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! :)

Art From Scratch and More Portrait Work

Last week I asked students to find their favorite 

Native American artist, and four students 

really came through! ATCs were given to 

John-Luc, Tavia, Hunter, and Morgan, four young artists who are well on their way to winning some very cool art prizes at the end of the semester!  If there was a special prize for best drawing of a kachina, it would definitely go to Morgan! She did the most amazing drawing of a kachina that I've ever seen! Great work!

Students in our Drawing and Painting and 

Drawing and Printmaking classes all had fun with scratch art this past week! Just like magic, they put their wooden stylus' to the scratch art paper, and revealed wonderful artwork through the process of "taking away."

There were many more works than you see here, 

but (sadly) my camera shots were mostly a little blurry. 

This gives you a really good idea, though, of the 

talented artists who attend HSC! 

Explorations in Art (I and II) students began work on some small sculptures, which will likely be finished in the coming week. They're off to a GREAT start, so be sure to check back for a peek at the finished works!

Fiber Arts students continued with their current works in progress (a surprise to be revealed later!). 

And students in all Ceramics classes spent their class time glazing pinch pots! Glazing ensures that the pots will be food and drink safe, and the kids already have plans for sipping cocoa and eating snacks out of their hand built pots. When all of the pots have been properly glazed (3 thin coats of glaze), the wares will return to Woodrow Wilson Academy to go through their final glaze firing--a temperature of 

nearly 2,000 degrees! Wow, that's hot!

Artists in Portraits class continued their work on the human face. This past week, we concentrated on drawing the mouth, and there was some spectacular work to behold! Following are just a couple of examples . . .

After getting through that exercise, we drew various facial features on small bits of paper, and moved them around on the background drawing of a head. This gave the young artists a chance to see how the face looks when features are properly placed, rather than, for instance, drawing the eyes too high up on the head, or putting the mouth too close to the chin. It became a kind of "portrait game." 

I absolutely love it when students continue their art studies at home! Whenever they do, and bring in a sample to share with the class, they're eligible to receive the very coveted 

Vincent van Gogh Award for Dedication to the ARTS!

This week's award goes to Kaylyn in Evergreen for the stunning work featured below. 

Great Work, Kaylyn!

And now for the coming week's web challenge! Inspired by last weeks' challenge to find a favorite Native American artist, I'm asking you to do a little research on one of my own faves, Maria Poveka Martinez! Please do a search* and find out:

1. The type of art that she was so famous for creating,

2. The pueblo (reservation) where she lived and worked,

3. Your own drawing that depicts a favorite work of Maria's

(I've seen your art, so I KNOW you can do this!)

*Remember: Anytime you're doing an online search, your parent or other responsible adult must be present. No exceptions!

When I receive your completed challenge**, 

you'll receive your ATC!

**Because this is a WEEKLY (and completely optional!) assignment, the information must be presented to me the week it is due. This keeps things fair for those who work hard to find the answers and turn them in on time. Whoever has the most assignment-related ATCs by the end of the semester will win a REALLY COOL ART PRIZE. A 2nd place prize will also be awarded. There will be a first and second prize for each school day, so get busy!