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!

Dryer Pottery

Today, I got back to my throw n go wheel. Since living on the coast, I have found it difficult to get my clay to dry. So... I put it in the dryer on a sweater rack to speed up the process. I just recently read this tip.
Here are three pieces of porcelain that I threw today. I am going to put terra sigliata on them and in between coats, I will burnish them with a terry cloth towel. The results are quite stunning. The pieces are then low fired. I will then prepare them for a firing technique I haven't tried yet. Saggar firing.

More Paintings and Pottery at Manley Art Center

I put more paintings and pottery into the Manley Art Center. The show will continue until the end of June. The oil painting you are seeing is approximately 16X20. Very reasonably priced because I do not have to pay a commission for showing on the classroom walls.
I moved the oil paintings and the whale raku vase from Feather Your Nest and moved them to Manley Art Center in Brookings, Oregon. I couldn't resist buying some beautiful items for my home from Feather Your Nest including a Mermaid Lounge sign for the room next to my master bedroom.

Some Seattle Art

Here are pictures of the wonderful art and art forms in Seattle. The boat is carved by hand. Quite a process.

My Work from the Charles Reid Workshop

I have never created a successful painting in a workshop. I am in a learning mode and stepping outside of my comfort zone. This is how I learn. I then return home to practice daily to force the information into my brain.
I learned from my portraits that my drawing are very good but I need to stop fussing with the hair.
It ruins the painting. Also, to paint contrast around a white object before painting the object.