Basket Weaving

Basket weaving is the practice of weaving fibers into a basket or other similar form. People who weave baskets are called basket makers or basket weavers. Baskets are made from a variety of fibers or any materials that will bend and form a shape.

            Examples: pine, straw, stems, animal hair, hide, grasses, thread, and wood

Indigenous peoples and the native tribes are renowned for their basket-weaving techniques. These baskets may then be traded or used for religious ceremonies.

Basketry can be classified into four types

            Coiled basketry- using grasses and rushes

            Plaiting basketry- materials that are ribbon-like, such as palms, yucca or flax

Twining basketry- using materials from roots and tree bark but “twining” refers to the weaving technique used. This is when two or more flexible weaving elements cross each other as they weave through the stiffer radical spokes

Wicker and Splint basketry- using reed, can, willow, oak and ash

Weaving with reed is one of the more popular techniques being used because it is easily available. It is easy to bend and shape and when woven correctly, it is very sturdy. Reed is plentiful and can be cut into any size or shape. There are many different shapes of reed.

            Flat reed- used for most square baskets

            Oval reed- used for many round baskets

            Round reed- used to twine

Advantages of reed are that it can be dyed easily. The type of baskets that reed is used for are most often called “wicker” baskets, through the twining technique used in most wicker baskets

Most baskets begin with a base. The base can be woven with reed or wooden. The wooden base comes in many shapes to make a variety of shapes for the baskets. There is also a wide variety of patterns that can be made by changing the size, color or placement of the weave. To have a multi-colored effect, artists first dye the reed or twine and weave them together in amazing fashion

Basket Weaving

Basket weaving in my opinion was very time consuming. With this it actually makes it one of my least favorite types of art because I get bored easily. One good tip though is to keep the reed wet with hot water and keep the reeds tight together. The only type I have used though is wicker basketry in crafts class.

Sand Art

There are many different types of art that deal with sand.
Sandpainting is the art of pouring colored sands, powdered pigments from minerals or crystals, and pigments from other natural or synthetic sources onto a surface to make a painting. These are often temporary, ritual paintings prepared for religious or healing ceremonies. It is also referred to as drypainting.
Sandpainting is practiced by Native Americans in the Southwestern United States, by Tibetan  monks, by Indians, by Austrailians, and by Latin Americans on certain Christian holy days.

• Sand Painting - Navajo Natives make fine designs using sand from the beach and paint.
• Once you decide on a picture you want you will mix powdered tempera with sand in an empty container. You will need to decide where the collor is going, put an even layer of glue on the paper and pour some colored sand onto the glue using a plastic spoon. Repeat this method until the entire paper is covered. After the sand painting is dry you can seal it using artist's fixative, hair spray, or spray with a mixture of glue and water
• Tip: after each color has been applied, lift paper and shake lightly collecting excess sand in a tray to use again.
• Sand Art - Bottled sand
• Decide on the bottle of your choice, with a design of you choosing. Pick the colors of sand you want to use start pouring them in, making cool designs of butiful colors.
• Sand Art
• Using a lighted table surrounded by walls, pour in enough sand to cover the table. Turn on lighted table and create amazing designs with light and regular sand. If you want color just add it.
• Beach Sand Art- sculptures

Not Done

My Sandpaintings

Done

Sand Painting is the type of art I have used and liked a lot. Although over time it has been made easier with sticky paper instead of glue and regular paper. I actually never knew how many different types of sand art there was. I have heard of them, but never really considered them to be sand art.