Creative Construction

At the beginning of this week, the group's ceramic pieces that had been built a couple weeks earlier had been fired and were ready to glaze.  Everyone worked hard on selecting which colored glazes to use, so that they could decorate their pieces accordingly.

 
The artists were encouraged to sketch out their ceramic pieces first and try out how different colors might look on them.  This helps to be more certain of which glazes to use, so that the process can be easy and the colors can come out pure, after firing.

Soon these pieces will be fired in the kiln and come out with a glossy finish.  Some of the colors will look the same, while others will have completely changed.  Its always interesting to see the results after different glazes and layers are added, especially those that are speckled.  Glazed "cookies", seen on the table in the picture, serve as a model for how the colors will end up looking. 

After glazing, the group moved on to see what could be made out of cardboard scraps.  Planning ahead was an essential step in this process, and the decision had to be made between whether glue or tape would hold the materials more strongly.  These young builders were hard at work for the entire class time and enjoyed trying this new activity, based on Caine's Arcade, an inspiration for classes here during the month of October.

This artist made a garage for his cars, which had ramps for them to drive up.  He said that it could be also be used for planes, so that they can take off and land smoothly.  It took some time to figure out how to put these pieces together, but was well worth the effort. 

Spaceships were a popular subject during class as well, especially since many levels and compartments could be added.  Materials that otherwise might be trashed or recycled, are inexpensive and offer endless inspiration for art making.

Artists were proud to share their creations at the end of class.  This group time encourages everyone to look at each others' progress and think about new ideas, while also feeling successful in their own efforts and processes.

With various materials offered, from clay to cardboard, art is made.  Ideas turn into activities, images come to life.