Newer Sculpture

I put some of these on Etsy but I realized I didn't put them up here. How rude of me. This is Baby.

 And this is drift. I am enjoying closed eyes. Remember people the answers are all inside. Listen to that voice in there.

 And this is Pep. And I am planning on bringing a few of these to Florida CraftArt up in St. Petersburg next weekend. I do dread the drive. Arf. Maybe I'll try to ship them instead.  Decisions decisions.

New Ceramic Sculpture at Florida Craftsmen Gallery

New work is winging its way to the Florida Craftsmen Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida. Big thanks to the very kind Executive Director Diane Shelly for picking up the work while here in South Florida. (saving me an 8  hour drive) If you find yourself in St. Pete or Tampa visit my kids. And watch my blog and Etsy for them to find their way into Photoshop.

New Salt and Peps on their way to Florida Craftsmen Gallery

I finally got off my lazy butt and photographed some of the new salt and peppers that have been laying in boxes in my hallway since unloading the kiln 2 weeks ago.  Shame shame... These kids will be on their way to Florida Craftsmen Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida. Having fun with native motifs of course wings and dots too.

All Doll'd Up! The Magic of Art Dolls at Florida Craftsmen Gallery

If you're going to be near Tampa you MUST stop at Florida Craftsmen Gallery in downtown St. Petersburg. They have a great show coming up called All Doll'd Up: the Magic of Art Dolls.


The show runs from April 19-June 8, 2013. Opening Reception: Friday, April 19^th  5:30-8:30. I gave them an absolute PILE of new pieces. (22, but who's counting and that's on top of the last pile I gave them). For some reason I thought they told me to give tons and I delivered. You must get by the gallery, I gave some really sweet pieces.

Three of them seen here. Home, Racing Catbird and Love Angel. The top 2 are approximately 15 inches high and retail for $275 and the lower one is $90 and approximately 6 inches tall. She is sort of a talisman and feels really super nice in your hands. Or maybe since I sculpted them that's why they feel so good in my hands.

Please support your local artists. Even if it's just walking through the gallery without buying a stitch.

Thanks to Florida Craftsmen Gallery

I seriously need to tip my hat and lavish adoration onto Diane Shelly and Maggie Duffy at Florida Craftsmen Gallery. Tomorrow Jody and I were going to hike up to St Petersburg to deliver art. However, it just so happened that Diane was down this way and offered to pick up my work for me. How totally nice is that? Seriously. How nice is that? So now I am not staring at a 4 hour drive (each way). All I can say is Wow.

The work gets installed at the Tampa Airport this week and there are a bunch of new pieces for the gallery on the way. Here are two pieces that you'll see at Florida Craftsmen this week. The first is a salt and pepper set which I totally love with sort of leaf forms on them. I am REALLY happy with the glaze. And the other is a double figure with a heart illustration on it. The title is Joined at the Heart for obvious reasons. So if you're near the gallery please stop by give a shout out to Maggie and Diane, they're SO nice.

What a Mess

Holy crap. I have to clean my studio. Look at what happens when I am ready to load a kiln. This week I was really pushing myself to work. Making 6 salt and pepper sets, 8 wall pieces (two of them are doubles), I glazed 27 coffee mugs for a charity event at South Shores Tavern here in Lake Worth, and one large winged boy all this week. My studio is a mess. I can't move, seriously I am relegated to putting work on the chair. Look at the tops of large figures stashed under my table. Open glaze bottles everywhere. Ugh, glaze on the floor. So dirty.

3 of the pieces on the wall are commissions and I haven't had time to photograph and list on Etsy. Can't focus until I clean. Are you like that too? It's like cleaning my space clears my mind.

Good news the kiln is loaded and I'll have some new work to show hopefully on Sunday. If the kiln Gods smile upon me).

Solo Show at Pence Gallery, Davis, CA

If you see me in the next few days you're going to see a humongous smile on my face. Why you ask? Spring break. What lovely words.

Over spring break I will be loading Missy (my car) full of art to take up to Florida Craftsmen gallery. They've asked me to put work in the Tampa Airport. Also, last week I was offered a solo show at Pence Gallery in Davis, CA for the month of December. How exciting is that? Also, part of an Art Doll show at Florida Craftsmen in April. Needless to say I will be a sculpting maniac for the near future. But being the workaholic that I am... sort of love it. Stressed, but enjoying the challenge.

So, be sure to stay posted. Lots of stuff going on. This piece is another life size (like a 2-3 year old child). I call her Lucky. She'll be sure to bring safe flights and good luck to anyone who sees her in Tampa Airport. So if you're passing by and see her snap a picture and let me know you were keeping her company.

Evil Eye Warder

I got a call from Florida Craftsmen Gallery on Monday and they asked if I would want to show my work in the Tampa International Airport. So I said yes and I think this is one of the pieces I am going to include. She's the Evil Eye Warden or the Evil Eye Warder Offer. Get it, she wards off the evil eye.

After all, what's better in an airport than a creature who keeps bad luck at bay? She's a big girl measuring 28 inches from her feet to the tip of her crown. And I actually built her in 2 pieces so she could fit into a kiln.

I am pleased with the glaze, her face reads pretty realistic. Almost creepy... but I like it like that. A lot.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. It really is a wonderful day to sit back and reflect on all of the good things one has in their life. How lucky am I? To be surrounded by wonderful people, to have a house, a car, a studio, opportunities and people who like my art.

We were fortunate enough to get back safe and sound from St. Petersburg, Florida yesterday and the Thanksgiving traffic wasn't too crazy. While we were there new line of work was delivered to the Florida Craftsmen Gallery just in time for Black Friday. So if you're in the area please pop by and see the new work.

Maggie the gallery director at Florida Craftsmen told me that Cirque du Soleil is in St. Pete and if you can't make it to their show but want to take a little of the circus home with you stop by Florida Craftsmen and check out the new work. Happy Thanksgiving!

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.

Podcast Interview with Ricë Freeman Zachary

Ricë Freeman Zachary interviewed me last week for a podcast that is now posted on her website. Please feel free to listen. Let me start by saying that I have been a long time fan of Ricë's. If you are familiar with craft books and magazines hers will be a name you will recognize. I know you'll find her interesting.

It was a fun conversation about making art, how to market yourself and your art. Do yourself a favor and download all of her podcasts. I have listened to every single one of them. It's like sitting back and listening to pals chatting about everything from art, crafts, publishing, you name it. Hope you enjoy it.

Article in Contact Magazine

The article in Contact Magazine is hot off the presses. If you are interested in reading a bit about my art visit this link: http://www.palmbeachstate.edu/x12736.xml You can download a high res pdf/e-version of the entire magazine. CRM did a lovely job with the layout. Thanks to Mark Udry and Kari McCormick and the rest of the team.

I Painted My Studio

Well I've done it again. I painted my studio yet again. I think this makes it 5 times in just over 2 years! Ha! But hey it's my sanctuary, it's my studio. A place that reflects the inner me (painted 5 times in 2 years... I think that makes the inner me a total wack-a-doodle).

Anyhow, here is a shot I took yesterday afternoon when I got in from work. I ran to the studio (to appreciate the new paint) and opened the blinds and the sun was just dazzling on the freshly painted coral colored walls (Valspar: Wet Coral is the actual color). And my little sculpture looked so dramatic with the light falling on it. The piece is unfinished. She is green (unfired) and I haven't titled her yet. While building her I kept thinking of the princess and the pea.I must google it because I can't remember anything other than the girl slept on a stack of mattresses and felt a tiny pea underneath it all.(or at least that sounds right).

If you get stuck for ideas, reflect your favorite childhood stories and illustrate them in whatever way you can. I'll post more images when the work is fired.

Florida Craftsmen Opening

It's been a week since the opening at Florida Craftsmen Gallery and NCECA. It was a great time and a fantastic turnout at the gallery. Here are a couple of shots of the piece titled "Hornet's Nest". She's sitting pretty in the window.

She's approximately 40 inches high. About the size of a 2 or 3 year old.

If you are in St. Petersburg please stop by the gallery. Helen Otterson did a great job curating the show.

The Nerd Herd

Here is a sample of one of the new cups I have been making. I brought 10 of them to Florida Craftsmen Gallery in St. Petersburg.

As they were all lined up on the counter I just kept thinking they look like a herd of nerds. Or like a high school reunion. The good, the bad and the ugly. (and the dorky)
I think I am going to start doing portraits of people I know... that is until they catch on and kick my *ss.

They're fun to make, what can I say.

St. Petersburg Banner

I delivered a bunch of art work for the Hot and Humid exhibition today at Florida Craftsmen Gallery. As we were walking to the car I looked up and saw my artwork on a banner. It was nice.

The Hot and Humid exhibit coincides with NCECA.

So if your in St. Petersburg Florida stop by Florida Craftsmen Gallery to see my newest life sized work and all of the crazy cups I made. And if you are walking up Central Ave remember to look up because you might see more of it staring back at you.

Rabbits

Here is a new standing piece called Give. She is approximately 5 inches in height and is mixed media (metal, clay and wood). Rabbits are multiplying in my studio. I just love sculpting their ears.

While I am out running I quite often stumble upon small brown rabbits that hop into my path. I don't know who gets more startled, me or them. This little rabbit has the word Give upon her chest. A gentle reminder to always give more than you take and to keep your basket wide open for the universe to fill.

A New Schtick

Something really nice happened the other day, I was in a shop and as I was paying my bill the clerk said "Aren't you the artist who makes those little bird people?"It was quite surprising and I asked her how she knew and she said "I've seen your work in galleries and I really like it". I must say it was pretty cool.

Also very cool, here is one of my newest babies fresh out of the kiln. This series is small scale (5 inches). This piece is called Love On My Mind.

I am sculpting and getting ready for my show this summer in London, England. I will update you when I have more information and know which pieces I am bringing over. It is all so exciting.

Delivered Work

This past weekend was a busy one. First, I celebrated my birthday on Labor Day (how appropriate, since birthdays are labor days for our moms).

Then I delivered a car load of new artwork to Florida Craftsmen Gallery. This piece is called Beach Baby. The heart on her tummy is a drawer so you can stash jewelry or other mementos inside her.

I also had an opening last Friday night at Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery in Lake Worth, Florida. The turn out was great. I saw a lot of students from PBCC. To all who made it a successful night, thank you.

New Work: Freestanding Vixie Chix

Thought I would upload an image of my newest Vixie Chicks. They are fresh out of the kiln and are ready to be adopted. They are small, standing about only 4 inches high so they don't take up too much space. Guaranteed to make you smile. I called this picture Chorus Line. Or maybe I should have called it police line up. You can buy them at Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery in Lake Worth, Florida and Florida Craftsmen Gallery in St. Petersburg Florida.