AAW 3D ART

Teapot assignment (Int./Adv.) 1/4/12

2012-01-02T15:07:00.000-08:00

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For your next project, you will make a teapot. This assignment was given last year; please see the AAW 3D ART blog post here . Read it and look at the pictures. NOTE: when you get to the part that says "DIRECTIONS for TODAY", ignore what is on THAT blog post and follow the directions BELOW on THIS blog post.

DIRECTIONS for TODAY:

Do your online research as indicated on the other blog post. Then, instead of making a comment, PRINT copies of teapots that you like. The idea here is to find some teapots that will inspire you in the creation of YOUR teapot.

TURN IN at least 5 pictures of teapots that you like. Do this by the end of class today. Make sure that they are stapled together, and put your name on the top page. They will be returned to you tomorrow during class.

FOR TOMORROW: be ready to start sketching up some ideas for your teapot design.

DUE DATE: Your teapot will be due on Thursday, January 19th. Friday the 20th is the last day of the semester. We will have a class critique on that day; it will also be a make-up day for people that have been out with excused absences.
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Assignment: Relief Tiles (3D Int/Adv)

2011-12-01T19:13:00.000-08:00

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For your next project, you will be creating a set of relief tiles. Relief is a type of sculpture in which the design stands out from the surface. In stone or wood relief sculpture, the background must be cut away from the main object. In creating a relief sculpture in clay, you can cut the background away, add clay to the surface, or do both. Relief sculpture where the objects remain close to the surface is called low relief, and is sometime referred to as bas-relief. You probably have some low relief sculptures in your pocket or purse-- coins!

Relief tiles are essentially low relief sculptures.

The exact details of this assignment are yet to be determined; today you will be doing some research. You will probably be making four or six tiles for this project.

Please do some searching online for pictures of relief tiles. You may also want to take a look at some other relief sculpture as well.

TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT: find pictures of several relief tiles that you like, download the pics and drop them into a Word document. Print a copy to use as reference. Please turn this in at the end of class today; it will be returned to you during our next class period.

Tiles from Pewabic Pottery in... Detroit!

Abstract Relief Sculpture

2011-11-13T19:39:00.000-08:00

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Our combined Intermediate/Advanced 3D Art class recently created an abstract relief sculpture made out of wood. It was a class project, and it was installed on an exterior wall of our school.

The project was inspired by the work of Detroit artist Charles McGee. McGee has been one of the shining lights in the Detroit art world for several decades. Originally a painter, his work now includes a wide range of styles and media, including sculpture.

Charles McGee

Here is our our finished class project:

The process:

Special thanks to our custodian Vince, who played a big part in the final installation, and to Jill and Nate who stayed after school to help with the job.

"Ugly Jugs"

2011-10-24T07:32:00.000-07:00

Go to the link below, look at the photos, and read the information.

The Assignment has changed slightly:

1. (same as before)

2. Do not post comments on the blog. Instead, find the required number of photos of jugs and print them. You can combine them by putting them into a Word document, or you can just print them individually. Gather your pages that you have printed, SIGN ALL PAGES, staple them, and turn them in to your teacher.

Here is the LINK:

Student Art: Bracelets / Necklaces

2011-06-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

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This was our last project for the year for the Intermediate/Advanced class. A few of them didn't get quite finished, but close enough to show here on the blog. Great job, people!

(Click on images for a larger view)

Sarah May

Lindsey Burcar

Molly Jeffrey

Madeline Toro

Emma Jeffrey

Meg Konke

Kaitlyn Barnowski

Note: metals include copper, brass, and nickel. Everything is completely handmade, including the jump rings and chains (except for the lobster clasp on one piece).

The Gates of Hell

2011-05-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

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The door to the 3D Art room was looking kind of dull. I decided to have the students create a relief sculpture on the door, based on Rodin's Gates of Hell. The medium would be paper-maché.

Rodin, Gates of Hell

After the class did some research in the computer lab, I had each student create an individual component to be attached to the door.

(click on images for a larger view)

At this point, they weren't very excited about the project. I knew what it could end up looking like, but I think they just couldn't visualize it very well. As we transitioned into our metal jewelry-making unit, they pretty much lost interest in the door.

After a while, I put the squeeze on a couple kids to paint it with primer. Now it was starting to look like something. Where it had been difficult to see with all of the newspaper showing, now we could really see what it looked like. Interest was renewed; a lot of people were stopping to look as they walked down the hall.

On to the final paint job. After a base coat of dark brown, bronze colored acrylic paint was applied. Voila!

I'm really pleased with how this project turned out. It lived up to what I had hoped for, and more! Congrats to my students for hitting a home run on this one.

AAW 10th Annual Spring Art Show

2011-05-16T19:15:00.001-07:00

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(click on the image for a larger view)

Map and directions

Student Art: First Jewelry Projects

2011-05-13T19:52:00.000-07:00

Teacher sample pieces

3D Art @ AAW has recently added metal jewelry-making to our program. To start with, students are learning to fasten pieces of sheet metal together with "cold connections". Skills involve the following: cutting with a jeweler's saw, making rivets and tube rivets, connecting with rivets, adding texture, making jump rings, and adding a surface patina using a solution of liver of sulphur. At this point we are using brass, copper, and nickel.

Assignment #1: riveting sample, connecting two pieces of sheet metal; texture, patina.

Kaitlyn Barnowski

Sarah May

Molly Jeffrey

Assignment #2: pendant using two layers of sheet metal, w/ hole in top piece of metal.

Emma Jeffrey

Molly Jeffrey

Madeline Toro

Lindsey Burcar

Sarah May

Caitlin DeMara

Artist-made Jewelry with "cold connections"

2011-04-26T18:48:00.000-07:00

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Assignment for today:

Jewelers, like other artists, are always looking for new ideas. Where better to look that the work of other artists?

Do some research online and find some artist-made jewelry that you like. You should be looking for things that you might be able to make with the techniques we have learned so far (or something similar that looks like you might be able to do).

Experiment with searching for different combinations of "key words". Some words you might use could be: cold connection, rivet, jewelry, pendant, bracelet, earring, necklace, hand-made, artist, etc.

REQUIREMENTS FOR TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT: Find pictures of at least 5 pieces of jewelry that you like, and post links to the pictures by posting a "comment" below. (Make sure that your NAME is attached to your comment!)

Remember, what we are looking for is hand-made jewelry that is made by artists, NOT commercially manufactured jewelry. And, it should be something that you might actually be able to make on your own.

Here are a few more examples:

Note connections: small nuts and bolts.

This ring is formed on a ring mandrel. We have one of these.

Note: on this piece, the pieces of metal are separated by copper tubing, and connected with nuts and bolts.

The main idea of this assignment is just to get inspired!

Assignment: "Prehistoric Venus" Sculpture

2011-04-18T20:13:00.001-07:00

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The Venus of Willendorf

(click on image for a larger view)

Earlier this year we learned that the small sculpture known as The Venus of Willendorf was, until recently, the oldest known piece of sculpture in existence. A number of other "Venus" sculptures of similar age have been found, some even older. Today, you will do a bit of research about these sculptures in preparation for your next project.

Your next project will be to create a small "Prehistoric Venus" sculpture. You will be using the "subtractive" method, carving your sculpture from a block of plaster.

Assignment for today: do some digging around online to find information about the Venus of Willendorf and other similar prehistoric "Venus" sculptures. Look for written information, and also for pictures. Then, answer the questions below by making a "comment" on this blog post.

To "comment", scroll to the bottom of this post and click on the words "Post a Comment". A window will pop up. Where it says "Choose an identity", select "Name/URL". Write your name in the box next to "Name". (You do not need a URL.) Then, where it says "Leave your comment", type the answers to the questions. Fill in the word verification box, and then press the button for "Publish Your Comment".

Note: if you do not have enough time to answer all then questions below, you may finish this assignment at home tonight (or a.s.a.p. if you were absent today). Also, you will be receiving a handout sheet for your plaster sculpture assignment-- it will have some pictures of Venus sculptures on it, but you might want to print some of your own here in the computer lab or at home.

Questions:

1. Who was Venus?

2. When was the Venus of Willendorf made?

3. Who made the Venus of Willendorf?

4. Why is it called The Venus of Willendorf?

5. There are a number of other prehistoric Venus sculptures. What is the general range of dates during which these sculptures were made? (example: 500 BC - 200 BC)

6. Look up another prehistoric "Venus" sculpture (similar to the Venus of Willendorf). Compare and contrast: what are the similarities and differences? Be specific.

7. Select another similar prehistoric sculpture, and once again compare and contrast.

8. Why are these prehistoric figurines (small sculptures) referred to as "Venus" sculptures?

9. What do the "experts" think the purpose of these sculptures was?

10. What do YOU think think the purpose of these sculptures was? Do you think they meant to be erotic or "sexy", or do you think they were made for some other reason or purpose?

Teapot assignment (Int. and Adv.) 1/3/11

2011-01-01T09:31:00.000-08:00

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For your next project, you will make a teapot. The teapot is a favorite object of many ceramic artists. There is a lot of history and tradition world-wide regarding teapots and tea in general.

The "tea ceremony" can be found in both Western and Eastern civilization. In Asia the tea ceremony goes back hundreds of years. The Japanese tea ceremony is highly ritualistic-- everything must be done a certain way. Likewise, the British "afternoon tea" also follows a specific procedure. In both cases, the vessels, tools, and so forth are carefully defined.

So, when a ceramic artist sets out to make a teapot, there are several things to consider...

Traditional vs. Non-traditional

As mentioned above, there is a long tradition in teapots regarding style, form, etc. Some contemporary artists prefer to make their teapots within the tradition, while others use a more non-traditional or individualistic way of making a teapot. Over time, the teapot has come to be a way for artists to express themselves in any number of number of ways.

Korea, 13th century

China, 18th century

contemporary

contemporary

Functional vs. Non-functional

A traditional teapot will of course be functional. In other words, its main purpose and function is for making and serving tea. A non-traditional teapot may still be functional, but it does not have to be: this is where the artist can really get creative!

Non-traditional, but functional

Definitely non-functional-- 18 inches tall!

Your assignment for today:

Using Google image search (or something similar), find some teapots that you especially like. The idea here has two points-- first, to see what's out there in the world of artist-made teapots (not commercially manufactured), and second, to find some teapots that are particularly inspiring to you. Hopefully this will help you in coming up with some ideas for your teapots!

Image search keywords-- Try combining the word teapot with some of the following: stoneware, earthenware, traditional, contemporary, non-functional, abstract, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Ming, Tang, celadon, or anything else you can think of.

DIRECTIONS for TODAY:

You are to make a "comment" on this blog post, and give links to at least five teapots. For each teapot, briefly explain why you selected it.

To make a comment, go to the bottom of this post and click on the word comments; you can then select anonymous from the pop-up menu, but YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR NAME ON YOUR COMMENT to receive credit for this assignment.

Also... you can also print pictures of a couple of teapots if you wish, but it is not required.

Tomorrow:

Be prepared to create sketches of designs for your teapot.

Art Installation by Advanced/Intermediate 3D Art class

2010-10-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

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This is a class project from the Advanced/Intermediate 3D Art class at Arts Academy in the Woods. Rick Jacobi, art teacher; Jane McBride, student teacher.

Click on the individual images for a larger view. Photos by Rick Jacobi

The site.

Installation complete.

A few days earlier...

Ready to begin the installation.

The first two boards are placed.

The last boards are placed.

The boards are temporarily tied into position, and then fastened with screws.

Some of the boards are still tied; the ties will be removed after all the wood is screwed together.

Finished.

Recent student art: plaster figures, assemblage

2010-06-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

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Alex Aniol

Lachelle Byars

Shannon Vorus

Chris Rudko

Alex Aniol

Emma Jeffrey

Tache Davis

Jazmine Hill

Madeline Toro

anonymous by request

Kayla Friess

Totem Pole project

2010-05-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

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(click on images for a larger view)

Our 3D Art class just finished this totem pole project; we installed the poles yesterday after school. The installation was completed in about two hours. The posts are about eight feet high, with a little over two feet in the ground, encased in cement. I supervised and pitched in, but the kids did most of the work.

I would like to say that I came up with this idea by myself, but credit must go to art teacher extraordinaire Ken Vieth. The project came from his excellent book From Ordinary to Extraordinary. He has another book called Engaging the Adolescent Mind, which I also recommend>

I had the opportunity to take a seminar with Ken a couple weeks ago; it was kind of a coincidence that we were actually working on this project at the time of the seminar. By the way, Ken's seminar was really good-- if you are an art teacher and have an opportunity to take his seminar, go for it-- I highly recommend it.

The class really enjoyed this project-- many of them were using power tools for the first time, so this was a great learning experience for them not just in terms of creativity, but also for learning a number of new skills. The totems were cut out with jigsaws, primed and painted with exterior latex, and attached to the posts with wood glue, clamps, and screws. The screws were counter-sunk and covered with wood fill, and then touched up with paint.

As per Ken's recommendation in the book, I had the students collectively decide on a color scheme. I told them they could use two colors, plus black and white. Somewhat surprisingly, there was no arguing about the colors; the discussion was very orderly and most everyone seemed happy with the colors that were selected.

As you can see, the totem poles are situated alongside our school, close to the sidewalk and street. As we were doing the installation, several people drove by and stopped to take a closer look-- we got several compliments!

Here are a few closeups of some of the individual totems. They are "relief sculptures", and the students were required to add at least one additional layer of pieces to the base sheet of plywood.

This was a really fun project-- maybe someday we will have totem poles all around the school!

Assignment: Assemblage Sculpture

2010-04-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

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Joseph Cornell

Earlier this year, we made abstract relief sculptures out of wood. In this project, we will be exploring and making some different types of assemblage sculptures.

We will begin by looking at some assemblages by Joseph Cornell. Cornell was one of the pioneers of assemblage, and remains one of the most influential artists for this type of art. We will also look at the work of several other artists-- some that are directly influenced by Cornell, and some others that are not.

After you look at the images below, read the questions at the bottom of this post, and answer the questions by posting a comment.

What we will be doing in class:
You will make an assemblage sculpture. It will take one of two forms:
1) in a wooden box, similar to the work of Joseph Cornell
2) freestanding / full round
Themes: you must choose one of the two themes for your sculpture:
1) symbolic self-portrait
2) good vs. evil

You will be receiving a handout with the specific details of this assignment.

(click on images below for a larger view)

Joseph Cornell

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Work by artists who have been influenced by Joseph Cornell

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Freestanding / Full Round Assemblage
(by various artists)

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Questions:

Answer these questions by making a "comment". Be sure to put your NAME on your comment!

1) What are some of the main features or characteristics of Cornell's assemblages (images 1-5)?

2) Consider the work of the artists influenced by Cornell, as shown above (images 6 through 15). Compare this work to Cornell's. What similarities do you see? What are some differences?

3) Select one of the Freestanding / Full Round Assemblage images that you like (17-27). Give the number of the piece, and then describe the piece and explain why you like it. Be specific-- a comment such as "I like it because it's really sweet" is not acceptable.

4) Off the top of your head, what kinds of things might you look for to use in your assemblage?

5) Where are some places you might look to find objects for this project?

6) Bonus question-- copy and paste links to a couple images of assemblages that you like, and explain what you like about them (they should be either similar to work by Joseph Cornell or freestanding / full round assemblages, as shown above).

Again, remember to put your NAME on your comment!

Subtractive Plaster Sculpture-- faces

2010-03-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

This was a recent class project. We made thick disc-shaped plaster blocks, and created faces, using the "subtractive" method, a.k.a. "carving". Here are some very nice examples from some of the students.

(First, a sample piece I made prior to starting the project-- this piece remains unfinished, but I think it helped in getting them off to a good start.)

Jacobi (unfinished sample piece)

Madeline Toro

Lindsey Burcar

Kurt Brush

Kayla Friess

Joseph Humphreys

Alexandra Kosut

Totem Poles

2010-03-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

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We will soon be starting work on our next project. We will be making totem poles. This will be a group project, and the plan is that when they are finished, our totem poles will be installed outside somewhere on the school grounds (exact location to be determined).

As an introduction to this project, today you will be reading some information about totem poles, and looking at some pictures. At the bottom of this post, you will find your assignment for today.

Sometime in the next few days, you will be receiving more specific information about the actual project that you will be doing. (Note: you will see in the pictures below that actual totem poles are very large, and are carved out of wood. We will not be carving; rather, we will be making a series of relief sculpture totems out of wood, which will then be mounted on poles.)

Here is a definition/explanation about totems and totem poles, found on the Internet:

A totem is a representation of an animal, a plan, or a natural object that serves among certain tribal or traditional peoples as an emblem or as a guardian. Or, the animal, plant or natural object itself.

A totem pole is a traditional form among artists of various Native peoples of the "Northwest Coast" -- British Columbia, Canada, an southern Alaska, USA. Carved from mature cedar trees, full size totem poles were originally an important part of the Potlatch ceremony, a feast with deep meaning to coastal First Nation. Totem poles were once carved and raised to represent a family-clan, its kinship system and stories. A totem pole served, in essence, as the emblem of a family or clan and often as a reminder of its ancestry. It might be raised to honor a deceased elder, or to show the number of names and rights a person had acquired over their lifetime, or to record an encounter with a supernatural being, or to symbolize the generosity of a person who sponsored a Potlatch ceremony. contemporary totem poles are carved for both Natives and non-Natives, and have come to represent the Northwest Pacific Coast Native tradition and pride.

source: http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/Tf.html

Older/historical totem poles (mid-1800s to early 1900s)

Newer/contemporary totem poles (mid-1900s to early 2000s)

Student examples (Ours will be somewhat similar to these-- relief sculptures mounted on poles. Note the limited color scheme. We will be making some decisions such as layout/design and color scheme as a class-- this is a collaborative project where everyone will be working together.)

Photo above is from the book From Ordinary to Extraordinary by Ken Vieth

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Your assignment for today:

As we have done previously, you will be posting a "comment" below, in which you will respond to the following:

1. Post two links to pictures of totem poles that you like, and for each picture, explain what it is that you like and why you like it. (3 points for each link/picture; 6 points total)

2. Off the top of your head, what do you think you might chose as your personal totem? Animal, plant, other natural object, or something altogether different? Please explain your choice. This choice does not need to be what you will use for your project-- it can be, or you can give it some more thought once we actually start working on the project. (4 points)

For your research, you can of course use Google etc, but here is a really great website with a ton of links about totem poles.

Sculpture: the abstract human figure

2010-02-15T18:05:00.000-08:00

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In our previous project, you were introduced to subtractive sculpture. The faces you have been carving out of plaster are relief sculptures-- they are meant to be viewed from the front only.

For this project, you will be creating another subtractive sculpture out of plaster. However, this time, you will be making a full round sculpture (also known as a free-standing sculpture). Full round sculptures can be viewed from any angle. The subject matter for this sculpture will be an abstract human figure.

Jean Arp
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Abstract sculpture: sculptures that may be based on actual objects, but where the objects have been simplified, stylized, distorted, or otherwise altered to the point were they may become difficult or impossible to recognize.

In this blog post, we will be looking at the work of three modern artists that are known for their abstract sculptures of human figures-- Henry Moore, Jean Arp, and Barbara Hepworth. These sculptures were created over several decades in the 1900s.

After you look at the pictures below, there will be a few questions for you to answer-- answer by making a comment down at the bottom of this post.

(Sorry-- I don't have titles for these sculptures-- they are numbered for your convenience so that you may refer to individual pieces in your answers to the questions.)

Henry Moore
1898-1986

British sculptor Henry Moore is probably the most well-known of the three sculptors we will be looking at. Moore worked in stone, wood, and bronze, and plaster.

Note the progression of style in his sculpture, how he moves from figures that are stylized but recognizable to figures that become increasingly abstract.

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Henry Moore making a plaster maquette

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Barbara Hepworth
1903-1975

Also from Great Britain, Hepworth and Moore met in college, and remained friends throughout their lives. Together, they played a major role in defining modernism in sculpture.

Hepworth carving a block of stone

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Jean Arp (a.k.a. Hans Arp)
1886-1966

French/German artist Jean Arp came out of the Surrealist movement in the earlier twentieth century, and was a member of the movement known as Dada. Arp was a sculptor, painter, and poet.

Arp in his studio, surrounded by plaster sculptures

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Questions:

1. What kinds of things did Moore do to simplify the human figure and make it more abstract?

2. Look at the series of sketches by Moore (#4). What is he doing with these sketches? Describe in detail; be specific.

3. Look at the picture of Hepworth carving a block of stone. What exactly is she doing, and how is she doing it?

4. Would you say that Hepworth's gender (female) has anything to do with the appearance of her work? If so, what? If not, why not?

5. Compare and contrast-- How is Arp's and Moore's work similar? How is it different?

Answer these questions by making a "comment" below.

Please give detailed answers-- at least 2 or 3 sentences. Use whole sentences, and think about what you are going to say before you answer.

PUT YOUR NAME AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR COMMENT

We will be starting this project next week. Before you begin carving your plaster, you will be required to produce a series of sketches (similar to what Moore has done in picture #4). You will then make a clay model of your sculpture-- this will help you to see where you will need to go with carving your plaster.

New Student Work: Sculpture

2010-01-01T18:48:00.001-08:00

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Papier Mache

Lindsey Burcar

Lindsey Burcar

Madeline Toro

Assemblage with "found wood"

Kayla Friess

Madeline Toro

Anthony Beverly

New Student Work: Ceramics

2010-01-01T18:39:00.000-08:00

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Lindsey Burcar

Alexandra Kosut

Madeline Toro

Lindsey Burcar

Kayla Friess

Kayla Friess

Emma Jeffrey

Celia Eddy

Nina Harvey

Assignment: abstract relief sculpture assemblage

2009-11-28T11:26:00.000-08:00

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Advanced 3D Art

Margaret Mellis, 'F', 1997

This will be your next project. You will create an abstract relief sculpture. It will be an assemblage sculpture, made largely out of wood. Today's blog post will introduce you to this project.

Please read this blog post and look at the pictures. Then, complete today's online assignment by answering the questions below (farther down, near the bottom of this post).

(Note: you will receive an handout with specific instructions for making your sculpture.)

First, let's review some terms:

Abstract art: pictures or sculptures that may be based on actual objects, but where the objects have been simplified, stylized, distorted, or otherwise altered to the point where they may become difficult or impossible to recognize. (The term abstract art is also sometimes used to describe non-objective art-- see below.)

Non-objective art: pictures or sculptures that do not have any recognizable objects whatsoever. Non-objective art frequently focuses on things like color, shape, texture, and so forth.

Relief: sculpture that is attached to and projects outward from a wall or panel.
There are three kinds of relief sculpture— low, high, and sunken. Low relief projects only slightly from its background; high relief projects farther out from its background. Sunken relief does not project at all—instead, shapes and forms are defined by carving into the surface. Some of the earliest forms of sculpture involve carving into various surfaces made of stone.

Assemblage: a type of modern sculpture where a number of objects and/or materials are combined and "assembled" to create a work of art. Objects/materials are often "found", but materials can also be things like wood that is cut to a particular size and shape.

A few historical examples of relief sculpture

Ancient Egypt, c.1500 b.c.

Assyrian Empire (Iraq), 665 b.c.

Ancient Greece, c.300 b.c.

Mayan (Mexico), 709 a.d.

Dogon, Mali (Africa), 19th c.

Art Deco relief on a building in Miami, FL, c.1930s

Contemporary (modern) abstract relief sculpture

Today's online assignment: we will be focusing on the sculpture of Margaret Mellis. Go to this website, read at least the first paragraph, and look at the images. Then answer the questions below. To answer the questions, make a comment with your answers. Number your answers, and SIGN YOUR NAME if you want to receive credit!

Margaret Mellis, Rust and Yellow, 1990

Questions for today:

1. What materials did Mellis use to create these sculptures? (be specific!)

2. How did she design/create these sculptures?

3. How are the pieces assembled?

4. Look at the picture titled Detail of Studio. What does this picture suggest in regards to the way she made her assemblage sculptures?

5. Select one of the sculptures by Mellis. Give its title and describe it in detail.

Next step: start thinking about what you might do for this project. Note that Margaret Mellis' sculptures are made out of "found" wood, while most of the others shown above are made out of wood that has been cut to size and shape. How might you approach this project? Where could you find some old pieces of wood?

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Ugly Jugs, Face Jugs, Face Pots

2009-11-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

Advanced 3D Art

This is your next project. You will make a pot with a face on it. These types of pots have been known as Face Pots, Face Jugs, Ugly Jugs, and sometimes as Voodoo Jugs. Although pots with faces on them go back to ancient times in a number of places around the world, in America, these pots are mainly associated with African-American potters in the American South. The exact origin of these pots is not fully known, but seem to originate with African-American slaves prior to the Civil War.

It is possible that in a tradition brought over from Africa, ugly jugs were made to scare away evil spirits from peoples' graves. They were also apparently used to store "moonshine" whiskey-- putting an ugly face on a liquor jug could have been meant to scare children and keep them away from the whiskey. Whatever the reason, these jugs present a unique means of expression for the potter. Artists in the south and elsewhere have continued to create this type of work up to the present day.

Your assignment for today:

1. Go to the website below, and read the article titled History of the African-American Face Jug, by potter Jim McDowell.

http://www.blackpotter.com/

2. Search for images of ugly jugs by using google image search or something similar. Make a comment on this blog post, and provide links to the images that you want the teacher to see. You must provide at least three images; four or five would be even better. Make sure that you put your name on your comment-- if there is no name, you will not receive credit.

Assignment: Papier-mâché Animals

2009-10-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

You will making a sculpture of an animal out of Papier-mâché. It can be “free-standing” or you may put it on a base (cardboard, wood, etc). Size: approx. 12”-18” high or long.

Papier-mâché (French for “chewed-up paper” due to its appearance) is a material that consists of pieces of paper stuck together using a wet paste. The crafted object becomes solid when the paste dries.

Tomorrow in class you will receive a handout with detailed step-by-step instructions and photo illustrations.

Your assignment for today-- read carefully:

1. Decide what kind of animal you would like to make a sculpture of.

2. Search the Internet for reference photos--
a. photos of actual animals
b. photos of sculptures of animals, realistic or stylized (They can be made from any materials, not necessarily Papier-mâché)

3. (optional) Download a few photos you like, and save them to your AAW folder (or e-mail them to yourself if you like-- store in Photobucket, whatever works for you).

4. Print two or three pictures-- here in the lab or on your own time, but bring them to class tomorrow!

5. Make a comment on this blog post, and copy/paste links to at least four reference photos:
--Two photos of real animals
--Two photos of sculptures of animals
To receive credit, include your name with your comment. Full name, or name/initial. For example: Reuben O.

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Optional for today, if you are finished with your comment and links....

Here is the information you will be receiving tomorrow if you would like to take a look:

Materials:
Newspaper, paste (flour/water), masking tape, latex primer, acrylic paint

Papier-mâché (French for “chewed-up paper” due to its appearance) is a material that consists of pieces of paper stuck together using a wet paste. The crafted object becomes solid when the paste dries. We will be using the traditional paste made from a mixture of flour and water.

Research:
1. Decide on what animal you would like your sculpture to be of.
2. Do some research—locate pictures of what this type of animal looks like.
3. Get copies of pictures—from books, magazines, or online (print them).
4. Do some more research—find pictures of other animal sculptures (papier-mâché or other materials). Maybe get copies of some of these as well.

Construction:
1. You may want to make a sketch of the way you want your sculpture to look.
2. Begin construction by making the main body shape. Crumple some newspaper into the appropriate shape, and wrap it with masking tape. (You do not have to cover the whole shape with tape, just use enough to keep it together.)
3. Using the same method, create arms, legs, head, tail, etc. (If they are really narrow, you may want to use a heavy wire or coat hanger inside the paper to give it strength.)
4. Attach limbs and head to body with masking tape.
5. Make sure that your sculpture is fairly solid, and that it looks pretty much how you want it to be.

Add papier-mâché:
1. Before you start, make sure that your table is covered, so you don’t get paste all over the table!
2. Mix up some paste, using around 1 cup water to 1 cup flour. Put the flour and water in a bowl; use a whisk or fork to mix—mix until smooth, no lumps. Your paste should be kind of like pancake batter—not too thick, but not too runny.
3. Tear a bunch of strips of newspaper. Make them about one inch wide, and four to six inches long. (tear paper from top to bottom, and it will tear more or less evenly.)
4. One piece at a time, dip the paper into the paste making sure it is totally covered—then, squeeze out the excess paste by running the paper through a couple of your fingers.
5. Apply the paper to your sculpture, and smooth it out with your fingers.
6. Continue this process until the whole sculpture has been covered. You will be overlapping your paper to some extent; try not to make it more than 3 or 4 layers thick at this point. Don’t over-do it; if it stays wet for too long, your sculpture may develop mold.
7. Allow sculpture to dry completely, typically 24 hours.
8. Repeat this process at least two more times, more if necessary.
9. By now your sculpture should be nice and firm, with a hard surface. You may use sandpaper if you want to smooth the surface a bit, but you may also want to leave it “as is”, with a nice texture on it. (If using sandpaper, make sure that your sculpture is totally dry!)

Painting:
1. Paint your sculpture with a coat of laxtex primer. Let it dry. You may need a second coat of primer.
2. Use acrylic paint to color your sculpture, adding stripes, patterns etc. You have a couple options for painting your sculpture:
a. realistic colors and patterns
b. decorative colors and patterns
3. If desired, a final coat of acrylic matte medium or Mod Podge may be used.

Online research assignment: Ceramic bottles

2009-09-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

You are going to be researching photos of ceramic bottles online, and posting your research on the 3D Art blog. The bottles you select should have a high level of artistic quality.

Open a second window (ctrl+N)

In the second window, go to http://www.google.com/

At the top of the window, click on “images”

Do a “google image search” for: ceramic bottle, clay bottle, stoneware bottle, etc.

Find some examples of bottles that you like, and follow the link to the website where the picture is located.(ceramic/art bottles, not wine bottles etc.)

Copy the url (web address)

Go back to the 3D Art Blog in the other window

Click on Comments. This will take you to the “Post a Comment” window

Paste the url of the photo/website you want me to look at.

Repeat this process

You are required to show at least three examples, so you will need to choose three pictures that you like, and paste the url for each of the three pictures/websites into your “comment” on the blog.

So, your “comment” should consist of the three urls/addresses, and YOUR NAME.

(I have posted the first comment, so you can see what I am looking for. Of course, you need to find your own bottles, don't use the ones I posted!)

If you finish early, please either 1) look at more ceramics websites, or 2) start searching for "assemblage art".