How-to, A Teacher's Guide to Firing a Manual Kiln

Firing a manual kiln, A Teacher's Guide:

 Preparing the kiln: Load desired cone into kiln sitter by lifting up the metal plate above the power button….

Tessellation's, Zentangles and more!

I have compiled some photos from different projects that focus on using pattern and rhythm to create wonderful artwork. Enjoy!

Community Zentangle Detail

Tessellations: A tessellation is one or more geometric shapes that cover an area, with no spaces or gaps in between shapes. They fit together like tiles. Some of my personal favorite tessellations are works by Mc Escher. Here is a pretty cool website about tessellations and making your own tessellations.  I taught a tessellation class during "Patterns" week at an Art Center summer camp during 2013 and here are a few unique tessellations my students created:

Open Studio; A creative space for Home Schooled families!

Open Studio starts up Thursday February 6th at the Corvallis Arts Center from 10am-1pm! This program is designed to provide home schooled students ages 6-17 a creative space and supplies to make art during the day. Participants have access to a full clay room, painting studio and play space. Drop- in fee is $15 per 3 hour class or you may purchase a punch card for 2 or more classes for a discounted rate. Parents/ Caregivers free! Visit Arts Center website for more details!

Homeschooler Josie Neely and fellow artists fold a giant origami crane! 

Adult Workshops!!

I am very pleased to announce several neighborhood art workshops coming up this winter/ spring! I am collaborating with some fellow artists in South Corvallis to bring weekend workshops for adults! Please see info below:

The Art of Yoga; The Yoga of Art

Uniting Body, Mind and Spirit in the 

Art of Figure Drawing

Sunday, March 2^nd

9:30am-12:30pm

Facilitated by: Laura Pagano Gouy of Bliss like This Yoga and Diana Ryan, visual artist and instructor

“It is only with the heart that one sees rightly”

-Antoinne de Saint Exupery

This one day workshop will give participants an opportunity to explore the art of drawing in a fresh way that creatively weaves together Yogic principles and Mindfulness practices to naturally support the art of figure drawing. Students will be led through a basic yoga sequence by Laura to awaken and their body and mind. Diana will then introduce basic drawing fundamentals and guide students through drawing exercises. Students will have the opportunity to practice their new skills and divide into subjects and artists, drawing each figure as they are led through a series of postures.  Please join us for this innovative workshop that pairs drawing and yoga so beautifully. No drawing experience necessary. Class is limited to 12 students. 

Please bring a sketchbook, suggested size 11" x 14". Drawing supplies and yoga props will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer. 

To register please call (541) 753-0132 or e-mail Laura Gouy at blisslikethisyoga@gmail.com

Cost Sliding Scale: $30-$50

Class held at Bliss Like This Yoga Studio 

www.blisslikethisyoga.com

Laura Gouy  "Yoga has come to touch all aspects of my life in the expected places: as a human, woman, mother, partner, global citizen; and in gardening, cooking, hiking, paddling, canoeing, surfing, etc.  Now I delight in finding yoga in all the unexpected places! May all beings be radiantly alive!"

Diana Ryan "I am a ceramicist, painter, and teaching artist in the Corvallis community. I enjoy sharing my knowledge of fundamental techniques while encouraging playful experimentation. There is no right or wrong way to make art. Visual art is a powerful form of self expression and can translate our subconscious and feelings in profound ways.  That is the beauty of art making."

Cartooning and Clay!!

Students playing a cartoon building game called "exquisite corps" where each student draws a different part of the character. 

This Autumn my cartooning and clay class designed their own cartoons, story lines, built characters, sets, props and made original claymation movies! We started out by learning basic techniques for drawing cartoon characters, practicing drawing different features, expressions, movements, etc. We then moved on to sculpting with clay and figuring out how to turn 2 dimensional drawings into 3 dimensional forms. Students then started developing story lines and some students partnered up to form creative teams. Students built all their own props, sets, and characters. I helped photograph stills of their projects as they moved the characters. Students picked titles, music and made voice overs and I helped edit and turned their videos into short films. Here are some of the videos (passwords located below videos)!!



Day of Destruction from Diana Ryan on Vimeo.
Password= Artscenter1


The battle of Spinxwood from Diana Ryan on Vimeo.
Password: Artscenter3


One Good Day Gone Bad from Diana Ryan on Vimeo.
Password: Artscenter2


Where the Bird Beats Person from Diana Ryan on Vimeo.
Password: Artscenter4


Picnic from Diana Ryan on Vimeo.
Password: Artscenter5

Dooms Day from Diana Ryan on Vimeo.

Password: Artscenter6

Painting Projects

 I wanted to post some of the fantastic self portraits that my painting class created this Autumn. Students looked in the mirror and drew sketches. Students then used watercolor paints to add color and re-traced their original sketch lines with black marker to bring out the details.

Happy Autumn!

Basic color wheels created by beginning painting class

 What a beautiful time of year! My beginning painting students enjoyed the sunny weather and did some sketching outside with chalk and oil pastels, then we came inside and mixed earth tone palettes and painted from our sketches. We talked about how to create shortcuts with brushstrokes- so instead of  trying to capture all of the details of the trees we tried to capture the feeling or impression of the trees. We looked at some impressionism paintings and discussed the different artist's styles and how they used their brushstrokes. 

Chalk pastel sketches on black paper