Interactive Clay Sculptures - Student Work

I took this assignment out of the schedule last year from my Ceramics I class, but found I really missed it, so this year I brought it back.  So glad I did because the students really used their critical thinking skills on this one.  Wait till you see!

I made the kids jump thru so many hoops for this project.  There had to be clay parts that moved or worked in a way to make the piece interactive.  They were required to be put together with wires, string, raffia, nails, whatever creative devises the young ones could come up with.  They also had to make clay charms and beads that after the glaze process they incorporated into the final design.  

In this piece here by junior Justyn Li, she can move her figures from place to place, and her beads and charms flow from the tree branches.  Justyn worked really hard to put this entire work together; the mounting and painting of the wood, finding branches and stringing together all those tiny parts, and writing words with wire.  

A fantastic piece Justyn, thank you for all your effort!

In this next adorable piece by senior Emmerline Kim, she has built a lid that opens and closes.  I especially like her attention to the small details like the neck wrapped in wax linen with beads, the wire crown, and the words inscribed inside the lid.  Notice her hinge made out of wax linen as well, and the surprises inside.

Senior Sandra Osuji also did a hinged structure with so many wonderful clay beads as accents.  

Also like the spiraled wire touches.

Another requirement was to add surface decoration to the clay, so Sandra has incised, carved and stamped her clay.

Senior David Lee knocked this assignment out of the park with his wired alligator parts.  Each section can be twisted and shaped to go various directions.   And look at the time he spent painting the glaze (3 coats) into each tiny square.  Wonderful work David!  

Kevin Luong, senior, an extremely bright young man, used his engineering mind to create this next work.  You take the string with the ceramic beads and lift the piece up off the ground and it opens like a flower to reveal the spectacular glaze job inside.  Notice how he's strung it together with waxed linen and move beads on the inside.

This fun and playful piece was done by senior Zachary Rank.

The head lifts off so that you can turn it o two different expressions.  The arms are also strung to move.  I really like how he finished it off with glaze and stain.  A good looking piece!

Senior Nikki Shah really got into this project and crafted this highly realistic elephant.  Instead of glazing or staining it she asked if she could use acrylic paint to finish it off..  So she watered the paint down a bit before she applied it for a very natural look.

And because she has sewing skills she made the blanket for the lid. 

All of us were so impressed with her finished product.

J

Junior Aditi Ramesh did a clever piece with a hinged door and a lid that comes off.  She has incorporated wonderful surface design as well, and then finished it off with both glaze and stain.

This piece by senior Brendon Lim was one of my favorites.  Super creative and clever with lots to play with and look at.

In fact, I liked it so much that I purchased it from him to teach with.  Thank you Brendon for agreeing to part with such an outstanding design.

Like I said, these kids really got into the thinking through of their designs, and senior Lilith Huang was no exception.  Only I blew it and didn't get the most important picture of her entire piece.  

This black hat that she built out of clay below was supposed to go over top the clay bird on it's wooden perch.  And then when you open the top of the hat you see her bird inside.  But I didn't get that pix, sorry Lilith!  But you get the idea.

Then the lid hinges open for you to see the gorgeous surface treatment she has incised into the clay, then stained with cobalt carbonate.  Lilith spent a lot of time and effort building the wood foundation and perch.  Exceptional Lilith!  

This highly creative interactive piece by junior Shamara Mustafa, was so outside the box, that I just knew I had to own it so I could teach with it next year.  Thank you Shamara for letting me buy it.  Come visit it anytime, it will be on display in the Art Lounge.

Both the eye and lips rotate so you can play with it to get the look you want.  Crazy wonderful!

And this last one by senior Andre' Martin also got scooped up by one of our teachers at Open House cuz it was so expressive, plus the finish on it rocked.

Way to go Ceramics I, it was a pleasure to work with you all!

Only Took Four Years - My Work

To complete this tiny little hand stitched work.  I started it in the summer of 2009 and finished it finally last week.  I call this technique "Painted Embroidery" because it's like you are painting the canvas with your needle and thread.  I used multi-colored strands of DMC's perle cottons, and then I framed it up.  It's available in the shop, e-mail me if you are interested. 

Felted Fingerless Arm Warmers - My Work

One of my goals this summer has been to finish up the numerous projects that I start, only to be distracted by other new ideas.  So every night this summer has been my crafting night, it includes artfully mending tired clothing (hate paying tailor's when I know I could do it myself), trying out possible new assignment ideas, and getting as many old projects done as possible.  These felted mittens where started last summer when I went thrift shopping and found this great old wool Xmas Sweater.  I  threw it in the washing machine and felted it down then cut off the sleeves and body of the sweater for further ideas.  So recently I pulled the pieces out and turned the sleeves into fingerless mitts.  I used an expensive merino wool yarn to crochet around the edges, as well as do a bit of embroidery throughout the body of the gloves.  And then I finished them up with antique buttons from my mother and Jim's mothers button boxes, with chained yarn loops.They are going to be the first items I put up on my new "Shop" page.  I will be selling them for $39.  If you are interested, e-mail me and I'll send them out to you. 

Alum Michelle Kuo Harris

Facebook has opened a whole new world to me.  I am reconnecting with so many of my favorite art students.  I was really excited to hear that Michelle Kuo, class of 1990, was driving down from Sacramento with her family, to stay with her folks in Cerritos for a few days.  We arranged to meet up here at my home/studio.  She brought her gorgeous daughter Kennedy with her, and we had a blast hanging out and catching up.  I was flabbergasted when Michelle told me she was 41 years old.  So like, how old does that make me?  Ancient!!!  LOL

I wasn't surprised to learn that her kids have inherited Michelle's artist and smart genes.  Her son plays several musical instruments, and Kennedy already has her own clothing website where she sells up-cycled jean shorts that are to die for.  My daughter and I love her style, and whats she's doing with jeans from the thrift stores.  Clever girl!

Michelle also shared with me that her brother Lee's daughter is an accomplished artist, and she showed me one of her piece's (below).  Look closely, she drew the whole piece with her fingerprints and a stamp pad.  What a great idea for a new assignment for my second year art students!  

Thank you Michelle for taking time out of your hectic schedule while you were down here to drop by, and it was wonderful to meet Kennedy.

Our Cozy New Cabin

Jim and I found out yesterday after 2 years of looking that we are the proud new owners of this adorable cabin, built in 1985, single owner, never rented, up in the San Bernadino Mountains.  We are thrilled to be able to share this cabin with our children and grandchildren.  Here's Jim on the upper deck with the storm windows pulled down.  The elevation is just around 5000 feet, so we will get snow, and we are walking distance from the lake where there is swimming, fishing, kayaking, and other water sports.  And we have lots of parking for our guests.

Love the deck out front, where I'll be setting up my spinning wheel in the spring and summer.  Also, on either side of the stairway are Lilac trees, my mother's favorite!  Can't wait to see those babies in bloom.  And I hope they leave us that sweet little wooden bench in the corner.

Here is the deck and walkway that goes down to the left side of the house.  You can see that our neighbors are at a good distance away.

And on our right you can barely see our other neighbors thru the trees.

When you walk in the front door and look to your left there's the kitchen and eating area.  Check out those old world kitchen cabinets, they are gorgeous, with nice hardwood flooring that leads to the bathroom and bedroom in back.

A nice large gas stove and a good sized oven for baking our Thanksgiving and Xmas turkeys  :)  The window coverings are in great shape, I wonder if the previous owner made them.  Also, check out the wood poles coming down from the ceiling over top the wood burning fireplace for hanging mittens and scarfs to dry out in winter. 

Is this the sweetest place or what???  We are going to get a large sofa/sleeper for this room.

The carpet is in decent shape, we will give it a deep cleaning before moving in and I think it will be fine.  The color isn't great but we can definitely work with it.

Here is a look see into the only bedroom, pretty darn tiny.  I think we will look for one of those bunk beds that sleeps two on the bottom and one up top.  And there will be sleeping bags for everyone else  :)  

There is a door in the bedroom that goes out to another deck.  I think I want to put in a dutch door here, I've always wanted one of those.

The views from the back deck going either way.

The bathroom is really clean and bright.

There is storage for wood under the front deck here.

Then you walk down steps that lead to the back of the house and the build-up.

The build-up houses the hot water tank, water, gas and sewer lines.  It's a huge space that runs completely under the entire home.

The previous owner has put in great insulation, and is leaving us wall boards.  Looks like he wanted to do what Jim wants to do and turn this into a large living space with more bedrooms and another bath.  At least, that's our goal  :)  I think Jim plans on doing this himself, hummmm.  We'll see how that goes  LOL.

And I found the coolest plant.  Our Realtor told us it's called a silver dollar plant.  There are several of those and lots of lovely ferns spouting around the grounds.

And last but not least, our driveway to our new home.  Whoo-hooo!!  

It's gonna be good Kaya, Beah, Tristan and Ashley!!!  LOL  xoxoxox

Going to make lots of great new memories.

A Change of Scenery

Late spring at my ex's home where we raised our children is always so beautiful.

The cannas are up tall and blooming, and the white birch trees are glorious and so full.

The glads I planted years ago have multiplied and gotten huge.

And the hydrangeas are always spectacular.

And the backyard is so serene.  You are doing a great job Inars keeping this home up.

Soldered Glass Unit - Student Work

Yesterday I shared the Full and Partially Fused Glass pieces by my Intermediate 3-D kids, today I'd like to show off the Soldered Glass project that we did in conjunction with the fused glass (like you see above), and also with clear glass (below).

Each student was to show me they could solder around one of their full fused pieces like senior Julia Chanco did above.  I really like how she cut the cooper tape into scallops before she soldered for a more decorative edge.  The young ones also had to show me they could solder on a jump ring (super difficult).

Each student also had to make 2 clear soldered glass pendents like the rest shown here.  These are double sided so they had to find something special/meaningful for both sides.  Soldering is challenging and takes practice, this wasn't easy for them to do, but I felt it was an important skill for them to learn.

The darling cat above was made by senior Amy Hsu, and the stamp from Argentina was soldered by senior Ashley Chowdhury. 

This really fun piece above was made by senior Sheila San Agustin, and the two below by senior Tiffany Lee.  

The cool stamps came from a great Garage Sale find I made last year that I shared with my students.