Clay Candlestick Holder - My Work

This was just sent across the pond to Australia as a gift to a fellow artist for her generosity.  It was made during a demo. I was giving on clay candlestick holders (a prelude to slab boxes).  We make these just before the Xmas break, and as a present to all the students, I buy them beeswax to make their own candles with.  To finish them off I sawdust fire and the kids rub them with metallic compounds, then we embellish with raffia.

Coil Trivets - Student Work

As a prelude to building coil pots, I have the Ceramics I kids do an assignment I call Clay Trivets.  This way they get the hang of rolling out well formed coils before the big assignment.  This is a really fun project for the students.  

First they cut out the outside format of their shape from a rolled slab.  Then they cut out an interior piece that either echos the exterior or they change up the design entirely.  With the interior piece that they cut out, they begin to roll their coils, make their balls and shapes and insert the clay back into the interior hole.  Keep in mind I have them do this from the backside.  Then when every space is filled up (remember they are on the back side) they score thru all the pieces and smooth everything over until you see only a blank back side.   The funniest part is turning them over to reveal the design on the front side.  On the front they add repetitious stamping and carve out areas to melt glass into.

These first two are the work of juniors Carol Oh and Shamara Mustafa.  And below is the creation of junior Justyn Li.  Well done all of you!

Modified Contour Pinecones - Student Work

Pinecones are one of the most complex and difficult things I ask my students to draw, but I don't tell them that till after it's over  LOL.  These where done only after about two weeks into the Right Brain unit.  amazing, right?

Above we have senior Alice Zhang and below 8th grader Annie Oh again.  Annie is one of my youngest up and coming superstars. 

Porcelain Slab Wraps - Student Work

Another review assignment I do at the beginning of the year with my Ceramics II kids is to have them stamp the clay then thump and drag it so that it stretches out and cracks along the edges.  At the same time I am introducing them to working in porcelain, a very high fire white/translucent clay body that's delicate and lovely, but also a bit of a challenge.  These little works only measure about 3 inches tall by about an inch or so wide.  Tiny and very decorative.

The three above as well as one below are the work of senior Eddie Ponce.  One of the many things I love about Eddie is that he produces good work very quickly so that he is always ahead of schedule and able to make a couple more pieces before the assignment ends.  I also like the way he has glazed each piece with a different glaze and/or oxide. 

These next two above belong to senior Rita Labib.  I really like how she has pushed the cylinders beyond their limits and actually broken thru on that one on the left.

This next work by senior Stella Park is so cool.  She has used three of our oxides and stained the clay after bisque firing, then applied a transparent glaze over top for a very unique finish.  

Then below we are back again to Rita. 

Rita produced her color by drawing with oxide pencils onto the bisqueware then putting the transparent glaze over top for a very subtle, soft look.

This last one also belongs to Rita.  Love that she added the legs to create a tiny but elegant piece.

Modified Contour Hands - Student Work

For 2 months of the school year I take my Beginning 2-D art students thru the first half of Dr. Betty Edward's "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain " book which teaches them to draw by accessing the right side of the brain and it's functions.  One of the many exercises is called Modified Contour which means they have to stare at their hand and draw it, looking at their paper only about 25 % of the time.  The drawing takes about 45 mins.  By not looking at their paper too often they are able to record great realistic detail along all the interior and exterior edges of the hand.  The piece turn out amazingly well.  And for many of these beginners, it's their first time drawing since 1st and 2nd grade.

Above we have the incredible work of 8th grader Annie Oh.  Her attention to detail is truly remarkable.  Annie was one of my most talented 7th graders last school year.

Below is junior Cathy Luo's work.  Drawing a finger to slightly bend inside is extremely difficult, but Cathy nails it.

And then we have the very expressive left hand of junior Anne Allan, complete with wrist watch.  Fantastic job Anne!

I will be showcasing more of their right brain exercises this weekend..

Part Three with Katherine England

Katherine teaches kids a really fun project.  She takes pictures of them and has them decorate their pix with linear textures in different colored pens.  Above is the example that Katherine has done of herself. 

Katherine oftentimes designs at pieces around her family members.  Below are two soldered crowns that she has made for two of her children.  The front one is for her daughter Hannah.  I like how she has them displayed in her home of these wood rounds.

She allowed me to borrow it so that I could have a great example to show my classes.  I'm currently teaching  a soldering unit to my Intermediate 3-D kids.

Below are all sides of Hannah's crown.

Other solder projects she has around her house is this very creative self-portrait below.  I really like how she has hinged it together.

 Next we have a portrait of Katherine and all her siblings.

And below, Katherine's two sons,

and her two daughters.  

Really fun hinges.

My favorite solder piece of hers is the one below.  I believe she told me this was her dad.  I love how she designed and mounted it on a twig.  So delicate and a lovely tribute her her father. 

Over the last couple of years I've done several profiles on the art and life of Katherine England.  To see more, scroll down under labels and find her under "Professional Glass Artist Katherine England"  

Enjoy!

Katherine England - Part Two

Not only is Katherine an inspiration to me, but I talk about her and her work to my students as well, and show them what she is up too.  I also like to show my students how artist's live and what their work spaces look like.  Katherine has several work spaces.  Her garage and driveway that we saw yesterday, but also her home.  Not only does Katherine journal everyday, but she also makes her own journals to draw in.  Below you can see her computer office area where she has several of her journals lining the walls.

There is art and craft everywhere inside her home.  Last time I was there she had added these whimsical pom-poms hanging from the ceiling.

She is also an artist in the kitchen and loves to cook and entertain in her 50's kitchen.  Usually when I stop by she has something heavenly simmering on the stove.

Right now her dining room table is also her work space as she puts the finishing touches on this sweet turtle.

A close up of all the beadwork that she incorporates along with the glass mosaic pieces.

Her home also features other artist's works that she collects.  This piece above and below was done by South County artist Laurie Mika.

The inside below.

And everywhere you look there is art;  on every table top, every wall, every available space.

Intermediate 3-D, these next pieces are for you.  We will be doing something similar on wooden box tops with mosaics, beads, charms, soldered and fused glass.

Love the hand and birdcage, and what a great way to use up old nails and chains.

A Three Part Glimpse of Mosaic Artist Katherine England

Katherine England, my friend and mentor, who I started taking classes from in 2008, has recently begun teaching from her home.  She has taken her garage and turned it into her art studio and classroom teaching space.

Katherine's Backyard and Driveway which is her extended Workshop Space 

She is currently working on a commissioned mosaic work for the city of Anaheim for a new park they are dedicating to Paul Revire's Ride. 

The piece will be enormous, on a monumental scale, and Katherine has drawn out her design on paper and now she is gluing her mosaic pieces onto a netting over top the paper. She told me she has incorporated a couple of the drawings her children did when they were little.  The entire piece takes up several long tabletops.

She still has a ways to go, so I will let you know when it is installed in case you want to take a peek.

And here's a little cutie below that she recently finished.  She works both 2 and 3 dimensionally, and if you are interested in taking classes from her, or buying a piece, just click on her name above.  She is a dynamic teacher and also offers classes in other media as well, such as bookbinding and journaling, fused glass, shrines, and soldering.  I believe in the summer she also offers children's art camps.  She is located in downtown Fullerton.  Tomorrow I will give you a couple more peeks into her art and life.

7th Grade Value Scales - 3rd Quarter

Just found some work by my 3rd Quarter 7th graders that I haven't posted yet, their clever value scales.  The kids are so cute.  They always ask me if they may incorporate a bit of color.  Of course I tell them as long as you nail all the minimum requirements you can get as creative as you want, thus the colored pencil you will see in a couple of them.

Above we have William Tan with this very sophisticated design.  And below is Justin Hogenauer.  I had a lot of very talented young men in this 3rd quarter group.

Next we have Noah Kang with this really expressive face.  Very clever design Noah.

And Erin Jimenez did the outstanding composition above.  I really like how she gave the paint brush a sense of movement.

Then below is Lance Pancha with this very colorful piece.  All of you did a fantastic job.  Sorry it took me so long to get these up.