Pictures from the studio

My studio shelves are filling up with new work ready for underglaze and a bisque firing. 

Bowls are a 'go to' shape I love to create. I've decided to make myself a new set of serving bowls. The larger bowls are wedding gifts in process. 

A high/low tide clock has been on my to do list. 

I completed a glaze firing this week. Here are some custom 'Toad Abodes' that are on their way to Bluffton, SC.

A good friend and studio supporter asked, "Could you make some garden markers for the herbs I've planted?" They are on their way now!

Repurpose

Here is my latest purchase from the Barn Sale. I use the buttons in several of the garden pieces I make. I was intrigued by the rusted bedspring and will look for a way to use it in my work!

Once a month ‘The Barn Sale’ opens its doors in a nearby town. After I found out about it, I try not to miss this special event! Multiple vendors sell recycled furniture, art, accessories and other interesting items in an old barn and several other buildings on the property. The vendors and products change every month.  It’s fun to see the creative ways people have repurposed items. And besides the ideas and inspiration I gain from attending, I usually can find a few items I’ll use to repurpose in my own work! 

One vendor made signs from recycled wood. I liked the message on each of them.

A good reminder!

True.

Take a look at my studio when I'm in the midst of creating something new to prove this one!

Something New

End results of the mixed-media workshop.

The studio space I now occupy is really special. I have plenty of workspace and room to conduct workshops in clay and other art forms. This past weekend I held my first ‘official’ workshop. My long time friend and fellow artist Cathy Grubman lead several of us in an abstract painting and mixed media project.  Cathy guided us step-by-step through the process and allayed all of our fears about perfecting our technique. Each of us was pleased with the results and the fully completed art we created to hang on our walls!  I’m already planning the next workshop I can teach which will feature a clay project. 

Cathy showed us work by Mark Rothko as inspiration for our first layer of color on the watercolor paper.

We started to layer textures of color on top of our background color fields. Sometimes we would repeat a pattern in two different colors.

We used acrylic paints in varying degrees of transparency.

I seem to make a mess when I work no matter what the medium!

We layered bits of paper on top of our painted surface. The 'tao' symbol was a guide for our layout.

Here's my completed project hanging in the clay-making space of my studio!

Losing and Winning

Wheel-thrown platter with leather and beads circa 1991 recognized in a Rockville (Maryland) Arts show

 Every once in awhile I enter my work in some sort of competition or participate in a show that gives out awards and prize money. In each case I am pretty sure my work is worthy of a win. I am hopeful and confident. But, I’ve only had my work recognized once in that type of contest and that was a long time ago. I’ve been a ‘loser’ ever since.

Words to live by

 Each time it’s a let down and reminds me that I don’t like that feeling. So why keep putting myself in that situation?  I have this quote of Eleanor Roosevelt tacked up in my studio.

Another quote from my studio inspiration wall

Part of my work is to try new endeavors and it includes showing my art to new and different audiences. Maybe the original goal of winning the prize is not accomplished each time I venture outside my comfort zone, but inevitably the experience teaches me and leads to something I wasn’t expecting. 

That's my positive spin. 

Intersection

Intersection – a place where paths cross. It’s been one of those weeks where my life, my art and people from near and far have intersected.

My nephew, his wife and new baby who live in Korea, were in town this past week. It was fun to spend time with family and a great excuse to knit up a cute sweater for little Sidney.

I recently completed a series of clay vessels for a good friend I’ve known since middle school using leather cord and driftwood I collected on Hilton Head Island beaches. This commission combines two of my passions – knitting and clay and will be delivered to New Jersey next weekend.

The week ended with a great visit with friends from childhood who made a trip to the studio. This intersection resulted in a future project collaboration, good discussion of ways to sell my work and a reconnection with friendships that have faded over time and distance.

It was a great week filled with lots of paths crossed. 

Clearing the Clutter

A colorful array of vases recently sprung from my studio!

One way I know it is Spring time in my household is that list of projects I’ve been meaning to do, are now getting done. And that clean up and clean out attitude is evident in my studio as well.  I am a messy potter. I admit that happily and freely. When the creative juices are running, organization and tidiness are not part of the process. Somehow that clutter helps release or lead to ideas that translate into my work. But after a creative flurry, I like to clean up and organize my studio for the next rally.

I think I do this for a number of reasons. I often hear two of my mother’s mottos in my head, “Every job has a beginning, middle and END (the End part meaning 'clean up')!” and “There is a place for everything and everything in its place.” By putting tools back where they belong (so I can find them the next time I need them), wiping down dusty surfaces, washing brushes and creating a new clean slate, I’m ready for the next round of work.

I find the clean up process offers it’s own satisfaction as well. It’s helps me close out and erase what I’ve completed and begin anew. Isn’t that what Spring is all about? 

My father made this chest over fifty years ago to organize his tools for woodworking projects. It's got a central location in my studio and holds many of my own tools.

Texture is a big part of my work. I've recently organized my stamps and rollers in this lazy susan contraption I found at Home Depot. 

Displaying my color samples on the wall helps me during my glazing process. This foam 'board' works perfectly with my test tiles! I found it at The Container Store. 

 Even my kiln room gets put back together after a firing flurry!

A place for everything and everything in it's place!

Say It In Pictures

I spent the week in the studio working on some new pieces. Here is a pictorial of yarn bowls in process. 

It starts with my trusty slab roller. I usually roll the clay to a quarter inch thickness. 

Next I cut out the shape of the clay using a template I've made. In this case it is a circle which I cut in half. 

Now the fun begins! I texture both sides of the circle with complimentary stamps.

I seal the two pieces together with the second texture tool. 

I use mini basketballs I've collected over the years to help create the correct size and shape for the yarn bowls. 

The bowls need to dry and set up awhile before I can continue working on them. I'm okay with the unevenness of the edge. I think it adds to the organic uniqueness of each bowl!

I cut out the foot for each bowl. I even texture the outside of them to complete the finished look of each bowl. 

The bowls must dry and set up again before I can add to them. 

The accent shape which holds the yarn and needles of the yarn bowl has evolved over time. Can you tell I'm partial to hearts?!

When the finished bowls dry to the leather hard stage I apply a layer of underglaze color before I fire them the first. time. Next I apply a glaze color to each bowl and fire once again. 

Here a picture of a finished bowl!

Do What You Love

Work table.

As I move forward on this life journey I have learned to eliminate activities I don’t like and progress toward spending time loving what I do. It’s a good lesson to practice in a career, relationships and daily activities. And sometimes I’ve found it’s easier to figure out what it is you don’t like which helps lead you to what you do.

Glaze Kiln opening.

Here’s one of the ways I know I am still loving working in clay. Each time I open the lid of the kiln and see the results of my efforts, I get excited and a sense of satisfaction. Of course there are the occasional disappointments and broken disasters – but when I lift the lid and the 'kiln gods' have cooperated – it’s such a great feeling.

For some funny reason, I get this same sensation when I unpack my work to set up for a show. Even though I am the one that has carefully wrapped, packed and lugged it around to an event – when I unfold the paper protecting my work, I still get a jolt of happiness and it’s almost as if I am seeing the work for the first time.

Bird House in the Garden.

See what makes you happy today, and try to get more of that in your life on a regular basis!