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.

Solar Pillows - A Correction

I couldn't find this pic the other night when I was posting these pillows, so I thought it wasn't there.  But tonight I found it hiding amongst another group of shots.  And this piece is noteworthy.  It was done by sophomore Rita Labib, who always puts extra time and effort into all her work.  She was the only one who asked if she could cut up her pillow and put some really exciting raffia inserts between the spaces.  I believe the knots she used were half hitches like in macrame'.  I was skeptical because we were running short on time and I was scarred she was biting off more than she could chew, but Rita came thru Big Time!  Way to go Woman!!! 

Clay Masks - Student Work

These masks were made by my Beginning 3-d kids, and for many it was their first time to work in clay. They draped their slabs over a newspaper mold and I asked them to design their pieces with a lot of surface embellishment both before and after firing. These two were my favorites. The top one was made by senior Kevin Ni, and the lower one by senior Anne Guu.

I loved how both kids used raffia as accents, and Anne even added some seed beads. I also asked the students to try to bring in some kind of expressive quality, and I feel both kids did just that! Terrific job you two.

Ashley Morris - Student Art

Junior Ashley Morris (4th year 3-d art) just finished up her second project of the quarter. This is a child's hat that she created from raffia strips (20 pieces thick) that she braided into a 30 foot long rope, then she coiled it onto itself and stitched the edges together. For embellishment she added the gross grain ribbon and a few of her own polymer buttons. Adorable!