Trying my hand at teaching online

This pandemic has kept me strapped (or trapped) in my studio chair for almost a year now. I have taken this opportunity to enjoy an array of online workshops and classes and have found a few that I really loved. I’ve made jugs and mugs and flower pots and boxes…..all online, via zoom or youtube. What a wonderful resource the internet is!! I was recently invited to host my own online workshop in collaboration with Whitemarsh Arts Center in Pennsylvania. My first workshop titled Making Faces begins next Saturday, February 13 at 2:00pm EST. There are still a couple of spots still available for those who would like to learn to make their own faces in clay. Allowance is made for those folks who have their own clay and firing capabilities. If you are local to me, in NJ, I would be happy to fire your pieces.

Trying New Things

Many of you here in New Jersey watched as the snow fell last weekend…..and continued to snow! As I looked out the windows (and carried out flakes of hay to my alpaca who were tucked warmly away in their shed) I created a series of monsters in porcelain. I decided, for the first time that the only bit of color on these would be their eyes….which are the darkest of dark blue. Then I coated them with clear glaze. I love them!

Covered Bridge Artisan Tour - Reimagined for 2020

The Covered Bridge Artisan Tour, in it’s 26th year has been reimagined as an online, virtual tour this year. Sign up to visit the artist studios on November 27, 28 and 29 each day from 11am-4pm. Come visit me November 27, 28 and 29 from 11am -4pm to see me working live in my studio. I will be creating a few new pieces each day, live. I will show you my process from beginning sculpting the form to the final glazing. I will be loading up my website with all of my available pieces starting on Thanksgiving Day. Shipping on all items will be free and you can make an appointment to visit my studio that weekend or any Saturday in December.

delecTABLE 2020 the art of dining

Sometime in December 2019, before the world became changed, I sent in my entry for the Denver Art Students League biennial ceramics show. The show’s theme is functional tableware, and as many of you know most of my art is not functional. Early on I did make a whole bunch of salt and pepper shakers, but I had bigger visions in mind. So I started work on a teapot with this show in mind. I wanted a functional teapot that incorporated all elements of a body. I did a little sketching and started rolling out clay. Once completed I photographed my entry and sent it in to the Jury. I received my acceptance email early in 2020 and was excited about a June Denver opening, actually considering a trip to visit a favorite niece in Denver in order to attend the opening. But, alas, the world closed down. But the Art Students League was not to be deterred and the pushed on and reorganized for an online showing. https://asld.org/delectable-2020-online/

Bertha Teapot 2019

Collaborating with a friend

I have a pottery friend who hand builds these fanciful creatures from coil pots or slabs. Each week when I visit the pottery studio she has fashioned a new creature out of clay. I have watched her create alpacas, dodo birds, chickens, dragons, fish and all sorts of jars and vessels. I have wanted to work on some collaborating for some time and suggested we try our hand at Exquisite Corpse. This is an exercise that the surrealist artists would practice and always fascinated me. Each artist would work on one part of a body, not knowing what the other artist was doing. So this spring, just at the onset of the pandemic we implemented our plan. She handed off a few bodies and I sent her a couple of heads. I got to work on creating a few heads for her bodies and fired and glazed them in my kiln. Here are two that I completed last week..

This little guy will have wings that my artist friend will stitch into hole openings in his back.

I loved the different sections and textures that the artist created on her caterpillar. I tried my best to highlight them with under glazes.

My pottery friend is so great with details, I am envious. How about those sneakers?

This is a head sculpture that I handed off. I made this piece with the intent of putting him in my garden when completed. I’m seeing some type of plant growing out the top of his head, but I will have to wait to see how he is completed.

This head has a hole in the top. I want to make a fountain out of him. I am so excited to see him completed

Where do my ideas come from?

People ask me how long it takes to create a piece and where do my ideas come from. So I decided to share the design and execution of a recent piece. While writing my morning pages ( an exercise I learned from Julie Cameron’s The Artist’s Way) the idea of the vintage coin operated kiddie rides popped into my mind. I remember as a child riding on them when shopping with my mom. My favorite was always the horses, but I have ridden in cars and rocket ships. I love the work of Mike Cinelli and have tried out his technique on a few pieces in the past. This time I decided to make a larger piece that would need to be constructed in several stages, requiring planning and rest time for the clay. So here is my Space Patrol rocket ship, birth and development.

I dug around on the internet to find some photos for reference.

I begin by fashioning the nosecone from a slab of clay that I turn into a cylinder, then slowly paddle to close the top into a cone shape.

I sculpt the figure and make the back section of the rocket. Each time I sculpt a new section I have to let the clay rest to firm up a bit, this ensures stronger bonds when I begin to put pieces together.

I fashioned a cardboard base to check for scale.

These are the little rivets that try to capture the amazing Mike Cinelli”s style.

The final underglaze wash will highlight these details.

Here is the piece waiting for bisque firing. The base has been painted with colored slip and I hand lettered the base hoping it has a weathered, retro look.

Creating art during a pandemic

The upside for me during this pandemic is the amount of art I have been creating. I have had time to work on larger more complicated pieces. Some are too large to fit in my kiln, so I have had to make them in multiple pieces and assemble them after firing. Some have moveable parts. I have been creating a collection of pieces I call marionettes. They hang on the wall and are full bodies, something I have struggled with while creating my figures. I’ve been pleased most times I’ve lifted the lid on the kiln. I look forward to sharing them with you when we meet again.

creating more arms these days

Covered Bridge Artisan Tour - November 29-December 1

Skip the mall Thanksgiving Weekend and come to the annual Covered Bridge Artisans Tour! I will be one of eight artists in there studios as well as 13 artisans in the Event Center behind the Sergeantsville Firehouse in scenic Hunterdon and Bucks Counties. It’s a great family event and I look forward to greeting all who come out to visit. (printable and GPS maps available on our website) www.coveredbridgeartisans.com

My November events: Art Studio Tour and Flemington Fine Artisan Show

November brings two opportunities to see my art in person. This Sunday, November 3 I will be joining a group of talented area artists at the Flemington Fine Artisans Show. The show is located inside the original Stangl Factory. Stangl Pottery began creating a line of hand-painted dinnerware in 1930 which is still sought by collectors today. The factory closed in 1978 but has become home to a thriving arts community. Kissimmee River Pottery is located in one building and throughout the year there are art and musical events as well as a farmer’s market. The factory is located at 4 Stangl Road, Flemington. Hours are 10am-4pm, Admission and parking are free.

Also in November my studio will be part of the Covered Bridge Artisans Tour which is in it’s 25th year. Several years ago I visited many of the artist’s studios and mentioned to my husband that I would love to someday have my studio on the tour. This was before we even lived in the Covered Bridge Area. Fast forward to today and I am grateful to have been invited to be one of eight studios that folks can visit. The tour is held the weekend of Thanksgiving: Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Nov 29,30,Dec 1) 10-5:00. A map can be downloaded from the website, and all the addresses can be found on GPS. Also, there will be a group of artists at the Event’s Center located at the Sergeantsville Firehouse which is just 1/2 mile from my studio. I will have refreshments at my studio, so please come to see what I have been up to! Feel free to contact me, my cell phone is 908-797-9356, if you have any questions.

October Event: Morristown Armory Craft Market

I’ve just returned from my weekend at Peter’s Valley Craft Fair and was delighted at the response. My booth was full both days with smiling and laughing clients. I enjoy creating each of my pieces and was amazed at the reaction from fair-goers. I was able to pack up at the end of the weekend knowing I had begun to acquire a new group of collectors.

My next event will be the Morristown Armory Craft Market scheduled for October 18, 19 and 20. The show will begin with an Opening Night Reception on Friday, October 19 from 4-8pm. Saturday the show is open 10-6 and Sunday 10-5. I have not received my booth location yet, but feel free to call or text me if you plan to attend: 908-797-9356.

My First Art Fair - Peter's Valley Craft Fair - September 28 & 29

I have been busy all summer creating art and setting up my booth for Peter’s Valley Craft Fair. The Fair is in it’s 49th year and is the largest fundraiser for Peter’s Valley Craft School. The school is located within the picturesque Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and creates a unique opportunity for immersion learning. Nestled in the midst of the beauty are state of the art studios with workshops run by professional artist from around the world. I am proud to have qualified to participate for the first time as an emerging artist

I will be located at Booth 5-115 Saturday and Sunday 10 - 5pm

Spring Alpaca Shearing and Studio Photo Shoot

The weather stayed cool this spring but by mid may the alpacas were ready for shearing. The clipping crew arrived on a rainy Tuesday morning and were all done by 1:00. The ‘girls’ were all out rolling around in their dirt patches enjoying fur freedom.

The alpaca girls prior to shearing

I’ve been spending more time in the studio since closing the gallery and planning for fall art fairs. Needing some good photos for publicity and my website I enlisted the talented Rebecca Gerrard from Full Circle Creative Works to shoot me. She spent a sunny afternoon with me and we had a bunch of fun. She made my ‘guys’ look first class.

My sculptures in their studio space

The new kiln has arrived

The new kiln has arrived! My very first, so the trial and error has begun. Have done the test fire, then a bisque fire, to cone 04. My first glaze firing to cone 4 resulted in a great batch of very light colors…

looks like a space ship loading.