Ode to a Greek Urn

In our one-room-schoolroom way (each at our own level) we've been studying the human figure and proportion here in the studio. Everyone got so much from these classical lessons and their figure drawings IMPROVED SO MUCH! 

 

 

We took those improved figure skills, first to our Altered Books and then applied them to this Greek Vase project. The Greeks shared so much of their culture, passions, myths, and their love of the human form on this wonderful art form. 

I love how the figure studies look (above) sketched in the books! 

 

 

We used craft paper (above) and "drew with scissors" to explore vase/urn shapes. The kids were amazing while playing with symmetry and shape. They pasted them in and went to the thumbnails stage in their books too!

 I love how varied the vase shapes are! Please click to enlarge...They are fantastic! 

Again, click on the pictures to enlarge. The details will amaze you!

(Clockwise from top left below- Zak Ali, Iesha, Annie, Johnny, Juni, Amelia, Ilana, Liris) 

With each class so full and lively, I am often unable to photograph each artist and their work. Sorry! If you are not represented here and want to be, please help to remind me to get your work on film!

Thank you artists for stretching and growing your skills!
Your willingness to focus and try new things really shows up in your work.

Bookish

I've been collecting beautiful and interesting books so the kids and I can do an Altered Book Experiment together. We began the project a week or so ago! Each book, like each artist in this studio, is unique, interesting and has a story all of it's own to tell. Each week we are going to "rewrite" these old books. We'll illustrate, collage, paint over, dream up, recover, rip-out and all together breath new life into these old tomes.

My hope is that these recycled books will be a place to capture our dreams, hopes and ideas in, focusing on the power of imagery and beauty, like a sacred art diary/journal. 

I loved watching the kids sitting in the sun, rewriting history.

Spirits Welcomed

It was an especially fun and great-spirited week here at StudioTime. The Fall sun was shining down as we worked indoors and out, enjoying our projects and each others company.

   
To observe Dios de los Muertos, we used basic printing techniques to make these colorful banners.

We laid down even layers of Speedball block printing inks with soft rubber brayers to reproduce each of our designs. 

A warm welcome to Raziah(above) and Ajna! So great to have you both working in the studio.

 
Each design was unique and WONDERFUL. Annie and I had found the perfect sized ceremonial papers in Chinatown, and I offered craft foam to etch our "plates" on.

During Wednesday afternoon class we had the time to write some rememberances on Chinese Joss papers, to those beings who have passed into the spirit world. We offered up these burning papers, watching as they curled, burned and the smoke disappeared up into the air. 

What is it about reproducing your work that is so thrilling?

Again, I'm so proud of these fearless, curious and clearheaded artists!

Magical Gourds

Wow October! We paper mache'd, primed, painted and prepared for Hallow's eve all though the month! We were all up to our elbows in glue, paint, ghost kitties and Medusa Challenges that no one had a spare second to pick up the camera. I managed to capture just these few. Here's 11 gourds out of the 30 that left the studio.

Cat (top) with her magical Owl Gourd. Malcolm (behind her) did a wonderful Spider Web motif.

Annie created this Dios de los Muertos tribute (above) to her cat Scully and her dog Finny.

Faith made this wonderful Black Cat Gourd (above and below). Love the teeth!

Gorgeous Ellie and her gorgeous gourd (above and below).

Clara's Black Cat Gourd, above.

The very focused and vibrant Liris created this lively Magical Gourd, above.

Zarinah made this ecstatic Gourd Man! The photo doesn't capture it's beauty.

Kevin did a front and back on this wonderful gourd, above and below.

Zak Ali and his fierce, powerful Gourd Man!

Iesha layered and added details in marvelous colors!

These are my two samples (above and below) that I had a BALL making!