Mosaics - Just some broken tile turned into art!

I love working with students to see their ideas become a reality.  This Koi fish mural was done from the design of a Senior named Lucy, at Ventura County Christian School.  Our ideas in our art class were to transform the boring white walls in the cafeteria to a relaxing place for the students to enjoy lunchtime.  It was a great project to show how Interior Design can change a place.

The following tile pieces with the children, were done in a summer camp at my Art N' You studio in Camarillo.  The smiling faces tell the excitement they had to break the tiles and then rearrange them into a work of art.  Our lives are very much like that.  Things happen in life and they don't look the same.  With the help of the Creator, we can rearrange them into beautiful pieces of art.

I have also attached some murals that I have seen at a variety of places and was inspired by.  I love the ocean so I was impressed by these ocean murals.  And of course, I had to include some work by my favorite architect Antonio Gaudi and his famous mosaic lizard at the Park Guell!  Gaudi's work brings joy to the heart.  Amazing what a few pieces of broken tile, glass, and concrete can do for a city!

I have an upcoming Mosaic class July 2 and 3 from 1- 3 pm at my Art N' Studio in Camarillo. $55 includes supplies, students will break their own tile pieces, as well as use, pre-cut pieces to adhere them to either a 12" square or a plywood heart of similar size.  Adults can join if they want to get in touch with their inner child!  Please bring a drink as we will be working outdoors in the garden patio.

Creating with Clay

It always feels like Christmas when you open the kiln after a glaze firing, so much anticipation and sparkle from the colors.  You never know exactly how the pieces will look, if the student added enough glaze coats, or if they added something you didn't quite see them do.

Working with clay is very therapeutic as well as something that is rarely taught anymore because of the "mess".  Most children and adults like to create in 3D, they just need some help to get their imagination come to reality.   I am fortunate to have a large kiln at Mesa Union School to help students create whimsical owls, pinch pot flower bowls, slab dogs, handprints for Kindergarteners, pinch pot sea turtles, and of course I had to make a test coil plaque for my mother for Mother's Day!

This summer I will be teaching a clay class with a friend Terry who has also worked with clay for a number of years.  We have a variety of projects in mind including the crazy boxes that come out unique to each child.  And of course, you need to at least try your hand at coils.  These take some time to get even pressure on the clay snake.

The summer clay class is June 25 - 29th 9:30 am - NOON  $185 includes all supplies and you won't have to worry about the mess!

Listening to my students for ideas

I was quite surprised after my summer Fashion Design class when students told me how much they enjoyed learning to sew.  They wanted to have more sewing classes, so I took them up on that and this Fall I offered a sewing class that was FULL and had a WAITLIST!  Here are some of the projects we worked on.  I am looking forward to sharing my sewing skills with another group of girls soon!  

These girls had no prior sewing skills and learned how to operate their own machine, practice how to control the pressure, follow a line, and make a bobbin.  We redesigned a T-shirt and then we made emoji pillows.  We started some snakes from old socks but we will need another class to complete them, if they did not finish them on their own. 

If you are interested in a sewing class for your daughter call me at 805 443-1555 for the next available class.  Students must have their own sewing machines.