SUMMER GARDEN

My hydrangea came back this summer with guns blazing.

I was thrilled with all the variations of pink.

I think next year I will try to change up the color to blues

 by adding a bit of acid to the soil.

The hydrangea blossom is one of my favorite flowers,

and I've put several in this summer up at the cabin.

Can't wait to show those off next year.

DISPLAYING A LARGE PIECE OF ART

Senior Laarnie Barcelon,

sold one of her largest pieces to our English teacher Donna Hall.

Donna's room is already chock full of pieces she has bought from my art students at our Open House Sales,

so I was especially curious to see how she was going to display such a large work.

She picked the wall panels right behind her lecture podium to hang the piece.

She backed half of each panel with a gently patterned piece of fabric 

in a color that worked without distraction.

Then she went to Michael's Crafts and found the most wonderful twig and wire border

to place around the edge of the fabric.

Next she plans to buy a few more student art works to compliment Laarnie's sculpture

to hang in the negative spaces.

Can't wait to see it next year when she finishes her dispaly.

Maybe I'll photo the entire room so you can see her incredible collection. 

THIS IS WHAT I MISS THE MOST...

while I'm on summer vacation.

The smiles,

the joy,

and the love.

I caught these two is a big bear hug one morning,

so I made them hold it until I could grab my camera.

These two cuties are juniors Risha Bhakta and Kyla Balquin,

two of my most talented youngsters coming back to me for a second year in Intermediate 2-D.

xoxoxoxoxoxxoxo

MORE SHIBORI

SHIBORI

BEGINNING 3-D ART

indigo vat, needle & thread

My beginners loved this unit with indigo dye.

I save it for one of the last assignments of the year,

after the kids are very confident and comfortable in their sewing skills.

The results were stunning.

Let's peek.

One of the most clear cut and successful designs in the class was made by junior Sara Chea.

Notice the bit of rust in the center ring.

The kids have the option of using rusty objects within their designs.

My guess is that Sara wrapped a rusty nail in her fabric. 

Senior Adhora Islam made this next bold statement with her design.

It takes extreme patience and multiple dips to get this rich dark blue color.

Getting more of a tye-dye effect,

 junior Hazel Cruz also used a couple of rusty objects.

This next one was my favorite.

Loved all those remarkable, varied lines that junior Amber Wu was able to achieve.

Lots of stitching hours on her part to pull this design off.

These last two were incredibly delicate and lovely.

The top one by Joann Chung,

with senior Sunny Kim below.

SAMPLER

I do Shibori Units with all my 3-D classes,

and this little sampler was started last school year for my beginners, 

and I finally finished it for this year's beginning students.

It's a small little work,

probably 7" by 7",

but I learned so much  about what works and what doesn't.

Can't wait to try another,

especially after visiting several artists' blogs this summer who are working with Indigo.

7TH GRADERS ROCKING THIS ASSIGNMENT!!

LINEAR TEXTURE WITH WATERCOLOR

7TH GRADE ART WHEEL 2014-2015

watercolor and pen & ink

These are referred to as Zentangles these days,

but for my 7th graders they are really an exercise in pattern and shape,

along with learning about color theory & watercolor washes.

One of my favorites was done by Shannon Carizon.

Love that tree silhouette balanced by her moon.

And the wash is so well done with lots of atmospheric values.

This next one by Megan Ly is so well thought out and executed.

Stunning piece sweetheart!

Malia Pulido went all out in this amazing design above.

She is such a hard worker and will spend hours on her pieces.

Her design is so pleasing to the eye.

Sydney Eng came up with a super unique design,

also spending hours on all those tiny marks.

We were all so impressed with this one by Gabriela Roxas.

Her craftsmanship was impeccable!

And Emma Yang brings her sweet & bubbly personality into this last piece.

It reminds me of an illustration you might find in a beautiful children's book.

And the quote by Yoko Ono is perfect.

These young ones just amaze me with the time and effort

 they are willing to put into their assignments.

And the creativity is out of bounds!

PLASTIC MAN

Senior Karisma Dev,

one of my top art students of all time,

made this plastic man for an English Project.

I was so impressed with it that I asked if I could take a pix 

before she give it to her teacher for grading.

I'm trying to remember if she told me she used her sister as the actual model

 and wrapped the tape around her,

cut it off her,

then re-tapped it together.

I really like that both sides are different in design,

probably based on the piece of Literature that corresponds with it.

It really grabbed senior Nick Tudor's fancy as he danced around the classroom with it.

And then Karisma came to the rescue.

LOL

A LITTLE TEASE

SOPHIE TRUONG

MIXED MEDIA ARTIST

I've become fascinated by tea bag art recently,

and it was Sophie's work that first caught my attention in that medium.

I thought she would be a fun and interesting share.

To see more go to Featured Artists along my top bar.

MARK WAHLBERG

or Zach Agrums??

So many people tell me they see a similarity.

Maybe.

THROWING ON THE WHEEL

THROWN MUGS, BOWLS & A VASE

CERAMICS II

clay & glazes

We haven't seen many Ceramics II pieces lately,

so I thought I'd showcase a few of their Second Semester wheel thrown pieces.

I have to be honest though,

I'm doing a bit of guessing on names 

because I forgot to write them down.

So I'm pretty sure that this first mug belongs to senior Sameera Ahmad.

I wanted to show both views so you could really appreciate all the twists and flowers.

Beautiful design and so nicely glazed as well!

I do know that all three of these mugs belong to senior Erion Hsaio.

She got some really cool drip effects by overlaying one glaze atop another.

I also believe these two bowls are Erin's as well.

One of the favorite glazes this year was the blue matt in combination with the blue-green.

There is a very pleasing contrast between the shiny and the matte glaze.

And then of course if you overlap them you get a very interesting blurry effect.

I have one note to myself that Erin did this piece as well,

but then another note that says senior Cindy Ryoo created it.

Ok you two,

which one is it???

Whoever it is, 

it is brilliant in it's pleasing design and glazing.

This work was one of the student's favorites this year.

This is our copper glaze,

very earthy with really lovely with subtle breaks.

THERE'S A NEW ETSY ARTIST IN TOWN

I'm thrilled to share that senior,

Kaili Hamada,

 has started her own etsy shop.

I wanted to be one of her first customers so let's see what I purchased.

First I have to say that I'm so impressed with her presentation.

Once you take the wrapped package out of the mailing envelop

you see the tissue wrapped with one of her tye-dye bands,

 and her thank you sticker includes a special thank you note.

And Kaili was definitely paying attention 

when I'd bring in things that I've bought thru the mail from other artists.

They usually throw in a little something special, 

and Kaili did not disappoint.

Check out the darling boys Polo shirt she made for my grandson Syd.

Thank you Kaili, 

that was so very thoughtful of you!!!

And here is the masterpiece I bought from her.

A perfect spiral pattern with amazingly placed colors.

If you've never done tye-dye,

this technique takes a lot of practice to get it just right.

I love it Kai,

and I will definitely order more pieces from your shop.

Good luck to you sweet girl!

I'm so very proud of you for putting your work out there. 

SHOUT OUT TO JU EUN LEE

PINCH/COIL/SLAB PADDLED POTS

CERAMICS II

clay & glaze

For this stunningly beautiful creation.

Gorgeous piece Ju Eun.

Sorry it took me so dang long to post it!

HEARTS FOR CHARLESTON

My dearest blog friend Liz from I'm going to Texas 

is working on the most lovely tribute to the nine people who lost their lives in South Carolina.

She responded to a shout out for stitched hearts by Dee Mellon from Dee Mallon and Company

Liz is very methodical and does a ton of research and pre-planning before she begins.

Check out the wonderful choices she has put together above.

She has used Jude Hill of Spirit Cloth fame's cloth weaving technique to weave her strips

that she first hand embroidered with something special for each of the nine lives lost.

A closer look below.

And now a heart cut hole backed with a piece of Eco-dyed cloth Liz has created.

Too see and read more about the work of Liz Ackert go to her blog.

She is a brilliant writer,

and takes us step by step thru her design and thought process.

A great read!

IT'S YOUR 21ST

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY/WOMAN

I just can't believe it,

it went by way , way too fast.

Today we take you out for your first drink  (ha ha)

your first legal one that is  LOL

You've always given us a run for our money,

my strong willed child.

And I've loved every second of it.

And some of my favorite memories are of your craziness in front of the camera.

I know you will hate that I'm showing these off,

but they are just so much fun!!!

Don't be mad  :)

5th or 6th grade

7th / 8th

9th / 10th

11th / 12th

And more recently... my baby has turned into a woman.

You take my breathe away every time I see you.

You are stunningly beautiful inside and out.

You bring so much JOY into our lives.

and I am so very proud to call you my daughter.

Your light, energy, sense of responsibility, goodness, heart and perseverance are so strong Dani...

I can't wait to see where all of that will take you.

I love you sweet girl.

xoxoxoxoxox

A SYDNEY UPDATE

5 MONTHS

Our little man is growing up way too fast.

He's such a good baby,

with tons of personality.

I'm so happy for Julie and Mike,

and we are very proud of the parents they've become.