Stencils and Etched Glass

Stencils and etched glass were the focus of the SSC Library's First Friday Art Club in June. This project used clear glass plates, bottles and votive candle holders that I had in storage. Recycled jars from jams or sauces can easily be used to upcycle an object into a piece of art, in case you want to try this method.  Re-usable stencils were purchased to show students the difference between a hand cut stencil and a purchased stencil.  The library's Makerspace, the SSCL Creation Station has a Cricut Machine, which also aided in creating one-of-a-kind stencils with a professional appeal.

Feather stencils and Armour Etch cream

Glass artists etch with engraving tools or sandblasting machines, but the beginner approach is using an acid etching cream.  We took advantage of Armour Etch, which works it's magic on the glass within 10-15 minutes.  Engraving tools and sandblasting machines require lots of skill, time and practice.  

Cricut cut stencil, weeded and placed on the glass

After cutting a stencil for my demonstration piece, I had to "weed" out the elements that were unnecessary to the design.  Any space that reveals the glass and has the etching cream applied will turn a hazy, cloudy appearance--that's the acid etch cream doing it's job!

Armour Etch applies to the "open" spaces

Once the cream was applied with a tool (ie. very high tech cotton swab), the waiting game begins.  If your surface is curved, like the bottle pictured, you need to keep a close watch that the cream stays in place and does not drip.  As mentioned, any place the etching cream touches will have a hazy, cloudy appearance if allowed to sit for a few minutes.  Students who took part in this class had their patience tested!

Flat surface and purchased stencils

The students naturally gravitated toward the plates, which helped them as beginners. (Curved surfaces test patience!)  Although I cut several stencils on the Cricut machine (I had a lot of "Happy Father's Day" stencils prepped in consideration of the pending holiday), everyone wanted to get creative and set up their own designs.

Students creating stencils on the Cricut

One thing about designing in Cricut Design Space (and really any digital design work) is the time needed to train yourself in the software.  Then there is the time needed to get your vision accomplished.  Beside that bulk of time required, there is the cutting time taken by the Cricut machine.  The process is much slower than printing a sheet of paper.  This slowed our progress to a degree.

Luckily students became self sufficient and proficient with the "Gloopy Stuff" ("gloopy stuff" = Armour Etch!) and these are a few projects which were produced:

"Lobster" from the Armour Products stencils

Hand cut stencil with Armour stencils in the mix

The Crystal display for June

These projects are on display in the library for the month of June.  Corning, New York is the "Crystal City," renowned for it's rich glass history.  The Glass Art Society (G.A.S.) Conference met in Corning from June 9-11, 2016.  The First Friday Art Club welcomed the G.A.S. Conference participants who visited the library with their own glass art.

YOU can make this with tools in our Creation Station

Teaching students how to create a hand cut stencil and how to proceed in the acid etching process is quite a challenge in under an hour and a half class, with 19 students on hand. Results were achieved, but I would prefer to split up this class into two sessions.  Hind sight is always 20/20.  Nonetheless, this project worked well and many visitors have stopped to enjoy the art on display.
If you would like to create something like this, let us know!  Our Creation Station is open to the public during library operating hours.  Just a quick registration and tutorial will give you access to a world of creating.  I hope to see you soon!  

  Check back in July for our Cosplay Costumes event recap.  We are gearing up for another fabulous Library Unmasked on July 15, 6-8 pm. 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Thanks for visiting,

erica

Hidden in Plain Sight with Wynn Yarrow

On May 6, the First Friday Art Club made miniature books with a special guest artist.  Wynn Yarrow is a local artist with a broad portfolio.  She is represented by the West End Gallery, located on Market Street in Corning.  Wynn came prepared with her pile of crafting supplies and took over the community room for the class.

Table O'Craft-Color-Creation

This group was very excited to have control over so many beautiful and colorful supplies.  It's refreshing to watch the creative process as a spectator rather than the instructor.  

Each budding artist ventured in their own direction, from imagery to words.  

Abstract imagery on the cover

Whether images were abstract or representational, the art came directly from the soul.  Students were thoughtful in their creations, considering that Mother's Day was pending.  Lucky moms had miniature books made just for them.

Mini Books for Mom

Some students enjoyed creating as many mini masterpieces as possible, with no intention of giving them as gifts.

Multiple Mini Books

Ribbon book marks were taken to another level and became beaded beauties.

This marker weighed more than the book!

A first time book maker created a comic book.

Comic book made before Free Comic Book Day

By the end of an hour and a half session, each of the nine students made at least 1 Hidden Treasure to be cherished in secret or shared as a gift.  These items were made into necklaces, pins, bracelets, or simple mini-books.

A productive afternoon

Wynn Yarrow will return to the Southeast Steuben County Library in October to teach three book making classes to adults.  Please check the calendar this fall or call ahead to register.

In June, young adult students will learn how to make stencils and etch glass with a liquid etching cream.  The work created from this class will be on display for the month of June to dress the library in crystal in honor of the Glass Art Society annual conference being held in our Crystal City.

See you again next month!

Clay Coil Creatures Part 2

April 1 saw Part 2 of our Clay Coil Creatures class at the Rockwell Museum.  No foolin' (wink, wink), we made creatures inspired by the collection in the gallery.  Please catch up with Part 1 to follow the progression of this project.

The pieces were bisque fired to remove all moisture and create a stone-like surface.

Bisque Baked Beauties

The time to design the surface of these beauties had arrived.  Education Programs Coordinator, Amy Ruza, led the class on glazing instructions.

She had glazed ceramic samples to show the changes in color from the jar to kiln firing.

Glaze changes drastically in the kiln.

After a short glazing tutorial, students chose their preferred colors and went to work finalizing their masterpieces.  Some had direct inspiration from the gallery.

This artist was inspired by the gallery installation

Some students were inspired by the Native American picture dictionary provided by the museum.

Replicated Native American Eagle

Some students let their heart design for them.

A Spring Bunny

The class went quickly with all of the activity, excitement and creation.

Students hard at work

The glaze dries to a dull finish, but shimmers like glass after the kiln firing.  Here are before and after shots of the projects for your enjoyment:

The Whole Lot

The image above shows the entire class project from cart to kiln.  Now let's look at some pieces a little closer.

A Charming Snake

The snake maker's sister went to the woods for this cutie pie.  Remember to slip and score very well when making clay objects.  If you do not follow this step, items will pop off!  This poor bunny's limbs were lost in the bisque fire.

Limb-less Bunny

This little girl captured my heart.

Sweet Lil' Lady

A few more pieces looked like this:

Elephants, Turtles and Teacups

These lucky participant are now able to pick up their projects and present them to their families.  Like relics from our past, these pieces are part of future archaeology.

I am proud to share this knowledge and collaborate these lessons for my students.  The process of making objects never ceases to amaze me.

Visit here again next month when we dive into the world of book making with Wynn Yarrow.

Thanks for visiting!

xoxo, erica

Clay Coil Creatures Part 1

First Friday Art Club visited and learned in a local museum in

March with a ceramics survey course. 

Who has visited the Rockwell Museum before today?

We visited The Rockwell Museum for a visit in the galleries and a lesson in ceramic construction. The class began with a pristine education lab.  Education Programs Coordinator, Amy Ruza, led instruction on clay hand building using the coil technique, with the most important law of clay building- slip and score.

Slip and Score is like glue in ceramics.

The students got straight to work, understanding that they had a very strict time frame to complete this segment of the project.  It was impressive to watch these budding artists take lumps of clay and transform them into mini masterpieces.

From Lump-thing to Something

The idea was to create a creature form the coil technique, hence the program title, "Clay Coil Creatures."  

The results are quite fascinating...

There were turtles and squirrels

Great examples of coils and smooth textures

Then there were elephants

This lady has taken ceramics classes before.

They discovered texture options...

Texture with party beads

In just under an hour of working time, there was a jungle of creatures and shapes to adore. These need to dry for about two weeks before they get bisque fired 

and prepared for the next class in April.  

The next phase of these projects is glazing, 

which will give everything a new life of color and shine!

From clay to bisque, waiting for glaze

Check back in April to view the collection in it's final phase.

Thanks for visiting!

Beauty from the studio

A Special note of Thanks goes to the staff of the Rockwell Museum for collaborating with our library and welcoming our First Friday Art Club for a ceramics treat.

Mobile Sculpture

Welcome to the first blog installment of First Friday Art Club for 2016.  It's been a few months since we've had a chance to catch up on art instruction for teens at the Southeast Steuben County Library.  I'm happy to see you again!

On February 5, we discovered the world of Mobile Sculpture.  Wikipedia has a great definition of the term, which I shared with my students.  Keeping instruction short and inspiring with several sides gave each student inspiration with room to use their own artistic license. I defined the term and showed a few images I took during my recent visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Calder at The Met

Shadows are equally important in this piece

After showing a few more images from an online search of "Mobile Sculpture," I let the students free to use any and all of the various materials compiled for this program.  Aside from assistance with using hot glue guns, these results are from the hearts and minds of the students.

Triangle with layered paper

Well balance sculpture

Mobile Bling

Happy Student :)

Musical Mobile

Whovian Mobile--Tardis Included

There was a flurry of creative activity for over an hour before clean up was enforced.  The students had a great time testing out the materials and having freedom to create without forced expectations.  I love seeing their interests show in their artwork.

For March and April, we will be making ceramic creatures at The Rockwell Museum.  If you wish to register, follow this link to join us, but space is limited.  This is our first visit to The Rockwell and I am so excited to see what develops in these classes.  Stay tuned for more art!  Thanks for visiting.