Out of the Kiln

Paper Clay Workshop with Rebecca Hutchinson

Mendocino, Ca is so pretty. It is a charming, gorgeous town right on the edge of the ocean. From the Mendocino Art Center you can see 180 degrees of ocean...

These are some little pieces I made with paper clay. I learned so much while I was there. Paper clay breaks so many of the rules of working with clay in the traditional manner... you can connect dry pieces to wet, even wet to fired clay. You can create pieces that are so incredibly thin and light.
The fast that you can actually sew paper clay with a needle and thread was really interesting to me. I didn't want to continue to work like this (as I don't really enjoy sewing) but it was fun to play with.
Here Rebecca is showing us how she creates her own artwork with paper clay. We were all in awe of her and her expertise.
These little beauties were made by Rebecca. They are handmade paper rolled into pretty tubes that she then dips into paper clay.

Inspiration / Execution 2011 Wine Bottle

I created a painted wine bottle for the Bakersfield Museum of Art again. This year I took inspiration from a drawing I created in 2003 called "Insomnia". Below is the drawing that I made during the middle of the night in '03 when I really was suffering from insomnia. I decided to draw instead of get frustrated and this was the result.

I reacreated the same idea of the drawing on the bottle this year... using a lot of blues and drawing little houses, one "lit" as if awake.

Below is the bottle in progress. I took it to school to show my students what I was working on. I painted the bottle first and then began the dots of color on top of the painting.

Many, many hours later... here is the finished bottle...

The event is called "Winescapes" and will be held on April 28th at BMOA. The many painted bottles created by local artists are really incredible to see in person. Hope you can make it.

February

"When Birds Begin to Pair"

For Valentines Day I was asked by the local paper to create a piece of artwork having to do with the holiday. I created a linoleum print of two little birds facing one another sitting on a teacup.

A few days after the article ran and women e-mailed me and asked if she could purchase the piece to give to her daughter as a wedding gift. She said it would be perfect and she kept the article to give to her as well. I love that! The wedding gifts I most remember were the sentimental ones...thank you to her for purchasing a local art piece for such an occasion.

You can see the article here.

A night for the Arts

Last night was the opening of "ConTextual" and also our student exhibit at BHS, "Observation". Both shows were a great success! Thank you for your support of the arts in our community.

Here is an article that was in the paper about both exhibits...

http://www.bakersfield.com/entertainment/local/x331595176/A-busy-night-for-whimsy-for-this-First-Friday

I based my work for "ConTextual" on this gorgeous ficus tree in Hawaii I saw last November.

"Building Strength" stands 15" and is for sale for $325 with a portion of the proceeds going to First Book Bakersfield. It can be purchased through the Arts Council of Kern.

Below you can see it in progress last month at my house.