Updated my studio

The good news is I revamped my studio. Light and bright. Lately I am so into white. Maybe I am subconsciously craving snow? (Ah, no!!) Here's a picture I snapped last night.

The good news is I love it, the bad news while laying the bamboo flooring I dropped heavy planks on my "good foot" and am waiting for x-rays to see if there are broken bones. Can't put a shoe on my foot, but who would want to with that fuzzy rug? (I joke) Well, half joke. Thinking about painting my ware boards white. Fingers crossed I don't need another cast. Will keep you posted.

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.

Painting the Living Room: Again

If you know me at all you know I am LETHAL with a can of paint. I went to the store Home Goods and bought a blue rug and drapes and that sent me down a rabbit hole.

Then I said hmm. I think the accent wall which faces the image above (which you can't see in the pic up top) could use a little pop of drama. Here's drama how I see drama (below). I want to add a whole bunch of mirrors on the wall.

 

I've got 3 mirrors and two of my little sculptures there now. Do I love it? I think so, but I'll live with it and start hunting for mirrors. You like?

What do you think?

Just playing with ideas. I had sewn a bunch of clothing and made a bunch of wigs in the past few months that went into the "not for that figure" pile. So I took all of them and put them on a naked doll. Too weird even for me?

The first image is having fun in my favorite software addiction: Photoshop and the second is normal.

Playing with Images

Having more fun with Photoshop. These are newer figures made to look super old.

Two New Figures: Florida CraftArt

Next week is spring break! (can you hear me yodeling with joy?) We're bringing a body of work up to Florida CraftArt in St. Petersburg so keep your eyes open for these kids. The single figure is the lovely Jasmine and the double figure is titled "It's What You Believe".  Notice her skirt is removable.

Their bathing suits are permanent clay. And they arrive with a stand and they hang on the wall.  Hope you like.

New Sculptures and New Ideas

Here are a few of my newest sculptures. I have starting trying a lighter hand with color. And adding hair, sewing more too. And a lot more angels. Ethereal. Light. Reason? After experiencing horrible shortness of breath that I thought  was allergies.

Went to the doctor and it turned out to be sky high cholesterol, pre-diabetes along with allergies. Suffice it to say I had angels watching over me. Thank God I went to a new doctor. So brace yourself for a whole lot of winged ladies. Guardian angels are filling my studio.

Newest Sculpture: Londiva

I've been sketching like a fiend because I wanted to try something different. Here's what I've been doing. Sewing clothes on nude figures and combining mixed media. Her necklaces are real pearls, her brooch is one of my mom's old pearl earrings and her crown is metal. Thinking I am in love.

Lamps have gone to the dogs

I just finished the lamps I've been working on. Say hello to Frisbee Fred and Vicious Vic. A whole lot of fun to make and sitting pretty in my living room. Bringing them to Artisans on the Ave in downtown Lake Worth today. Watch for them lighting the night from the window.

More Dogs for Bark Show

Unloaded a kiln this morning and happy birthday to me, more dogs for the Bark show.

 Frisbee Fred is going to be a lamp.

 And Vicious Vic will be a lamp too. Going to wire them up. Fingers crossed.

Holiday Fun in England

A few more images. At the seaside, a garden in Cambridge, a ceramic cat, and street art in Camden.

The best thing about vacation is wandering with no plan. Make sure you take time to do the same. It's good for the soul.

New Hobby Horse Sculptures

I have barely had time to be in the studio, barely. Why? Because we're redoing out kitchen. I've been told on average people do it twice in their lives, do you know why? BECAUSE IT SUCKS!
Despite the kitchen drama, here are my latest babies. Hobby Horse riding. I am exploring softer colors, and not as intense. What do you think?

Article in Hibu magazine

I just received a link to an article on my work written by fellow ceramic artist Joyce Brown in Hibu magazine. To see the article go to page 18.

Winter in Florida

I keep hearing all this talk on the news about snow storms up north. Well, this is the time of year we all love here in Florida. The photo above is the Lake Worth Pier. Living nearby, Jody and I walked over the bridge and visited the beach. Just thought I'd rub it in to those of you up to your eyebrows in snow.

Retracting my claws and on a less bitchy note, I've got a couple more large pieces on the table. You can compare sizes with the small figures on the wall. This photo was taken earlier while the girls were under wraps and enjoying the warm sun. In case you're not a clay person the figures are draped in plastic to keep them wet until I finish building them.  The figure on the left was starting to lean a bit from the hot sun cooking her on one side. Nothing a little spin on the banding wheel and some water couldn't cure. Will post pictures when they're a little further along. They do now have heads and are standing up on the floor. Being so "vertically challenged" I couldn't reach high enough to add facial features.

New web site coming soon

I am finishing up the last little fiddly bits on my new web site. Within the next few days I am going to pull down the old site and replace it with a new shiny version. You'll notice similarities and major differences. Biggest difference is the green is gone replace with clean white background.

I am including a screen shot of one version of the homepage. I say one version because each time you refresh the page the image changes. There are 12 different figures and sketchbook page combinations. So if you are so inclined be sure to hit the refresh button or go back home and notice the different layouts. If you are a web builder/ designer I got the code for the random image from javascriptkit. I love that site and send my students there all of the time. It's also worth mentioning I got the code for my form on the contact page from thesitewizard. Follow the instructions and you too can have a really easy form on your site. There are so many people sharing great bits out there. If you find any please share them with me too.

And I  have also decided that I am going to start showing more sketches and am about to start selling prints of my sketches in my Etsy shop. Well, the sketches that aren't covered in clay since I do use my sketchbooks while working in the studio. Hope you like the new concept for the site.

NIADA: National Institute of American Doll Artists

More good new, I have been notified that my work has been accepted into the NIADA (National Institute of American Doll Artists). I have a few things to put together and the final decision is made next year at their annual conference. If you aren't familiar the NIADA is a prestigious organization for the Doll Art. I have to say I never really considered my work dolls, but a lot of people call them dolls so I thought why not join.

If you're not familiar with the organization visit their website and check out some of the art. It's the best of the best. Beautiful works of art and I am truly honored to have my toe in the door with them.

Here's a definition I found on Wikipedia:
 A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. 

I have to confess I like the latter point: used in magic and religious rituals. Mine are meant to magically transfer people into a happier state of mind and are made with good intentions and blessings.



 

You're My Bud...

I fired the Chrissy the kiln Sunday and didn't unload until late Sunday night. I was actually looking at the clock and suffering from daylight savings-itus saying "please God... let it cool so I can unload and go to bed". Monday was back to work and suffering from end of spring break-itus. So I just went outside and picked a big honking hibiscus flower from the front yard and shot some images of my work. I know, I know... the flower is bigger than her head. I looked lecherously at a purple orchid I have in my tree and said Vic...don't do it.

These new pieces are "bud vases" in two ways. The can hold a single bud or flower and they can become your new little buds. The ones posted here represent the blondes and brunettes. The blonde is about 10 inches high and the brunette is about 9 inches high. I think my latest crazy obsession is polka-dots, can you tell? Actually I have always loved them even though migraine sufferers are supposed to avoid bold patterns I am strangely drawn to stripes and dots. I hope to put some of the new work on Etsy in the next few days. Do stay tuned.

Oh, and if you are in the area I have a couple of pieces in a show that opens this Saturday at JF Gallery in West Palm Beach. Hope you can make it.

Tooo Big

I loaded a kiln late last night and fired it today but why you ask is my bottom lip is all pouty and quivering? Because one of my girls was too big for the kiln. (big sigh... she's 23.5 inches tall) I get so darned impatient to see them fired. Maybe that is why the universe guided me to clay in the first place because it is really about patience. If clay is too wet it falls, and you patiently have to wait for it to dry. And then you have to wait for the work to dry before putting it into a kiln. Then if you heat a kiln too fast the work blows up, so you have to take it slow. When the kiln reaches temperature and begins cooling I pace like a father in the delivery room. Sticking paper in the peeps to see if it catches on fire, blowing fans towards the kiln and an ever vigilant ear listening for pinging and popping meaning it's cooling too fast and in danger of breaking. Oh... patience. So once this gal dries I can bring her to the Craft Gallery and have Betty, my clay angel fire my baby. I'll post a picture of her when she's done.

Then and Now

This little lady popped out of the kiln today. Funny enough while I was sculpting it I had thought of the best title... do you think I can remember it now? So, I am calling her Then and Now. The sculpture stands about 36" high and she is seated in an old Amaco doll high chair.

I remember being a kid and going to friend's or cousin's houses and seeing toys like that chair and DROOLING. Now here I am in my 40's and I am still drooling over funky old doll chairs. It's nice to see nothing has changed.

Anyhow, I have to deliver her to Tequesta tomorrow after class for an exhibition at the Lighthouse Center for the Arts. The show opens September 15th. If you are in the area I hope you can make it to the opening reception.

Creative Spark and Amsterdam

You'll find a nice interview on Create Mixed Media. There are photos of my studio and some interiors of my house. And yes, my dining room really is purple and turquoise. One of the questions asked of me was "if I could spend one day making art with someone who would it be?". I said Vincent Van Gogh.

We spent last week in Amsterdam and I got to visit the Vincent Van Gogh museum. Seeing so much of his work was very inspirational. Aside from drooling over Van Gogh's work, one of the thing I will remember the most about Amsterdam was the number of bicycles in the city. Holy crap crossing the street was seriously taking one's life in their own hands. Back in the states we have multi level parking garages for cars, in Amsterdam they are PACKED with bikes. The photo attached here is just a tiny detail of a garage.

There were bikes under canal bridges, bike racks where they had them stacked three high. Aside from bikes there are some nice museums in Amsterdam including the Rijk Museum (Rembrandt's night watch was the highlight) and the Hermitage.