Painting from Life
Videos on painting from life by The Art Students’ League of New York would be useful in an English course for Artists. Here I would focus on how an artist, Sharon Sprung, describes her process as she paints. Notice how difficult it is to multitask, producing both visually and verbally, and both commenting on the […]
The Abercrombie + Fitch scandal
We discussed the Abercrombie + Fitch scandal in a class of mine a few weeks ago, using the Interbrand blog. The reasoned response in the first video below reiterates many of the points made by the participants. They argued about whether one should simply say “live and let live” or demand civic readjustment, and whether […]
A documentary about grammar
David and Elisabeth O’Brien, former English teachers, have raised over 22,000 dollars through Kickstarter to make a film about grammar. Talk about geeky – but they say their film is for everyone. Follow Elizabeth on Twitter @GrammarRocks. Their blog, Grammar Revolution, features diagramming, which I would find too complicated for my German students. But maybe […]
Esperanza Spalding: Overjoyed + Can’t help it
Esperanza Spalding, wonder, covers Stevie Wonder. Followed by Can’t help it (also by Stevie Wonder; Joe Lovano on sax). Over time, I’ve been building my castle of love Just for two, though you never knew you were my reason I’ve gone much too far for you now to say That I’ve got to throw my […]
Zara’s logistics
I’m writing a book for business English, Basis for Business C1. When I was putting the unit on logistics together, I was initially thinking of using Inditex, Zara’s parent company, as the main example. But it’s already been used in several other course book, including Cornelsen’s Career Express, and I’m trying to be as original […]
Rob Ross: The Joy of Painting
No series of posts on English for artists would be complete without mentioning Rob Ross and his PBS TV series, The Joy of Painting (’83-’94). I’ve been fascinated watching the shapes emerge, and have laughed tears listening to the painter, all down-homey, talking about his little old messy brushes – but that’s ok – just […]
Tom Keating on Painters
Tom Keating (1917-1984) was an art restorer and a famous art forger exposed 1976, and tried and let off for health reasons in 1979. In the early 80s he had a TV series where he demonstrated the painting techniques of the old masters. Considering the art world rotten, he painted time bombs into his fakes. […]