Thursday, December 31, 2015

Let Them Eat Cake





Cutting out the pieces...

Forming the bottom layer...

Adding the top layer...

This one will be iced...

Mitering the edges...

Making sure to leave air holes...

Starting to decorate...

Leaving room for frosting on the bottom...

To be continued tomorrow...

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Side By Side

Working on two pieces that would hang together...
Making some leaves...
Almost done, but the shed is very dark...
The studio assistant is freezing...
Adding some small finishing touches soon...

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Epic Cold Weather Fail

Wearing my glazing apron outside in the shed...

Today was a weird weather day. It was damp outside, almost all day. So, the large slabs that I rolled out had no chance to dry. Even a space heater / fan combination couldn't dry things out. I used a huge amount of cornstarch just to clean off my saturated wooden rolling pin. So, I finally went back into the house and repaired some work for one last firing. I have finally gotten the formula for paper clay worked out. It works well to add papier mache to the mix. More papier mache than slip, by the way. Hopefully, I can get started on some smaller pieces for tomorrow, and take them into the house to dry. Today's slabs were just too large. Sadly, the canisters that I was trying to work on today, were ones that I had actually seen in a dream. Sometimes ideas are sparked in my brain, and I need to get my sketchbook out to take down the details, before they're lost!


Rolled out some slabs to make canisters...
Winston snuggled too close to the space heater...
It has taken four days for these flowers to dry...
Irritated and cold artisan...
Back inside to grade reports...

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Christmas Eve Workday

Winston left his warm perch to help out in the freezing shed...
Cutting out hearts from a pattern...
Snail research...
Taking a brief break...
Pruning some hop seed bushes...
Birdies, snails, twigs, and more...
Trying some new stuff...
Loose leaves and a television...



Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Sliding Towards Home Plate

This one will definitely be ready for the show in January...

Just one more firing for all of the telephones...

These need a color setting firing, and then a wash...

Sanding some problematic nests...

Still in my jammies after starting the kiln...

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Panama-Pacific International Exposition

Bernard Maybeck's gorgeous contribution...
The drive up the coast to San Francisco...

Viewing hats at a brief pit stop in Half Moon Bay...

Another African hat...

Finally arrived at the Wright home...

Happy is conspicuously absent...

Lunch at a barbecue place...

Viewed photos of the PPIE before visiting the museum...

Grant becomes part of the mural...

Ready to head inside...

This William Merritt Chase portrait glowed...

Always a Winslow Homer fan...

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Play Day with Silly Jama

Open Studios in Berkeley...
More Lynn Landor work behind a veil...
Thinking of who should get this for Christmas...
Or this...
A ridiculously expensive glaze cabinet possibility...
A fanciful tree at Castle in the Air...
Some gorgeous jewelry and earrings...
One of John's beautiful holiday pajakis...
Tried to visit, but arrived too early...
Headed off to the holiday Crucible sale instead...
And, then a little dinner...