Summer Art Camp - Garden Art

Art for the home and garden

 Art Camp Projects

 POTTERY ART

CLAY TERRARIUMS

For our first art project the artists created a terrarium from a slab of clay.  We discussed vessels that can be used and what can grow inside a container.   Armed with this information the artists drew, cut out and applied over a slab of rolled out clay a paper terrarium pattern.  The boys and girls traced around the shape, cutting through the clay with pencils, to form the foundation of their terrarium design.  They assembled rocks, plants, bugs and creatures from left over clay that were then applied to the clay base. 

The handmade terrariums were set aside to dry, fired to a bisque ware state in my kiln, painted with lead-free glaze, then fired one last time.  To finish off their pottery pieces,  a saw tooth hanger was attached to the back.

 

HANDMADE CLAY BIRDS

Bird sculptures were created from clay left over from the artists terrariums.  The clay was rolled, pinched and modeled into a variety of bird forms.  A hole was made in the bottom of the birds so they could later be attached to a wooden dowel.

 

A very colorful flock of birds ~ glazed, fired and in flight.

 

BISQUE GARDEN STAKES

With thoughts of butterfly, rainbow, balloon and princess gardens for the girls and death, grave and zombie gardens for the boys; the artists sketched and painted a bisque garden stake.  Afterwards, the stakes were fired in my kiln to a lovely glossy ceramic state - perfect for planting in an outdoor garden or container. 

 

PEACH PAINTING ON CANVAS

Inspired by Daliah Smith's colorful Peach Painting

Perfectly Peachy - oil - 5x7 inch

To begin their painting on a 16x20 inch canvas, the artists drew three large circles, within these they added three smaller circles, then two curved leaf lines all of which formed the basic shape of the three peaches.

Multiple coats of gold and pink paint were applied to the negative space to create a sense of depth with color, value and texture.

The artists paint palettes contained light pink, dark pink, dark green, light green, gold and white.  They used a combination, and multiple layers of these six colors to paint the peaches, leaves and shadows.

The proud artists with their finished masterpieces:

END OF CAMP CUPCAKES

On the last day of art camp everyone takes part in our Friday feast - cracking, pouring, mixing, scooping and finally eating scrumptious cupcakes.

Thanks to my artists for a great week of family fun and creativity!

xo

Summer Art Camp

Two little girls celebrate summer with an artful tea party

WORKING WITH CLAY

The artists at work creating a plate from a slab of rolled out clay placed on top of paper plates then pressed into shape with water wet fingers.

The girls used cookie cutters to cut out a cupcake and crown from leftover clay scraps.  The two shapes were attached to the plate by a process of slipping and scoring.

Once joined the plates were set aside to dry before getting fired in my kiln.

The first firing removed all water from the clay producing a white bisque plate upon which the girls drew and painted their designs with lead-free, non-toxic pottery glaze.  The plates were fired once again.

Glazed and fired handmade pottery plates and hand painted tea cups.

TEA CUP PAINTING ON CANVAS

 

Onto a 16x20 inch canvas the artists formed a tea cup outline by sketching three concentric circles, a very simplistic design perfect for painting.  A color, pink of course, was chosen for the background.

Once the background was finished, texture, depth and interest were created in the negative space through the addition of a lighter paint color.  This same process was used to paint the concentric circles of the saucer and tea cup design.

A curved line was drawn around the plate; to this line leaves and a few simple circles were added for rose buds.  Once again paint was layered to create interest and depth.

Tea Cup with Flower - 16x20 inch acrylic

 

 TREASURE BOX

CLOTH TEA NAPKIN

Our last two projects were a painted wooden treasure box and a cloth dinner napkin.  Both painted with acrylic paint.

 

CUPCAKE TIME

And week four of summer art camp comes to a close with happy faces and very delighted tummies.