NATURE'S FINEST

NATURE PLANTERS

CERAMICS I

clay & oxides plus planting mix & various flowers

This was the final assignment of the year for my beginning clay kids 

and once again I thoroughly enjoyed teaching the kids about planting.

Sadly,

many of them have never worked in the dirt or planted

 or felt the natural high from getting soil under their fingernails.

I recently read that the organic matter and properties in the soil is soothing to the soul.

No wonder I like to dig in the dirt so much,

and don't mind pulling weeds!

:)

We do the planting on the day of the final and give the plants a good long gulp of water

 before the kids take them home.

Let's take a look see.

Senior Eunice Shim enjoyed building the planter so much that she made two beauties.

Just look at the fabulous texture she brought to the clay's surface!

Senior Ashley Iseri took a completely different approach and rolled out a very smooth slab,

carving away her design.

Both girls only used Metallic Oxides to stain with for a finish.

Senior Lauren Kennedy choose some vibrant Coleus plants for her planter.

Lovely!

And I really like the asymmetrical design of senior Avanthi Dev's planter.

She was more interested in building up a succulent garden in her planter 

so we raided Josh's garden for some starts.

And check out this unusual piece by senior Brian Aguirre-Hernandez.

I love all the pierced holes in his design.

Perfect for trailing succulent tendrils from.

And sophomore Olivia Krueger achieved one of my favorite finishes 

on her under the sea themed planter,

staining it with Cobalt Carbonate.

Ooh,

 and this fluid looking piece belongs to me,

hee hee,

Debra Sposa.

I believe one of the kids pieces broke apart so I gifted them mine to glaze and plant.

And we end with this very pregnant bird by junior Sarah Oh.

She did half plants, half succulents for her piece.

All these planters looked so terrific leaning against the outside wall of my classroom

before the kids took them home.

I always wonder how many survive the summer heat 

cuz the kids forget to water them??