Preview of new work for Lark & Key show!

In progress...

Here are some of the pieces I am currently working on for the show at Lark & Key. They are in the greenware stage awaiting some color.


It has been pretty miserable working in 30 degree temps.
So in my head I am dreaming of warmer days and all the beauty that comes with spring and decided to use that for my inspiration.

I forgot to post some pictures of the finished "Fun Run" awards...
Top photo is of one of my cats, (Rembrandt) helping me take photos!


Today I am feverishly working on pieces for the Lark & Key show opening at the beginning of April. I am also trying to get some inventory made for the spring Clay Guild show in Charlotte.

I had a great weekend. Saturday I went to the winter farmers market and got some organic eggs, homemade pita and hummus plus some other goodies.


Then I went to my favorite bakery Amelie's which is on the other side of the world from the house (but oh so worth the drive)! It is this funky place with the BEST baguettes in the world. Sunday I spent the morning at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden checking out out the orchid house. Of course I had to come home with 3 new orchids for our house!

Working...

These are some of the Houston Heights "Fun Run" awards in progress. I still have a lot more detail painting to do plus I will be adding some text to the backs. I plan on finishing these today and re-firing them to bisque temperature to set the underglazes. Then a quick dip in clear glaze and fire them up to cone 6.

I am anxious to get these done so I can fully concentrate on the show at Lark & Key which will be opening at the beginning of April.

Brrrrrrrrr!

Working in an unheated garage is NOT pleasant this morning! I have on 2 pairs of socks, long johns, sweat pants, a long sleeve tee shirt with an old wooly sweater over that and I’m still freeeeezing! I look somewhat like the Michelin man and I can barely move.

The space heater is sitting about 6 inches from my legs but it just isn’t helping much. I guess I am not quite as resilient as I used to be.

Oh well, soon it will be summer and you can hear me whine about the heat!

And on a happy note… for my b-day present my hubby & I are going to the Eagles concert tonight in Charlotte- Yay!

Happy hump day!
b.

it's always something...

Well, this past weekend was spent redoing our kitchen pantry. Got rid of the wire shelves and put in proper wood ones. It looks soooo nice!

While at Lowe’s shopping for pantry stuff I also purchased another big wire rack for the studio- Yay! More shelf space. I will be putting that together this week and hopefully filling it up soon with new work.

Today the electrician is here hard wiring my kiln. I had a little incident the last time I fired and the outlet melted :( Yikes! Not a good thing. So anyway, as my post title says “it’s always something”.

Hope you have a great Monday!

Happy 2009!

Time to clean up the studio (again!) and get back to work.

I will be the featured clay artist in April at a sweet gallery in Charlotte named
Lark & Key http://www.larkandkey.com/ So... I am really excited to get creative and make some new pieces.

I have also been commissioned to create awards for the Houston Heights Association "Fun Run". The Heights is a diverse neighborhood with beautiful historic homes and funky new ones mixed together in the heart of downtown. The race is an annual event and they always have an artist create the awards. I have made awards for this a couple of times in the past and am happy that they have asked me again! For those of you who don’t know me I lived in Houston for almost 20 years prior to escaping to North Carolina hence the Texas-NC connection.

During my extended break from clay I have been plotting some new work and hope it will translate from my brain to my hands. I might even do a little throwing! Keep y'all posted (that's a TX thang ;-P )

I am still here!

I am currently trying to get ready for the Charlotte Clay Guild "Barn Sale". It happens twice a year and is a great local sale.

I have had many distractions in the past few months so I am not going to have as much work as I normally do and I am a little disappointed with myself. But it is what it is and I am trying not to beat myself up over it too much.

Another “creative distraction” is that right now I am working in chaos- my studio (half of our garage) is a total wreck! I just don't want to take the time to clean it up! After this sale I would love to paint the walls, hang some images, rearrange and really make it "my space". I think it is important to create in a space that is inspiring and efficient. So that is going to be my goal for the end of the year...



Anywhoo, here are shots of the disaster zone... my little kiln and work in progress.

I am pretty eclectic when it comes to creating. I usually go out to the studio without a concrete plan and begin creating. Sometimes I don’t have that luxury (like when I am working on something custom which I find very stressful but that is a whole different post) so for the most part I work very intuitively- the actual pieces are my sketches.

That is not to say I don’t have copious sketchbooks full of thoughts & ideas- but those are mainly to help my overloaded brain remember an idea (as I age, I realize my brain is kind of like a sieve and I need a little prompt now and then to recall something I want to try).

About my work...

I create porcelain objects often incorporating highly embellished surfaces.
My pieces are hand built using slab construction techniques. I use a variety of texture making tools, ceramics pigments and translucent glazes. I fire in an oxidation atmosphere to cone 6.
I am inspired by nature, fabric/textiles, graphic design and architecture. Each piece is a representation of my interest in exploring the elements of line, color, pattern and detail. I often work on an intimate scale meant to entice the viewer both physically and visually. Most of my pieces are one-of-a-kind.
My genuine enjoyment of the medium is evident by the playful nature of my work but I also strive to convey refinement and meticulous craftsmanship in each piece.