Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Greetings everyone. I hope everyone has had a chance to relax and enjoy the holiday break. I have been sick for the past week. (nasty cough) I am just glad that it happened during the break and not during class time. Anyways!. So, this coming semester history repeats itself, I will be teaching two classes. 3-D and Woods I. I have a new schedule for 3-D so I think it will be very exciting. I am exited about teaching 3-D and really really hope that this class turns out better than the last. Is just like I heard someone say. The first pancake always goes to the dog. So I guess that was my firs 3-D pancake. But, fear not for I am a strong believer and I do believe that this will be a great semester. I will post pictures of the last 2 projects we had in our woods class. I send shout outs to some of my students who did a great job in the last two projects, Keith, Alison, Scott, Vanessa and Daria. Most amazing work for a beginning student. So here's the stuff enjoy. And, I will write more over the next week or two.

Todd Hoyer & Hayley Smith

Visiting artists Todd Hoyer and Hayley smith visited the wood shop at Arizona State University on Monday and Wednesday November 16 and 18.

They gave slide presentations, lectures and workshops. Having these artists here at the shop was a total radical experience. Having been in the MFA program for almost two years and having done my undergrad at the same school, our department had not had the opportunity to host such an event.

Todd Hoyer is a turning artist and focuses his work on organic forms, he has established a well known reputation as a turning artist. He now resides in Bisbee Arizona where he works and lives with his wife/artist Hayley Smith. Hayley is from the United Kingdom and is also a well established artist in the field of woodworking. The focus of her work is surface ornamentation. She uses the most ingenious tools to make texture on the surface of her pieces.

Both artists were able to interact with the students on a one to one basis. They talked about techniques and the usage of tools. They explained the turning process of selecting logs all the way up to gouging techniques to remove the material and finishing the surface.

It was a pleasure to be part of this experience. Having these artists here at ASU has been invaluable and I have learned a lot from them in their short visit. Todd left us his skills and knowledge of turning, while Hayley left us amazed at her texturing techniques of "watching grass grow". These amazing artists will go into our wall of fame at the ASU wood shop.

New Wood I student work

Daria, Fall 2009, Stained Basswood

Allson, Fall 2009, Painted Pine.

Scott, Fall 2009, Painted Basswood

Keith, Fall 2009, Stump, Danish Oil, Felt, Nails

James, Fall 2009, Various Woods, Danish Oil, Yarn, Grass.

I don't only make stuff out of wood.

Buttercream Icing

Fondant top
Edible food color
Buttercream Icing

Bird House Cake
Graham Crackers
Fondant
Sugar birds
Buttercream Icing
Edible food color


Fondant
Edible Food Color
Buttercream Icing.

Undergrad Stuff

This is my favorite piece from undergrad. This is a duplicate of a Remington revolver, it was made out of Wenge and Brazilian Cherry wood. The barrel of this gun rotates. I should have made wooden bullets with it. This piece was given to my brother as a gift. (He is a gun collector)










These cups were the beginning of a series of items that got me into the woods program here at A.S.U. It started the whole kitchen idea. I made about 30 of these little cups. Only 15 made it to the senior show. All of them were turned separately and hollowed out. They are made out of bass wood. They were primed on the inside and the outside was painted to resemble the color of apples.

This mixer is what got me started on a the whole idea of making appliances out of wood. Thank God I found this great book filled with images of appliances from the 20 all the way up to the 6o's. This is my idea of a "Kitchen Aid" mixer. I am still working on perfecting chrome colors. I find that silver leafing is very very expensive. But, for this project I think the silver paint worked well.

NEW to Blogspot

Hello! My name is Lizeth Garcia. I am a graduate student at Arizona State University. My major is Woods. Wood working became my passion ever since I took my first woods class at A.S.U. I automatically fell in love with the medium. (I will be posting some of my pieces from undergrad and some new ones as they come along). I am in the beginning of my 2ND year in the program and should be up for my review in the spring. Even though, I am in my 2ND year, completing a substantial amount of work has been a challenge. Being creative requires discipline and hard work. And even though, artists are very creative, our creative streak is not always at it's best. So, I think it is fair to say that creativity is something that we learn not something that one is born with. As a student I face many challenges like finishing up a project, writing a paper, reading a book or two. But my 2nd year is proving to be more challenging than the first. I am having the privilege of teaching two classes, 3D Design and Woods I. But, as a teacher, I have a major responsibility of teaching and understanding those whose ideas are different than mine. however, it is really interesting to see how our creative minds build up ideas in different ways. Some of my students talk a lot and that's how they express their creativity while others are more quiet and prefer to put it all on paper. I have the privilege of working with a diverse group of students as well, and , since the college of design and the school of art have merged into one, I have students from all types of educational backgrounds such as; music, engineering, school of environmental design, school of business the whole "enchilada". But the thing that I am enjoying the most at this point is seeing the projects come to life. It is exciting to help the students and being able to share different points of view. Is like I am learning all over again. It is in the giving that I receive. So, I hope I can give a whole lot more to these students.