Working Flat

Trying a different technique...

Working with very wet pieces, instead of drying them out...

This means that the pieces are attached when flat...

They are very tricky to keep vertical though...

The bases are just coiled...

The sponges help to keep the pieces standing...

The attachments have to firm up before use...

This sunflower one is my favorite...

Hoping to avoid the joint cracking

Tearin' it up with Vivaldi

One of the oldest buildings on the west coast...

 I attended a chamber recital in the San Carlos Cathedral, in downtown Monterey, as part of the Carmel Bach Festival. The pieces that they played were from both Bach and Vivaldi. This was one of the best concerts I've ever attended. Ever. Every musician was well rehearsed. And, every musician was "feelin' it". It was more like a jam session than a classical recital. Their inspired performance amazed the appreciative audience, including a wise old service dog. This was an absolute treat...

Did a little antiquing before the concert...

Lots of pretty baking tools...

And, lots of portrait paintings...

A fabulous summer hat...

These dudes were laying on a glass shelf...

Lover's Point, less crowded towards twilight...

Originally designed as a mission...

The keys of the harpsichord were still warm...

Beautiful decorative painting at the altar...

Mary in the grotto at the side of the cathedral...

All Bach Organ Recital

Decorative carving and painting...

It felt wonderful to sit in the mission and to let the Bach organ music wash over me. I've had so much on my mind lately, and it seemed like a gift to be able to try to harness my thinking. Bach is great for that. His notes are so orderly and repetetive. I thought through and planned my entire Open Studios set-up. And, now I feel a little bit more prepared for the upcoming show in October.

San Carlos de Borromeo...

Carving and gold leafing...

Arched cemetery gate...

Museum window...

Much repaired sculpture...

Lunch counter in downtown Carmel...

Art Therapy

Large, layered cardboard cut-outs...

This has been a difficult summer so far. My mom is not doing very well, and so we all have been continually travelling to my parents' home, to help out with her care. It's exhausting. Mostly, we're just supporting my dad. He's trying to talk her into eating more, and into staying mobile.

Personally, I've been feeling really conflicted. Although my personal life is a mess, my art life has been very productive and creative. I'm not sure why this is, but I feel very blessed that my brain is compartmentalizing the sadness. For now.

In order to avoid sitting in traffic last week, I took a pit stop at the Stanford Museum. It felt glorious, like rain after a drought. Here is some work that stood out...

An amazing combination of folk art and realism...

Loved seeing the work of Hope Gangloff...

Getting some shade outside, in between collections...

Bold Mr. Motherwell...

Passed one of my favorite buildings on the way to dinner...

Thinking about these ceramic vessels, on the drive home...

Junkin'

Saw some saucy novels at the flea market...

And, a gorgeous inkstand...

And, there was a drawer full of knobs...

Some brothers...

This looks a lot like my mom's typewriter...

Saw a Peruvian bag, with complex weaving...

And, some silk kimono scraps...

Loved these crusty cameo sconces...

Walked away with two reasonably priced sculpture bases...

This is only one "bead" on a future bead pole...

Back in Business.

I've taken a bit of time off. This blog continues to be hacked. Since this is just a record of my ceramic process, and of my philosophy of teaching, I can't figure out exactly why. Maybe it is some sort of portal into a bigger and brighter world. Also, I've had a spotty internet connection for the past few weeks. So, I'm going to try to jump back in, and keep a record of my work and my "musings".

Here goes. Doh. The internet just cut out! Seriously.