Model Magic Pinch Pots

I mixed the colors of Model Magic clay to create new colors and made many pots. 

Speaking of Pinch Pots

I know about pinch pots because I'm an art teacher and 

I teach elementary students how to make pinch pots. 

Here's an adorable inverted pinch pot made into a pumpkin by first grader.

I use Model Magic clay with my students which comes in VERY bright colors. When we're done with the lesson there's always some left over, it dries up and I usually throw it away. This time I decided to see what would happen if I mixed the VERY bright colors together to create more subtle colors. 

Here it is VERY bright - mix, mix, mix - hmm - I like it - not so bright and quite nice. 

So I used it to make these simple pinch pots. 

They seemed kind of plain so I jazzed them up and made MANY pinch pots. 

Come back tomorrow to see some.

Porcelain Pinch Pots

Most people think pinch pots are an elementary art project. We all have lumpy bumpy versions made either by our children or ourselves and they hold paper clips and rubber bands and end up in the basement. I decided to use this clay hand building method using porcelain clay and created my pinch pots standing on a very narrow base ending in a very wide top. It was fun to add ribbons of colored clay and a challenge to create a balance so they wouldn't tip over. 

Beautiful Hydrangea Bush

My mother-in-law has the most beautiful hydrangea bush in her back yard. 

Big blooms and the color - gorgeous.

3 Flower Vases

Micron pen and watercolor 

summer flowers

Our Pond

I live in a suburb of Chicago but we have a hidden pond near our house. Here we are on the way to the pond.

walking closer

rounding the corner

coming into view

our pond

flowers

frog

more froggies

and more

leaving the pond - goodbye!

Green Leaf Bowl

green leaf bowl  •  air dry clay  •  acrylic paint

Silly and Serious

A silly red bird

and a serious blue bird

Bird Study

I was working on a large painting for a commission that was plum blossoms and birds. I spent many hours on the blossoms and was comfortable painting them but when it came time to paint the birds, I was sure I would mess up the whole painting. The painting was 24"x18" and since I never work that large, it was an artistic stretch for me. These are my bird studies that I did to practice. And - boo hoo - I didn't take any good pictures of the finished painting. 

Sketchbook Flowers

Watercolor flowers from my sketchbook

Bird Friends

Clay birds made from Model Magic air dry clay. 

White acrylic ink detail.

Birds are just over an inch tall. 

More Visitors to my Deck

7  birds on a branch - watercolor 12"x6"

Buzzz

A visitor to my deck

Bag to Go

I had this old canvas bag that I was thinking of donating. 

Instead - I used permanent sharpies to draw leaves, spirals, birds and dots. 

My plain canvas bag - transformed!