Crazy clay head - my mother’s day present from my daughter
Side View
It’s hard to believe, there are only 2.5 weeks left for my for daughter until school’s out for the summer! That means that I only have one more week of teaching my after school clay class - which is both good but also sad. Good because teaching takes time away from my own work and I’ll have more time in the studio. Sad, because I really enjoy watching the kids create and I’m going to miss them.
The kids always amaze me with what they come up with. Even when I give them the same assignment they all look different; it just goes to show we bring our own stuff to our art work. One of their favorite things to do is “free clay” - which is basically my way of keeping them busy until the end of class once they’ve finished the project. Some kids finish the project right away and others need the whole 2 hours to complete the assignment. It really depends on their attention to detail or fear of messing up. I always tell them, it’s hard to mess up when you make the rules.
The head above is the result of “free clay” made by my daughter. When I first saw it freshly made, I was in love with her creation. She didn’t want to fire it, and I pretty much insisted. Since then, there have been a rash of crazy clay heads in the making by the rest of the class. Fun, fun fun.
Ceramic rattles
Two weeks ago, we made clay rattles and they are so cool! I’m thinking of making some myself. It’s hard to resist the temptation to pick one up and shake it up. They all sound differently too, depending on how thick the walls or how many and large the clay balls inside the rattle are.
Meanwhile, I finally upgraded my Word Press blog to version 2.5 - and it seems to be running a little slower. It has a really cool administrative interface, but I wonder if it’s causing the slow down. And, wouldn’t you know it, I upgrade and there’s already another upgrade available to 2.5.1. I’m staying put for a little while.
Cheers from snowy Colorado (yes, despite 75 degree weather yesterday, we woke up to snow!)
~Cynthia
Tags: clay classes for kids in denver, clay rattles, crazy clay head, kid's art work
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That is the best Mother’s Day present ever! Very cool.
I have noted your blog has been slow to open.
I love the crazy head!
Another project for the kids — crazy heads on a stick. You know, at the art fairs, anything on a stick sells.
Good Mornin’ Cynthia
Your blog opened just fine for me this morning.
We had a mild blizzard here yesterday. Couldn’t believe that in mid-May there would be a blizzard !!!
This morning is sunny & warm.
Hugs
Chae
Precious gift from your daughter! Too soon they are full grown.
*gasp* your daughter is sooo talented! I absolutely love that crazy head! It looks like you could eat it - I actually thought the eyes were Smarties to start with! (I’m presuming you have Smarties over there? If not, they look exactly like the eyes, with a coloured crispy shell and chocolate inside)
Can we see the back too?
It’s no good, every time I look at it I want to eat cake! It just looks so yummy! The whites of the eyes look like icing sugar!
Those are great! I’ll be teaching ceramics for the first time at a camp this summer and it’s nice to see what students are creating. Gives me ideas of what projects I might want to do. I was thinking about making some ocarinas (http://www.clayz.com/)… have you or your students ever made them?
Ok…love the clay head… your daughter must be fun…and that orange rattle on the left side of the photo…awesome!
I think so, Cindy! I love it - now I just need to find the perfect place for it.
You have such a great sense of humor, Janet - I almost spit my coffee out. Heads on a stick! LOL
Luckily, the snow turned to rain here, Chae - I feel for you. The mountains got it pretty good here, however. I heard of road closings at passes along I70 yesterday. Summer surely has to be around the corner!
I know Natalie…sniff sniff.
Thanks Undaunted - she’s talented when she wants to be. I’ve seen smarties around town - mmmm, sort of like M&Ms but better!
Welcome Erin - I just left you a long winded response on your blog.
My daughter is a hoot, Judi - I just love her so much! She’s a little whacked - maybe like her mom?? The rattles are super cool, I wish I had a microphone so I could record sound.
Your daughter could be the next Lanier Meader (face jug maker from GA)! heheheh If you’re doing these with your students, pyrometric cones work great for teeth
Sorry to hear about the snow.
(sorry, that should have been Lanier Meaders, not Meader)
and yes, your blog’s loading a little slower
Your daughter’s gift is completely adorable!! What a great imagination.
I have a raku rattle I bought in Taos. It’s great to pick it up and shake it!
what a fantastic mothers day present, it is just so coooooooooooool!
Kids make the coolest stuff, don’t they??
Cyn, your daughter’s crazy clay head is just awesomely good (better make room in your studio cause she is very talented))!! I hope you had a great Mother’s Day!