Triskeles, whiteface, and woad, photos

Celtic triskeles and spiral inspired by La Tene art in whiteface and woad—I mean Maybelline. As to the usual: Yes, but what are you supposed to be, my answer was I am that I am. If you need a name, the hag cycle of the Morríghan, the phantom queen, goddess of fertility, war and death; or the Cailleach, the divine crone, a creator/weather/ancestor deity. (From caille, mantle, the veiled one.) The feather growth on the side of my head is part of a plaster bandage mask/cast of my face—also in whiteface and spirals. But prettier. The maiden aspect. I couldn't wear my scary face when I taught kids poetry, so the mask was a compromise. I either wore the mask on my face, or on the back of my head—which really freaked people out. They couldn't tell whether I was coming or going. Nor could I, apparently. 

I always painted my face up as the grotesque Celtic hag with triskeles, but people complained, asked, can't you do something nice....I just wasn't into "pretty" so this was as good as it got. Only once, and once only. I got tired of explaining my character/costume. A New Age Pierrot-Columbina character?

AFTER-SCHOOL /GATE ART CLASSES at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

AFTER-SCHOOL /GATE ART CLASSES SAMPLE IDEAS: choose from 4 to15+ sessions

Collage, Painting & Drawing** with Scissors & Pencils:   4 to 8 sessions  With ordinary objects we will explore the medium of drawing, using contour line to enhance our awareness of shapes and edges and train the eye to really see. We will then"draw" with scissors, colored paper, and magazines to create "paintings" built in layers which are both surreal and abstract. Matisse and Magritte will be our models. We will color our own paper with tempra or poster paints, and later make paintings of our collages. We may also explore drawing with colored pencils and oil pastels. If there’s time, we will also experiment with monoprints using poster paint. 

MATERIALS: Colored paper, 80# white suifite drawing paper (18x24”), scissors, gluestix or white glue, soft-lead, colored, and stabilo pencils, water-based and permanent marking pens, oil pastels, poster paints, flat brushes, magazines. **Each art form listed above can be expanded into a full length worhshop.

 *PAINTING—Watercolor & Words:   4 to 8 sessions  Watercolor and the written word will be used to make paintings & graphics that incorporate both poetry & art by reuniting words with drawing, to create self-portraits, posters, & broadsides—visual statements! Students will learn wet and dry techniques, and to mix colors. 

MATERIALS: Crayola 07W, or Prang mixing watercolor sets, brushes, morilla board, 80# white sulfite drawing paper, poster paints and flat brushes, scissors, glue, soft-lead, colored and stabilo pencils, water-based and permanent marking pens, oil pastels, crayons. (Silk painting classes also offered).

 *Masks & Staffs—Making the Mask Speak:   4 to 8 sessions Make several masks from many different mediums—from plaster bandages and paper plates to plastic milk bottles—and then give them character and poetic voice. Learn how native peoples from around the world share this most ancient and modern art form. 

MATERIALS: Tagboard, plastic bottles, sand, cardboard (paper plates, cups, etc.), 80# white sulfite drawing paper, poster paints and flat brushes, sandpaper, plaster, scissors, Elmer’s glue, hot glue guns and refills, pencils, felt, feathers, beads, yarn, goodies to decorate masks. (Please note the added expense: it costs approx. $2.50 to $5 per child to make plaster masks, depending upon the additions.) Students will need to bring decorative goodies, plastic bottles, egg cartons, and special piece of wood for staff. 

ALTERNATE: (1) If there’s time, we’ll explore plastic bottle and found object masks too. Or if school can’t afford bandages, this is a cheaper alternative. (2) Masks & Papier Mache animals. Using glue, aluminum foil, acrylics, masking tape & paper, we’ll sculpt/shape/paint large animals based on Oaxacan folk art.

 *Calligraphy—from Petroglyphs to Parchment:   6+ sessions  Learn the art of beautiful lettering using the Italic alphabet. Trace the origins of our alphabet from petroglyphs to parchment. Invent an alphabet, learn cuneiform, create broadsides and note cards, or just improve your handwriting! MATERIALS: Calligraphy pens, inks, clay, wide-lined binder paper, specialty papers.

*Making & Illustrating One-of-a-Kind Small Books:   4 to 6 sessions  Learn how to make elegant pop-up, accordion, & saddle-stitched books from paper scraps. Become your own publisher & author by combining calligraphy, poetry & art to create rare books. If there’s time, we can marble paper, or make our own paper, (blenders & window screens needed). 

MATERIALS: Tagboard, colored paper, endpaper strips, specialty papers, Elmer’s or Prang clear green glue, scissors, exacto knives, drawing, marking, and calligraphy pens, watercolors, brushes.

Kraft Paper & Wood Sculptures—dwellings:    4 to 6 sessions    Using wood and found objects we will work three-dimensionally. With twigs and paper bags we will make sculptural dwellings. MATERIALS Lots of hot glue guns, wood scraps, twigs, twine, bags, Elmer’s glue, starch. (An alternative idea is to create robots using found objects—styrofoam, L’eggs eggs, spools, etc., or to mix this with a clay component.)

Clay Slab Building & Masks:    4 to 6 sessions   We will explore historical and physical aspects of clay using time-tested building techniques. Students will learn how to build three-dimensional slab sculptures, pinch pots, clay masks, tiles, etc. Ancient techniques include burnishing, staining, texturing & scraffito. 

MATERIALS: Clay, tools, stains, glazes, firing. School will need to fire clay, or Creative Ceramics can fire pieces (added cost). (Not available at this time).

Making the Mural:   8 to 15 sessions A group project where students will learn the mural process from start to finish. A mural is the synthesis of a group vision— a vertical history in images—its origins date back to the first cave paintings. We will turn ideas into a thematic visual statement that goes beyond the image to record a story. 

MATERIALS: Butcher paper, drawing paper, acrylic or poster paints and flat brushes, sponges, masking tape, pencils, water containers, 4x8’ plywood panels* coated with three layers of white latex paint, shellac/sealant.

              

 * These classes can be tailored to incorporate a poetry component as well.

SOME NOTES:  School should supply available materials e.g., colored paper, drawing paper, butcher paper, tempra poster paints, flat brushes, Prang green glue, or Elmer’s glue, hot glue & glue guns, glitter, scissors, crayons, kindergarten pencils, colored marking pens, masking tape, colored tagboard for mounting and for portfolios, storage space for art, supplies and portfolios, (4x8’ plywood panels* perhaps a parent could donate them?) etc. 

Below, I’ve included some general prices for supplies FYI. Feel free to pick and choose which classes to do, as some will be more expensive than others. I’ve listed supplies in order of importance. I need to know how many students, total, to estimate final costs—pens, pastel sets, etc. (a basic rule of thumb is about $2 -5 per child for the 2-dimensional arts). I will need an art (av) cart to wheel supplies to and from storage; flat tables, sinks, paper towels. 

Poster paints are about $30.

         Magenta, turquoise, cobalt blue, yellow, black, white, (& red, optional) and flat brushes

I need to research acrylics/housepaint for murals & papier mache animals.

Colored paper—I will need the full complement of sizes and colors,  & may need to purchase

         more than what you already have. It could be $10 or $40.

I prefer to have 3 large gluestix on hand, or Yes Glue, $9, but can use your glue (no paste glue; it’s awful).

I have #12 and Chinese round brushes and the mixing watercolor sets ($7.50 per)

         the watercolor refill pans will cost $15 to 20 per class. (Turquoise Magenta 2 Yellows Blue Black)

I will need at least one package of Morilla board watercolor paper (50 sheets) about $52.

I can also use 80# white sulfite drawing paper, $35 a ream, for some watercolor.

Good pencils and black chisel-point felt drawing pens are approx. .60 to 1.10 ea.

         I can use kindergarten pencils, but need the felt tip pens.

Calligraphy pens cost $1.40 ea. It’s nice to have a set of colored pens for further experimentation. Wide-line smooth white binder paper! Butcher paper for demonstration.

Oil pastels are $3.50 - 4.50 per student (but 2 can share a set—the cheap sets have no purple!)

Plaster bandage masks are expensive—$55+, but it’s such a fun class.

Hot glue guns & fillers $12 - $20.  Sculpture & mask classes take gobs of hot glue.

Clay $60 - 100 + firing costs

Some of these supplies I already have on hand; but will need to be reimbursed.

Suggestions for classes—as a basis I recommend beginning with:

•     Collage and/or watercolor classes, (these core classes can be easily expanded or shortened (no less than 4 sessions ea.), and augmented with 1 or 2 other classes. In these core classes, I will cover various art terms and techniques which will enhance the other classes. If there’s interest, I also like to work with a thematic structure—it could be based on heritage, environment, science, etc.

•     Calligraphy and small books* go well together. (I can include a little poetry here too.)

•     The length of the mural class depends on the skills of the students. I will need some flexibility here.

•     We will need to discuss various options with the three-dimensional classes—masks, and especially small books*, & sculpture—are labor intensive; an enormous amount of prep—pre & post-class time goes into them (much longer than the classes themselves); it would be best to choose only one of these.

•     By the same token, clay is also very labor intensive (back-breaking). Storage is always a problem, and if school doesn’t have a kiln, it’s not feasable, unless we focus on process only. There is something called Sculptee—but it’s expensive. I’ll have to research it. (Not available at this time).

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. You may call me up to 11 p.m. If possible, I would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience, before classes begin, to see the school, supplies, space, etc. I look forward to meeting you and, of course, working with your students! 

PLASTER BANDAGE MASK WORKSHOP for kids

PLASTER BANDAGE MASKS        

Dear Parents and Kids:

We’re making plaster bandage masks on Mon. Feb. 22. If you’d like to assist your child to make a mask, you’re welcome to join us.

We use cold cream or Vaseline to protect each child’s face from the plaster (it’s like getting a facial!) But each child will need to bring something to hold the hair off the face—such as a hair band, a stretchy tube sock cut into bands, the neck of a tee shirt, hair clips, a cap, or even a plastic bag!

It’s a good idea to wear a large old tee-shirt as a smock, as it’s a messy project. Also bring a soft wash cloth to wash those GREASY faces after the mask comes off. Allergies are rare—but please let us know if you have any concerns.

We begin the workshop with the beginning: creation stories, the first masks, masks of various cultures, the importance of masks—and we’ll explore other options, developing personal themes for the decoration of our masks.

• Masks to help things—masks to heal the environment, masks to make corn grow, masks to facilitate understanding between peoples.

• Masks to stop things—the destruction of the rainforest, to stop Fido from chewing up the homework mask, masks to stop nightmares.

• Masks of origin: totem animal and ancestor masks, futuristic masks, fantasy masks.

HOMEWORK IDEAS: Make a collage mask using magazine photos, find mask shapes hidden in in ordinary everyday objects—cars, bottles, etc.)

We will need lots of interesting goodies to adorn the masks. Think of texture, shininess, color, symbolism, patterns, designs and shapes as you search for small objects that are personal, or that you love, but make sure it’s OK to take them first! Let your imagination run on a wild raid through the junk drawers and boxes—these places contain some fascinating bits of family history.  Also bring things to share with the class—we’ll have a potlatch. 

Some suggestions include: feathers, leather scraps, fur, interesting material, old wrapping paper,  shells, shell bits, small pebbles, bottle caps, buttons, corks, yarns, sequins, beads—big & small, Spanish (mushdash) moss, raffia, tinsel, Easter hay, lace, ribbon (for hair and presents), pipe cleaners, bells, interesting (homemade?) paper, cardboard, heavy paper, shiny foils and decorative papers, bones, pine cones, acorns, bits of costume jewelry, small toys or pieces of toys, dead watches, keys, neat material. . .  

If you have felt, bring it to line the inside of the mask. And some elastic to tie it to your head. 
AND thanks for helping us out!

PLASTER-BANDAGE MASK WORKSHOP for Adults

PLASTER-BANDAGE MASKS

Learn how to make plaster masks at the AC poetry retreat on Fri. Feb. 12, and Sat. aft., Feb. 13 at Silverpenny Farm. We will use plaster bandages to transform our faces and our art.

Some ideas: make masks to help things—to heal the environment, to make corn (or money) grow, to facilitate understanding between peoples.
Masks to stop things—the destruction of the rainforest, to stop Fido from chewing up the AC contracts and paperwork, to stop nightmares.
Masks of origin: totem animal and ancestor masks, futuristic masks, fantasy masks.

We’ll explore options, developing personal themes for the decoration of our masks.

HOMEWORK IDEAS: Make a collage mask using magazine photos, find mask shapes hidden in ordinary everyday objects—cars, bottles, etc.)

We will need lots of interesting goodies to adorn the masks.
Think of texture, shininess, color, symbolism, patterns, designs and shapes as you search for small objects that are personal, or that you love. Let your imagination run wild through the junk drawers and boxes—these places contain some fascinating bits of family history. Also bring things to share with the class—we’ll have a potlatch.

THINGS TO BRING:

• Thick greasy cold cream or Vaseline to protect your face from plaster (like getting a facial!).

• Something to hold the hair off the face—a hair band, a stretchy tube sock cut into bands, the neck of a tee shirt, hair clips, bobby pins, a cap, or a plastic bag. Beards need Saran Wrap.

• A soft wash cloth to wash those GREASY faces after the mask comes off. Tools: scissors, paint brushes, acrylic, or specialty paints, fabric paints, (we'll provide poster paints) glue, hot glue gun, glitter, etc.

• Ornaments: feathers, fur, interesting material, leather scraps, interesting (homemade?) paper, pretend money, cardboard, shiny foils and decorative papers, shells, small pebbles, bottle caps, buttons, sequins, beads, dried flowers & weeds, Spanish moss, raffia, tinsel, lace, ribbon, yarn, pipe cleaners, bells, bones, pine cones, acorns, bits of costume jewelry, small pieces of toys, dead watches, keys. . If you have felt, bring it to line the inside of the mask. And some elastic to tie it to your head. Since plaster bandages for masks is very expensive, a $5 donation toward supplies would be welcome.

We'll need:

• Demo masks—bring some of your Chinese and Latin American masks; I'll bring plaster demos. 

• Poster paint: red, yellow, blue plus turquoise, magenta, black & white, gesso, clear sealant. Big flat 1/2" wide poster paint brushes, and small round watercolor brushes. 6 to 12 egg cartons to mix paints, and large containers to rinse brushes, paper towels, newspaper.

• Surgical bandages 4" rolls; each roll makes 2-3 masks—depending upon face size. 

• Vaseline. Lots of scissors to cut bandages; I have a pattern to u se.

• Interesting junk to add onto masks Hot glue guns and tacky glue (&/or Elmer's Glue—it makes a good clear glaze too). Elastic and paper ring hole reinforcers for the holes, felt to line the masks.