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.

Getting Ready for SoFlo Show in Palm Beach Gardens

Getting ready for a show. Going to do a large grouping of rabbit riders (approximately 10). Here are three fresh out of the kiln today. They have their little metal and clay arrows in their pack baskets; as any good rabbit should.

My New Web Site is Live

My new web site is live. Finally. Seriously I have been trying to figure out what to do for the past 2 years. There's a trail of files on my hard drives proving that I just couldn't decide. Then I would see another site I adored and say "oh I want one like that" I'd start building it and then I'd see something else and change my mind. If you want good inspiration for web sites visit thebestdesigns. You'll find so many cool web sites that you'll drool over. Don't blame me if you can't decide which you like the most. In fact, I won't even go there now because I know I'll see something I love and I'll have to change it all again.

All of the drawings on the home page are straight from my well worn sketchbooks. I've got stacks of them, some way back to the 1990's when I was an undergrad. It's fun sharing them. Summer vacations, dreams, it's all there.

And if you have a link you would like to share please send it and I will link to it on my inspiration page.

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.

Rock Out!

It's been a busy few weeks and I'd like to introduce you to the Royal Rocker. He is currently making his debut at Valentina's Treasures on Palm Beach Island. Valentina's is located on Peruvian just off Worth Ave. so if you're on the island check him out. There are 3 more rocking rockers in the kiln. And the good news, The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA sold out on all of my salt and pepper shakers. Yours truly is staring down winter break from school (thank you sweet Jesus!! and I say that with love to my students). So get ready for a whole lot of new art to come down the pipe.

Busy Bee

Well the weather here in Florida has broken, it's perfection if I must say so myself. We've shut off the a/c and are enjoying the cooler weather. I just finished shooting images of the new work that was pulled out of the kiln today. I love the pictures that I got today. Not sure if it's the lighting outside, maybe it's the colors that I used when I glazed, I don't know but the images are just popping. The lighting is so dramatic. Probably just dumb luck (given my photography skills)

I am calling this piece Count To Nine. It's a double and it stands about 20 inches high. The title once again making reference to siblings in my family.

I am actually really busy, I've got a commission to make a life sized double figure and more galleries are selling out and need more work. Whew.  A good complaint to have. I've actually been really bad this week, repainting my living room instead of working in the studio. I've got some new wall pieces I am going to post on Etsy. Watch for those shortly.

All Things Are Connected

What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die from great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth.
Chief Seattle - Suqwamish & Duwamish

On the Cover: Piedmont Craftsmen Newsletter

I received the newsletter from Piedmont Craftsmen the other day and found my little salt and pepper shakers were on the cover! Way too cool. It was one of those experiences where you open a piece of mail and you're looking at it and saying huh that looks familiar and then "ding dong" the light switches on! Oh, it's my work. There is another small piece and write up on the inside but I am only including the cover. 

I was far too lazy to photoshop the creases from the picture I posted with this entry. (it's a folding mailer) Actually, now that I mention it I have been far too lazy to do much of anything the past couple of weeks. I think I burned myself out over spring break. Or at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. 

There are actually two salt and pepper shakers sitting on my studio table. One has no arms, not because I am trying something new or different. It's because yours truly was too lazy to add arms before she got too dry. But who knows if I like the way they turn out I might make more. 

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.

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.

Exhibiting Member Piedmont Craftsmen

I received notification that my work has been juried into Piedmont Craftsmen located in Winston Salem, NC. Needless to say I am very excited as I have long admired the organization.

Since 1963, Winston-Salem, North Carolina has been home to Piedmont Craftsmen, Inc., a guild founded by craft artists and collectors to honor the work of the hand. I will be taking part in the Piedmont Craftsmen's 48th Fair November 18-20. There is an option to have a booth or submit 5 pieces for a group booth. Given my busy schedule I will most likely opt for the 5 pieces rather than a solo booth.November is a long time off and you can be assured as the time draws nearer I will keep you posted on the how, what and wheres.

The image I posted with this entry is called Besties. I am back to making my boxes with drawers. The little faces remind me of childhood, particularly my sister Kelly and I. (see the picture on my web site) We were besties.

My Studio Shelf

Somebody recently posed the question, "do you wear anything special, lucky or magical while making art?" You know you hear stories about baseball players who wear special underwear or socks during important games. And it got me thinking for all of my 'out there woo woo' thoughts I don't do anything like that. There is no special apron or lucky charm. I do have a paring knife that I use 90% of the time and it's been my primary sculpting tool for almost 20 years but I think I could hit a grocery store and find another one if I had to.

I do know that I like a clean studio before I start to work. It's like I can't focus without everything in order.

The question did make me realize that I like surrounding myself with things that I find visually appealing. Here is an image the work table in my studio and a more detailed view of my shelf. There is a small portrait I painted of Jody, a small silver shrine I bought at the Tate Britain, a bird's nest my sister Virginia sent me. Just bits and pieces that make me think.

So is there anything you do when you prepare to work in your studio? Or are you like me and just do a happy dance because you get to make things?

Show at SDC Opens May 4th

The kiln has been firing and my hands have been sculpting pretty much non stop for the past few months. I have been working on my body of work to bring over to SDC Gallery in London, England where I will be taking part in the Summer Collection.

SDC is located in the East End of London (24 Rivington Street) and is an absolutely lovely space. The Summer Collection opens on May 4th and ends August 7, 2010. Hopefully those of you on the other side of the pond will come opening night. Address and directions can be found on the galleries direction page.

The sculpture accompanying this entry will be in the show. It is handbuilt ceramics, slips, oxides, underglazes and overglazes. (c. 4" x 3" x 2").

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.

New Year, New Work

I just took this picture of my studio table. I just changed the paper and turned the Roomba loose so the place is presentable again. That is until I start yanking out bottles of glaze.

I decided to try a terra cotta body for a change. The work is for the Mad Hatter Tea Pot show to be held in March at the Armory Art Center. Each piece has an Alice in Wonderland vibe. The large piece is Alice's head with a flamingo and the two smaller pieces are Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb in top hat tea cups.