In Stitches

     I have a show of my work opening on Monday, November 12th, 5-7pm at Valentien. Here is an article that was in the paper about it a few days ago. I am so grateful that Jeramy and Jennifer (owners of Valentien) invited me to have my work shown there; it is the first time I have had to fill up such a large space on my own. Since many people think of me as a ceramicist many will be surprised to see that this work is watercolor, ink and colored pencil. It grew out of the ceramic techniques I learned this summer from Kevin Snipes at Penland. When I came home, thinking about making work for Valentien, I started to draw abstract images similar to what I was doing in the workshop on paper. It felt really freeing to be able to just sit at a table. It was not as laborious as trying to work on clay at my house. And so... these 20 pieces now hanging at Valentien are the result. I plan to create more soon and have them available in my very empty Esty shop. Oh, and on the horizon... The Foundry has invited me to have a solo show next November... so I better get busy again soon.

"Hold on Tight" 13x16

Ceramic pieces I made last summer that inspired my current work. 

Most Recent Work

     I've been thinking about creating this work for some time... 

     My mother is an incredible seamstress and would make many of our outfits growing up (I have 4 sisters); she also made my wedding dress... I on the other hand have never enjoyed sewing. Clay is my medium and the idea of adding stitching to clay and little bits of patchwork has been in the back of my mind since taking a workshop last summer at the Mendocino Art Center. It must come from sitting legs crossed on the floor of my mom's sewing room growing up.

      I recently learned how to make that idea into reality by using wax resist, carving through it (the stitching) then adding stain or underglazing into the etchings. It creates exactly what I am looking for... Enjoy!

New work and Nephew play

    I tend to take photos of my work right before it goes in the kiln to be fired for the first time... I love the way the clay looks before it's glazed. These vases are actually porcelain and I may not glaze the entire body, but I still love the true matte quality they have before they go in the kiln. They may be for the show in July for the Arts Council of Kern entitled, "Playful Minds".I finally took a some time after work to get some of my own pieces done.
     It's crunch time with the students... only a month until school let's out so things get very busy from here until May 31st. The photos below are of these pieces heading into the kiln, but I just took these pieces out of the bisque fire a few days ago and decided to simply glaze the rim with celedon and also around the "stars" a bit with celedon. They should be finished next week and I'll post finished photos when they come out... I can't wait to see.

My nephew Austin came over recently and played in my studio. He told me at Easter that he wanted to learn to throw pottery on the wheel (not in those exact words, but that's what he meant). ;-)   

So, he came over and played on the wheel for the first time a few weeks back. He was really good!! A talent from the start. I didn't even help him center this time! He made 3 little bowls on the wheel that day, a potter in the making for sure. 

Studio Time

 I made this piece recently. It's not yet fired, but I couldn't resist taking it's photo looking out the window... My little ghost and snail (the first pieces I made in clay in kindergarten) are in the background. 

  

Here's is  that same ghost hanging out with a little vase I made a year ago....

poor ghost lost his arms long ago.

 Here is a photo of my studio... the floor isn't so pretty but it will be eventually...