April, 2010 Art History / Pottery Classes for Middle School - High School Students

Overview: Have you ever struggled with coming up with ideas for creating new art? One approach is to borrow ideas from other artists and then mix those ideas with your own to create something new. In this project, you will research the life and work of an artist of choice (past or present). You will then create and paint a clay tile that combines something you learned from studying your chosen artist’s work with your own style. Completed tiles will be glazed and fired and then mounted in a wooden frame that can be used as a trivet or hung on the wall.

Research: Prior to the first studio class, students should select an artist that they would like to learn more about. They should research their chosen artist using the Internet and other local sources, paying special attention to the subjects, style, and influences in the artist’s work. They should write a short, 1-page synopsis of what they learned, especially with regard to style and technique, as these will be key to creating the tile project. Students should come to the first class prepared to discuss what they learned.

Studio Time: Studio time will consist of three sessions of varying lengths. Our cozy home studio is located near the SR51 and Thomas Road in Phoenix, AZ.

Session 1 – 2.5 hours: (Wednesday, April 7, 2:00 – 4:30) During the first studio session, we will discuss each student’s artist and then students will sketch the tile’s design. Students will then make the tile out of clay, based on their design.

Session 2 – 2 hours: (Wednesday, April 21, 2:00 – 4:00) During the second studio session, students will reassess their original design and then paint their tile, based on the original design and any new modifications.

Session 3 – 1.5 hours: (Wednesday, April 28, 2:00 – 3:30) During the third studio session, the completed (framed) tiles will be returned to students to be critiqued by the group. Students will then create an artist’s statement discussing what their work is about and how it reflects what they learned through studying their artist’s work. (Note: At the start of class, students will be given guidelines for constructive critiquing and creating an artist’s statement.)

Cost: The cost is $40 and includes all class/studio time, materials, and firings. Payment is requested at the first class.

Registration: Please contact us with any questions and/or to register – 602.468.3136 or contact@VanGoPottery.com. The deadline for registration is March 22, 2010 and seating is limited.

VanGo Pottery™ offers Ceramics Classes at our Phoenix, AZ Studio!

We, at VanGo Pottery,™ love playing with clay. There’s nothing like having a ball of clay in your hands and forming it into something amazing and beautiful. And while there is plenty of great equipment available to help with your pottery making adventure, using just your hands a few basic tools can produce beautiful works of art with a purpose.

Three basic handbuilding techniques are pinch, coil, and slab. Utilizing one or a combination of these techniques can yield awesome results. In slab construction, start with a ball of clay and use a rolling pin to roll the clay out onto a flat, canvas-covered surface. Roll in several directions to achieve uniform thickness in the clay. Once your slab is the desired thickness, cut out shapes as needed to construct your piece.

One of our favorite projects is the soda can birdhouse, inspired by our friends at Mayco (www.Maycocolors.com). Using a soda can (or any can of a similar shape and size), wrap a freshly rolled and cut slab around the can. Join the ends together using a coil and slurry. Cut a circular shape from the slab (the size of the can opening) to affix to the bottom. Cut leaf shapes and attach to the top for the roof. Cut an opening in any shape for the bird to enter the birdhouse and make a small hole with a pencil under the opening for a perch. Once the clay has been fired, the birdhouse can be painted and fired again. Use a stick for the perch and hang outside with cord or wire.

We are excited about our class offerings held at our cozy home studio, located in Phoenix, Az. We also have programs for homeschoolers at your location or ours. Hours vary and studio visits are by appointment. Please call us today to learn more about our classes: 602.468.3136.

VanGo Pottery™ teams with Make-A-Wish

We recently got together with the families and staff of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® for a day of pottery painting fun. Participants painted star-shaped dishes and ornaments to present to Wish donors and sponsors. It was a great day of painting, creativity, and fun!

The mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, is to “…grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.” They have been granting wishes since 1980.

We are inspired by the wonderful work they are doing and hope you will be, too. To learm more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation® or how you can share the power of a wish,® check out their website: http://www.wish.org/.

Decorate Your Home with Unique Plates

At VanGo Pottery,™ we love painting dinnerware items, especially plates. Painting plates is not only a fun, creative way to express yourself, but the finished pieces become functional works of art. We love using our wares for eating and serving at home and at dinner parties. However, plates don’t have to be reserved solely for utilitarian purposes: use them to decorate your bedroom, living room, and any other unexpected place.

When decorating with plates, there are several ways to create the look you want. Choose plates with unusual colors and contemporary designs to make a bold statement. Juxtapose old and new by hanging contemporary style plates with classic furniture to create an eclectic look. Hanging your plates directly above a unique piece of furniture, such as a teacart, helps to highlight the plates. Grouping similarly colored plates in a unique arrangement can make quite a statement. A white wall allows dishes to pop without competing for attention, but a colored wall works too, as long as the hues are complementary.

Hopefully, you’re feeling inspired to look for new and creative ways to display plates in your home. And, instead of spending hours and hours (and tons of money) looking for unique plates to complement your design, why not paint your own set of plates? Call our studio today to schedule a plate painting party with your friends. We have lots of sizes and shapes from which to choose. The possibilities are endless…







Thank you for your designs and inspiration:
http://www.sunset.com
http://www.countryliving.com
http://www.decorpad.com
http://www.toastandtables.blogspot.com

Invite VanGo Pottery™ to Your Next Mommy and Me Event!

Hey moms, are you looking for a fun activity to do with your Mom and Me Playgroup? Then please consider a pottery painting party with the staff of VanGo Pottery™ as your hosts. We will come to the location of your choice – your home, church, park, community center, you name it! – and provide everything needed to entertain your group with pottery painting fun.

The kiddos can paint plates or other dinnerware items and then embellish them with their very own handprint. The finished pieces not only become beautiful works of art, but are precious heirlooms that can be used and treasured for years to come.

Or we can read one of your favorite stories and then paint an item related to the story. One of our favorites, “Eat Your Peas,” by Kes Gray and Nick Sharratt, is a hilarious story about a mother who tries EVERYTHING to get her daughter to eat her peas, one of which is the promise of ice cream. At the end of the story, moms and kids can get together and paint an ice cream bowl for the special occasions in their lives.

We have lots of ideas and suggestions for your group. Please call our studio at 602.468.3136 for more information.

Let VanGo Pottery™ Help You Put the Fun in Fundraising!

Are you looking for a fun, unique way to raise money for your organization? Then consider hiring VanGo Pottery™ to help you with your fundraising efforts. Preschool directors, we can help you and your kids paint pottery pieces and turn little fingerprints and handprints into a variety of animals and creatures. The finished masterpieces can then be auctioned off with the “prize” going to the highest bidder.

Tile walls are a great way to beautify your school, place of worship, playground, or office. Family members and friends can purchase and paint tiles to be affixed to a wall or decorative frame in a mosaic fashion. This is a great way to bring your community together while having fun and raising money.

Our everyday low prices make it easy for you to reach and surpass your fundraising goals. And we provide friendly, helpful staff at no additional charge. Call our studio at 602.468.3136 to discuss fundraising ideas and learn how VanGo Pottery™ can help you with your fundraising adventure!

Enjoy the Great Outdoors with VanGo Pottery™

One of my favorite reasons for living in the greater Metropolitan Phoenix area is our fabulous “winters.” While some people complain that Phoenix doesn’t have seasons, I’ll take my sunny, temperatures-in-the-mid-70s winter days over shoveling snow any day!

With the nice weather upon us, it’s time to start planning those outdoor parties. You pick the location—your backyard, the park, etc.— and provide the tables and chairs and VanGo Pottery™ will do the rest. We will show up at the location of your choice (indoors or out) and provide everything you need to entertain your guests with pottery painting fun. This is a fun, creative, all-ages activity that’s great for any occasion or no occasion at all. Call our studio today and we can begin planning your Great Outdoors Pottery Party!