Jason Briggs Inspired Sculpture

I went to Horseshoe lake recently to capture some sunset images.  Before the sun went down I saw this great dead tree with great textures and holes.  It instantly reminded me of Jason Briggs and the workshop I had with him at Fresno state last summer.  That was so much fun and he gave us some great demos and the most ridiculously entertaining lecture I have seen! Thanks, Jason! These pictures are for you.

 

 

Here is one of the sculptures I have been working on that was inspired by the workshop.  I haven't decided how I am going to finish it yet.  Hmmm...

Tis The Season...

...to be in another wonderful Etsy Treasury!  That's my Winter Evergreen Eco Mug down there.  Yay!

Tiles Inspired by Jenny Mendes

Last spring ceramic artist, Jenny Mendes, came and spent a month at Chico State to prepare a body of work.  She graciously shared her knowledge and let me sneak (hehe) into her work space to pester her.  Just kidding.  I really enjoyed getting to talk with Jenny and getting to know about her and her work.  These tiles were inspired by Jenny's work.  I started them just before she left in April and I just now got around to taking pictures of them.

I'm thinking of trying some more things out with this terra sig work.  I made these tiles on some recycled clay which was NOT a good idea.  It seems like the sig wants to jump right of the edges if I even look at the tiles.  I did throw some platters out of some earthenware and have started applying some imagery to those.  I am quite interested in making some more tiles.  The problem is just to figure out how, when or if it can even fit into my schedule.

Trying out different configurations.

Poladroid Pictures

So last night I stayed up way too late.  I got sucked into dropping my photos into this polaroid simulator called Poladroid.  I like the way my images look with this treatment.  The way they turn out is completely random, much like old polaroids.  I might try making my own polaroids so that I have more control and predictability.  Yeah, like I have the time for that.  At least there is no school today so I can either catch up on housework, work on my papers or completely enjoy the day doing neither!  Have a great Veteran's day.  Here is some more eye candy.

Satin Mint Organic Sculpture

I recently donated this piece to an auction fundraiser for the University Art Gallery at Chico State.  This was a new glaze that I had been testing out and I absolutely love it.  It is called Chung's Satin Mint and I got the recipe out of The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes: Glazing & Firing at Cone 10 by John Britt. 

What is amazing to me is how much this glaze changes depending on thickness and atmosphere in the kiln.  I got a lot more reds and pinks than I expected.  I had a couple of pieces come out completely pink from a heavy reduction and a few pieces that didn't get as much reduction had more greens and yellows.  

This piece was thrown with recycled clay and then given a coat of white slip and porcelain slip trailed dots before bisque firing.  Lush!  I can't wait to do some more work with this glaze.  If I have time, I want to take the base and try some other color variations.  Fun, fun, fun.  I love glazes and glazing!

 

Still here, part two...

 

Yes, I have been pitifully absent from my blog as of late.  What have I been up to?  Not much, really.  I made it through our BFA open studios event and coinciding BFA exhibit in our student gallery.  I got tons of positive feedback.  I still need to get some images of the work I showed for that.  I have two term papers to write that are due after Thanksgiving.  Yuck!  I have lots of sculpture that I have been working on and I am gearing up for my culminating exhibition next spring.  I have my show six weeks into the new semester so I am trying to make some preliminary headway on that.  Making work is the fun part.  Writing and the business side?  Well, necessary.  

And then there is Etsy.  I was spending way too much time on my store and it was proving to be too much of a distraction from my studies.  I decided to leave it alone for awhile, but recent sales and the holidays coming up have tempted me back to it.  Here is my most recent listing for this gorgeous chili bowl.  I love how this rutile glaze turned out.  Delish!