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vessels in the kiln

I have been firing since last week. This is the last bit of the kindergartens' fairy tale characters (peeking out from under the 1/2 shelf), and the first of the grade 6 vessels. They are an akward size to fire. Often I place them on their sides, but without any pressure on the handle. When the kiln is loaded, the pieces are in their most fragile (green) state. And the handles are extemely vulnerable to damage. The bisque fire at cone 04, leaves them a rich terra cotta earthenware.

batik studio with clay projects

In between classes.
The newspaper accumulates. One table has been turned into the ironing station for wax removal. The newspapers, saturated with the wax, accumulate under the table over the course of the day - as long as the irons are being used. At the end of the day, we stack the papers and put them in the trash. But most of the newspapers are recylced.
And I've finally started firing the Grade 6 vessels.

batik- removing the wax

drying the fabric

batik - waxing and dyeing

Batik tables are covered in newspaper first then paper off the roll from the paper cart. Batiks are pegged to drying lines strung underneath.There are two tables set up in the studio with two electric frying pans each. The wax is an even split of bees wax and parrafin melted to about 250 degrees fahrenheit.

This is the second waxing. Areas of color are preserved in wax before the next dye bath. The fabric darkens when the wax penetrates it properly. We use only primary colours, but a wide variety of colour combinations are possible. Analogous colour schemes are encouraged.


Complementary colours need to be painted on. THis design calls for green grass as well.

perspective and landscape

With one eye closed, we measured by spreading our fingers to pinch the top and the bottom of shapes. Do you have to adjust your fingers between close up and far away? We first practiced with each other, noticing how the head of a person close to me barely fits between my fingers, while a head across the room fits easily.

line to shape in fabric

landscapes etc.

Hi Katrine,
How about shape collage? It lends itself to teaching background and foreground because shapes of diminishing size suggest perspective and the picture plane is flexible. Pictures can be arranged and rearranged until the problem is satisfied. It is also a good setting for a story.

We'd need black felt or burlap background fabric, and a variety of coloured felt and other fabrics for cutting. Good cutting scissors and some volunteers to precut a variety of natural and geometric shapes of all sizes and colours. But 1. avoid fabric prints, 2. avoid cutting shapes that are also symbols like a heart or cloud, flower etc.
Ewa

from line to shape

shape party

fairy tales in clay

fairy tales in clay

fabric picture party

fairy tale characters and their things

pinch pots

first day - vessels

vessels day 2