Wet Paint - do not touch

I am working on a small 5x7 oil painting and trying something new. I am putting a tree branch in at the top of my painting. I have seen wonderful compositions in this style. My branch still need to grow on me. I will fill in the sky colors once it dries. It is getting too messy for me to work with.

I also went to Audi Stanton's today and had two pieces critiqued. As usual, she gave me great advice and I made the suggested changed. I am much happier with the results.

My Second Impression

Okay - I had to try another table rock. I believe the top, flat part looks better in this rendition.

Just an Impression

My impression of impressionistic painting is it is difficult, inspiring, rewarding, did I mention difficult, and fun. As you can read, I have mixed emotions.
Here is a painting I did at Harris Beach with Rob Decker not too far away enjoying the day, too. He did a wonderful pastel drawing.

I Am Chiming In

In the class I took with Ruth Stoner from Glassics Design, she showed us how to make a beautiful glass chime. We started with a small, clear glass tile and put bits of pieces of glass onto it. Each piece was cleaned and glued down. Then we cut up to five, long pieces of glass to make the chimes. I like the number three so I cut three.
After the pieces were fused and cooled, they were washed and dried to remove the kiln shelf residue.
I learned how to drill a hole in the piece primary piece and I added jewelry holders to hang the chimes from. I used copper wire to hang the pieces and adorned them with beads I had at home.
I love the results.

Feeling a little Foggy but I'm Cool

It is a foggy day on the coast. Great time to practice seeing and using cool colors. I painted this 5x7 oil painting this morning and you can find it for sale at the Manley Art Center once it dries. They are available on the first panel in the Manley classroom.

Plein Air - oui oui

I spent the morning painting at the beach with several plein air artist. It was so nice to be out with other artist. I took off for an hour and picked up my glass pieces from Ruth at Glassic Designs. Great stuff.
The oil painting I did it 5x7 and will be for sale at the Manley Art Center in Brookings, Oregon.

PiCATsso Plate

Here is my PiCATsso plate I made with the glass instructor, Ruth , at Glassic Designs. This is before it went into the kiln. I will post the results tomorrow. I also have a wind chime also in the glass kiln. It is to keep evil spirits away and things that don't like the sound of wind chimes.
I have some new pottery pieces that need to be fire. I guess I will glaze them tonight. I also will be painting on the beach early tomorrow morning and then back to glass fusing class to get the finished products.
It is good to get to my art. I have been distracted by life, again.

I am Steaming!

I am steaming with my vegetable steamer I made in pottery class. Love it!
Easy to use. I threw another one that I am picking up today.

Garden Art

Here is my garden art with my clay bird house that is hung by a hook, my "Blowing in the Wind" chime where I used native plant impressions on it and my Beachy Bowl that the bird love when it is filled with seed. The Beachy Bowl has sand from Harris Beach, Oregon.

Busy being a Mom

I am busy being a mom for a few days so I am not doing any art until I finish helping my son move into his new place.
We are heading to Ikea!

It's Christmas in June - Here is my functional pottery

I love this new low fire glaze. It is a keeper. Here is my vegetable steamer and my chicken pot.
They are hand thrown pottery pieces.

I smelt something fishy

I went smelt fishing today. I got a few but mostly anchovies and shiners. They are so beautiful. I caught a few herrings and gave them to my fishing buddy, Marius. Another man, Steve, gave me his anchovies. I will use them for bait for other fishing excursions. It was a good day. A family of river otters swam by, the seals and seal lions chased the school of herring around. The pelicans were out, there were several types of gulls and cormorants.
Here are pictures of me cleaning the fish.

Clothing Optional Umbrella

Here are more pictures from my garden. My umbrella lost its cover in the last wind storm. It won't have that problem, again. It is now naked.
I love my little garden.

Hot Flash

Here is a picture of the inside of my kiln as it is warming to over 1800 degrees. I am firing my chicken pot, steamer with lid and Jean's buttons. Christmas is coming early, again.

Getting Hammered on the Coast

Jeannie Gordon and I took a class today with Audi Stanton. We made art journals. They are made with several different types of paper. I love the way they look when you are done. They are unique art pieces.
What about the hammered part? Well. to put holes through the paper and cover, you hammer an ice pick through them. Be sure to put a piece of wood or old paperback book down.
Here are the pictures of the pieces I did. One is missing. It went home with Jeannie.
Oh and I was uncontrollably dancing when it was time to go to the class. It is the best time at Audi's.
She served us pretzel, artichoke dip and tea because we were good or so I would like to believe.

Out of a Slump

My fused glass plate is out a plate slump mold and now in my house. Fused glass is another art form that reminds me of Christmas. What a wonderful surprise when you see your completed work.
Ruth Stoner is a a great instructor. I decided to sign up for a Picasso plate. It will be an abstract piece of my cat, Boxer Thomas.
I can't wait!

Weeding by Design

I am still cleaning up my garden due to a very late spring and summer. All weed should be illegal. The moment I pull one, another pops up. Here is more my garden. I will get back to painting tomorrow. I need the break.

Painting with Smoke and Fire

My pit fired pieces are for sale at the Manley Art Center in Brookings, Oregon. They will be there until the end of June.

Green Thumbs Up

I spent the last week cleaning up my garden. Here are some of the results. Ooooh - my back hurts....
but it is worth it.

Greenhouse Effect

I was in Pistol River oohing over all the plants at Rebecca's Greenhouse. I wanted it all by the time I look at all the plants. I brought in my pictures of a piece of my property that I have a difficult time growing plants. Rebecca gave me a tour of her property and great advice on how to fix my dry soil problem. I bought a few plants and before I left the property, I was wishing I could buy more.
I can only dig so many holes in one day and have a limited about of space... not that has ever stopped me before.
Rebecca is just so interesting to walk through a garden with because she is knowledgeable and, obviously, loves every plants she sells and plants.
Check her out!

In a Slump

My fused glass piece is in a slump. A plate slump. It will be ready by tomorrow and I will pick it up next week.
Isn't it beautiful? The answer is "yes".

Buttons and Bowls

Today, I took another class with Ruth Stoner with Glassic Designs. I created the first stage of a plate. The pieces is fusing in a kiln tonight. The other student in the class created a Picasso plate. We get to see our work tomorrow. My piece will then be put into a kiln, again. on a mold to slump it into the mold shape.
I, also, was exposed to how to rake glass. I think that is how you would say it. Pieces of glass are put on a small clear tile and then you heat it to melting. Then you rake it with a long metal tool. This is done several times because each time you open the kiln, the glass cools down.
Interesting process.
I have gotten cutting glass down perfectly - there is a brag moment.
Very exciting.
Next, Jean Gordon let me help her with her tags for her buttons and then we went to A Perfect Yarn in Crescent City, CA. This is located on Highway 101 as you go south through town. Jean sold all her button to the owner and they are for sale. If you are a knitter, love crocheting or fiber art, check it out.

Keeping Trim

I trimmed my pottery bowls today. They are ready to fire. I picked up more clay.
I also got an exciting call from Jean Gordon regarding a weathered bundle project. This is going to be interesting.

My Nephew's Photography Book From Blurb

I just purchased a book from http://www.blurb.com/ that my very talented nephew created called "Some of the Moments". Follow the links and you can see his talent and how you can make your own professional book. Very easy to do. The ability to read and follow instructions is required.

High Hand, Loomis CA

My husband and I went to High Hand in Loomis today. What a treat! The art, gardens, rugs and fiber arts is some of the best I have seen. There is quite the variety They have glass artist, fiber artist and more. Very reasonably priced in my opinion.
Get a chance and stop by. Here is the website http://www.highhand.com/

Slipping without Falling

Okay - I learned one of the coolest techniques today in pottery. It was a unique way to apply slip. I can't wait until the pieces are fired.
I also learned how to center the ENTIRE clay body. This means coning it up high and bringing it down and coning it up high, again. Some potters don't worry too much about centering exactly. They say you can do it while you are working on the piece. If you learn to center the entire piece, you reduce time with creating your form and trimming. It makes sense.
Next, I continued learning to throw cylinders and improving my bowls.
I am exhausted. This was another 5 hours and my brain is spinning with information.

Throwing Pots instead of Fits

I spent 6 hours throwing and trimming pottery yesterday. I finished trimming another chicken pot, vegetable steamer and a small vase.
I tried to trim a plate but put a hole through it. Ooops. I threw four more vases to learn how to put a porcelain slip today.
I hired more time with the pottery instructor, David Bradley.
Well, I am off...

It's the Pits - But In A Good Way

Here are the results of a pit fire that the Alpha Ceramics' advanced students did with our instructor, David Bradley.
Here are my four pieces. I think the results are incredible.

Oil Painting and Pots

I did a quick oil painting late this evening. I spent the day reading tutorials and picking up some clay supplies. I will spending tomorrow throwing more pots. Life is good.

Mailbox Money

I just love coming home to mailbox money. I sold a piece of pottery at the Crescent Harbor Gallery. Hurray. There was a check in the mail
I also sold a Cat Tail Pin at Feather Your Nest and I sold three paintings at the Manley Art Center. Thank you for your support!