Summer Clay 2021

As a “gig” worker, my summers were jam packed with lots of different classes and workshops where I’ve taught art and clay to students of all ages. Covid changed that for me and so many other instructors. Last summer I chose to teach virtually. It worked well. I learned to adapt. Thinking about summer 2021, I decided to return to in-person teaching. I took one full time job for 8 weeks teaching summer clay to campers grades 1-9. I didn’t make as much money as I could have teaching multiple shorter workshops, but it felt safer for me and safer for my young students, the majority of whom were too young to be vaccinated.

Interacting with new people, making friends, hearing the laughter of children and watching them create was joyful. I became part of a bigger community whose job was to provide a wonderful enriching summer for children in a time when that need could not have been greater. I think we succeeded as I look back on the amazing pottery the kids created…

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Happy Holidays 2020

I’ve just completed an update on my website with class updates and how to purchase my pottery until December 31, 2020. I’ve been stopping in at the galleries and shops that support me and filling in with new pieces for the final days of in-store shopping. The snow is falling and spring ideas are starting to pop into my head. I’m looking forward to creating new work and completing some special orders in 2021. Be Well and Stay Safe.

Thank you to Medfield TV for creating this great video for the Virtual Holiday Stroll in Medfield.

Hand building On Line Classes for Adult Students

Creating bowls with clay coils. Potters have been using this technique for hundreds of years in all cultures!

Last week marked the start of virtual hand building classes on Zoom. Oh how I have missed interacting with students and teaching clay to adults! In week one of a two part workshop, we worked on a coil pot; part two will feature hand built fruit to sit in the bowl. In this class, students can use real clay and have been given the opportunity to have it fired. All this is happening at Mother Brook Arts in Dedham. A new group of classes will be ready for sign ups soon. Click here for more information on Mother Brook Arts ceramics program. I will be offering one, two and three day workshops.

There is also an option for private or small group clay lessons virtually with any age – kids, teen, adult – just ask and I’ll set something up!

Pottery at Home

Who says you can’t learn about the amazing world of ceramics virtually? I’ve just finished up a week of teaching pottery in a virtual camp to young students. We’ve had some clay projects and some 2 and 3D paper projects to explore ceramics and how they teach us about different cultures. The above screenshot of middle school students’ artwork shows the beautiful designs they came up with as they imagined themselves creating tiles in Florence, Italy during the Italian Renaissance period. Using the medium of their choice on paper, they emulated decorating a tin based white slip covered earthenware tile to learn about majolica. They also learned how trade from Spain brought the process to the country and the way it functioned in society.

Teen Summer Pottery

Teaching teens pottery is a different experience from teaching elementary aged students even though there may be only a small age difference. Teens in middle and high school have had many more life experiences. They have acquired more creative tools. Their work has time to develop with a daily interaction with clay. Here is a look at what they created in our week long class this summer.

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Teens explored building castles using coils and slabs. From left to right: clay is used to create buildings; castles are glazed in bright colors; artwork is finished with a glaze firing in the pottery kiln. Below are a few more finished pieces.

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Once the students were familiar with architecture, they started their second project: architectural tiles.

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The results were very unique and exciting to see. Starting with a clay slab, the students used their imagination to take the next steps. They then moved on to glazing and the tiles were fired.

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For the final project, the students created a functional piece. They began with a flat two-dimensional slab of clay and turned it into a three dimensional mug. The theme was animals but some decided to move away from topic and create an original piece.

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It’s always a great experience to teach clay for Newton Community Education! Check out my post on what the elementary aged students created during their weeks of summer pottery class.

Kids Summer Pottery

I had a great summer teaching pottery to kids in grades 2-5. They were fun and creative and seemed to really enjoy the experience of working with clay. Here’s a look at some of the projects we worked on in Week 1.

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Coral Reefs: before with wet clay and after with colorful glazes.

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Aquariums

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Coil Pots

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Functional Pottery

Here is a look at the projects we worked on in Week 2:

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Pinch pot animals, sea creatures or fish (and the cookie monster!)

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Covered jars in the form of a favorite dessert.

It’s always a great experience to teach clay for Newton Community Education! Check out my next post on what the teens created during their week of summer pottery class.

Kids Clay

My spring session of Kids Clay included mostly repeat students.  This allowed me to introduce more difficult projects and let the kids make more creative choices.  We focused on three main projects that were multifaceted. We reviewed basic techniques, such as pinching, coiling, texture, slab and attaching to build the final work.  Students enjoyed the “play” factor: moving the pieces around to create their own stories.  It was a joy to see their creative solutions.

Project One: Turtles in their environment

Project Two: It’s my Birthday

Project Three: Pretend you are a scientist and you discovered a new species of animal. Create that new animal.

The pottery was created using low fire clay and glazing the bisque fired ware with low fire glazes. Kids create amazing pottery!

New Arts – a new teaching experience

A short experience teaching young students art brings wonder and joy!

Creating art from literature with 1st and 2nd graders..

 

A Trip to the City: listening to city noises, reading city books, sharing experiences with 3rd, 4th and 5th graders..

Adult Pottery

Scenes from teaching Adult pottery at Potters Place.  I’ve been lucky to have had two groups of fantastic students this past session.  Here is a glimpse at some of the amazing work they have created both on the potters wheel and by hand.

Teaching Pottery

My 14 week class of 12 young students has come to an end.  I’ll miss these students and the wonderful creative play they experienced with clay. Here is a look at some of their artwork:

self portrait project