Artist
At a recent series of bookmaking workshops at Verdugo Hills High School, Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) students in VAPA Art and English classes learned to make their own books which they then shared with others in the school library.
Below is a sampling of their stunning works…
The works speak for themselves, and were astonishing to see. With technical guidance, creative support and a bit of , students learned to create the versatile flag book structure, and then took off with it.
Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten students attend their last (for this session) clay class through the City of Santa Monica’s CREST Enrichment program…after school classes held at a variety of Public Elementary Schools in Santa Monica.
Next week, we paint!
I have taught the students the basics: Pinch, coil and slab techniques. They have created vessels, masks, animals, and more. During this class I demonstrated how to create a small plate, platter or candle holder that could be given as a gift for the holidays, and beyond.
And then, these talented tykes took off with their own ideas!
Small hands are developing the strength and dexterity to form rough balls of clay and roll out coils from them. Sometimes i help this age group along by breaking up clay (air dry in this case) into sections for them to work with.
This little artist with a big personality has really progressed in her coil making. She created a piece by putting together numerous tiny coils.
This young maker recently turned five, and is mastering the coil technique!
Almost there!
This piece is growing….
Mark making in the clay using various tools. These kids amaze me. She saw a brief demo and then just took off creating these textures and designs herself.
Our tools are sourced from simple household items…popsicle sticks, pencils, plastic cutlery, and wood clothespins and toothpicks do the job, and teach the students how the simplest object can be transformed into a tool that becomes and performs magic!
It has been magical to watch these students learn and grow,
Much talent abounds in them.
It is a joy to see, encourage and develop their skills and artistic voices, even, and especially, at this age!
It has been exciting to lead programs at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL, as part of my Artist in Residency there: “We Write the Book“, supported by the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, participants created multi-dimensional “Tunnel Books“, theatre-like structures comprised of a backdrop attached to an accordion-folded “spine” on either side.
Makers then added their own “cross-pieces” , cutting out strips in the shapes of mountains and more, and attaching them to the spines so that they traversed the width of the book, creating a place to add figures and other images to create their unfolding story, tableau or diorama.
As usual, attendees wowed with their use of color, shape and materials, imagination and creativity!
It is a materials world.
Families work together.
Attention to detail.
Making is an active sport.
Careful cutting.
Focus.
Sketching out the concept.
Use of feathers animate the image.
Majestic purple…
Showing off the completed book!
Creating a beautiful place to be.
Was this maker hungary? He created an ice-cream shop…
Fun use of materials.
Brilliant colors, black framing and carefully chosen use of select materials make this piece a stunner.
If you are in the area, join us for a Winter Community Celebration at the Granada Hills Branch Library on December 19th from 1:30 – 5PM.
There will be “Envelope Bookmaking”, refreshments, sharing of works, and lots of fun!
A simple post sharing about a simply lovely program I was privileged to lead at the Bell Library one of the many fine Los Angeles County Libraries serving their patrons with devotion, commitment and love!
Parents, children and Library Staff participated. The wonderful Library provides programs every week, so if you are in their vicinity, please check them out and take advantage!
We had a beautiful creative group. Many participants knew each other, and had fun chatting during the program.
Mother and daughter duo, doing.
The younger brother in a family of four sibs, this young artist reveled in all of the materials, and the opportunity to create.
A beautiful soul creates a beautiful book, heartfelt.
In our recent program at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL, participants created accordion fold (also known as “concertina”…continuing with the musical instrument metaphor-) books.
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, they added images of Latinx art and architecture, including murals, street art, works shown in museums, and storefronts.
Participants spanned young children to seniors, with everyone becoming immediately absorbed in creating their books, and developing them with varied fascinating and colorful images of works created by an integral population of Los Angeles past, present and future.
The Virgin of Guadalupe was an inspiration.
Mother and son work together.
Participants transformed images by adding to and subtracting from them, and putting them together in new ways.
The focus of all ages…
Makers often choose to work with colors that reflect the colors they are wearing!
Pink, never gets old.
This workshop was part of my Artist in Residency project: “We Write the Book“, supported by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles. Gratitudes!
In our recent program at the Granada Hills Branch Library of the LAPL, 23 participants created “folded fan” books, comprised of an accordion spine, front and back covers, and fan pages. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, they added their own “Picado Papel“, decoratively cut and punched papers, which added a special touch to their creations.
Families turned out, and parents worked closely with children to achieve their artistic visions! Especially heartwarming was the number of Dads who devoted themselves to supporting their sons and daughters through the process, while creating beautiful works themselves. And let’s not forget the Moms! It is wonderful to see adults give themselves over to the creative process. Parents, and all people, so need this time.
This workshop was part of my artist residency project: “We Write the Book“, supported by the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles. Gratitudes!
Children’s Librarian extraordinaire, Alice Schock, engages with a young patron, artist and participant.
Like Mother, like Daughter…
The work of our hands…and creative ways of using shaped hole punchers to create Picado Papel!
Sisters and friends work together.
This young teen, age 13, took off with a Halloween theme.
Through careful work, discerning choices, and elegant handicraft, she designed a book that we hope she will keep forever!
This young maker transformed images of a noted Los Angeles mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and used the beautiful colors as a surface to create a repeated design with a butterfly-shaped hole puncher.
Piper and her Dad attended an earlier workshop, and were back again creating happily together.
Father and daughter work closely on her book. her Mom said that though she herself loves scrapbooking, she could never get Dad to do it. Now, maybe he might, after seeing how much fun cutting, pasting and arranging are!
Here is Mom at work on her own masterpiece, along with older daughter.
Sebastian and his Dad work side by side. spending precious time together.
Yellow blossoms drift across a luminous pink ground, floating in a world of warm colors. Washi tape is used to good effect as a framing device on the covers.
Benny and Mom have fun. Who says one has to sit on chairs?
These two friends had a blast, and worked with very different color schemes in their projects.
This is Greer’s second workshop. She loves to work with her hands, and even contributed some extra Washi tape to the cause!
Our scrapbooking Mom works on a mini-masterpiece. What patience it takes to punch out all those butterflies, then arrange and glue them to the cover!
But how worth is it was…here is her magnum opus…a treat for the eyes, heart and soul.
Thank You All.