SMALL WORKS

My big pieces use a lot of table space and they can't be moved while I work on them. I get antsy to work on something while I wait for them to dry between stages.

Earlier this year I saw a demo by Lori Alcott Fowler and saw how she did some great small scale pieces using metal in the legs. I am exploring the process and trying to make it my own. I allows me to work quickly and move things around while waiting for my large pieces to develop. I am always open to what happens along the way.

FULL HOUSE

I have been working a lot lately. My work tables are full and the kiln is almost full as well. It's kinda like storing things in the dishwasher to get them off the counter.I store finished work in my kiln and when it's full, I fire it. I have been pushing my forms (perhaps allowing them) to be more abstracted. I take more license with anatomy and see where it leads.

FULL CIRCLE

I have just had a brief affair with my old love, oil painting. As much as I love color, it detracts from what I am saying with form so I am back to thinking in earth tones again. That doesn't mean that a little bit of color won't show up. I think it enhances the piece if kept in the background. You probably aren't even aware of it unless you look closely... as in this recent piece.

The other reason to leave oil paint behind is a concern for my health. It's like bad love...toxic.

FINDING THE PAINTER

I  started painting pieces that I had resigned to the garden for one reason or the other. At first my attempts were too garish. The color was exciting, but it overwhelmed the piece. Then I did some undercoating and I experimented with a different approach to the paint application. I found what I was looking for. Color that excites but still allows the form of the sculpture to read.  

LOOKING BACK

I was reviewing my slides this past week and had the overwhelming desire to see my figurative work "in the flesh". So I pulled out some of the canvases and set them around my old painting studio upstairs. I thought I had left these works behind me, but I feel the need to try to bring it full circle by painting on my sculptures. I will choose something from my cast-off pile and give it a try.

CERAMICS ANNUAL

It was a very special event for me. A huge room full of wonderfully diverse clay sculpture ( and wonderfully diverse sculptors) For the space of 3 days, we shared our work with each other and the thousands who came to view the show. On the last day we were running around like high-school seniors getting each other to sign our copy of the catalogue. If you would like to see photos, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/23344094@N05/sets/72157624827884151/?page=6  

GETTING READY

I have been deciding which work will be show at the Ceramics Annual . My largest just came out of the kiln yesterday and the others are being fussed over, photos sent for the, catalog, pedestals painted, etc, etc. My everlasting thanks to John Toki at Leslie's Ceramics who has volunteered to transport pedestals. I barely have room for all the sculptures in my vehicle. All my pretty girls want to go to the ball and the coach will be full.