Visual Arts Scholastic Event 2014 in Cypress, Texas

Saturday, January 8th--

I LOVE VASE.  I have worked the VASE art contest for the last 8 or 9 years, I would guess.  It is a magical place where thousands of kids bring the most amazing artworks to be judged by art judges who are equally impressed with the talent of these young high school kids!
Amazing I tell ya!  I usually work what is called "tabulations" which means I enter the scores from all the jury sheets for each piece of art.  Thousands of them!  Hoping that we can account for each one at the end.  I get to spend the day with the most wonderful people as well.
Loren and I have taught art since 2002 together and are the best of friends.  We share art ideas and know that the other is probably still awake at 3am.  Usually because I am just going to bed and he's just getting up!  He switched schools two years ago to be closer to home, so this is one of two events we count on to see each other again!
Crystal joined our district several years ago and hosted VASE at her campus where I got involved with it, maybe for the first time.  That year, I did qualifications--making sure all the art was following the rules before allowing it to go be judged.  Crystal is beyond amazing and such a hard worker (and has an adorable munchkin to boot!).  If she tells you it will be done, it will.  She's a great friend and one you want on your side!
Suzy retired last year.  She is an inspiration.  She has SO much energy.  She isn't going to give up on the art stuff either!  She actually started teaching at the previous school I worked at.  This year, she is TAEA President Elect, which means she oversees all the fabulous art teachers in Texas.  I'm so glad she worked in our district and that I can keep up with her.  She's got great ideas and tried and true ideas!  Just ask about using orange go-jo as hand soap in the art room!!!  :)

Love these guys!!!

VASE is the high school level art contest.  It allows students to bring in artwork and stand before a judge and explain the process, techniques, reasoning, and meaning of their artworks.  It's amazing to see.  Truly amazing artworks.  Jr. VASE is the middle school contest containing the same rules and process and TEAM is the elementary art contest.  Not only is it cool to see what the kids have created, but to see different lessons that art teachers teach.  A wealth of information and ideas all in one room.  I'll leave you with some images from the event.... Be prepared to drool!

Raku maybe?

Cloth Mache dragon

Ceramic Balls in bowl

Bleeded background with ink

This car was drawn on a map

Printmaking

Self Portrait done on cardboard

Paint on black.

Drawing.... yes, really.

Oil pastel

Asian inspired pottery.

The glazing on this is STUNNING!!!!

Monster Cloth Mache'

Made of cardboard

Mixed media vase with rope.  The flowers were beautiful!

Skittle portrait

This is done on slat board flooring!

Cool vase done in glaze and acrylic

Detail.  Wow!

This vase is HUGE!

COLLAGE!

This is canvas with shattered mirror on it.  The entire thing sags in the middle.  It was neat!