Fourth Pottery Class 2010

Last night was my fourth pottery class. One of the girls that hangs out during the class while working on her own projects (she teaches a couple of children's classes), remarked that I'm an artist. She stated this after watching the continued progress of my tree cupcake stand. Last week she said something like I'm just a little bit of awesomeness. I'd love to be an artist, I do fully admit that I have creative bones! (I actually forgot my camera again, oops!)

Third Pottery Class 2010

I brought my camera, but then forgot to use it, oops! Anyway, I ended up making two items tonight, a tree trunk base for the cupcake stand and a plate for the cupcake stand, or I may make another plate next week, we'll see... Next week, we're learning hand forming. The plan is to make the leaves for the "tree top" (the edge of the plate) and a little apple to place at the base of the trunk. I also managed to crack two piece, one was salvaged by our instructor, and the other one I chiseled a bit more to make it look purposeful. The pieces from the first week and this week are being fired and will be glazed this week. Now I need to think of colors!

Pictures next time!

I Did It!

When I first decided what I was going to be when I grew up, I chose Fashion Design. I had also decided that I wanted to live in California. Taking both of these things into consideration, I chose the American Intercontinental University (previously known as the American College for the Applied Arts) in Los Angeles, CA. However, I changed my mind again and again and again over the next many years, until I now hold an AS in Psych, a BA in Art History, and a MAED/TED in Elementary Education. The main problem with this is that I constantly gave up the producing of my own art! Partly this was due to fear of failure, or some such nonsense...

When I was in high school, I took a test that was supposed to narrow down what you should be when you grow up. This test said absolutely nothing about art; however, several questions asked about how stable I wanted my life, and since I said stable, I think it kicked art out of the picture. Of course this is just a theory, but it makes sense to me, especially knowing how much I love being creative! Anyway, my life has been anything but stable anyway, so now I need to just be myself and live up to my potential - now that I know what that means.* I'm excited for the opportunity to really go for it! This morning I applied for a BFA degree with an emphasis in ceramics through the University of Utah. I should know what's happening in about 2-3 weeks. I made the deadline by one week!

*My sixth grade teacher once pulled me aside and told me I wasn't living up to my potential, but I had no idea what that actually meant! Now I realize that I could've been an A student instead of the slacker that I was. Hint: if you want someone to "live up to their potential," tell them what you believe "potential" means!

Spring!

Yeah for a new background! This is the third one I tried in an attempt at a "springy" background. Did you know that Spring starts on Saturday? I hope that means that I'll have good luck taking the GRE (Graduate Record Examination)! I'm not feeling ready yet, but hopefully I will by Saturday! Once I pass, then I can finish applying for grad school (Library Science). I'm applying for the January semester in an attempt to balance my life and recover from the last master's degree!

Also, I'm getting a pottery wheel sooner than I had anticipated!!!! I'll be rearranging my kitchen and spare room in order to accommodate it. The stuff in the kitchen corner will be placed in the spare room, and the the pottery wheel will go in the kitchen. I'm soooo excited!!!

Second Pottery Class 2010

This week my plate worked! except it got a bit bumped putting it on the shelf :( I'm definitely making progress, yeah! And, I may be getting a pottery wheel of my very own sooner than I thought... Also, I remembered my camera this week, so you get pictures! (I posted pictures to the first pottery class 2010 post as well, yeah!) I still really, really want to try making the cupcake stand!


How's this one? A tree with four main branches, hold a bowl shaped "nest," which is the cupcake stand! lol, I really like this idea! Another approach is to make it more angular and "modern" by making the branches stiffer and placing a square plate on top. Hmmm...I'll see what I can do! Or, the trunk can be pretty plain, perhaps some texture, and the plate has the branches coming off of it! I LOVE it!!

See a Penny, Pick It Up, And All Day Long, You'll Have Good Luck!

A few weeks ago, while helping my sister make Sam's quilt, Gabe asked if I could make a giant penny pillow. I figured, why not, so I began the process of acquiring the supplies: went to JoAnn Fabrics with a penny and held it out until I found a material close to the color. The sales people were quite confused when I told them what I was making. They'd never heard of making a giant penny! That's because "he made it up," I said, lol! This afternoon, while hanging out with my sister and nephews, I finally made the giant penny (he drew the pictures - himself instead of Lincoln, lol! and the date on it and I wrote the rest of the words, especially "one cent" - he told me not to forget!). It's about eight inches in diameter and he held onto it the rest of the afternoon, so cute!

(Pictures soon!)

First Pottery Class 2010

I went to my first pottery class last night since last year! There are four of us in class so far. I wonder if anyone else will end up coming... Everyone seemed to catch on pretty quickly. It was a wobbly beginning for me as I worked to remember how it all works and tried some really complicated ideas that I'll try again. By the end, I had three mostly successes! The first one was too thin and collapsed a bit on one side, but it still looks interesting. The second one is a tiny version of the first one I made last year. It's a bit wobbly too, but fun. The third one was a plate until I went to move it to the board, then it fell on one side. Now it's rather sculptural. I was going to take my camera, but forgot it at home. Next week, I will be sure to take it with me! (I remembered it, yeah!)

Book Arts Program

I've been thinking a lot about books and book binding, the actual physicality of books, so I did a little search and found the Book Arts Program at University of Utah! The Book Arts Program offers Free lectures, free classes for educators, and non-credit and credit classes in the multi-faceted processes of book making! I think I'll have to wait until October to participate though...

Book Arts Program

The covers of a book enclose worlds constructed of text and image. To open a book is to expose the intimate details of story, experience and idea.

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library since 1995, the Book Arts Program champions wide-ranging explorations of the book. In our fully equipped studio, bookbinders, printers, and book artists utilize type, letterpress, photo engravings and bookbinding equipment as they combine traditional techniques with modern aesthetics and technology.

The Book Arts Program facilitates involvement with the art of the book by providing:

• Full-semester classes exploring letterpress printing, bookmaking and artists’ books offered to University students and community members.
• Short weekend workshops and four day summer intensives with specialized instruction on ever-expanding topics.
• Community outreach, encouraging appreciation for the tradition and art of books.
• K–12 programs such as the Treasure Chest of Rare Books and educator workshops.
• Residency and independent studio options.
  

Will I win this time?

hmmm...I sure hope so!

Check out Mummysam's art HERE and HERE!

It's been great finding such fun and innovative artists as of late! After graduating with a BA in Art History and now creating the Art History curriculum at a high school, I seemed to have forgotten somehow that Art is still alive and well and everywhere around us if we're just willing to take a look. This came to mind while creating the newest Art History packet and realizing that a lot of the artists I've been including are still alive and well!

The verification word to post this comment on her blog was: "derserv," which is close to deserve, don't you think? :)

Art History Project: Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein

I asked one of my artistic coworkers to create a sample art project for the American Art:1900-the early 21st Century packet. This project (one of 10 options - the students choose 5) is especially challenging:

combine the art styles of Andy Warhol:

(Picture she found)

and Roy Lichtenstein:

(Other picture she found)

The artwork needs to be 1 cell or more of a comic strip about 2 or more everyday objects using personification. It also needs to be done on an 11" x 17" piece of paper, in color, using benday dots for the shading.

What do you think?

Chalk One Up for Creativity

What pun that was! OK, I'll stop now...

Here is my latest and greatest project:

Step 1: watch a movie where one of the characters has a chalkboard wall ("500 days of Summer").

Step 2: become obsessed with owning a giant chalkboard.

Step 3: get the idea to build a giant chalkboard.

Step 4: go to Lowe's to find a giant piece of wood, primer, chalkboard paint, and a roller.

Step 5: realize that your car is too small for the giant piece of wood that will become the chalkboard.

Step 6: go back into the store to see if they will give you string to tie it to the top of your car.

Step 7: wait for help.

Step 8: meet your neighbor's husband who happens to work at Lowe's and who offers to cut the giant piece of wood in half *gasp* or take it home in his vehicle.

Step 9: wait for the neighbor's husband and send the giant piece of wood off with him.

Step 10: lead the giant piece of wood home.

Step 11: take the giant piece of wood inside and lean it up against the wall; realize that it's just the right size (you were thinking double this size to begin with).

Step 12: find a cookie sheet and a screwdriver because you were too cheap to buy the "real" tools.

Step 13: Place the giant piece of wood in the bathtub.

Step 14: Prime the giant piece of wood with the grey-tinted primer they made for you at Lowe's.

Step 15: Let it dry (kind of) then prime again.

Step 16: let it completely dry.

Step 17: Take it out to use the shower.



Step 18: put the giant piece of wood back in the bathtub.

Step 19: paint the giant piece of wood with black chalkboard paint (I really wanted navy blue, oh well).

Step 20: let the chalkboard paint dry.

Step 21: Put a second & third coats of chalkboard paint on.

Step 22: Let the chalkboard paint dry.



Step 23: Clean up the bathroom.



Step 24: take down the pictures that are currently on the living room wall and hang them in the other room at some point.

Step 25: figure out how to hang the giant chalkboard on the wall.

Step 26: chalk it up.



Step 27: start coloring!!



Step 28: put your signature on it. Can you see it?


(While the last layer of paint was drying, I pressed my left hand onto the bottom right corner!)

Those are most of the steps. The giant piece of wood/chalkboard is 4' x 4' and .25" thick. I can hardly wait to start playing with it!

P.S. This is my 200th post!! I'd celebrate with a give-a-way, but I don't have anything to give away...perhaps on my one year blogiversary instead!