Scratch Art and Shape ATCs, Canopic Jars, and Safety Pin Jewelry!

Because of the upcoming Registration Week work, I've been remiss in posting updates for the art classes. Here's a brief look at what we've been up to the past couple of weeks:

Scratch art ATCs are always a big hit! Check out some of the clever designs that the students came up with a couple of weeks ago in ATC class:

Students scratched away the black surface to reveal either gold, silver, sparkle blue, or multi-colored sparkle paper beneath. 

Then last week, in the same class, students created ATCs inspired by shape. Using tiny stencils, or drawing freehand, students set about making ATCs with multiple shapes inside.

Students had a choice to make their works representational or abstract. When the drawings were completed, some artists decided to add lightweight, foam shapes on top of their drawings--continuing the theme of shape-inspired work.

Afterward, "trading time" ensued, and some seriously good trades took place!

Ceramics III students are making wonderful progress on their canopic jars! The bodies of the jars are nearly complete, and work on the heads/lids will likely begin this coming week. Following are some "action shots" from class: 

Students began with a slab cylinder, and then added coils. With each new layer, the young artists must first score the surface (and the next coil), and then slip the scores to be sure the next coil will hold. Once the body of the pot reaches 8", it receives a final tweaking and shaping. Looking good! It looks like Alex's pot (below) is about to receive a head-shaped lid!

Jewelry Making students worked on safety pin jewelry, and created some cool designs! For instance . . .

. . . a sail boat and frog (above), and peace sign and flag (below) . . .

. . . and a star and heart (below). Per the students' requests, we'll continue with this same project next week before moving on to something new. 

Thanks so much to Miss Elona for supplying us with everything we need (including patterns!) for this project!

Reminder to all the students and parents: This coming week, March 1st and 2nd, is Registration week! Parents, please arrive to HSC by 1:50 p.m. to get a sneak peek of next year's class offerings, and pick up your registration packet. 

There are some REALLY COOL classes planned for next year! I only wish I was young enough to attend each one! :)

Animalitos, Masks, and Necklaces!

In Ceramics I this past week we worked on Animalitos! Following is a photo from Tuesday with some very cute little animalitos, star-itos, and even a cake-ito :)

In Ceramics II, work continued on masks. The photos featured here (above and below) are of unfired works, but since it takes a while for us to receive our fired goods back from WWA, I wanted to include something here to represent that great work that's happening in the Ceramics classes. Hopefully, soon, we'll have the artist stamps back so that I can show you what many of the students have been up to. 

Ceramics III students continue their work on Canopic Jars, and are making great progress! 

Jewelry students worked on necklaces this past week, and came up with some really pretty designs!

This is just a small sample of what happened in class. Rebecca's star necklace (above) is still a work-in-progress, but so pretty (as is!) that I couldn't resist taking a photo :)

Alecia used a very limited color palette--black, white, clear crystal, and apple green--in keeping with the colors of the charm on her necklace. What a fantastic design decision!

We had quite a few students out sick (or snowed in??) this past week. Be sure to show up this coming week, though, especially if you're in the ATC class! You'll find out why when I post photos next week!

See you in class! Stay warm & dry!

Snow Day AND the Stunning Work of Sherrie York

Hey, Kiddos! I hope that you're all properly enjoying the weather we've been getting. I expect to hear all about hot cocoa, snowmen, sledding, and skiing next week in class!

Until then, and because I don't have images to share from this week's art classes, I want to introduce you to the absolutely gorgeous work of a local (Salida) artist, Sherrie York.

Sherrie York, Longing. Reduction linocut, 10 colors.

York is a printmaker, and does a lot of work with linocuts. In the video posted on her blog, she talks about how printmaking involves working backwards (reverse or mirror image). This will seem familiar to many Ceramics students, who have mastered the same technique while making their artist stamps!

Early Snow - Ponderosa Pine by Sherrie York. Reduction linocut, 5 colors.

Inspiration for Sherrie York's art comes from the natural world around her. She credits her ability to pay attention to the small details of nature, and this translates beautifully through her art.

Summer Aspen by Sherrie York. Reduction linocut, 3 colors.

Ms. York creates multiple copies of her linocut prints, known as editions, and this process involves cutting, and then printing, a color from her linoleum block before repeating this process. The number of times she does this is dependent on the number of colors she will ultimately use in her final print.

Sherrie York's Leaf Litter. Reduction linocut, 10 colors.

Students in ATCs, ACEOs, and Art in Miniature will remember our discussion about editions, and how creating multiples of a really good idea, or "editions," is one of the things that separates an ATC from an ACEO.   

Beaver City II-V by Sherrie York. Reduction linocuts, 3 passes, multiple colors.

I hope that you'll take a moment to visit York's website, view her video, and find some inspiration from her words and work. I, for one, feel very inspired, and look forward to experimenting with the reduction linocut technique! 

Have a wonderful week, everyone! I look forward to seeing you all next week in Art Class! Stay warm!