Creating a vessel from clay is an ancient art.
Pottery soothes the soul. Devotees of the craft-turned-hobby say coaxing a chunk of clay into a bowl or vase makes the world go away. They feel creative and relaxed as they work the potter's wheel.
Since the beginning potters have prospected raw earth and used it
to create priceless vessels that have withstood the test of time.
Each step in the overall pottery process is an art in it's self.
The glazing process and firing techniques affect the
finished piece as much as the throwing process.
It appears to be fulfilling for men and women of all ages. Spending an evening at the studio is far different from a day at work or an evening at home. It's not only interacting with the basic materials of Earth, it's interacting with like-minded people that increases its charm.
Some people love to work the potter's wheel. Others have another option at paint-your-own pottery studios. At these places, they can choose pre-molded pieces like mugs, plates, bowls, frogs, and bears, to name just a few options. As they paint, they sip wine and visit with their fellow artists.
Most studios offer classes in art itself. Students learn how to paint flowers and designs and to anticipate how their colors will change when they are glazed and fired. When glaze is added, it turns into a clear shellac as the piece is fired, intensifying the colors beneath and making them look almost like glass.
A history professior, interviewed by Knight Ridder News Service, says the hobby relieves work stress. An accountant says it puts the brain in neutral so you can relax. Another man says it lets him escape from the world. A young mother leaves her baby at grandma's house for her only break of the week.
Is pottery really, as some artisans say, nature's Valium? For some people it is. A waiter says that when he has a bad day at work, he can handle it. He knows that he's going to the studio tomorrow.
Pottery is a very ancient and respected art form.
Today clay artist's are still creating the history of pottery.
The only bad Halloween craft project is the Halloween craft project that takes too long. You know the ones. The craft projects that have so many steps that you’ve lost the attention of your kids before step 2. Give these easy Halloween craft ideas a try. They’re short; they’re sweet; they’re fun and the end results are spooktacular.
Antenna Characters
These adorable characters look great at the top of your automobile antenna. Hey, if your house is dressed up for Halloween, why shouldn’t your car? With various Halloween-themed colors of flat fun foam (orange, black, white, green), draw a light outline of a pumpkin, ghost, spider or Frankenstein head, approximately 4-inches tall and 3-inches wide. Cut out the shapes and with a single hole punch, punch two holes in each shape, one approximately one inch from the top of the shape and another hole approximately one inch from the bottom of the shape.
With glitter glue or permanent markers, decorate the shape with facial features, an outline or anything you’d like. Allow to dry thoroughly. Once dried, you can attach to your automobile antenna by placing the antenna through the bottom hole from the back of the shape to the front. Then place the antenna through the top hole, front to back. The Antenna Character should be secure and should withstand normal driving conditions.
Halloween Mosaics
Mosaic art using tiles is very popular nowadays. Kids can duplicate this popular craft using construction paper instead of tiles or glass.
Prior to gathering the children around the table, cut small squares of various colors of paper, orange, red, blue, yellow, white, black, green, etc.
On a piece of heavy stock, white paper, draw the outline of a pumpkin, Frankenstein or other Halloween character.
With a small dab of all-purpose glue on the back of each square, kids can mosaic their way to a uniquely creative masterpiece that can be framed and hung on the wall for many Halloween seasons to come.
Pumpkin Painting
In less than one hour, you and your child can create the most adorable pumpkin craft ready to proudly display in your home. Pumpkin Painting is the perfect activity for little goblins who aren’t old enough to handle the jack-o-lantern carving duties.
With simple supplies like acrylic paints, markers, newspaper and sealer, kids can paint whimsical, silly faces on their pumpkins. Or they can paint their favorite cartoon character, Halloween motif or harvest design. Painted pumpkins do not rot near as quickly as carved pumpkins so it is much more economical to paint pumpkins rather than carving them and it’s also much safer and more hands-on for toddlers since there is no knife involved.
One of the most devastating things that can happen to a scrapbook-er is for their creation to be ruined. So many hours, time, energy and money have been exhausted in putting together a work of art that brings back those memorable moments in time. There are plenty of ways that your book can get destroyed. With just a few simple precautions, you can make sure that your book will be around for years to come for your grand childrens and family members to enjoy.
(1) Liquids obviously will destroy memorabilia, photographs and negatives. To avoid disasters, store your scrapbooks supplies, albums, photographs and negatives in a dry, cool place where water from broken pipes or overflowing toilets cannot reach them. Also, keep food and drinks out of your work area. Over time, sunlight can diminish photos, negatives, layouts, and album quality. Keep all supplies out of direct sunlight.
(2) Extreme temperatures damage photos, negatives, layouts, page protectors and albums. Always store all items in a regular-temperature area and in an area where there is low humidity.
(3) Although it may not be an immediately apparent problem but fingerprints on photos, negatives and layouts become visible over time. Oil from skin is the cause of this problem. To prevent this deterioration, handle all photos carefully, touching only the outer edges. Wash hands frequently or use acid neutralizing wipes but make sure your hands are dry before handling any materials. Use lightweight cotton gloves if available to ensure those pictures stay perfect.
(4) Handle and store your photos, negatives, and layouts carefully. Improper storage increases the risk of scratches, tears, and bends. Store and seal your photos and negatives in a sturdy container, in plastic sleeves that fit into a 3-ring binder, or in acid-free envelopes. Keep in mind that not all plastics are alike. In fact, some sheet protectors, binders, photo enclosures, and photo corners will eventually damage your memorabilia more than if you had not used plastic protection or enhancement at all. To avoid this, do not buy materials containing PVC or PVA, buy your materials from reputable scrapbook stores. Yes, it may cost you a bit more but your scrapbook will last so much longer. Look for acrylic or polyester materials as an alternative.
(5) Finally, paper and cardstock you find in your local hobby store are not necessarily acid-free unless stated on the packaging. Also realize that just because a manufacturer’s lighter colored paper is acid-free does not guarantee the darker colors will also be. Your best bet is to test any paper that is not specifically marked 'acid-free.'
Now that wasn't hard at all, was it? And you've earned a wealth of knowledge, just from taking some time to learn from another scrapper enthusiast.
Creating a vessel from clay is an ancient art.