ANOTHER GUINEA PIG

CLAY & FIBER VASE

INTERMEDIATE 3-D ART

clay, sawdust kiln, twigs/spokes & plant fibers, wire

Great sport senior Helen Kim let me try out an idea for a new assignment on her

that I felt was appropriate for her 2nd year 3-D level.

On Pinterest I had found the remarkable clay /fiber pieces of Marc Jenesel and Karen Pierce 

at Willow Bend Studios and showed them to Helen.

She found them as spectacular as I did,

so putting our critical thinking skills together we can up with a rubric for the assignment,

and Helen proceeded to execute out our plan.

I started one too,

but of course I never finished it.

Typical.

Anyways, 

I was super pleased with what Helen came up with 

having been inspired by Marc & Karen.

Check it out!

Here are views from both sides above & below.

Helen began by handbuilding her clay base.

She had to pre-plan where her spokes would attach to the pot

and pierced several holes to lash them on at a later time.

Believe it or not,

this piece only measures about 3 1/2" to 4" high.

Just thought I'd stick that in so you can get the feel for how tiny it is.

Anyways,

as she was waiting for her clay pot to dry, be bisqued then sawdust fired,

 she began another assignment which I will post tomorrow.

When the pot came back to her she found a few twigs

and lashed then onto the pot with waxed linen.

I have a plethora of weavers in my storage room that Helen chose from to be her weft.

She selected some of my favorites,

the dried out date palm stalks where the fruit grows from.

But what I love that she also incorporated 

was the copper wire as a finishing touch around the lip and base. 

A fabulous piece Helen!