These projects were comissioned by an elementary school for a fundraising auction. Each chip and dip bowl represents a class of approximately 25 children; each child put a fingerprint on the bowls I designed in a theme for their grade level. (As a side note, I estimate that I painted over 120,000 raised dots on the rims of all bowls for this project.) This project included organizing names and classes and spellings for several hundred children. *whew!* Clients thought of a general theme for each class and we provided a design.

A very large round platter. Client requested a leopard print to surround red handprints she had already put onto the plate. Pattern continues around to back.

A very large square platter. Client requested animal prints on all raised edges of the platter: leopard, zebra and giraffe. Pattern continues around to back.

Medium-sized platter. Client requested a "tuscan grape" theme to surround grape-colored fingerprints already placed onto plate. This was a present for a first-year teacher; each of the students' names were next to each grape.

Rimmed plate with plaid border. Very simple, and matches the style of other plates the client had.

Coupe plate with angel embellishments over footprints and "rice stripe" border.

Square plate with angel embellishments over hand and footprints of siblings.

Square plate with reindeer embellishments over hand and footprints of siblings with minimal dot border.

Square platter with flower embellishments over sibling handprints and sponged border.

"Fish" handprints for siblings and cousins on an oval platter. Client painted background as directed, and I finish the detailing and text.

Rimmed plate with Christmas embellishments for sisters.

Square platter with grapevine embellishments around handprints for siblings.

Oval platter with snowmen embellishments over sibling footprints. Client painted border and requested I put in the details and text.

Oval platter with Christmas tree embellishments over sibling footprints. Client painted border and requested I put in the details and text.

Square platter with flip-flop embellishments over sibling footprints. Client painted background and requested I put in the details and text.

Oval platter with reindeer embellishments over handprints.

This was about the 4th item I had ever painted onto once-fired bisque. It was an interesting mish-mash of the wide variety of colors and specialty glazes the store has. The only direction I was given was to "do a paisley/patriotic" kind of piece.

A desk set for Father's Day. The pieces had to a] be a cohesive set, b] appeal to women, (because they're the ones purchasing for the men!) and c] present a range of skill levels (so that people of varying skill levels feel they can paint pottery too!) Not pictured, the business card holder and pencil box have completely different art on the back, similar to a child's art style.

This project is part of a lesson on Picasso, the objective being to learn about making different textures with the underglaze. Children aged 6-12 years are told to think of five things that "mean a lot to them" and draw them on paper. We then transfer the drawings and paint them in using a set of pre-defined rules and pre-selected "texture-makers."

A project part of a lesson on Matisse, the objective being to learn about positive and negative space. Children aged 6-12 years old are told to think of their five senses and come up with items related to them. (i.e. "I like to feel kittens, I like to look at clouds.") We use contact paper stencils and sponge glaze onto a box, playing with the positive and negative space created by the shapes.

Here, we learned about Van Gogh, and how he used paints and colors to capture movement. Students aged 6-12 years were taught about "light, medium and dark" colors, and used those to emulate Van Gogh's painting style. Students were encouraged to overlap and layer paint.

A lesson on Seurat. Similar to the lesson on Van Gogh, except the students were directed to specifically NOT layer or let paint overlap, learning about optical paint mixing. Children aged 6-12 used a pencil eraser to make dots and emulate Seurat's painting style.

This goes along with the story If You Give a Moose a Muffin. Children aged 3-6 years are read the story, then guided along in a step-by-step project to create a plate with a moose and a muffin. The detail lines are added by me after the child is finished.

This goes along with the story Buzz Buzz Busy Bees. Children aged 3-6 years are read the story, then guided along in a step-by-step project to create a bowl that is a flower with bees. The detail lines are added by me after the child is finished.

This goes along with the story ARRRRGH! SPIDER! Children aged 3-6 years are read the story, then guided along in a step-by-step project to create a plate with a handprint spider. The detail lines are added by me after the child is finished.

Thanksgiving Day is a story about the first Thanksgiving! Children aged 3-6 years old are read this story and guided along in a step-by-step process to create their very own turkey plate using their handprint, and leaf stamps.

Snowmen at Night tells children aged 3-6 years about what snowmen are doing when we go to sleep. Sponges and fingerprints are used to make a happy snowman with a colorful scarf. Details are added by me after the child is finished.

Of course, we wrap up the story-time year with Saint Nicholas or The Night Before Christmas. Children aged 3-6 years use their fingerprints to make Santa and all of his reindeer, as well as a few shining stars. Details are aded by me after children are finished.

People seem to enjoy this one! A cookie jar with a giant cookie on top; all of the chocolate chips are meant to be a child's fingerprints. I wrote out step-by-step instructions that are quite detailed. My goal was to create a project that required little experience painting/drawing, but would produce a good-looking final piece.

Weenie Bowl - For my mother, who loves Mexican talavera pottery, and wiener dogs. How could I go wrong? The "100% Toxic Lead" is a joke, as many Mexican pottery pieces contain lead, and are often stamped with a bold "NO USE FOR FOOD". Obviously, my bowl contains NO lead (none of the pottery I work with does) but my parents found it funny.

Mexican Sunset Lightswitch Cover - For my parents, whose house is covered with Mexican tile and pottery.

Weenie Dog Lightswitch Cover in Mexi-Style - Well, one of their weenies was immortalized on the bowl, so it only seemed right to put the other two on a lightswitch cover.

Happy Food Mug - Hours of work on this one for a friend who makes Japanese-style happy food buttons. She also gets highly frustrated with her consumer base, hence the bottom of the mug.

Skeleton Fish - My aunt and uncle are members of a large Dallas, TX fishing club. They also have taste in things with lots of bright colors. (Comissioned by my mother)

Serving Tray and Knife - My other uncle and his partner live in a lovely historical home in Austin, TX. I chose a William-Morris-inspired drawing and colors that match the outside of their home. (Commissioned by my mother)

Texan-Canadian Bowl - My other aunt and uncle live in Canada with my aunt hailing from Texas. I figured this would be a good way to combine two things they really love. (Commissioned by my mother)