Mudville

The 10 class session is over. In the photo below: Ray Duval, my teacher, was working on a large vase when I went to pick up my glazed pieces.  When I asked if he thought I could throw a large vase he said, "Practice!".

Ceramics Teacher, Ray Duval

The pots and mugs that I made below, were fired.  It was a surprise to see how the glazes turned out. My favorite is the little turquoise cup which is a spherical form with a symmetrical lip and foot.

Kiln and Clay Wheel

The first few bowls I learned how to make are finally glazed and fired.  Only two more classes at Mudville and then I'll start to teach wheel throwing to my students at the high school.

The Bee Bowl is one of my favorites.  I want to do more painting on the vessels.  It's difficult to spend much time drawing at the Mudville studio, since I'd rather be throwing.

Pottery Wheel and Kiln

There IS joy in Mudville, as seen in my smile, below.  I signed up for a 10 session course in beginning wheel throwing.  Each class is almost 3 hours long.  Ray Duvall is a great teacher.  

Every Thursday night I get to learn and perfect a new skill; throwing pots on a wheel is so much fun.  These five bowls have been bisque fired.  Now they are ready for the glaze.

Glazing is as much an art as the forming of the vessel.  The colors are somewhat accidental.  It is difficult to predict how each one will turn out.

My first two were experiments with greens, blues and purples.

The photo below shows Ann Hamilton's two painted vessels with images of farm animals.  They are stunning. Ray Duval was showing us different ways to apply the surface treatments.

Mudville was started by Ann Hamilton in 1974.  Click on the picture below to read more about this wonderful non profit organization.  It is a casual and very personal place to learn at one's own speed.

MUDVILLE

Malden Arts Switch Boxes, Public Art in MA

History painting for Fellsmere Pond:  Black line in a cross hatch technique was used to tell the story of Elisha Converse. Converse hired Frederick Olmsted to design a pond to protect the Boston Rubber Shoe Factory from another fire.  I must buy a pair of Chuk Taylor's!  Elisha Converse's fourth cousin started the Converse shoe factory.

Two Seniors Moving On to Art Schools

Ann Kurian will be at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design to study Graphic Design.  Above is an original logo design which she created Senior year.  She used Photo Shop to add her concept onto a truck.

Stephanie Patricio will be attending The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University to earn a joint degree in Art Education and Photography.  Her works were displayed above for a 20 min. video for her International Baccalaureate Visual Art oral presentation.  She explained her cultural inspirations and art history research using design vocabulary.

3rd. Year of Teaching High School Art

I was happy to make this poster / flyer to promote the Scholastic Art Awards at our school.  It means so much to the students.  They received 2 Gold Keys, 3 Silver Keys, and 2 Honorable Mentions.  Last year we were awarded only 1 Silver Key and 4 Honorable Mentions.

Boston Light

Painting over the Christmas break on a large version of Boston Light was fun.  

It feels so good to be painting in my new huge studio.