I am interested in not just the creative process in the Art Garage experience, but the way in which working with different media can enhance my understanding of the world. Art is playful, joyful, creative and fun. Like making mud pies in the backyard, art can be done just for the pleasure of it. The combination of the pleasure of making something by hand and the final product is what gives artmaking such a wonderful impact on a person. My finished product is something I can admire, or give to someone as a gift, and say "I made that." Kids love making art for others. So it is not surprising that some of my favorite projects involve creating functional art. Plaster masks are fun, and we have done these year after year. This year I didn't realize we only had one box of plaster, so after the boys had made their masks, we had nothing left for the girls to make their plaster bowls. Ah-ha! Cement! I love working with cement. You must of course be careful with mixing and the dust, but it give such a beautiful product, and ultimately it teaches me some building basics. This is where working with the materials of art leads to many avenues of a successful career path. As anyone who has talked with me knows, I am a huge fan of teaching skills in the trades. I hadn't done it before, so it was an experiment, but the vases came out beautiful. We used two hats, and pieces of fabric from old stained clothing. I can't wait to see what they look like when they are painted. So just remember, when you think you don't have the materials you need to create art, get creative! You never know how it will turn out. You know the old saying: Creativity is the mother of invention!
0 Comments
|
Abigail LarrisonEducator, Scientist and Art Maker. The purpose of all life is to spread joy. What brings more joy than making art? Archives
November 2023
|