Drawing with Beads

Art has been created throughout time.  Which means that artists have lived in different times, come from different countries, cities and cultures around the world.  

Let's look at some colorful beaded art by Indigenous artists of the Pacific Northwest.  

First, what does Indigenous mean?

Indigenous people are the first people to live in a place.

Even though there are many groups in this area, the specific artists we will become familiar with today are the Plateau Indians of the Northwest.  

Think of states like Washington, Oregon, Idaho and parts of Canada.

What does it mean to trade?  300 years ago (in the 1700's) the fur trade expanded to bring new trade goods to the Northwest region.  Native people of the Great Plains brought their beadwork to the Northwest.

Seed beads (small round beads) in many colors became available, together with steel needles. 

Because of these newly traded materials beadwork was now being created. Beadwork featured flower shapes, images of people, animals and landscapes.  Today more contemporary designs are created.

People of the Columbia Plateau traditionally relied on salmon, roots and local animals. 

What do you see that tells you scenes of hunting for food in daily life show up in their beaded work.

Historically women created the beaded work.  Often girls learned to bead from an older relative or other elder.

Native plants are popular in Plateau design although inspiration comes from many sources.  Some designs are passed down in families. What is something your family has passed down?

 Beads are sewn over the surface of the bag.

 The main design is beaded first and then the background is beaded around it.

Beaded bags are usually made from cloth and beaded on one side only. 

Remember flower designs were popular.  

Which specific plants and animals do you recognize?

Notice the flowers and horses.  The horse was a favorite motif at the time.

Flat beaded bags are still produced today. 

People make them to carry at celebrations, ceremonies and social gatherings, to give to others, to trade and sometimes to sell.

Will you work with beads in our jewelry studio?

Will you include motifs in your art that you notice in our Missouri environment?  Trees, flowers, animals?

Will you create functional art that can be used by you or someone you know?

Perler Beads will be out for the next couple of art classes.  You can use small beads of color to create artworks.

https://mnch.uoregon.edu/collections-galleries/plains-and-plateau-beadwork

Glazing in the Clay Studio

 

Glaze --leveling up your ceramics

Let's GLAZE! When you have created a clay artwork you will come in next class and it will either be in the kiln, still drying or bisqued.   look at the three stages of clay we see on the cart.

Glazing can really Power Up your work.  

The color can enhance the shape of your pottery.  You can add patterns, solid areas of color and design.

Betty Woodman was a ceramic artist.  She was known for inventive forms and how she applied her colorful glaze.  

Widewalls

Betty made FUNCTIONAL pottery and later on more decorative work.  

That means it had a function, purpose or could be used to perform a job. 

Functional meaning it could be use to drink from, hold objects, 

pour and eat off of.  Will your pottery be decorative or Functional?  

if you are going to put food or liquid in your clay artwork you will need to listen closely to instructions about GLAZE.

Glaze is the color we will use for clay.  Glazed pottery goes back in 

the Kiln for a second firing.  The glaze becomes molten hot and 

coats your work in a thin layer of glass.

The Cabinet of Glaze is to the left of the Clay Studio. You will only remove a blue tray of glaze from this cabinet and nothing else. Select a blue tray of glaze and bring it back to your table.  No placemat You will need a brush for each color you use.  New color new brush. Each jar gets  its own brush NO glaze the bottom of your work. if you get a little drop wipe off with a sponge. Two coats.  Same color, same place, twice.   These glazes are not meant to be mixed.  No mixing colors. TWIST Caps back in place.   Rinse Brushes until water runs clear. Return Glazes.   Put your glazed work on the cart.  Next class you will pick up your finished ceramics.

Ceramic work goes in the kiln a 2nd firing and the glaze becomes molten and melts onto your 

pottery and creates a shiny coating.

Clay Studio is Open

 

Clay Studio is Open

 Meramec Clay Studio is OPEN

Clay Studio

Bring supplies back to your assigned seat

Pinch Pot

Slip and Score Think of SLIP like your CLAY GLUE Drying your clay.  Once your clay is dry you will not be able to attach more clay Clean Up Return Materials Clay in the lidded box Wipe table with a green cloth *Touching art from of another clay artist may end your time in the clay studio *Artists who use clay responsibly get to use the Clay Studio.