Size Matters

Sample Basket 2011

For my day job, I work as a 4th grade teacher. It is a wonderful job, where I am allowed to work with kids that constantly amuse and entertain. I see my role not only as a teacher of math and reading/language arts, but as a teacher of enthusiasm. It is my job to channel the interests of students, so that they can know more about their strengths. It is also my job to have a personal, one-on-one relationship with each of my students. I feel like I need to know what makes them tick, so that I can understand how to motivate them. To this end, I teach with many hands-on projects.  I've painted several murals on campus with my students. I started an herb garden on campus. I offer book clubs that meet to discuss leveled books (and to share popcorn) at lunch. Recently I founded a Scrabble Club that meets at lunchtime. I teach students how to make baskets, and how to weave. This year, we are each going to sew small versions of the state flag of California, and then attach them together to make a wall hanging. Long live the Bear Flag Republic!

Student Birds and Nests

And, of course, I teach my students the ceramic process. When I was in kindergarten, I made my first pinch pot, with the help of someone who cared enough to share knowledge with me. Our school had a kiln, and there were many teachers that made use of it. It was the beginning of a lifelong interest and passion.

Student Nature Bowl with Imprinted Leaves

It is clear to me, that as more students are placed in my classroom, I can't help but be less effective as a teacher. I become a herder, a lecturer, and an organizer of people. Kids cease to share confidences with me. They stop writing me notes in the class mailbox. It also makes it difficult to finance many of the projects that I do for science, social studies, and art. Most of what I do with my students is paid for
from "The First National Bank of Karen Hansen". So, in closing, let's just say, that if there is not enough furniture in the room, or places for students to sit, the room should be considered "full". Kids are deserving of my attention and consideration. Every child.

Student Ceramic Percussion Rattles

Flow

I just finished reading Paul Tough's new book, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. Although I found the entire book to be informative and insightful, the chapter called "How to Think" was especially interesting. The chapter describes middle school students using chess as a way of developing their minds. It is a way for them to internalize success, failure, and perseverance. During this chapter, Tough describes the concept of flow. It is "rare moments in human existence when a person feels free of mundane distractions, in control of his fate, totally engaged in the moment." Flow moments occur "when a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult or worthwhile." Tough explains that chess experts describe flow moments in similar terms, "as feelings of intense well-being and control."

Flow is a great word to describe how I feel in the studio, when working on a project. Total absorption in the creative process is flow. It is almost hypnotic. And, if I go for any long period of time without flow, I get depressed. I remember one particularly busy school year, when I was neglecting my art work, in favor of the chaos of school. We were painting a giant mural of the solar system, using house paint, and large masonite panels covered with planets. The four students that were in charge of Jupiter, had gotten carried away with the paint, and had lost the spherical shape of the planet. After school, I set out the panels on the outside school lunch tables, and started to clean up their work a bit with some house paint on a brush. The feeling of flow was overwhelming, just at holding the brush in my hand. It was a reminder to me, not to neglect my creative side. It's easy to let work, chores, and outside distractions take over. But, allowing ourselves time to create is crucial. Flow truly does produce feelings of intense well-being.   

The Countdown Begins

I will NOT throw any temper tantrums over the signs this year.

Well, the living room has been emptied of knick knacks, and novels… We're almost ready. Just some spackling and touch up painting are in order. And, the removal of some furniture and my globe collection. After that is done, there will be no more parking in the garage. Here are some pictures of the living room, still in progress…

The sideboard.

Purple container shelf.

Parti-colored container shelf.

Containers and bird nests.

Dessert plates and dessert shaped paper boxes on the mantle.

Ceramic painted panels.

Wall hearts and ugly thermostat.

Coffee Wash Day

I used sandpaper to rub away part of the finish.

This afternoon is the time for washing my recent work with coffee colored underglaze. Then, all of the work has to be sponged back. It really brings out the texture in the work. Sorry, kitchen drain. I know it's hard on you! Once the interiors of the containers have been glazed with colored matte glaze, all of this work will head out to the kiln.

It looks like we've had a fire!

Sponging back the black, to get down to the color underneath.

The next step is to glaze the insides of these pieces, with matte glaze.

This is a dog treat jar that I'm trading for a mug from a friend.

Before.

After.

Birdie Eggs

All loaded up with kid face tiles, clear glazed, and on their final firing. And, there's a small clutch of birdie eggs for empty nests. I'm trying really hard to balance my life as an artist with my life as a teacher. It is not easy. Usually, the artist side ends up being the loser. But, no staff meeting today, and working through lunch, left me time to tie up some loose ends and start this kiln load.

Frankenstein's Monster

This piece had major cracking problems during the bisque firing. So, I decided to patch it up with mortar patch, cement patching compound, paper clay, and anything else I could find that would do the job! Here it is being dry finished, because any more firings are impossible. I watered down acrylic paint, and sprayed assorted layers of color.

Greenware

Sometimes it's hard to find time to get into the studio during the school year. But, it's Labor Day weekend, so here goes! Today was container day. I just finished firing student slab face tiles. Yesterday we glazed them with underglaze, and we'll clear glaze them next week.