Art Show: Egyptian Amulet Display

I display the Egyptian style amulets on a long piece of chipboard covered in foam core and black felt. Amulets are either taped to the back or tacked to the front through their key ring loop. In front, there is a description of the project and a diagram of the display indicating the artists' names. I had to add this picture of these triplets. All in the same class-but they had distinctly unique artwork.

Project: Egyptian Amulet

Intermediate art classes investigate the history of art from Prehistory to...well, as far as we can get. Usually to Romanticism first semester. But, I tie in Modern art to earlier projects to illustrate the influence of early art styles on later movements.

Students explore the symbolism and religious beliefs of Ancient Egypt, select a symbol or god that embodies a virtue they wish to have, and create an amulet using white Sculpey clay.

Students must create a symmetrical base form, add their symbol/symbols in relief, incise a textural detail, and add either an incised or relief border. After they're baked students antique them by rubbing black acrylic paint into the incised lines and seams and wipe off as much as they can from the surface. Students choose two or more colors (based on Egyptian color symbolism), mix in metallic paints, and seal with Sculpey glaze (optional). Students also have the option of converting their amulet into either a key ring, necklace pendant, or wall plaque (usually dictated by the size of their creation).

TIPS: Clay around hole made for hanging should be over 1/4" thick. I tried adding wire to reinforce the hole but this only made them crack. I undercook them so they are somewhat flexible to avoid breaking. Important to make sure holes are big enough for whatever they will be strung on because any pressure around the hole will cause it to break. I've had students do pencil transfer rubbed onto shaped Sculpey to map out more detailed God portraits.

Project: Diorama Boxes -More Examples

More examples of the diorama box project--Neat to see the contrast between the outside and inside collages!

Project: Internal Peace Among External Pressures Diorama Box

---two different interior dioramas

This project makes me giddy when I see the students getting more and more comfortable with collage and with social commentary. Each box has a collage on the outside which articulates issues and conficts that are current in the student's mind. The outside is contrasted to the calming diorama on the interior. Students are creating a visual of their own means of finding inner peace among external pressures.

1) I start students off with a image search session where they pull as many images from magazines as possible in an entire class period which seem upsetting and unpleasant in any way they see fit.

2) Next students spend a period finding words. First they find unpleasant or powerful words and phrases for twenty minutes. Then they spend the period rearranging them into phrases and grouping them with their pictures.

3) Students are given a wooden box with hinges and are told to mar and age the surface. This helps them get away from thinking of what a great jewelry box or gift for mom this could become. They can gouge it, carve it, sand it, paint it, stain it. Then they must add some newspaper with words to each side. (This can be removed later if desired).

4) Student add collage to exterior. Plan the collage to be interesting and meaningful when viewed from each side. Discuss with peers the meaning of your collage. See if they can guess the meaning first. If not, fix it.

5) Students MUST use transparent painting techniques to blend images.

6) When done students create a peaceful interior scene. I use writing prompts to help them create a theme.

7) Students must first create the background including the sides of the interior.

8) The middleground and foreground are mounted to cardboard or mini tiles and glued in place to create depth.

7) Something must be glued to the very edges of the interior as well for added depth.

8) We use mod podge and gloss gel medium for glue and glazing.

TIPS: Found objects can also be used in the diorama and collages. I've had students use seashells for a beach scene and scrapbooking pieces for a sandcastle, etc... I used lots of donated tiles for building diorama layers away from the backboard. Also, precut pieces of tagboard were handy.

CHEAPCHEAPCHEAP: I've seen cardboard versions of the treasure chest and have used smaller boxes in the past. Shoe boxes could work for this.

EXTENSIONS/ALTERNATIVES: This could be a great ceramic or paper mache project. Collaging the finished sculpture. I have students write an artist statement describing the content and symbolism and display it along with their sculptures. Students create titles that reflect both the inside and outsite of their boxes.

Art Show: Ceramic Lamp Display

HOT HOT HOT! Literally, I turned them off during the Orchestra performance. It would be great to get enough lamp shades to cover ALL the bulbs next year.

Project: Symbolic Self-Portrait Ceramic Lamps

In order to get students making a lamp that they would actually keep and use forever, I ask them to think of what they like to surround themselves with the most and then to identify what this reveals about their personalities.

In high school, I had a friend who had an incredible guitar lamp that he thanked his middle school art teacher for helping him make as a project in class. I knew I had to be just like that cool art teacher one day...

1) Design lamp.

2) Use coil or slab method to build up basic form.

3) Create a neck on the form (or hole) that will fit the socket. Sockets are prewired and ready for a light bulb. I order the bottle stopper version but rarely fit the stoppers. We just hot glue the metal piece in place in the end.

4) Create a hole in the bottom wide enough for the plug to exit. Remember clay shrinks when it dries.

5) Create a relief design around the entire lamp to symbolize your personality and personal interests and/or values.

6) Dry, bisque, and glaze ware.

TIPS: These lamps look so much better when they are taller. Encourage students to add "feet" and necks to their basic form so that any lampshade won't hide their designs.

EXTENSIONS: Might have students modify or create their own lampshades. I've seen collage, transparencies, fabric, etc.

CHEAPCHEAP: Lamp socket alternative: Modify/ Sculpt to fit over dollar store lamps-usually use a candlalabra style bulb. Have student buy their own shades. Use paper mache or plaster gauze instead of clay. We fundraise to purchase the sockets. I use the lampshades I've accumulated only for the art show and display==students buy their own later.

News: Calacas Juried into Day of the Dead Show!

Four student sculptures like the ones on the far left made it into a show at the Winchester Cultural Center!

These masks were on display at the same show and have inspired me to get my Interemediate classes involved with the Day of the Dead festivities by having them create skull masks from rolled out sheets of Sculpey clay. I figure they can form them over the plastic face masks molds I have and work on face proportions. Then add as much gawdy decorations as possible. I love how these are antiqued. Shoe polish would probably do it.

Project: Calacas Figurines for The Day of the Dead

This project is a favorite for most of my Advanced Art students. They love to learn the process of sculpting the figure-starting with a wire armature and enjoy paying tribute to a loved one that they would like to remember.

1) Create a wire armature in correct human proportion. These are all 7-7 1/2 heads tall. (include only a neck for sticking the head onto later)

-study proportion from handouts, draw body using ovals, measure and check student body proportions (for fun)

2) View Day of the Dead video, create papel picado banners and tissue flowers for display case. Choose personal hero to honor and pose armature before sculpting. Sketch out ideas using proportion handout and add THREE or more accessories to create a setting.

3) Wrap torso and any thick areas like pant legs or puffy sleeves, etc with foil to conserve on clay.

4) Wrap rolled out sheets of white Sculpey clay or press small pieces onto armature. Use a pasta machine for sheets to create basic body.

5) Use rolled out sheets of Sculpey to press in place and model for clothing. Emphasize the overlap of sleeves and pant legs over body parts for 3-D effect.

6) Roll out a head and squeeze bottom half for jaw. Use a dull pencil to press in eyes. Use a dull toothpick to press in nostrils and indent teeth lines.

7) Add enlarged shoes for stability and indent finger lines for detail.

8) Bake in toaster oven on brown paper bag according to clay directions. Thinner accessories bake for less time unless you WANT them to brown like one of my students mini pretzels.

TIPS: Do not cook clay standing or feet will deform. Prop extended body parts up with wads of foil in the toaster oven. Cook for less time than recommended on the package to limit breakage when students paint. Paint with acrylics. Use permanent markers for details and for painting face features. When incising lines in clay always press the side of the toothpick in place instead of dragging it along to avoid building up of what I call "boogers." Add head just before cooking to avoid loosening the neck area around the wire when handling it. Tapping clay to smooth works better than smearing. Must use HOT glue sticks to get sculptures to stand onto board bases.

Next year I plan to encourage students to be more flamboyant and fun with thier accessories. I want to see some feather boas, painted eyelashes, glitter covered outfits, and loads more color.