The Marble that Never Stopped Rolling: 30 Years of Design Lessons As a freshman at the NC State's College of Design, my journey began with a formidable challenge: the Marble Roller Coaster project. The task seemed daunting, especially since I had never created one before. Armed with high expectations from my professor, I approached this curious endeavor with a mix of excitement and apprehension. The project started on a modest scale—a 1-foot by 1-foot base complemented by...

Exciting Announcement: A Custom-Made Marble Coaster in Development! We are thrilled to share that Mister Hen's Art Skills is currently working on a one-of-a-kind marble coaster that is set to redefine the world of art and design! This innovative project promises to captivate art enthusiasts and coaster lovers alike. The final design will be unveiled at the highly anticipated Annual Marble Coaster Extravaganza, taking place on May 4th, 2026, at Revolution Academy in Summerfield, NC. Prepare to...

Building a Marble Roller Coaster Project --- Setting the Stage As an art teacher, my classroom is not just a space filled with supplies and projects; it’s a sanctuary of creativity, a world where imagination meets reality. Each year, I look forward to embarking on new adventures with my students that stretch the boundaries of their creativity. As summer faded into autumn, the air grew crisp, and whispers of a new project floated around the school. The Marble Roller Coaster Project was...

My freshman year in college we made the coolest design project. It was a marble roller coaster. I was captivated by this particular assignment more than any other I would do in my five year career at NC State. The challenge and satisfaction were so well balanced, and the final product left me wanting to create more. Several years later, I had the opportunity to teach middle school art.  As I thought through ideas for projects that would be captivating, challenging and rewarding, the...