Workshop Wonders

Giving and Receiving
"Being back in the classroom reminds me just how rewarding teaching always was." It's comments like this that Karen has been repeating to friends, family, and coworkers over the past several months. Since returning to the classroom at the end of last year, she has rediscovered her passion for teaching. Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, Guilford Art Center in Guilford, and Wesleyan Potters in Middletown have all been part of this teaching revelation. In addition, summer workshops are planned for Cheshire Artplace, West Hartford Art League, and New Britain Museum of American Art.

Classes from Passions
Focusing most of her current classes on two of her passions, metal and mosaics, Karen has started creating quite a following amongst students. Whether they get hooked by the smashing of plates in her mosaic classes or the use of the plasma cutter in the metal sculpture workshops, the students can't get enough. They can't wait to see what Karen has in store for the next semester. Such a response has resulted in follow-up classes. For example, "Sculpture for the Outdoor Environment" was such a hit, that an intermediate level class was scheduled for the next term.

Watching the students put their own unique twists on the projects has been one of the great joys of teaching. Recently, Creative Arts Workshop held a student show. Karen was overjoyed to see so many of her students' pieces displayed in the exhibit.

Where it all Began
Workshops and art classes were really where Karen got her start. And while the topics of the classes have changed over the years, Karen is still feeling the same motivation and joy in the classroom that she always did. Future workshops include Licensing 101, and continued explorations of mosaics, plasma cutting, and sculpture for the outdoor environment.

A Circle of Crystals
This delicate mobile was created by one of the students in Karen's mobile making class.

A Parade of Frogs
One student in Karen's mobile workshop, at Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, created a beautiful frog mobile from ribbon and folded paper.

Beaded Creation
This pomegrante was plasma cut, formed, and strung with wire and glass beads.