Bio
Anne Beyer is an artist and educator located in New Concord Kentucky. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Albion College in 2010, spent the following six years as a working artist specializing in wood firing ceramics and then returned to school to earn her Master of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University in 2019. She has taught visual art at universities, community college, arts and craft schools, community art centers and kids camps. Currently, she is a full-time artist and finished building a 100 cubic foot wood kiln at her private studio with her partner Wyatt Severs in the spring of 2024. Her artworks consist of functional pottery, representational and abstract sculpture. The combination of her commitment to her art practice and experience teaching different ages with varying skill levels allow her to fit lessons seamlessly into any program.
Potential Residency Project
As an artist who specializes in ceramics, I believe that learning craft skills supports the development of hand-eye coordination, concentration, patience, self-esteem and personal expression. Clay in an inviting material that can be formed into all sorts of different shapes and the residency proposals I have listed can be modified to fit classroom conditions, timeframe, age and skill level of the students.
For clay to transform into ceramic, it undergoes chemical changes in a firing process. For students to truly understand what it means to work with clay, it requires at least one wet working session, time to fire bisque fire the pieces, one glazing session, time to glaze fire the pieces and then coordination of picking up the pieces. If you do not have access to a kiln, but are interested in a proposal, please reach out to me to discuss alternative accommodation. If timing is a limitation, alternative sculpting material can be used that requires less specialized equipment, such as polymer clay. Sometimes there isn't time or space to explore multi-step material processes, and I also have listed a 2D project that requires minimal tools, is highly adaptable and I like to revisit often in my own practice.
I have tool kits that students can use for projects, if tools are not available or cannot be purchased.
Pinch Pot
Pinching clay into vessels is a traditional way of sculpting with clay and is a great way for beginners and advanced makers to get their hands into clay. I will cover the fundamentals of clay construction, such as pinching, coiling, slip and score attachments and surface design. We will all start with the same amount of material and go through the steps of making a pinch pot together and discuss the anatomy of functional pottery. Each person has a unique touch, and the pieces reflect that in shape, form and surface. This truly is a project that all can enjoy. Suggested ages: 8 and up.
Objectives:
- Learn the basics of clay construction
- Practice hand skills and focusing attention
- Gain exposure to ceramic process
- Learn the anatomy of pottery
- Gain appreciation for handmade craft
Creature Creations
Animals, creatures, and mythical beasts have been depicted in art across cultures since ancient times. We will learn the basics of clay construction including pinching, coiling, slip and score attachments as we bring our animals into 3D form. There are no wrong answers in this assignment and students will be encouraged to play, imagine and design an animal of their own creation. Suggested ages: 8 and up.
Objectives:
- Learn the basics of clay construction
- Practice hand skills and focusing attention
- Gain exposure to ceramic process
- Learn how create complex form through basic shapes
- Practice refinement and surface texture
- Find confidence in personal expression
Go with the Flow
Although humans are creative and curious by nature, fear of making mistakes and pressure to conform to societal norms can hinder our development of authentic expression. This assignment invites students to harness the power of play and experimentation through a variety of sensory prompts. What happens to our mark making when hold our pencils in different orientations? If you were to draw the song you hear, what would it look like? With your eyes closed, can you feel the object in front of you and contour it with a pencil? The prompts are timed, which promotes the development of attention and concentration and encourages students to move through the exercises without getting to attached to the outcome. Each prompt will be a single drawing and after all the prompts are completed, we will glue the pages together, make a cover and learn how to create a simple book. Suggested ages: 14 and up.
Objectives
- Learn new ways of mark making
- Gain confidence in play and experimentation
- Practice hand skills and focusing attention
- Learn a basic book design