Let's Talk About Bullying

Let's talk about bullying.

I have friends and family who are, have been or their children are being bullied.
As a child I was relentlessly bullied at school.

The method of dealing with it back then was:
Take it.
You tell a teacher or principal and they tell you to stop being a baby.
The bullies find out you tattled and it only gets worse.
You tell a parent and they are/seem to be too busy.

I was called stupid, ugly, clumsy, fat, etc.
I believed every word of it.
I cried.
I hated school.
I had little to no friends, depending on which place we were living at the time.
We moved a LOT.
I attended 8 schools in 12 years.
Always the new kid it seemed.
Always hoping for a new start and more acceptance.
The only good thing that came out of it was that I drew.
I drew a LOT.
TV, books, Art. Those were my escape.

I have decided that once I get a little time, I am going to address my previous and the current rage of bullying in an art piece. So that's coming up. Let's just say it's To Be Announced.

While there are multiple TV shows, music videos etc. dealing with and condemning bullying, it most assuredly has not gone away.
But here are just a few of the ones I like.

All About That Bass -Meghan Trainor
I see the magazines,
working that Photoshop
we know that sh*t ain't real
come on now make it stop.
If you got beauty, beauty
just raise 'em up
'cause every inch of you is perfect
from the bottom to the top

Secrets - Mary Lambert
They tell us from the time we're young
to hide the things that we don't like about ourselves
inside ourselves.
I know I'm not the only one
who spent so long attempting to be someone else,
well I'm over it.

Firework- Katy Perry
You don't have to feel
like you're a waste of space,
You're original
cannot be replaced.

Beautiful- Christina Aguilerra
I am beautiful
no matter what they say
words can't bring me down.

Perfect- Pink
Pretty, pretty please
don't you ever feel
like you're less than perfect.

You're so mean
when you talk to yourself
you were wrong
change the voices in your head.

Try- Colbie Caillat
You don't have to try so hard,
.....
You don't have to change a single thing.
This is what you want? to belong.
So they like you?
Do YOU like you?

and many more

Just the Way You Are- Bruno Mars
Roar- Katy Perry
Shake It Off- Taylor Swift

let's stop the bullying and start liking ourselves for who we are at this very moment.
let's stop the bullying and start accepting each other for who we are right now.

striking portraits by Mark Powell

These incredible portraits were drawn by artist Mark Powell on authentic vintage envelopes. 

4 week PORTRAIT CLASS

I'm giving a 4 week Portrait Class at The Art Department in Salem Oregon.
This is a much more extensive class and will allow for students to learn the basics, build on those skills, and work on a drawing of someone they know personally.

any questions about the class itself, supply list etc. as well as to sign up- call The Art Department at 503- 364-7465
otherwise contact me here.


Class description and dates:
DRAWING PORTRAITS
Jami Moffett
October 13 - November 3, Mondays, 4 weeks, 6-8pm
$95Join Jami in this 4 week comprehensive study of the face. This class will contain information to help you define your skills, strengthen your powers of observation and learn to recreate photographic references of the face "parts" (eyes, ears, lips, hair) as well as the face as a whole. Students will gain knowledge and experience to reproduce a likeness. You will learn the importance of light and shadow, correct proportions, blending and shading. Learn to use the various degrees of graphite pencils, charcoal and other accompanying tools.

Below you will find examples by me. Scroll down farther and find a few student examples from the one day workshops.