 1

Diamond Point 2

Diamond Point 3

Skoughtee Texture No.002 available September 9

Skoughtee Texture No.002

Painting created using Skoughtee Texture No.001. Download

Download | Skoughtee Texture No.001 on Gumroad

Skoughtee Texture No.001 from Scott Franson on Vimeo.

Here is a repeating pattern created in a vector drawing program.

Folding paper has led to my discovery of Joseph Albers and his ideas about teaching. The more I read about him the more I like him. The article Experimentation, Not Replication by Oliver Barker is a great article that clearly articulates the teaching philosophy of Joseph Albers.

“For me education is not first giving answers, but giving questions. And if a student comes to me with a question, I consider if very carefully whether I should answer him or not. When I give him the answer to an execution, then I take away from him the opportunity to invent it himself and discover it himself.”-Josef Albers

As a design educator I have been trying to decide how to educate the next generation of designers in a world that is requiring a higher and wider level of skill within the limits of a four year degree. One solution that is often suggested is to make the degree longer but I have come to the conclusion that a degree is not a point of arrival, it is just a push start. There is no way to provide all the skills and information that a student seemingly needs and so instead of delivering a fixed set of skills, the delivery needs to develop students with an adequate set of skills and the ability/flexibility to gain the skills as they need them.

Design education cannot be a series of “paint by number” projects that produce artifacts without understanding.

Design education cannot be a series of “paint by number” projects that produce artifacts without understanding. As a teacher I need to be open to student solutions that I have never seen.

What do you think about the current state of design education? What is necessary for a graduate to create a successful career in todays world?

Mixing physical and digital media can produce some wonderful and unexpected results. This Ted Talk by Marco Tempest is a wonderful example. (Motion Design: Alain Renold, Pop-up Design: Peter Dahmen)

Art-i-fact #012313v001

I had a great day in class today. It was great to see the students work and see great potential. I have a really great bunch of students this semester.

Art-i-fact #011513v001

A pewter checkerish pattern. I will print it out and live with it for a few days to see if I like it. I did hear today that my first fabric samples are on the way. If all goes well I will have some new bow ties soon.

Art-i-fact #011113v01

On my way to work this morning all the trees and grass were covered with white frost crystals. It was beautiful.

Art-i-fact #011013v01

The frost crystals on the trees inspired me to try a pattern for todays art-i-fact. There is not much frost but it was beautiful.

There is a beauty in the bare branches of trees in the winter.

Today was the first day of classes so my artifact for the day is my syllabus for the identity design class. Sometimes you just do whatever it takes.

Artifact #005

Just in case you are interested it was a good first day of class. I am looking forward to the semester.

At a movie theater in Colorado a man committed a crime. I am choosing today to tune out of all coverage. I don’t want to know why he did it. I don’t want to know what was in his mind. I don’t want to know because it won’t give life back to the people who are gone. It won’t change anything to give him a soap box to relive his crime. I know my influence is small but I suggesting that you might consider doing the same. Reverence those who lost their lives. Reverence the wounded. Deny him any attention. Please tune him out. No good will come from wallowing with him.

A semester has just ended. Although there are always things that can be better it was a good semester. I had a discussion at lunch with Brian Memmott, a faculty colleague, about typography. My mantra for this semester has been, “Invite the reader into the content.” In the past my typographic mantra has been “You need to learn to see.” I still believe that students of typography need to “learn to see” but the statement itself is abstract and difficult for students to grab ahold of. All of them can get ahold of what attracts their attention and invites them to come in for a visit.

Invite readers to come in for a visit.

While the students are still in the beginning stages of learning about type, I am hopeful that observing typography from this new vantage point will invite and encourage them to learn to clearly communicate the content as they are learning to see.