Art Dolls

 I am still working on clay cloth combinations. Who knows, perhaps this is where the universe wants me to be.

 These girls are now on my Etsy store. I call them Forest Fairies (Bird and Fauna) I drew and painted on their little bodies. Soft colors, which is a departure from my electrifying circus colors.

Today I am cleaning my studio. It was such a mess I couldn't focus. Do you get like that too? Seriously... a friend commented to me "OCD much" uh, yes I guess so. Honestly, I couldn't set a cup of coffee on the table. Sorry I haven't written here much, will be better now that I have ditched Facebook.

Don't forget to look for me on Instagram @Vixterina and you will see more posts. You can always say hi!

Getting Where I Need To Be

I have a bad feeling my thumb is going to be naughty for a very long time. Went to the doctor a few weeks back and he said it was a cyst on the knuckle: suggested surgery or as a hold over he could try to drain it and cortisone shot. Don't want surgery. Is my foot better from surgery? No.

 So while my thumb is being naughty I am going to keep it bandaged and keep on sewing and adding clay parts. I have to say I love the doll I have been working on. Here is a head shot. I held her out in the bushes but it was so windy... her hair got wild. She'll soon be listed on my Etsy store.

One Month Until NCECA

The count down starts. Flying to Pittsburgh for a reception at Morgan Glass gallery and NCECA. It'll be the first time I travel without my husband since.... ever? Actually when my parent's died... but I digress. (cue the Debbie Downer music!) Dang. But on a brighter note, the show at Morgan looks great. If you're in the area pop by. Visit these two little dears.

Brexit Sessions. 

And this piece is called We All Have Demons, Some Are Just Cuter. 

I can't wait to fill my suitcase with ceramic tools. And seriously if you're there... please say hi. I am a real chatter box.

Beep Beep

Here's a little something I just brought down to Artisan's on the Ave.Women are on a roll and this little sculpture let's you know all about it. When I was younger I didn't give women's rights much thought, but I am thankful for women who blazed trails that allowed me to attend college, vote, and work and perhaps one day the wage gap will go away. And it might be easy to forget but there are places on this planet where women can't attend school. Educated women can be hard to control.

 The resistance, the calls to Congress are being made by women. So throwing it back old school: you go girl. And to the young girls live your life for you. Have a child when you want one, buy yourself a diamond (don't wait for or settle for a boy). Be good to you.

Scooter Sculpture

Latest check, the world is still a mess. I wish we could scoot out of here. So this lovely gal reflects my feelings. Driving me crazy. Can't watch the news.
Trying to focus on happy but somehow she looks sad. Or is it pensive? (oh don't say Pence) LOL.

 Can't think of a name for her? For now she's Scooter Girl. Goofy just like me.

New Little Faces

Spread love everywhere you go: First of all in your own house...kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness. ~ Mother Teresa 

 I told my students today that if you have passion for what you do you will find success as an artist. If you live your truth and are happy you can't go wrong. Here I am at 50. Nothing pulls me from making art. It's my comfort in the sea of madness that engulfs our world.

These little faces calm me. Fresh faced and freckles provide a sense of innocence that I still believe in. The past few weeks  have shown me that I need nice people around. Cut ties with the negative.

Kind people who think make my heart sing. Find a way to let your heart sing.

Smooth Sailing!

“hark, now hear the sailors cry,
smell the sea, and feel the sky
let your soul & spirit fly, into the mystic...”
Van Morrison

 

 It feels like the world has gone absolutely mad and I just want smooth water. My little fingers are crossed because think I found a summer get-away in my hometown. The inspection is tomorrow.

 There are visions of summers along the St. Lawrence River. Summer days in my studio in New York. That sounds so nice to me.

The property has a garage with a large loft, that looks like a perfect space for a studio. Hoping for good news on the inspection. But as Ricky Scaggs sings, “I can't control the wind but I can adjust the sail.”

 So we wait

And these little ceramic girls have sails they never need to adjust.

Free standing sculptures

A friend of mine recently said could you make a few figures that are freestanding. So I did. I didn't want to fuss with skinny legs and bases so I thought about ways of doing it.

 And I remembered as a child I dreamed of owning a horse. I would hold old tv tray legs around me and gallop through the yard and I was on a horse. Or a broom, or branch, or anything really.

And rather than making them like real horses I look into my kooky mind for hybrid beasts.

This one is called Lies and Lies and it's based on genealogy research I have done. I've really gotten into family trees and DNA tests this summer (Ancestry and FamilyTree). My paternal grandfather was always a mystery and thank you to my brother for the yDNA now I know my grandfather's name. Why do families lie? I mean I know why because people get pregnant when they're not married or mess with married people. But the mystery is solved and my last name was actually my grandfather's middle name. Funny. So watch for a lot of work based on family history research. Another new passion: just what I needed.

Summer Break

Well I have been quite neglecting of my blog. Facebook has been shown the love. So I thought I post images of two dolls that are very summer timey.

They are both covered in hand made flowers and raspberries.

One is soft and ghostly and the other intense. I am really liking the soft ones lately. Perhaps it's getting older and pondering mortality, or the fading of ones being. (how depressing is that? ha ha) But I mean it in the best possible way.

On a lighter note: We are off to London and I will be running the Vitality British 10k. After my broken heel bone  6 months ago I am hoping for a good outcome. It's a wonderful route all throughout central London. Trafalgar, Victoria, Westminster, Send good vibes. And I am going to be sketching A LOT. This is my charge my batteries time.

Two Dolls included in Summer Issue: Art Doll Quarterly

I received my issue of Art Doll Quarterly in the mail today and was skimming through it when I saw two of my own dolls. Having forgotten the editor Jana Holstein requested a couple of images a few months ago. That sounds just like me to forget. But what a lovely surprise to see them. So if you're near a Barnes and Noble, look for Art Doll Quarterly and check out my kids.

Happy Earth Day!

It's Earth Day, so I thought I'd take another moment to say thank you to the earth for supplying my favorite art material: Clay. As the ice age was ending and massive glaciers scraped across the earth, grinding rock became wonderful clay deposits. Lucky me.

If you've got a lot of space plant a tree.  Those of you who have kids, you should really care about the planet. And I don't know about you, but I like clean air and water. I am weird like that. Happy Earth Day.

Update: Flowers

Here's a photo of the green (unfired) doll from an earlier post. She's covered in flowers.

Quite colorful. Me being a Virgo I loved painting all of the fussy details.

Sea Babies

I've been painting away over the weekend and finally got time to post some new sea babies. I shot these after work today. One of my students said "where's all those dolls you posted on Facebook?" So here they are.

 This is by far my favorite. Calling her Cheyenne.

 

These are Scarlett and Cowrie. 

 

And this is Jetty. I think I am going to braid Scarlett and Cowrie's hair too. I am not sure if most people will care for their hair. I brush it with a fork. Hope you enjoy them.

Spring!

Spring is in the air. Last week I planted rose bushes and I have flowers on the brain. And on the doll. Each little flower was hand made and then attached. Butterflies and flowers and birds and bees all buzzing around my studio.

She's still wet green clay. Slowly drying. 

Painting Butterflies

I am on spring break and that means studio time. This morning I was painting this girl covered with monarch butterflies.

I built her the night the cast was taken off my leg. What a good feeling walking again. Slowly getting better. Below is when she was green. (unfired and just built).

I am still enjoying illustrating the dolls. I don't get to paint that much and it's just so nice to sculpt and paint.

Florida Craft Art Shipment

I have sent a whole lot of artwork to Florida Craft Art in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. They were down to a couple of figures so the new babies arrived just in time. If you're in the neighborhood stop by and visit the kids.

On my Foot

Today I got so tired of sitting in bed so I dragged myself on crutches into the studio for a little while. I got really tired so I worked

fast. Foot propped up on a stool and inspired by my recent injury and feeling like a total donkey was the inspiration. Note the donkey ears.

The hoof on the left foot? The wrapped leg. If you can't laugh at yourself... I am giving her wings

because I wish I could fly and not have to clip clop around. And frankly, I was too tired and lazy to make arms and all those tiny fingers needed.

New Heads

When I screw up I always try to find the sunny side. A few weeks ago I was making a head and it just looked goofy, so in disgust I  flattened it and something funny happened; I liked it. (it was this head)

Then I made a second head and I smashed it flat too (it was this one)

And then I gave her a flower in her hair. Then I called in my husband as I often do and said "opinion?" He liked them too. I tend to be tight with my art but with these I am quite loose.

 And they're really fun to make. I get to smash  them and make them weird.

Don't worry, I even made a salt and pepper set. I am still making my crazy dolls. But these I am going to explore some more. New things just in time for New Year.

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to show a new piece and wish a very Merry Christmas. I have been scouring old sketchbooks from 20 years ago (can you even imagine?) Me neither. Exploring and making old ideas new again.

So far I am calling this Barnacles. She's part octopus and part mermaid. I've got two more similar to her just about done. Merry Christmas!! And a very happy, healthy, creative new year.

Everything Old is New Again

The house Martin's are out of the kiln and ready to fly the coop. House forms and birds will always be a part of my visual language. Playing with a lot of color lately.

These measure between 7 and 8.5 inches tall.

And they're for table top or shelf display.

 This one sold, and is living in north Florida. 

Merry Christmas early.