Artists Opening Reception - Reflections...

From 5PM-6PM tonight I was a "greeter" at the 4th Friday Artwalk and Artists Opening at the Prescott Center for the Arts.  Quite of few people showed up in the first hour.


My piece won 2nd place in the 3D category and I took home a small cash award.  In addition my neighbors took me out for dinner to celebrate!  It was a good night including the rain that showed up!

Yuma Art Symposium Experince

The drive to Yuma was uneventful until reaching Quartzsite.  At that point I began to see a barrage of large (bus size) RV trailers and lots of them.  They were on the road and parked in the desert.  Apparently Quartzsite is a mecca to over a million visitors most of whom converge on the small town in a wave of RVs during January and February.  The Gem and Mineral show, a Blue Grass Festival, an Off Road Rally and many other events are held during these two months.  Who knew?!?!

Past Quartzsite and just outside of  the city of Yuma one begins to see miles of agricultural fields. Apparently, Yuma County is the winter vegetable capital of the world, or so they claim.  In fact, about 90 percent of all the leafy vegetables grown in the U.S. from November through March are grown in and around the Yuma area. Who knew!?!?


I arrived at the Symposium registration site, Timkins Pottery,  at 10:45 AM.   And no one was at the registration booth to give me my information.  I was not happy because I had no map or presenters schedule.  Long story short within the hour I got my information and they even invited me to lunch outside of their pottery studio.  Unfortunately, I had missed all but one presenter for the day.

I stayed at the Yuma Best Western which was within walking distance of the Art District and venues.  Although the rate was reasonable, I think I will stay at the Hilton next time!  Enough said...

There were many events to attend, the pin auction, the show your art night, the Gallery Opening Night, the file, saw and solder competition, and finally the dinner dance.  This was the 35th year so I felt a little like an outsider.  However, I will consider going again next year...

I'm In the Reflections Show!!!

Late yesterday I received an email welcoming me to the PCA Reflections At Show!  My "Star Light in the Round" will be one of the 3D entries.  This is my first entry and show! Yeah!

February 17 – March 29 

Opening Reception February 28        

Art Walks, Fri, February 27 and March 28

Star Light in the Round

On Thursday I submitted my "reflections/illumination" ceramic piece to the Prescott Center for the Arts.  The deadline for entries is Monday, February 3rd and they will announce the selections for the show on Thursday, February 6th.  Since this is my first entry to an art show, I am not sure what they are look for.  I am not even sure that the photos of  my work are good.  this summer I hope to take a Photoshop for Artists class at the local community college to help me take good photos of my work.  Anyhow, at a minimum it, should be a learning experience.  It would be fun to get selected for the show...

Star Light in the Round

It's About Time! to Fire my Kiln Again!

OMG!!!  It took forever to glaze my work!  Each piece is like a painting!  Even worse, the glazes need three coats!  I need to figure out some "dip-glaze" projects!!!!

Started the kiln to a cone 04 bisque at about 10:45 AM this morning. The studio temp was about 58 deg F.  Most of the work has glaze; some on bisque and many on greenware. I am trying several new glazes.  I hope they turn out as expected and again I hope for success in the "one" fire process.  Monday afternoon the kiln should be cool enough to remove the goods!  I cross my fingers that my "illumination/reflections" piece is good enough to submit to the art show?!?!?  The photos and submission form are due Feb 3rd!

Yuma Art Symposium

I just registered to attend the Yuma Art Symposium, scheduled for Feb 20 - 23rd, 2014.  I have never been to such an event. There are several presenters speaking on subjects for which I have an interest. And the student rate is pretty reasonable - $80.  They have an established website, blog and a facebook page. I guess they are media connected!  Since I have a class Thursday evening, I will have to leave on Friday after my Tai Chai class...  Apparently this is the 35th year.  It looks very organized and has lots of things to do...

Christmas Gift...

For Christmas, my youngest sister Bobbie gave me some cash to buy art supplies.  And in an effort to get organized in the studio, I found a set of metal shelves on wheels that I could use as a "glazing station".  This equipment will get the glazes off my fixed shelves leaving more space for my work pieces.

The unit arrived yesterday.  Luckily it was all one piece; no assembly required, even the wheels were on!   I quickly unpacked it, and populated it with my glazes.  What I did not anticipate is that the wire shelves are not strong enough to hold the weight of several glaze bottles.  Actually it holds them, but the wire sheves flex under the weight.  Over time, I think they might fail.  I will have to come up with some sort of support system or rigid bottom.  In addition it does not roll as well as I had hoped.  But all in all I like it! It is a great organizer and it will be a great convenience!  Soon the weather will warm I will be able to easily move it in and out of the studio to glaze outdoors!

Request for Hanging Bird Seed Tray...

A fellow Master Gardener recently asked if I could create 4-6 hanging bird feed trays to sell at the July 2014 Master Gardener plant sale.  Of course, I said yes.  It will give me a means to test if such an item is sale-able; a win-win!

I began by searching the web for "images".  I was surprised that there were not more examples on the web, so turned to Etsy to see what the craft world was doing... Again, there were few offerings.  Perhaps there  is a need.

As a bird feeder myself, I can see that a dish has some draw backs.  Most obvious is the seed volume.  It requires frequent replenishment.  In addition, it is vulnerable to weather.  So, I guess a dish is a short term fair weather method of feeding our flying friends!

Below are some examples that I will use for inspiration...

I like the compartments for different food...

I guess this helps a bit with the weather

Multi-feeder - interesting - I think the birds might knock it over, hmmmmm

I guess some birds love them!!!

Well, I guess I will get sketching...

What a Mess!

I an effort to get another firing off in mid January, I have been glazing my work and making a terrible mess in the studio!  Tomorrow I will be out there again and I plan to clean-up a bit before I continue!

The following pics are of my call for artists  piece.  I am still working out the remaining glaze scheme.  Of course, it will look different once fired; making it somewhat of a surprise!  In addition, I will be adding reflective beads and wire elements to the piece once it is glazed...