GOOD COMPANY

I am enjoying a new relationship with the Contemporary Fine Art Gallery in La Jolla. My work is side-by-side with some wonderful painters. The energies seem complimentary. I find myself in very good company.

MY SKETCHBOOK

I keep a sketchbook...sometimes more than one (so I always have one with me) I sketch out ideas that are so fleeting that I don't think much about them, but often they will flower into my next sculpture. (and sometimes it's the mental equivalent of taking out the garbage)
Sometimes I don't have any idea about how to make it happen in clay, but if the idea is important to me the sketch will recur again and again until I figure it out.
This sketch is a long ways outside what I would normally attempt, but it feels important so I will try.

LOOKING BACK

Like most of us in clay, my first studio was the classroom. (Thank you Laney College) When I finally got my very own kiln. (a big Scutt) I went wild for a time, making works that would fill up the firing space. Never mind that I didn't yet have the craft aspect under my control. I made some good-looking faulty pieces. They remain, my "special children" who can't go out into the world for fear of falling apart.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A SLOW BISQUE

I can't emphasize enough the value of a slow bisque..especially for me because I use paperclay and slam things together in unorthodox ways. Alas, this wasn't fired by me, but I put her back together.
I can do that because it's paperclay) and I am crossing my fingers that she makes the final firing OK.

SUMMER OF SHOWS

I has been a busy summer. I had two openings in the past week. Coastal Eddy in Laguna Beach was the first on Aug 3 and Last night was at the Main Street Gallery in Pomona. Unofficially, I was also part of a opening at Bistango (a very upscale restaurant in Irvine)  Suddenly, I am all over LA like suntan lotion.

HEALDSBURG CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Last night the Clay and Glass show opened in Healdsburg. Lots of variety and some wonderful work all round. I delivered my pieces on Monday. After a bit of drama with my vehicle, I was late getting there, but they were very gracious and helpful. Did I mention the heat??? You could fry eggs on the sidewalk.
Since that day I have been resting and doing little day trips.  I went up to Mendocino to visit (my ) gallery (William Zimmer) and to take in the breathlessly beautiful Mendocino coast. I'm reminded how much I love Northern California.

SAYING GOODBYE

I'm here at Quyle's and resuming the work I started in April. I had worked very hard on a big piece (too big to fire in one piece) Yesterday I had to face the fact that she would never come together after firing. I had to let her go. Every failure teaches you something. I have learned that it's very difficult to segment a piece because of my open building method. For now I will be content with what fits in the kiln in one piece

THE LAST ANGRY WOMAN

This is the last piece I've done at my LA studio (Echo, on W Washington). it's a great place, but I have to drive through downtown traffic to get there and all my pieces are a little ...or a lot, angry. This is my last angry woman. In a few weeks I will be up in Murphys working on what I hope will be more upbeat pieces. My work reflects me so effectively, it's spooky.

AMOCA WORKSHOP

It was a full- house at the AMOCA studio on May 11th for my workshop on Sculpting the Figure in Paperclay  Everyone was enthusiastic about trying something new. We rolled, folded, squeezed and tore the clay slabs. Some had worked with paperclay before, but most had not. The students that were new to the medium were pleasantly surprised with the new "rules of engagement"

SUMMER RESIDENCY

I will be spending part of June, July and August this year at Quyle Kilns in Murphys, CA

June (16^th-30th)

July (20^th–31)

August (11^th- 24^th)

It's a chance for me to work on some larger pieces and to teach workshops (both in June)If you have ever taken a paper clay class from me, I invite you to come up for the day and get individual help with whatever you are working on. Bring it with you or start a new one. Bring your own paper clay or buy some from Pam (Quyle) and make a $50.00 donation to the studio as a day use fee.
The address is 3353 E Hwy 4, Murphys,CA 95247
Be sure to email me if your coming so I will be in the studio that day.  michele@burningclay.com