Clay Excitement

I can't wait to put these babies in the kiln!  These are 7th grade creations.  I ask that my 7th graders create hollow forms from pinch pots and transform them into their own works with a minimum of two attachments.  I remind them that I'm focused on them practicing their hand building skills, especially their score and slip techniques.  I want them to be creative in their art making while building on and practicing their clay skills.  I can't wait to get them glazed!  But for now, here is a sneak peak of a few greenware items:

 

Plaster Masks

Fox Inspired Mask

I love all things sculpture!  I love the different "hands on" approaches the students have to take and the variation that we get as a result!  This lesson is no different.  I usually try to teach this lesson around Mardi Gras and we talk about masquerade masks and how they can all be so different and lively.  We focus on shape variation as well as decorative detailing. 

For the actual creation of the masks, I allow the students to make a choice.  They can 1)use a face mold to build their mask (using plaster strips and water) on top of or 2) drape their face-or a volunteer friend's face-with a strip of saran wrap so as not to cover the nose (we have to breath) and they can build their mask on their friend's actual face or draw out a plan and have their friend build it on their face for them.  Either way, each student has to create a mask.  It is just up to them how messy they want to get and how much they trust their friends with plaster!  Option two requires students to work a little faster since both friends need time to build a mask, but so far that hasn't been a problem.  The next time I see the kiddos (this is a 2 class period project), their masks have dried and hardened and are ready to be painted and adorned.  I let the students paint and decorate their masks however they would like.  I help the students hot glue the feathers on but otherwise, it is all up to them.  I never seem to remember to take enough photos but here are a few that I can brag about (and give you the general idea from)

Mehndi Hand Sculptures

I love cross curricular teaching and this lesson allows me to work with our 6th grade religion/social studies teacher.  While she teaches about Islam, I introduce the kids to the beautiful world of Mehndi!  Another art teacher found this lesson through Dick Blick and I adapted it and made it one of my favorite lessons to teach (who am I kidding--I say that about all of my lessons; I can't pick just one favorite!). 

I introduce the students to the history and significance of mehndi.  Most of the students have no idea what I am talking about when I first use the word "mehndi" but as soon as I start my slideshow and it has a photograph of an adorned hand, I have tons of people go "Oh! I know that!  I always called it 'henna' instead!"  And then I get into how henna is the medium and mehndi is the art...yadda yadda yadda...BAM!  We're creating our own on vinyl gloves! 

I have the students create some patterns and radial designs in their sketchbook first, so that they have some ideas to start with.  Then I teach them about creating a flow between patterns and designs via color and interaction.  Once they have a jumping off point I have them work while wearing the glove as an added challenge.  It requires them to be more careful and mindful with their mark making since they are working on a 3D surface.  Once they have their glove designed, I have them stuff the hand with a polyester fill and a small (upside down) cup so that the glove can stand.  The results are amazing! 

Day of the Dead Alter

Dia de los Muertos

Every year we set up a Day of the Dead alter as a school and make our ofrenda ("offering") for someone we have lost or a Mexican artist.  This year, we made our ofrenda for our school secretary, Jill, who lost her battle with cancer recently.  The kids made her paper symbols of the things that she loved (i.e. Nebraska Cornhuskers) and/or things they thought of when they thought of Jill and wrote her a note on the back of that symbol.  It was a great way for the kids to find closure in their sadness and to celebrate her life and the things that Jill loved.

This is a K-8 school and we (myself and Sara--the K-3 art teacher) try to get all of the grade levels involved.  This year the Kindergarten made papel picado and paper calavera masks, First Grade made candles from toilet paper rolls and tissue paper, Second Grade painted rocks as calavera, 4th-8th Grades made symbols for Jill as well as papel picado from patterns and Eighth Grade also made 3D calavera-paper sculls from a template found here on skulladay.blogspot.com.  The milk jug skeletons were actually created last year with my seventh graders but they were too great not to reuse!  Pictures of last year's display are on my blog here

Close Up of 8th Grade Calavera from Skulladay's Template:

Art Club Made and Decorated Sugar Skulls!

Beginning of the Year Display Case

We got a display case!  A real, live display case!

Huge shout out to Home and School and Joe Pollpeter for getting us a display case!  I can finally show off the kiddos' 3D artwork in the building!  To kick off the school year I used it to make a display showing off all of the subjects and their possibilities.  I kind of rushed taking the photos (imagine that...rushing around at the beginning of the school year) so they are not outstanding by any means, but they get the point across!

Bragging rights:

Full view of the display case

Saint Francis of Assisi School String Art

Themed Clay Boxes

EXTRA! EXTRA! 8th Grade Finally Works with Clay!

My 8th graders haven't worked with slabs before so I thought this would be a good opportunity.  The lesson is pretty simple and self explanatory, so I'll lay out the basics.  The students were asked to sketch out a plan for a themed box.  The theme needed to be portrayed in some way, shape or form on all sides of the box plus it required a topper (gotta practice those slip and scoring skills).  This meant that some of my students planned on adding attachments to their sides and others painted or carved into them while all of them had to create a 3D topper to attach to the lid.  Once the sketches were done, they made templates from posterboard (most of the students planned on cubes, so this step was easy).  I taught them how to make a slab.  As I tend to do with middle school, I made them an instructional video and did a class demonstration. It is hard for all of them to gather around a table and watch me, so the video helps with that part and the live demo helps clarify anything they were confused about in the video.

They each made their necessary slabs and once they were leather hard, we slipped and scored them together  (as a hollow form, we cut the lids off later) plus any other attachments we needed and carved what needed to be carved.  We cut the lids to have uneven edges with Exacto knives so that the lid wouldn't just slide right off but it also had to be removable.  Once bisqued, they had the choice of painting their box with acrylics and adding a gloss, or they could glaze it.  And as I always say...they came out great!  I absolutely love the work that these kids do!  I tried to get a couple of angles on a few of these, so you could see how their themes panned out:

Important caption to the bird box--this student's box was caving in while she attached her slabs and instead of giving up, she altered her plan and made something creative and beautiful!  Love when that happens!

Fall of 2014 Examples:

Display Case of 8th Grade Themed Clay Boxes with 2nd Grade Animal Accents

 Close ups:

Marvel Box View 1

Marvel Box View 2

 

Coke Can

Cupcake

Gatorade Bottle

Beach Scene and Dowling High School Volleyball Theme

Lighthouse

Notre Dame Football

Outer Space-Planets View 1

Outer Space- Planets View 2

Winter Theme with a Canadian Maple Leaf

Cross Country Theme

Robot

Frog

Police Box

Snowman
Side note: this snowman was dropped during the making of it and she gave it the TLC it needed to revive the smashed up version!

Easter Theme

Cat with Fish Topper!

Minion

Clay Kitty

Penguin

One of my avid readers made this book themed box! (view 1)

Book Themed View 2

Mario and Luigi!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Slug View 1

Teenage Mutant Ninja Slug View 2

Teenage Mutant Ninja Slug View 3 (back)

Fall Theme View 1

Fall Theme View 2

Fairy Tale View 1

Fairy Tale View 2

Minion

Gatorade

Clay Cat