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Inspired by the amazing artist, Dave Devries (https://www.themonsterengine.com/, ) Braden River High School sought out the artistic inspiration of Bashaw, Gene Witt, and Tara Elementary schools. Over 2,500 students participated in creating monsters. Our high school students transformed the work of elementary students for some truly monstrous creations. Below you see the original art by the elementary students and how it was transformed by our high school students. In addition, below is a letter from the wonderful Dave Devries himself…
Please click on the images
THE MONSTER ENGINE
When I started The Monster Engine project in 1998, I had hoped to share what inspired me about children and their art----to show the world how powerful kids were. Adults have written books about creativity and how to achieve better ideas yet no child has ever needed to talk about where they get their ideas, let alone write about them. When I first attempted to paint a child's drawing, it was terrifying and exciting at the same time because I couldn't predict what the end result would be. It was like I plugged myself in to the chaotic energy within the child's drawing. Frankly, every step was heart pounding and yet I was simply sitting in a chair just moving my brush. In effect, I let go of everything I knew about academic image making, yet ironically I applied all my hard won artistic skills to the child's lines. It was life changing for me. Though i knew this was a great art project, I could only dream that it would inspire others to explore this art process.
Now, here we are 22 years later and 2500 students have attempted what was a simple idea in 1998. I can only say how floored I am. Let me tell you why.
High school and middle school are strange times in a student's life. during these tumultuous years, the things that little kids love lose their importance and are replaced by dating, and personal freedom. You're trying to make a name for yourself by separating from your parents---or at least showing the world that you don't need their meddling help. There's nothing wrong with that either. This is the time to do it (and they're not meddling--they just love you.)
I've taught this art technique to college students. You see, they're close to the end of their college studies and face a leap into the real world of jobs and responsibilities. As such, they are more open to memories of innocence and the freedom from responsibilities that defined early childhood. I always found them eager to test drive The Monster Engine and create art that connected them to their youth.
But high school and middle school students... I always thought they'd hate doing this project simply because they needed to escape the bonds of childhood and embrace their future. So, with that said, I'm so impressed that so many of you tried this project out. I truly hope that you had fun.
Notice I didn't lead with "I hope you learned alot." That isn't the most important quality of a school project. I can hear the teachers and administrators grinding their teeth on that one. Hear me out though. In life, I've discovered that there are only two truly important things in life---to learn and to have fun. Though some academics believe fun in school is secondary, I challenge you to look at this another way.
The whole point of the Monster Engine was to connect who you are now, the mature art student, to the innocent artist you were then. Remember how much fun you had back then? Maybe you could draw anything and be happy to show it off despite having no academic art skill. Maybe you could role play and become someone else. Maybe you sang and danced with no cause for embarrassment. The point is that you had fun with no thought to the scrutiny of others. Fun got you up in the morning, got you doing things that made you smile and laugh. You rarely, if ever, did any activity as a child in order to learn. But you learned none the less. Learning came as a by product of having fun. So if I can leave you with anything it is this.
Life is designed to wear you down.
Ask your teachers about their mortgage and taxes, ask them about getting the car fixed and the compromises they make to maintain their jobs. I can guarantee that their faces won't light up. But ask them instead about their childhood---a favorite memory-- and their faces soften--a wistful glow emerges. They are connected to the kid they once were. When I create my lessons as an art teacher--the ones I'm most proud of and the ones the kids like most---they're the ones where I had fun.
Lastly, it takes work to hold on to your childhood self---as life exerts pressure to conform, it takes work to hold on to your inner child. Perhaps you've met people that can't find fun in life. They've succumbed to that pressure. So, as you go forward, and this is particularly hard for middle schoolers, don't erase that silly 3rd grader you were to become cool enough to fit into a friend group. Middle schoolers--you are just leaving that kid world and that pressure to fit into a friend group---that's life exerting pressure to wear you down. It only grows from there. High schoolers---you have lots of pressure---from dating, college entrance, jobs and driving. And to boot, adults are asking you to be more mature. And yes you need to be. Even so, don't lose that childhood self no matter what. The more you loosen your grip on that fun childhood version of yourself, the easier it is for life to grind you down into a miserable life. Finally, elementary students--just keep having fun. Be yourself and remember to keep a tight hold on the fun parts of life. Be responsible to your family, friends and school... but never stop being silly or having fun.
Now that you've participated in this project, I ask you, is The Monster Engine an art project or a means to live a creative life. You decide. For me, I created this project so that I could find that little kid from 1973 who played with action figures, read comics and dreamed that he could fly. Because of The Monster Engine, I found him--made him real in my life. He's weird and silly and embarrassing---but that's not my problem anymore. That is the world's problem.
So, remember, be creative kids, have fun and, yes, you'll learn---despite life telling you otherwise.
Dave DeVries
Feb 23, 2020
When I started The Monster Engine project in 1998, I had hoped to share what inspired me about children and their art----to show the world how powerful kids were. Adults have written books about creativity and how to achieve better ideas yet no child has ever needed to talk about where they get their ideas, let alone write about them. When I first attempted to paint a child's drawing, it was terrifying and exciting at the same time because I couldn't predict what the end result would be. It was like I plugged myself in to the chaotic energy within the child's drawing. Frankly, every step was heart pounding and yet I was simply sitting in a chair just moving my brush. In effect, I let go of everything I knew about academic image making, yet ironically I applied all my hard won artistic skills to the child's lines. It was life changing for me. Though i knew this was a great art project, I could only dream that it would inspire others to explore this art process.
Now, here we are 22 years later and 2500 students have attempted what was a simple idea in 1998. I can only say how floored I am. Let me tell you why.
High school and middle school are strange times in a student's life. during these tumultuous years, the things that little kids love lose their importance and are replaced by dating, and personal freedom. You're trying to make a name for yourself by separating from your parents---or at least showing the world that you don't need their meddling help. There's nothing wrong with that either. This is the time to do it (and they're not meddling--they just love you.)
I've taught this art technique to college students. You see, they're close to the end of their college studies and face a leap into the real world of jobs and responsibilities. As such, they are more open to memories of innocence and the freedom from responsibilities that defined early childhood. I always found them eager to test drive The Monster Engine and create art that connected them to their youth.
But high school and middle school students... I always thought they'd hate doing this project simply because they needed to escape the bonds of childhood and embrace their future. So, with that said, I'm so impressed that so many of you tried this project out. I truly hope that you had fun.
Notice I didn't lead with "I hope you learned alot." That isn't the most important quality of a school project. I can hear the teachers and administrators grinding their teeth on that one. Hear me out though. In life, I've discovered that there are only two truly important things in life---to learn and to have fun. Though some academics believe fun in school is secondary, I challenge you to look at this another way.
The whole point of the Monster Engine was to connect who you are now, the mature art student, to the innocent artist you were then. Remember how much fun you had back then? Maybe you could draw anything and be happy to show it off despite having no academic art skill. Maybe you could role play and become someone else. Maybe you sang and danced with no cause for embarrassment. The point is that you had fun with no thought to the scrutiny of others. Fun got you up in the morning, got you doing things that made you smile and laugh. You rarely, if ever, did any activity as a child in order to learn. But you learned none the less. Learning came as a by product of having fun. So if I can leave you with anything it is this.
Life is designed to wear you down.
Ask your teachers about their mortgage and taxes, ask them about getting the car fixed and the compromises they make to maintain their jobs. I can guarantee that their faces won't light up. But ask them instead about their childhood---a favorite memory-- and their faces soften--a wistful glow emerges. They are connected to the kid they once were. When I create my lessons as an art teacher--the ones I'm most proud of and the ones the kids like most---they're the ones where I had fun.
Lastly, it takes work to hold on to your childhood self---as life exerts pressure to conform, it takes work to hold on to your inner child. Perhaps you've met people that can't find fun in life. They've succumbed to that pressure. So, as you go forward, and this is particularly hard for middle schoolers, don't erase that silly 3rd grader you were to become cool enough to fit into a friend group. Middle schoolers--you are just leaving that kid world and that pressure to fit into a friend group---that's life exerting pressure to wear you down. It only grows from there. High schoolers---you have lots of pressure---from dating, college entrance, jobs and driving. And to boot, adults are asking you to be more mature. And yes you need to be. Even so, don't lose that childhood self no matter what. The more you loosen your grip on that fun childhood version of yourself, the easier it is for life to grind you down into a miserable life. Finally, elementary students--just keep having fun. Be yourself and remember to keep a tight hold on the fun parts of life. Be responsible to your family, friends and school... but never stop being silly or having fun.
Now that you've participated in this project, I ask you, is The Monster Engine an art project or a means to live a creative life. You decide. For me, I created this project so that I could find that little kid from 1973 who played with action figures, read comics and dreamed that he could fly. Because of The Monster Engine, I found him--made him real in my life. He's weird and silly and embarrassing---but that's not my problem anymore. That is the world's problem.
So, remember, be creative kids, have fun and, yes, you'll learn---despite life telling you otherwise.
Dave DeVries
Feb 23, 2020