PCS: Wire Sculpture

These are portraits that sixth and seventh graders made of each other. Even the student who struggled the most in my class had an excellent result with this project. The middle school principal chose to hang this in the auditorium for graduation.

PCS: More Paper Sculptures

This student was one of those artists who finishes everything first. She was always done before everyone else, but unlike a younger child she actually knew how to occupy herself without my intervention. I didn't know how much I was going to like teaching high school until I did.

This student was at PCS as well as at one of the major ballet schools in NYC. I shouldn't be surprised that she made such an elegant sculpture that references the human body.

More PCS: Paper Sculpture

In this project I set up a still life for my high school students to draw on heavy stock paper. They then cut out the objects they had drawn and added color. To assemble their sculptures I showed them how to create small slits at the bottom of each piece as well as at the bottom of the base (a couple of strips of paper in a cross formation). They weren't super sturdy, but they stood up. Heavier paper would have been more rigid, and in some ways better, but it would have been harder for them to cut. As you can see, some students got really into the coloring and made Matisse-like shapes, and others were more restrained. I got this idea from Kirk, my cooperating teacher at Shady Hill School. Thanks Kirk!

PCS: Fashion

This mini dress is made of chip bags that were washed and dried before being glued to fabric. The artist is also a model and wanted to comment of the relationship between food and body image.

At PCS I had an advanced art class made up primarily of seniors. Their final assignment of the year was an independent project that they proposed. Two students proposed to make wearable art. Both struggled a bit with the execution, but the final results are so much fun.

More From PCS

These are tunnel books made by eighth graders. They are a form of Victorian pop-up book, and served as illustrations for stories students had written in English class. The art teacher on maternity leave had started the project and I finished it with the students. The idea came from a piece in a paper exhibition at a neighboring museum. The students developed really strong knife skills from cutting out each layer.

Artwork from PCS: Prints

These are lino cuts made by sixth and seventh graders. They each had to draw a shoe and then transfer their charcoal drawings onto soft linoleum. They then carved out the image, making at least two prints from their plates. During Mother's Day I made my students print up cards as well for their moms.

Artwork from the Professional Children's School, NYC: Ceramics

During much of March, April, and May of 2010 I taught art to middle school and high school students at a private school in New York City. I was covering the maternity leave of a very talented art teacher who was having her first child. Professional Children's School is a unique community of students who work in their chosen profession. The majority of the students are working actors, dancers, musicians, and athletes. Some of my students were regular performers at the Metropolitan Opera, some modeled on Live with Regis and Kelly, and some danced for international ballet companies. They were all very talented and excellent students. I enjoyed teaching there very much and often had to remind myself how lucky I was to have such a plumb opportunity. Although only a few students would go on to major in art, all were creative and hard working. Their professionalism spilled over into their behavior as students and I was often thanked at the end of class by students just for doing my job. It was a 180 degree change from the school where I had last taught. I will always remember my time at PCS fondly.

Before the permanent art teacher went on leave she started her high school students on the making of Coptic jars in the ancient Egyptian tradition. Not being a ceramicist, I chose to complete the project a little differently. No lids, just glazing. As a result there are some pretty lovely vases.

The Last Of Ms. Burkin's Work...I Promise

Along with painting and collage I also sew a bit. My bags are no longer available at jenniferburkin.etsy.com, but are now for sale in Brookline Village at Abeille. Almost all have sold except for a few of the ones you see here. At Abeille they are $42.00. They make great beach bags and everyday totes. Get em while they are hot!

More of Ms. Burkin's Work

I take the images I make in paintings are reproduce them on other products such as magnets, tile coasters, clothing, etc. Here are some samples...

These are tiles made from some of my best selling Dyllan paintings. They retail on jenniferburkin.etsy.com for $24.00.

These magnets are super strong and the images are from 4 of my bird paintings. They retail at $12.00.

This onesies represent my first silk screened products. I plan to do a lot more. They retail at $12.00.

Dyllan on a dish cloth!

My holiday card this year. $5.00 each.

I make gift tags too for $1.00 each. They come with envelopes.

Some of Ms. Burkin's Own Artwork

Being an unemployed art teacher, or underemployed as the case may be, is financially really tough. But, there is one major advantage; time to make your own artwork! When teaching art the energy for producing one's own work is very low. This winter I took advantage of my free time to make more paintings, collages, and other types of work. Here are some of the results...

This piece is 12" x 12", as are all of the rest on this post. It is acrylic on wood, and part of a series of images of birds. Don't know why I like painting birds, but I do.

More birds, but this time made with paper, not paint.
This piece is $100, where as the rest of them on wood or canvas are $250.

I call this one Spring Birds.

This is part of a series of collages that I did inspired by some of my feminist reading that I did over 15 years ago,
as an undergraduate.
I decided it was okay to tear up a couple of books since
when my dog was a puppy he mangled them pretty badly anyway.

This piece is called A Dress in the Making and uses actual patterns.
 I like to sew too, and I am obsessed with cute baby clothes.

This piece is called Steps From Home.

I make actual bags, but it was fun to make miniature bags too.
I also used to dress a lot of forms when I did display design for Bloomingdales so this piece gave me a chance
to play with clothes again.

My black lab, Dyllan, inspires a lot of my paintings. He is my muse. He takes his job seriously.

Dyllan will do just about anything for a treat.

My dad was very into fishing. I made this on his birthday, a couple a years after he passed away.

My sister inspired me to make this piece. I saw a painting that I really liked, and wanted to buy it. She reminded me that we are artists, who make our own art - we do not buy other people's art. Well, sometimes I do, when I can afford it.

My mother inspired this piece. She had been to southern Florida and brought home a picture of two beach chairs and challenged to to paint them.