Shibori

We also did Shibori techniques with construction paper as experiments

For the past 2 weeks or so, the middle school students have been learning about Shibori.  Shibori is the ancient Japanese art of manipulating fabric in particular ways and then dying it.  It's similar to tie-dye here in the West but Shirbori is for me, more thoughtful and artistic.  Here's a great video we watched about this traditional craft.


 

We used Rit Dye in turquise and we also did reverse Shibori with bleach.  We kept our doors open to ventilate the room  and used gloves for protection.  I wish I had taken more pictures but the students took their shirts home right away so time got the best of me. 

Working With Paper Pulp

There is something wonderful and rewarding about feeling paper pulp in your hands, the water squeezing though your fingers,  feeling the fibers...and then making a form.  

Here we've used paper pulp to make artistic bowls.  We blended torn paper with water in a household blender and used bowls lined with saran wrap for the molds.  The color is purely from the paper,  paint was not added.  The students enjoyed mixing various kinds and colors of paper to come up with unique colors and textures.

(6th-8th grade artwork)

view from top

underside

the student added glitter to the pulp for this piece

the texture is soooooooo beautiful

Paper Pulp

Paper Pulp Experiences Coming Soon!

Here's a taste...

 

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

Applying, Creating and Exploring with Watercolor and Oil Pastels

Kinder and First Grade

Explore- undertake a systematic process of discovery

 Create- evolve from one one's thought or imagination, as a work or invention

After modeling  various watercolor techniques, students were encouraged to explore on their own; trying what was modeled but also encouraged to find their own discoveries.  The first week only  watercolor sets were used.   The second week, both watercolor and oil pastels were used.  This way, students could  synthesize both mediums to create an original artwork.

Be sure to scroll down to watch the video!

detail of various techniques, clockwise top to bottom:
wet on dry paper, wet on wet (bleeding), watercolor resist with oil pastel, various, bleeding