Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Clear Glaze Dictator

Some colorful offerings...

Perhaps having fourth graders clear glaze on a day when I had the flu was a big mistake. But, the work must go on! And, the kiln must be filled. So, we powered through it, despite my hissy fits and nagging. The kiln is humming away right now, with a load of cups and some of my arbol de vida sculptures. I'll clean up the next load for firing this weekend. Our plan is to swap cups on Tuesday. Can't wait!


I must admit, I was shopping for swap candidates...
I really love the one with the pale blue spoon...
Striped tumblers and polka dotted tea cups...
Touch ups and bottom sponging...
Each cup gets checked...
Going to need some sponging...
One box down, and one to go...
Glazing the interiors and signing my cups...
Still a bit more room...
These will go in the next kiln load...

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Plodding Along

Starting the color layering...
This one was layered with yellow and green...
New glazing table lamp...
Weathering and aging...
Sleepy studio assistant...
Covered with a coffee colored wash...
Taking a second to make ceramic valentines for school...
Ready for the kiln...
Color washed back...
The arbol de vida sculptures are starting to arrive on the finished shelf... 

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Punching Above Your Weight

Here goes nothing...

Sometimes we get in above our heads. There is an idea of how a piece should look. We have mental plans, or we have sketches in our sketchbooks. We have expectations. And, things go wrong. Terribly wrong.

I have a little girl in my class who is a genuinely talented artist. In fact, I would say that she is a gifted artist. She has amazing craftsmanship, and is excellent at drawing. Recently, we made two ceramic cups. I could tell that she was really frustrated. Instead of just sticking with a simple cylinder for the first cup, she tried to make it into a swan cup. The body of the swan would hold the liquid. It didn't work. She ended up modifying it to make a simple mug, with raised decorations on the side. Her second cup was a complete cock up! She tried to make a horse mug. It was a mug, with the head of a horse and the body was the vessel. I watched her in agony, trying to make it work. I could tell that she had an idea in her head, and the clay was not behaving. Her hands couldn't make sense of the material.

On two different occasions, she refused to glaze either cup. So, today, I started glazing the horse cup, in order to goad her into taking over from me. It brought her over to the table, to glaze her other cup. Then, I walked away and had her glaze outside, with a parent supervisor, along with a handful of other students. When I saw her finished cup, it was perfectly lovely. She had blended the colors, and made a swirled design on the interior. She also finished the horse mug.

I, too, suffer from my preconceived notions of what my artwork should be. I recently spent hours making a piece to enter in a clay and glass show. It survived the bisque firing beautifully. Then, I spent an entire day, glazing and finishing the piece. After which, I lovingly sanded it, in order to give it an antique finish. Of course, it cracked during the second firing. So, I was unable to apply a wash and fire it a third time, as is my custom. I usually try not to set myself up for failure, by often imagining the worst possible case scenario. But, in this instance, I believed that the piece would turn out on time to apply for the show. I didn't plan for the fickle nature of the clay.

So, it's back to the drawing board. This time, I'm hedging my bet with two pieces that I built during Christmas vacation. I think that I can finish them on time. They're not the pieces that I wanted to enter (in my mind), but, I need to make them into those pieces. Flexible thinking, that's the key… at least that's the concept that I shared with my student.


Cracked and ruined...

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Cheer Up Charlie



I spend a great deal of time with children, and the thing that I find fascinating about them, is that they are mirrors. Your attitude is reflected in them. If you are negative or if you criticize something, they absorb that negativity. Generally, children are pretty positive and they are willing to dream and to hope that all will go well. I have known kids that are unhappy with a task, and if you tell them that they shouldn't be unhappy, that they should look at the task a different way, they generally do. It's a delightful kind of attitude malleability.

Adults, not so much. I have a person in my life who is extremely negative. There is never a chance missed in which this person doesn't freely offer criticism. In fact, he often tries to incite others to join in with unkind words and opinions. Mind you, this is a person who is not really productive in my presence in any way. He doesn't make things, or do things to contribute, that I ever witness. It's amazing that he sees others in such a critical, limited way, yet is unable to realistically see himself.

It's not that I'm the most positive person in the world. In fact, I'm pretty sarcastic and dark. But, deep inside, I experience joy and wonder on a daily basis. So, today, after being soaked by criticism, I took a walk with my dog. In the neighbor's book drop box, I found this little blue-gray horse. It exactly matches the weird color of my desk. This strangely delighted me. Then I played a podcast starring my college friend, Rick. I love Rick, because he also experiences joy and wonder daily. Always has, and always will. So, I'm leaving you with three cheery quotes, and with a link to Rick's podcast.

"The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."
                                                                                    W.B. Yeats

"Look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time: thus your time on earth is filled with glory."
                                                                                     Betty Smith from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

"When I despair, I remember that all through history, the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall--think of it, ALWAYS."
                                                                                     Mahatma Gandhi



http://www.radiolab.org/story/explorers-club-sugar-egg/



Monday, January 19, 2015

Lamp Hunt

So many hats...
Hand tools...
Majolica plates...
Love the polka dotted cupboard...
Old school adding machine...
Broad brim cutie...
Lodge wear...
Very serious... 
A tasteful old friend...
Learn how to type...
The mystery woman wears a cloche...
Tea time...
  A bountiful suitcase...
Farewell, with my lamp in hand...









Sunday, January 18, 2015

Backwards Glaze-O-Rama

Finished art trade piece...
Third coat of turquoise...
First coat of turquoise...
Second coat of yellow underneath...
Antiqued finish of the arbol...
Many coats on the arbol before antiquing...
Antiqued wall heart...
Three coats each for good coverage...
Attacking the flowers, leaves, and birdies...
Covered the brown clay with two coats of white...

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Take Aways Show



Today I went with my sister and her husband to the show at the Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery. I always get so nervous seeing my work when it is in a gallery. But, it looked great and held it's own. Many of the paintings and encaustic pieces were lovely. After viewing the show, we went out for some tasty hamburgers. Plenty of fries with extras!

Elaine Pinkernell

Jenni Ward

Me

Chris Miroyan

Linda Benenati

Mary Neater

Jane Gregorius

Roberta Lee Woods