Where Have I been?!?

It has been a slow "artful" summer!  I did complete a mask for the October "Day of the Dead" art show at PCA.  And a friend wants to buy it for her daughter-in-law.  Otherwise, my studio was only a holding place for "stuff".

With fall in the air it is time to get back into the studio!  Stay tuned...

It's Cleaning Time Again!!!

It baffles me that my studio can get so cluttered so fast!  I have had lots going on and I did dry my lavender in the studio!  But really how does this happen???

"Tis is Not Interested!

I submitted my two pieces to 'Tis Gallery for the "Black and White Show with a Splash of Color".  One curator looked at them but because they were "rabbits"  did not want to commit because of the other curator.  So she told me to submit photos.  I did and I never heard from the gallery.  End of story...

Not Much Competition....

My two art pieces won 1st and 2nd place in the "Street Seen" gallery show for 3D works.  Ian Russel from the Ian Russel Gallery was the judge.  However, there was not much competition!

What is; a "Rabven", a "Raben" a "Ravbit" or a???

I am testing out a new concept - a rabbit/raven figure.  Both animals are icons of the Prescott, AZ area.

The wall mounted figure below is completed.  It is chartreuse, olive and black glaze with pick acrylic highlights.  It is dressed in pink and bright green ribbons with a few pink feathers.  I thought it might appeal to anyone who loves pink or green.   I am trying to create original work that I can sell for $75 and under...

I think the photos would look much better with a black background.  I really need to start working on my photography!  Lots to do!!!

I just finished my wall mask for the "Black & White with a Splash of Color" art show at 'Tis Gallery in Prescott.   The show begins in late July.  I have another wall piece that is ready for a glaze firing.  I hope to get that off before the 4th of July!

Although I had some trouble with a paint pen and smearing, I had to change the paint job somewhat to cover the paint smears!  However, I am pretty happy with this piece.

"Street Seen" Art Show PCA

UPDATE:
Both of my pieces were selected for the show!  Yeah! 

I submitted my two art pieces yesterday for acceptance into the "Street Seen" Prescott Center for the Arts show.  It runs June 29th through August 15th with an Artist reception on July 3 from 5-8pm.

The first entry is my favorite of the two.  Since the "street" is not permanently attached to the shoe form, it can be re-positioned for different looks....

"Strolling Down the Avenue"  - Mixed Media/Ceramic/Wood/Glass/Metal

The second entry:

"Street Feet"  Mixed Media - Ceramic/Wire/Paper/Ribbons/Beads

I will be notified on June 4th if my work is accepted into the show...

Fired Up!

I fired up the kiln this AM - 6:30AM. It is the first of the year! Time flies! I finally installed my sample glaze board and I realize how many glazes for which I have yet to make a sample glaze tile! I am sure I have about a dozen more...

I also got my new computer, monitor and sound bar set-up in the studio. I am actually creating this post in the studio! I think it will be very convenient. I am also looking forward to searching images for inspiration and having them in front of me in the studio!

Just Waiting...

Yesterday, I finished the greenware for this next firing.  I am just waiting for pieces to dry.  I hope to fire next Thursday, May 21.

Second shelf - lots of poppies!

I still don't know what to call these "creatures" (raven/rabbits) I have created; perhaps "ravbits"! LOL

This piece is the last one I made and I think I will enter it into the "Black & White with a Splash of Color" art show in September.  

I am thinking of this color scheme:

• left creature:  black
• middle creature:  black & white
• right creature:   white
• splash of color:  pink inside ears and the "rope" that ties them together

What do you think???

Rushing to Fill the Kiln...

I need to get the kiln fired pretty soon so that I can have my pieces ready for the "Street Scene" show entry deadline, May 30th!  With friends and family visiting over the next two weeks, I have lots to do!

Earlier this week I glazed some greenware. The red in the picture is a metallic green that I have yet to test on greenware.  Since it is a piece for the show, here's crossing my fingers that works out!!!

First shelf

The following are pictures of a mask I am making for a friend.  I made it today so it is still very wet and being held in place with props!

I rotated this picture.  It kind of shows what it will look like on a wall...

It's a Miracle!

It was a rainy day yesterday and I spent over three hours in the studio actually working with clay!!!  Of course, I made some poppies and then worked on a piece for a local art show which will run June 29 - August 15.

Today I am back in the studio and the rain is clearing!  More poppies and a second piece for the show.  I must be inspired!

The art show "Street Scene" is:

"As you traverse streets looking at the buildings, cars, people, sidewalks, landscapes or alleys, you see a number of vignettes or smaller areas that capture your interest. Capture the light, colors, graffiti or landscapes – the options are endless. This show asks artists “What is seen on the streets you travel”?"

I am loosely interpreting the theme of this show.  I am working from a photograph for the first piece and the second piece is strictly made up in my mind!  Hmmmmmmm....

The piece below is called "Street Feet" and is based on a photograph.  I have added my "flying pear" which will be wearing a pair of shoes when completed. 

The piece below is called "Street Walking"  It is a city street draped over a wooden shoe form.  I have lots more buildings to make before the first firing...

Stay tuned...

Step Stool Benefit for Step Up For Kids Organization

I attended the Step Stool silent auction last night at 'Tis Gallery.  It was quite stunning to see all 61 step stools in the same location!  My friend and fellow artist, Mary Kaye O'Neill also attended.   I think we were the only two who added special handles to our step stools and mine was a great success!  Thank you Mary Kaye for that idea...

I saw a man looking at my stool and he put in an opening bid $75 (it was the minimum).  He gave me a card as he represented the Hilton in town.  They were going to purchased 4 stools for the Hotel.

Later in the evening I saw a women looking at my stool and I introduced myself as the artist.  She loved the stool and the handle!  She bid $100.  I was excited.  Shortly after, I saw a "sold" sign on the stool which means that someone bid the max price of $150!  Only four stools that night "sold" for full price.  I felt pretty good...  Interesting enough the woman who bid $100 was disappointed she could not bid higher than the $150 max!  She told me she did not buy any other stool that night, she wanted mine!!!  I will be honest, it was definitely an ego booster!  LOL

I met the couple who did buy my stool.  They have a 3 yr old at home and the wife is pregnant...

a little blurry as it was taken with my phone w/o a flash...

So it found a nice home and will be used for many years!  Perhaps it will be passed down to the next generation, a little worn and tired, but nonetheless a step stool!

Finally in the Studio!

I haven't touched any clay, but I am making great progress on studio organization!  Where did all this stuff come from???

I think the wooden table will be a great asset to the studio, but it does mean getting rid of other things.  Luckily, I bought most second hand so not much money loss!

I am waiting on a new computer and monitor to put in the studio.  I got a wireless mini keyboard with a cover. Come to find out, it is coming from China so it will not arrive stateside until mid May!  Go figure!!!

You can see the wooden table near the garage door.  Still lots of stuff for which to find a home!  And my work table in the foreground needs a good cleaning.  However, I am done for the day!!!

The White Garden

I am planting my white garden today.  The plants surround my "White Forest" sculpture.  I might add a couple white adirondack chairs in the future.

• 14 "edelweiss" white lavender
• 3 "white cloud" muhly grasses

I think other plantings will come at another time.  I am hoping to pick up some white Siberian iris at the local Iris Society plant sale May 2nd.  Most of the plants are rabbit and deer resistant.  However, they like the muhly grass and I will probably have to surround them with chicken wire until they are bigger.

lavender - summer bloom

muhly grass - fall bloom

In addition, I am considering a white flowering shade tree and installation of  ceramic white poppies...  The "White Garden" might be my first use of the ceramic poppies.

I just finished planting...  It is hard to see many of the very young lavender.  It will be fun to take another photo several months from now.

If I leave the bench in this garden, of course, I will paint it white!

Organizing the Studio Again!

I bought a brand new patio set, which hopefully will not blow away in the winds, so I am retiring my wooden table and chairs.  Most of the chairs were broken because they would blow over in the spring winds!  I planned to donate the table, but my friends convinced me to use it in my studio.  I did not think I had the room, but alas, I made it work and I do believe it will be useful and not just a place to store more stuff!

I also ordered a desktop computer for the studio.  I plan to mount the monitor on the wall and use a wireless keyboard and mouse.  I am hoping to create a spreadsheet to document my work especially glazes.  The computer will also be useful for searching internet images to inspire my creativity.  Oh and to watch a movie or two while doing the more mundane tasks in the studio...

Studio pictures coming soon!

Step Stools are Done

Three of us met yesterday for some wine and appetizers to celebrate the completion of our stools.  I turned them in this morning and the auction event will be on May 2nd.  I hope to attend...

Thanks Mary Kaye O'Neill and Linda Scott!!

When I turned the stools in this morning the two women accepting them loved them all.  One said she thought her 6 year old would love the dragonfly stool! 

More pics of my stool: "Dancing Dragonflies"

You can see the rough plywood surface in the close up photo, which made fine painting almost impossible.   Although I put more hours into the stool then I originally thought I would, it was fun and for a very good cause.   

Pressure to Post...

With my 2015 goal of posting every week, I am under pressure to get one out today!  But, it is a good thing...  It should get me into the studio!

Well, I never did get into the art studio today!  Instead I spent the day building a frame and sub-floor for my small resin shed.  I had to clear away some of the manzanita bushes.  Then leveling the ground, adding pea gravel and finally footers to set the frame on. Why does everything take longer then one first anticipates???!!!  Tomorrow I will attach the resin floor to the wooden frame and then assemble the resin shed!  Yeah!

I purchased the resin shed at Sears, on sale and with a $50 coupon! Yeah!  It is not that big, but I needed something I could handle alone.  My neighbor helped me remove it from my car as the box weighted nearly 100lbs...  I will have to be very space efficient with my gardening supplies! LOL

PS This shed replaces a wooden shipping crate Melinda & Walter gave me for my birthday.  They modified it so I could use it as a garden shed.  It held up quite well, but it was starting warp and was often difficult to close the door.  Thanks you guys...

Step Stool Project

Four of us got together on Monday and added the base coats to our step stools.  We each used different color paints, but oddly enough the colors all go together, hmmmmmm... In between coats we chatted, drank wine and nibbled on snacks.  Now that's what I call creative art-working!

I continued working on the my stool today and put in quite a few hours and I still have many more to go!!! Painting on plywood, not so much fun...  I am thinking I will give it an "antique" coating once the detailed painting is done.  The stool is titled "Dancing Dragonflies".

Field Trip

I am off on a field trip with my neighbor Linda this AM.  She is taking Printing I at Yavapai College this semester.  The class is visiting a local printer at his studio today.  I am not sure what to expect, but I always love to see other artist's studio.  I will take my camera and if he allows, I will take some pics and post later (updating this post) if they are at all interesting...

It rained last night and the pollen counts are a little lower today, so I plan to work in the landscape today and not in my studio.  Soooo much to do!  LOL

UPDATE:
The tour of Skyline Type Foundry was very interesting!  This guy, Scott, has acquired very old printing machines and refurbished them.  Although he has many printing presses, he mainly creates the metal font types.  Apparently there is a niche market for type set printing these days.  Everything retro...

This machine liquefies the metal and drives it into a "matrix" chamber to form the metal type. It is automatic once the operator sets up the spacing etc. which can be different for different letters and fonts.

I was very excited to see the all the old machines.  It brought back good memories of my career as a manufacturing designer and engineer!  I really did enjoy that work.  (Hmmmm, maybe that's why I enjoy the metal welding so much?!?)   In addition to enjoying the tour, I needed two photos for 16" X 20" prints on metal, only $9.99 Groupn from Print Pix!  I had purchased the Groupon in December and it was ready to run out in two days!  Below are the two pics I used.

 

PS Didn't work much in the landscape, by the time I got home and had lunch it was 2PM!  Shortly afterwards it began to rain again!

PSS Monday is our first session to paint the step stools, so look for a new post about that event...