Scholastic Art Awards

My talented students did very well at the Nebraska Scholastic Art competition.  This portrait is by D.C. and it won a Gold Key.

The holy water font received a Gold Key award.  Good job R.P. and all the students who contributed to this project!

This triple portrait, by R. P., won a Gold Key.

J. V. risked it to get this picture.  He had to walk on ice (over shallow water only) and the results earned him a Silver Key award.

K. S. earned a Silver Key for her coil pot.

This interpretation of the Wizard of Oz, by C. M., earned a Silver Key.

M. B. earned two honorable mentions for her images from along the Platte river.

D.C. earned three honorable mentions.

This coil pot, by K. Q., earned an honorable mention.

T. H. earned an Honorable Mention for his picture of a cloudburst on the horizon.

I am pleased with all the winners, and each of my students who contribute to class daily.  Each student makes the SCHS art experience richer by the gifts they bring. 

Fresh from the Kiln and Just in Time for Christmas!

Opening the kiln is like unwrapping a Christmas present, always like a surprise!

Religious Figures, Gargoyles, and Green Men In Progress

Made by A. J.

The semester is near the end and students are finishing the latest assignments.  We examined both gargoyles that are featured on the outside of cathedrals, and religious Della Robbia sculptures that decorated the interior of Catholic Churches during the renaissance.  Students then made a decision about what kind of face they would model out of clay.  

Inspired by Mary.  Made by E. O.

Medusa is always a popular gargoyle.  Made by M. K.

Pet gerbil as gargoyle.  Made by A. N.

Monkey by J. D.

Winking Sun Face by A. O.

Zebra by A. Z.

Cheetah by J. L.

Smiley Pig by C. L.

Lion with a very busy mane by S. P.

Dramatic face by K. Q.

The main features of the faces are modeled from a sold chunk of clay.  After the clay dries some the back is hollowed so it is uniformly one inch thick.  Hooks are added so the finished product can hang on the wall.  Details are added last.  These sculptures will be fired and glazed after break. 

Pinch Projects from Pottery I

Students used the pinch technique to make a small sculpture of their choice.  The sculpture had to make use of space, and have both additive and subtractive detail.  This conch shell is by H. W.

Pearl shell by A. N.

Owl by M. K.  This is made from 4 pinch pots.

Leaf trays by K. Q.

Talk to the white gloved mouse hand!  Cartoon characters are popular, and making them is fun, but in art class we must educate students about using their own original ideas for major projects.  R. S. discovered this original way to communicate Mickey Mouse for the pinch project. 

Some Tea Pots from Pottery II

It takes a long time to make fine pottery work (and for the teacher to photograph the pottery and get it on the web site).  C.K.W. began this teapot in September.  The leaf designs are impressions from leaves collected outdoors.  She used a pony roller to impress them into the thrown pot.  Yixing inspired, but completely Nebraska.  This will go to scholastics. 

Side B.

Matte black and shiny black teapot by L. P.

Fish teapot by J. T.  The tail is a pulled handle.

Landscape Photography

Texture Merge by D.C. with natural and man made elements.

Cityscape by R.P.  Taken with a "lensbaby" fish-eye attachment.

A trip to Moab doesn't hurt when trying to capture unique landscape!  T. H. was riding a 4 wheeler when he saw this stunning scene on the horizon.  When you see an opportunity like this, stop the car-or 4 wheeler.  T. H. did that and the results speak for themselves.

Lush green on an Omaha golf course.  The mowing lines add interest and enhance the rolling hills.   M. K. took this picture.

Placid lake in suburbia Omaha.  Picture taken by J. V.

This image has an interesting contrast between foreground and background.  Picture by J. K.

A texture merge by S. M.

Detail picture by D. C.

Texture merge by R.P.

Leaves frame the reflection in the water.  Picture by C. M.

Digital Image Tutorials with Photoshop

One of the first Photoshop tools we work with is the "text" tool.  Students combined a photo and text of their choice to communicate their message.  First photo is by D.C.

Get Gnarly by R. P.

Students also used selection tools to isolate a plain background and then alter the background with paint, shapes, or a gradient.  This example by J. K.

One last skating picture by R. P.