Arts in Human Development - Creative Practice - Week 7

For my week 7 creative practice blog, I tried for my first time creating a vessel with paper clay, using the pinch pot technique, as a developmentally appropriate product for someone who is an older adult. Being a ceramic sculptor, I recently expressed in one of my discussion posts my desire to work with my patients using clay. My instructors suggested paper clay, because there is no dust, safe for the patients, can be painted and dries to a hardened surface similar to thin wood.  I purchased 2 small rectangular  packaged blocks of paper clay, which will fit perfect on my art cart. I have been interested in trying clay with my older adult patients, because I think it may spark their interest, help them with movement in their hands and overall lift their spirits to make them feel better.

Since I had not worked with paper clay before, I thought using a simple pinch pot technique would be good to see how similar it was to regular clay that I am used to.  I tried to push the paper clay's limits by making real thin edges, pinching lace on to the outside for texture, etc.  I really liked the clay and the way it felt, it molded nicely and it was very soft and easy to pinch, which would be good for an older adult patient.  The clay did not dry out while I was working on it and my hands were left clean instead of dry with clay on them. There was hardly any clean up. After I started getting comfortable with the paper clay I realized it reminded me of working with porcelain clay, which I absolutely love!  Once my vessel dries I plan to explore painting and carving the hardened paper clay.

I am so excited to try paper clay this week at the hospital with my older adult patients. I had a patient express to me how she did not like creating art however she had always wanted to try making something out of clay. I plan to have the patients make simple Christmas ornaments, tiles they stamp and paint and pinch pots.  One idea I had would be for them to create a “Life Memory Vessel”.  This would be a pinch pot with a lid that they would make with the paper clay and paint. It would have a design of their name on the outside.  Next I would have them on a piece of paper write or I would write for them a special memory of their life and roll it up like a scroll and put it inside the life memory vessel.

Arts in Human Development - Creative Practice - Week 6

For my week 6 creative practice blog, I have learned how to make a basket as a developmentally appropriate product for someone who is in adulthood.  Since I am in the adult stage of development; established in a career, family life and under the age of 60 years old, I decided to create a product that I would enjoy.  Being a potter, familiar with vessel forms, I have always been intrigued with basketry but never had the opportunity to learn how to make them.   I have for a very long time wanted to make basket vessels and have often thought simple basketry and weaving would be a good tool on my art cart for adults.  Last week in Jamaica, I met an artist who makes baskets. He had a sign that said, “Learn to make a basket”.  I was so excited for this opportunity to finally get to learn how to make a basket, and be able to use it for my patient bedside art.  So I let him know I would love to make one. He grabbed a chair for me to sit next to him and began to teach me how to make a basket.  This was a very special time of creating and sharing artist to artist.  He taught me all about how he prepares the “five finger vines”, how to start, weave and finish a basket. We sat together for a while making baskets and visiting.  He shared about being an art teacher and his culture.  I shared with him about my arts in medicine studies and practice. 

  

When we were finished I purchased some of his baskets for future basketry ideas since I could now look at the baskets and know how to make them.  He gave me a start to another basket so I would remember how to start them and also gave me a rolled bundle of the vines to complete it later at home. 

Later, just for more fun, I decided to add color to my basket using crayons and working with the natural weaved design of the basket. 

Learning how to finally make baskets brought a feeling of fulfillment in my adult stage of life. I am looking forward to exploring creating baskets of different sizes and shapes out of a variety of materials. Basketry can be appropriate for all the adulthood groups; ages 25-35 who are in an established career but don't have a family, or moms with small children.  I have been showing my basket to many of the mother’s of the young children I teach and my adult friends of various ages. With excitement they have said, “You made that basket, I would love to learn how to make a basket”. My response, “I would love to teach you, it is so much fun”.