Tag: Classes & Workshops

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Clay in the Classroom

One of my students requests a bag of clay from me each year to use in her 3rd grade classroom in an under-served community for a chance to experience clay. Most of these students have never touched clay before. She shows them videos, gives them basic instructions on attaching pieces and the thickness requirements and then lets them get to work creating. This year I got a handwritten thank you note from each student, the general correspondence goes something like this:

Dear Jenni Ward,
Thank you for donating clay to our class. The clay felt squishy. I made a pot. I painted my art red, blue, purple and black. What I liked most was how the clay felt. I am going to give my art to my mom and dad.
Sincerely,
Student

These notes are so adorable and heartwarming but my favorite part is that they drew pictures on the back of them making their pieces or of me or of what they thought my studio and kiln looked like even though we haven’t met and they haven’t been to my studio. I love that an experience so small but so special can bring out so much creativity in each student. Clay donations are funded by the sale of Art Hearts which support philanthropic art projects locally and abroad. Enjoy their drawings…

Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | clay in the classroom Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | clay in the classroom Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | clay in the classroom Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | clay in the classroom Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | clay in the classroomJenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | clay in the classroom

 

Spring Kids Clay Workshop Just Announced!

Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | classes at earth art studioIt’s been a while since we’ve offered an after school clay class for kids, so if you’ve been waiting for one, now’s your chance! This 8 week workshop for kids ages 7 and up is a great chance to explore the messy world of clay! Click the link for details on the Spring Kids Clay Workshop.

March 1 – April 21 2016

Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays

4:30 – 6

Sign up early to reserve your spot!

Feeling the love

Yesterday was my last official class at the studio for the year. Normally, I have back-to-back classes all day long, so it’s always a busy day filled with my talented students coming and going. Yesterday was as busy as ever but such a surprise of a day! I started off my first class with a gift of an original ink drawing from one of my students that was inspired by my bone series– so amazing!

Then towards the end of class I was surprised with a gift from my entire adult class who apparently had been in cahoots with each other for awhile to gift me a clay extruder for the studio! I was so surprised, I don’t know if I expressed how amazing and thoughtful this was of them. I can’t wait to see what we can do with it when we start up classes in January! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to you all!

Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | feeling the loveJenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | feeling the loveJenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | feeling the love

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not to be outdone, my next class brought a day old baby dwarf goat to the studio – wearing a pink sweater! The baby needed to be bottle fed, so they have to take it everywhere with them and I got to hold a sleeping baby goat all class!

Top that off with hugs, holiday wishes and happiness from all my little students throughout the day left me feeling the love.

Such gratitude to you all… thank you!

 

Clay Classes at Earth Art Studio

Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | classes

Classes are now winding down at the studio for the end of the year, but we will be starting right back up again in January. Make the resolution to B CR8IV in 2016 and sign yourself up for a class!

Adult Classes: Ongoing classes on Tues nights or Thurs mornings, all levels are welcome

Private Classes: Private/Semi-private classes for kids, families, home-school groups all on a schedule that works for you.

Spring Workshop for Kids: March – April (exact dates TBA)

Why do I teach community clay classes?

Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt |why do I teach community clay classes? I was recently asked why I teach community clay classes, as opposed to university level instruction. Well, one big reason is I don’t have the Master’s degree, so I actually can’t teach at universities. In the beginning, I thought I would go for the terminal degree for fine artists and get my MFA but after a few attempts in that direction, I finally made the choice to not pursue it. I realized that I really wanted to be my own boss, make my own schedule and share my clay experience with everyone, not just in an academic environment and I’m really happy with that choice. Over the past 15+ years, I’ve taught everyone from seniors to pre-schoolers how to make a pinch pot, roll a coil or add texture to a slab cup. I’ve worked in mobile classrooms in under-served communities and private classrooms in private schools.  It’s been an amazing way to piece together an income for myself and I have learned that no matter what your background or experience level, everyone leaves clay class feeling pretty good about what they did.

As my own art career has launched forward, I’ve cut back on the number of classes that I offer at my studio but I know that no matter how busy the art world gets, I will always teach. Each week I welcome some of the most amazing and talented people into my studio space. I love that they are passionate about being creative and intrigued enough to try something new. What I hope that they take away from their time spent in my studio is an appreciation of what it takes to make something with your hands along with the confidence to try it, compassion for others creative ideas and a respect for the vulnerability of making something with your heart. Some of my younger students tell me that they are going to be artists when they grow up, which is sweet to hear but of course most of them will go on to do other things. So I’m not churning out the academic artists of the future here but what community clay classes create instead is art enthusiasts, supporters and collectors, and the world needs a lot of those kind of people!

Join us at the studio and B CR8IV!

Create with Clay Classes for Kids FULL

Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Create with Clay Classes for Kids FULL

Just wanted to let everyone know that Create with Clay class spots for kids are all filled up for the rest of the year. If you’re interested in joining in on a class at the studio, please join our safe subscribe mailing list so you get the 2016 schedule in your inbox. JOIN

 

Adult Clay Classes still have space!

B CR8IV!

Class Schedule Change: No Winter Workshop this year!

Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Class Schedule Change: No Winter Workshop this year!Normally at this time of year, I’m adding the ever popular Winter Workshop to the schedule of events, I know a lot of you really look forward to this one. Unfortunately, due to some scheduling conflicts we won’t be able to offer the workshop this year. That’s the bad news, BUT the good news is…

There IS a limited time available for scheduling a few private class sessions if you are interested in coming to the studio to make some gifts. We can schedule two 90 minute classes (one for making, one for glazing) for a small group of 1 – 4 students on Tuesdays or Wednesdays during the first two weeks of December. Private classes are $75/student/90 min class, $10 for each additional student with a max of 4 students. Home-schoolers, friends & family (aged 7 – adult) are all welcome to join in. Contact me to schedule your holiday gift making class.

 

 

More Student Gifts…

Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | More Student Gifts...

I don’t have a background in science, just an incredible curiosity for biology and how things work and what the insides of things look like. This fascination shows up repeatedly in my work, and when a parent of one of my students brought me an article on radiolarians last week, I of course started doodling with clay to make them right away. Then I did some research and found out that radiolarians are single-celled aquatic animals that have a spherical, amoeba-like body with a spiny skeleton of silica and that the slimy muck that can collect in the deep oceans is mainly made up of the skeletal remains of these creatures. I’m fascinated… and I see a new series on the horizon! Thanks to my students (and their parents!) who keep me inspired all the time!

Studio Gifts

My favorite thing about reopening the studio is reconnecting with my students and the creative people in my life. This week I was welcomed back with two perfect gifts. The first is half of walnut shell which reminded the giver of my work. I love that my work makes others connect with nature in a way they might not of otherwise. The other is my new  ‘I’d rather be sculpting’ bumper sticker which goes perfectly with my ‘buy art’ sticker! Love these new additions to my collections…do my people know me or what?

Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | studio gifts Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | studio gifts