LIGHT OUR FIRES

SAWDUST CANDLESTICKS WITH BEESWAX CANDLES

CERAMICS I

clay, sawdust firing, metallic rubbing compounds, beeswax 

Students,

just know that I am currently running 3 months behind on my posts.

Like on these candlesticks.

You all made them in November and finished them in December and I'm just getting them up.

So with that said,

here we go.

Here is the fabulous group shot of them all with their self-evals underneath.

Self-evaluations are mandated by the State of California as part of the Arts Framework 

for students to learn to objectively evaluate and judge their own pieces.

At the end of each assignment,

 on the left side of their evals.,

I have the kids list out all the requirements with the points possible they could have earned.

On the right side they make two columns,

one for themselves and one for me.

Then they write in their column what point values they think they deserve for each requirement.

They give me both their project and their self-evals.,

 and I then write in my column what I think they deserve.

Most of the time they are right on and I agree with them,

or they are a bit too hard on themselves,

so in my column I will give them a higher point value.

Every so often one person might not take this part seriously 

and will give themselves a perfect score.

Once they get to know me,

 they will find that I can always find something wrong with a piece,

so that they can grow as artists.

So usually they only try that one time,

because I blast them for not taking the process seriously,

 and the next time they usually give me honesty.

But occasionally,

there will be a student or two that do earn perfect scores.

And I love when that happens!!

And sometimes,

 they go so above and beyond minimum requirements & they earn some extra credit points.

I always take the time to write at least on positive comment and/or a helpful criticism.

I had an alumni return after 20 years to visit 

and she told me she kept every single self eval. I ever wrote her

 because of my honest heartfelt comments to her.

Ahhhh

:)

This assignment was a prelude to working with slabs dimensionally.

They also learned some new surface design techniques with included embossing items into the clay like laces, feathers, burlap/fabric, cardboard shapes, leaves, flowers etc.

That had to happen on two sides of their candlestick.

On the other two sides they were asked to try out their new bisqued stamps & cylinders

they made that had just came out of the kiln.

The results were so lovely as you will see.

The ones above and below were done by sophomore Olivia Kruger and junior Sarah Oh.

Both girls added sculptural elements which I loved

and inspired me to add to next years requirements.

So thanks you two!

These next beauties were made by junior Vincent Nguyen 

& seniors Vinaini Jayasinghe and Lauren Kennedy.

In all of these pieces,

notice the cool ways the students choose to end the tops of their sticks,

and the delicate application of the rubbing compounds.

These next 3 stunning pieces were created by Olivia (her extra one),

and the other two by junior Simran Doshi.

Love those little balls Simi has added to the one on the right 

not only around the lip but around the bottom to balance her stick.

They look like little feet.

So sweet.

A  close up.

And aren't these pretty?

Also notice how complimentary the beeswax color choices go with their rubbings.

These three were done by seniors Reehan Ahmad and Sahil Doshi,

and junior Samuel Kim.

And I can't end without showing one of my favorites which was done by senior Lauren Kennedy.  .

I'm crazy about those wings.

They remind me a bit of Native American Totems.

Just fabulous design Lauren!