Clay Reliefs

Feeling At Home

The following artwork is based on the idea of home. When do we feel "at home"?

It could be of course when we are home but if we reflect on the qualities of the feeling, then we can say feeling at home can be a state of mind. We can feel at home in an activity or experience like walking through a museum, playing an instrument, reading a favorite book or making art.

 The students thought about this idea and reflected on their own experiences.  Each created a clay relief using a symbol for their feeling of home.

 5th grade artwork

Expressive Clay Faces and Much More!

Transdisciplinary  Theme: How We Express Ourselves

Central Idea: Art Is A Way of Exploring The Self

This year we've been working on various lessons that have engaged us in reflective and challenging ways.  We started off by analyzing self-portraits throughout time, trying to understand the message of the lines,colors and shapes.   To go deeper into the process we analyzed abstract sculpture and talked about ways in which a connection can be made between an attitude and a sculpture.  I wanted them to start thinking about how they could create an abstract collage that was a reflection of the self.  The discoveries and reflections were many.   For the next component, I wanted them to work with a completely different medium, clay. They were challenged to shape the clay into an expression of their choice.  After the clay was bisque fired it was now white.  How could color help pull out the expression even further?  They chose a warm or cool color palette for this.  Right now, we are in the process of bringing this now character to life by writing a summary describing the personality.  From there, they will create a mixed media narrative painting.  For this component, we analyzed  Homage To Mary Lou by Romare Bearden. 

Images Discussed

Working With Clay

All of the pieces were made using the coiling technique

 It's always such a pleasure to watch the kids be at first challenged by the clay and then watch them fall into their own path of cooperation with the clay. 

Slab Construction Clay Projects, Middle School

 These pieces were all made by hand  with the slab construction technique.  I love that they each have a unique style.  I think this shows that the students are becoming comfortable with the materials and not afraid to explore both the material and their artistic potential.

Beautiful Owls!

These wonderful clay owls were done by 2nd  graders.  I especially love how they just dove into adding texture with the tools.  Thank you to  That Artist Woman for the inspiration for this lesson!  I did tweak it a bit though.... I  like to put a bunch of tools on the table and let the kids figure out how they can be used to create the texture versus telling what to do with each one. I find it makes them  explore the materials and make new discoveries.
Here are the steps:
(First I demonstrated the process to the whole class)

1. I gave them a small piece of clay and they rolled it into a ball. 
2. Then they squished it down with their palms (just enough to flatten it a bit). 
3. Then they took the rolling pin to make the oval like shape. 
4. They  folded over the edges to give the shape of the wings. 
5. For the head you just fold the top down. 
6. For the ears they  pulled out the clay. 
7. For the eyes they used  marker tops.
8. Texture was added with various tools.  
9. Some of them decided to add a beak with a small bit of clay.

 Voila!

Seed Pods

We have been working with clay in my middle school elective class.  These seed pods were made by making two pinch pots, scoring, adding slip and joining them together.  They turned the rim of one pinch pot inward and turned the rim of the other pinch pot outward and then smoothed them together.  Lastly, they added texture with various tools.  I'll add more pictures later as some of them haven't been fired yet.  I especially love the variation in tones for the green seed pod.  This student layered different glazes and was hoping to get this type of effect...it worked!

Ceramics