Clay Tile Mosaics

I always hesitated trying out mosaics in my classroom because I was under the impression that they were really expensive to create. I couldn't have been further from the truth!

I would search google and comb through blogs looking for ways I could make the project happen for less than .50 a student (which I have found to not surprisingly be impossible if you are purchasing glass or tile mosaics pieces)

Then it hit me one evening... make your OWN tiles! I over ordered clay and was needing to use it up anyways... I also had a bunch of scrap wood pieces to use as the backing board. All I had to purchase was the grout and glue. perfect!

 Making the tiles was a cinch, a basic slab and paper template demo was all that was needed to show the students after sketching out some ideas. And BONUS! kiln space is not an issue... Everything is FLAT and I was able to get all project pieces bisque fired in one shot, even with a smaller kiln

I purchased the large gallon and dispersed it into small disposable bowls . Students used a junky old paint brush to place the glue on the back of the tile piece. This is a non-toxic, water based glue, that is extremely economical and very easy to find and will securely bond the tile to many different surfaces.  

Any sanded grout will due. I like to use  a dark gray grout. If you purchase a white grout you can add acrylic paint to the mixture to color it any color you like. I like to purchase a dry mix and then mix it outside the classroom before school starts (you need an air tight container to prevent it from drying out). A more hassle free pre-mixed grout is less of a classroom headache, but much more expensive. This bag will run you about $10 or so. 

Here are the steps:
1) Sketch and create templates (make sure students are aware of their base board size so they know how much space they will need to take up)
2) Create a slab, and use template to cut out (I like using x-acto blades, but needle tools work as well)
3) Make 3 extra 6"x6" tiles, these will work as your background tile pieces to break up later
4) bisque fire and glaze fire all tiles (use a kiln safe pencil or underglaze to place initials on back of tile pieces.

 5) Once out of the kiln, students may begin placing and gluing tiles onto their board.
6) Start with main tile and then add smaller pieces. You can use a tile nippers for breaking slabs into smaller pieces, but that was kinda fussy for me... instead... we used old canvas to wrap the tiles in before safely smashing them with a hammer. Worked surprisingly well! just remember safety glasses!
7) Glue, glue, glue as you go, one bump from a neighbor could erase a whole days work.
6) Let sit over night after all pieces have been placed down, and grout after 24 hours.
7) If mixing grout, follow box directions, one person told me once that the grout mixture should be the consistency of sturdy browny mix... whatever that means.
8) Once grouted, rub the surface of the mosaic vigorously in circular motions with an old rag, I used old t-shirts. Do this until all tile pieces are clean and grout free. Use a small dab of water on the rag if necessary in spots stubborn to clean.

 What a unique piece of art to cherish! Loved them all, more to come with my new semester soon!

See what I have been up to!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ElevenSkiesStudio

Recently I have been working on creating some jewelry and decided it was time to open up an etsy shop! I call it "Eleven Skies Studio". The name comes from all of the mnemonics my students would creating in order to remember my name. The greatest include "eleven dusty skis" and "lemon skies". I decided to take a combination of both. 

As an art teacher. time is constantly being devoted to fostering the creative growth in others. A creative habit, however, should not only be taught, but also explored. Jewelry is just one of my explorations into many artistic ventures that are intended on keeping me at my creative best. 

If you have a moment please check it out and let me know what you think! https://www.etsy.com/shop/ElevenSkiesStudio

Tissue Paper Windows

I am completing some glass on glass mosaics for the end of the school year on some hold skylights from the high school library (pictures coming soon!). We used up all the glass but we were left with three extra windows! I'm was not able to purchase any more mosaic materials so I was left scouring the web for some ideas. I can't remember what site exactly had posted an activity where children painted tissue paper onto windows, but once I spotted it I knew that is what we had to do!

We started by ripping the tissue paper into smaller pieces. Then once we had a pile, students started painting elmer's art pastel over the glass pane and onto the tissue. We layered and observed our colors mixing together. I left the project open for exploration. I was curious to observe their solutions.

Once dry they will be installed in a window space somewhere in the school. I'm expecting the tissue paper to fade eventually, but with warm soapy water the window and be wiped clean for another creation. Looks like a faux stained glass masterpiece!

UPDATE: Here is an image of a mosaic we did on the extra window! now on display at the district office (taken from my phone camera, not the best image but you can still feel the sparkle)

Surreal Collages + Drawings

5th Grade students learned about surreal art and then created collages constructed using magazine clippings. From these collaged students created surreal drawings. 

"No Strings On Me" Marionettes

After learning about the history of puppetry and looking at different styles of marionettes, 3rd grade students created "no string" marionettes of their own. Each student sketched their animal design before beginning with their own puppet template. Brass pins were used to holed each hole punched piece together. Although there are no strings, the puppets are very animated when wiggled and swung with life as the students manipulate them in the air!

Personally my favorite part of this project was watching the "Lonely Goatherd" video clip from the Sound of Music! So many of my students had never seen the movie! Fun to introduce it to them. 

Stop Motion Film Festival

Environmental Machines

After seeing a post a couple years back I was inspired to at some point create an "Environmental Machine Collargraph" lesson. Finally I was able to put something together and I couldn't be more excited by the results. The stars couldn't have aligned better.  Both the timing of the "Lorax" movie coming out and Earth Day on April 22 really made this lesson current and well rounded. 

After discussing the word "environment" and coming up with a brainstorm list of things that are negative towards our environmental, students watched clips from the old "Lorax" movie. I then assigned their mission...

To create a "Truffula Seed Planing Machine"!

Many of the machines used in the story cause negative impact towards the environment. IDEA! Lets create machines that help the environment. Fresh off the train named "Dr. Seuss Inspiration Express" the kiddos were ready to sketch! 

Collagraph printing plates. 

After a day of brain storming and sketching students were ready to learn about collagraphs. On a small sheet of tag board students sketched their final idea. Then, on top of all pencil lines, students began to glue small strip of craft foam. This process took two full class periods. On the forth day we printed using brayers and block printing ink!

Now for printing I have no organization advice. 

No matter what I did it turned into a MESS! 

But thats ok...

Because we tried out best

While were riding...

The "Dr. Seuss Inspiration Express"!

In my next life I will teach poetry and creative writing:)