Handmade Books in the Library

        This  photo was taken this past Saturday at the Sedona Community Library. I am part of this  exhibit of hand made books made by  members of the Sequence book group, of which I am a member. This marks our 2nd year of exhibiting and teaching the art of handmade books to the public at the Sedona library, which we did  this past Saturday.                                                                                      As a calligrapher, I myself  started making books many years ago. Remember, all books used to be hand made, individually written and bound by hand. Mr. Gutenberg changed this with the invention of the printing press in  fifteenth century. Still , how exquisite it is to see the different style of books, some plain, some including words and illustrations.  I invite you all to stop by and check out this exhibit , which runs until April 25th, 2026, at our very own Sedona Community library. Books are for sale through each individual artist.                                                 

The Art of Creating Beaded Jewelry

                    Professor Norton here, teaching my " Beading Magic: A Creative Jewelry Workshop" at the Sedona Arts Center last Saturday. Here is my student, Sharon, who had fun getting out of her head while expanding her creative boundaries.

I have been a teacher of some form of art for the last forty some years. Usually it has been Calligraphy, but I find myself eager to share new artistic dimensions . I like it that the student can actually Finish a piece within a day's workshop. It is such a reward for them to actually leave with their own completed  creation .

Since I also work in ceramics, I am enjoying the immediacy that jewelry  can offer myself, and my students. I still make my own high fired porcelain beads, each one a unique treasure. This is how I actually got into the jewelry making business, to give the gallery what they demanded. But that can take  months to create; fill the kiln; fire the kiln: stain, and fire again. With the gorgeous array of beads we have available, it can be so nice to  just pick out one's design from the array of beads I have to offer my students.            Yes, I Do go to the Tucson gem show, and any other location where I can score unique, and quality stones. What an array awaits me: crystal beads from Europe; coral, pearls, and shells  from the sea; jasper from our own state of Arizona; rose quartz that has been worn for thousands of years. The list is endless.                                                 What is so liberating is to experiment with color, textures, layout and designs. I am a teacher that really leaves those decisions to the student. I can offer suggestions, but they are sometimes not taken, which is fine by me. I am always surprised; impressed, and even amused to see how everyone's process is so different. Each person follows their own vision and how fun is that!                                                                                     Comments?

 

 

Art of Flower Arranging

 What fun to play with flowers! Here I am at the Arizona Federation of Garden Clubs Convention down in Phoenix last Sunday. As well as being a working artist here in Sedona , AZ., I love plants and flowers and joined our own SAGC here in Sedona a few years ago. I was fortunate enough to take a workshop with a Very well know flower designer, Brent Leech.  One of his first questions went something like  " How many of you just take your flowers from the grocery store  and  put them in a tall vase?" Ok. I have been guilty of that. I do often go outside and see if there are any interesting blooms in my garden to add, but not always. 

Brent does have an advantage over those of us who live up in Sedona, and other small towns in Arizona. He can go to the flower market in Phoenix, open to professionals and others. That is now on  my list of " must do" in My future. He  likes to work with the "Tropicals", those exotic flowers that grow in the tropics and are not readily available here in dry Arizona. Perhaps some local flower stores will sell them? Another thing to follow up on in my future.  

His goal was really to get us to think "out of the box" when making a design. Notice the other materials included here as well. There are large  leaves that can be folded; rolled; split; anything to add interest, or the branch that also adds support to the tall blooms. There are clever little bamboo pins to hide these methods of manipulation.

 Notice the difference in heights; the directions of  the blooms; the way the eye circles around the whole. A very low vase for a very tall arrangement. Even the little bamboo like stems we cut up and put on a copper wire , which flows out of the arrangement and keep us intrigued. Something mosslike is added to hide the "frog" or  foam, keeping the flowers in place. We all were doing the same arrangements, but there was always an individual interpretation. The Art involved in your next flower adventure! Comments?

Creating with My New Dremel

 

What fun it is working with my new Dremel! My fellow gardeners and  myself are creating table decorations with stones from our own  properties. Our conventions are coming up soon, in April. There will be gardeners from both the State and the Pacific Regions, including our own Sedona Area Garden Club. There are demonstrations, classes, and well known experts in their fields. I went two years ago and learned new techniques and information, as well as meeting very interesting people from other locations in our state. 

 However, not everyone knows about our state's natural beauty and historical petroglyphs and pictographs. The former are carved into the rocks: the latter are painted on.  We were inspired to try to reproduce some designs from the petroglyphs found around Sedona, where I live and create, as well as the many ruins in our Verde Valley . We are talking about art that could be as much as 1,000 years old.  

As I tried to hold my hand steady with my electric tool ( that really does not like to go in circles) , I wondered, "What were the tools the Ancient ones used; what did these symbols actually mean; what was the intention of those people: and especially, How the heck could they carve into these hard surfaces by hand ??". These   images are found not only near Sedona, but in many locations in the west. 

It was very humbling to create figures as exacting  as these images we were emulating.  I am impressed and will always wonder about the methods used and meanings of their creations. These are some of my results that my cool tool helped me create. 

The Art of Making Books

      What do artists do for fun? They go to art workshops. This is what I created on my recent  trip down to Phoenix from my studio here in Sedona. I have been a member of the Calligraphy Society of Arizona for over 30 years. Every once in a while I like to take advantage of one of the great workshops they sponsor, including this one making a Long Stitch book , hence the name.                                 I like to think that Lewis and Clark wrote in their journals that were made similar to this. A soft leather on the outside with " signatures" of paper , a grouping of pages, sewn into the spine. This is book format and what you read today does this made with machines. But how much sweeter to see it all made by hand, which is where the book artist comes into the picture. Also, instead of just some stitches showing, I tied them together with some red, waxed linen thread, and added a touch to the closure. A little adornment to catch your eye.

I will be teaching Not this book, but an equally fun "Envelope book"   on November 16,2024,  at the Sedona Arts Center, here in uptown Sedona. In only three hours, you will leave with your own magical book. There is still time to sign up, so be sure to contact SAC and enroll in a great adventure! Comments? I love to hear from you.  

Raku at the Ranch

 

It was a lovely day out at the Reitz Ranch ceramic studio in Clarkdale, AZ. a few weekends ago.  Here I am with my hand built  platter, or wall hanger, just  after  I  pulled it out of the Raku kiln.  Well I waited till it cooled off to take this picture!  The ranch  was formerly  the home and studio of well known ceramic artist, Don Reitz. I'd see and talk with  Don occasionally  around Jerome or  Sedona before he passed away. He was fun. Sheryl, with her husband, Ted, are now carrying on his tradition at the ranch, where people can work in clay and use various kilns and firing techniques. 

This day it was Raku, an ancient style  of ceramics dating back to the 16th century. The Zen Buddhist monks would use it for their tea ceremonies. Clay pieces are fired to a lower temperature and isn'

t really meant for function, more for its decorative qualities. Back in the old days , some glazes had lead in them, although not recently. It is a very " hands on" technique, since the pots are taken from the red hot kilns with tongs, then put into a trash can containing combustible material , such as paper or sawdust. It  catches fire, then gets smoking when the lid goes on. Afterwards it is put into water, which can accelerate the crackling effect, so common in this style. 

It was a team effort, with some nice Michiganders who had won a Raku firing at the library benefit. Sheryl was the kiln master, with Jerry, Jo , Dave and I working the kiln and pulling out the pots. That can be a little hairy, reaching into fire. I try to be well covered and use heavy gloves.  Large porcelain  platters like this  can be a challenge. I may yet add some glitter to a hairline crack that appeared. What comes out is always a surprise. I read that the definition of Raku is " happiness in the accident." Comments? 

The Merlot Collection

Why has it been so long since I have written on my blog, I have been asking myself ? Travel was one reason; working in new directions with both my clay and calligraphy another. Let's not  forget that old catch all, writers' block. Anyway, new pictures, new thoughts, new blog for today and a welcome into 2024.                                                                      Here are some of my new creations, all in the purple family.AS always everything is lead free and food safe. A well known teacher of mine once said " Victoria, Practice only creates practice. " So I follow that school of thought and try to create something beautiful with each experimental piece. How will a new glaze go on a curved surface ? Does creating texture on a pot bring a new dimension to what is there? How thick and how thin to apply is still a work in progress. A friend of mine sat around and we decided to call this color my "Merlot Collection". Comments?

Mission San Juan Capistrano

 Here I stand before the ruins of the original cathedral at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, in California. A friend and I went to the ocean and made a visit to this small town north of San Clemente. I had been there once, over 50 years ago, on my first sojourn west. This visit was a whole new experience.                                                        You may have heard of this place because of the festival of the swallows returning  to build their nests here every March, after their long flight back from Argentina.  There was even a hit song about it, way back when. It is a significant part of California history, as it was one of the many missions founded by Saint Junipero Serra , this one  in 1776. These missions were established by Spain to expand their territory and spread Christianity to the  indigenous natives, here it was the  Acjachemen tribe.  But an earthquake in 1812 caused thus great stone church to collapse, leaving only this wall of niches. I seem pretty small in comparison.                                                                                                      I loved all the history that is displayed here. I learned that after Mexico won independence in 1821 the Governor, Pio Pico, sold the land and mission to a Mr. John Forster. He just " happened ' to marry the Governor's sister, who was a 30 year old spinster at the time. Connections are all. But Mexico lost this land  after California  became a state in 1850. The Catholic bishop petitioned the US government to have the mission returned to the Catholic Church. In 1865, not long before his death, Abraham Lincoln did just that.                                                                                   Today the mission is restored to beauty. There is an existing chapel; historical exhibits; gorgeous rose and flower gardens ; and a reminder of the preciousness of life, today.

Lavender Farms Forever

Who doesn't love Lavender? Here I am at the Red Rock Lavender Farm in Concho, AZ. Where , you may ask , is Concho? It is a town, quite a spread out area, to the north of Show Low, in the White mountains, where I come to get out of the summer heat. I have to thank my gardening friend, Daysy, for this tip. We gardeners are always interested in learning  about plants.                                           This farm was started back in the 1990's. It was supposed to be an orchard and vegetable endeavor, however the lavender used for landscaping became a commercial boom. There are now 35,000 plants, of various varieties. I am near a sweet smelling Vera variety. The altitude here is 6,100 feet high, and very windy. Off in the distance are red rock formations,  but not quite like Sedona, where I live and produce my art.  Now they grow grapes as well, producing wine , and following in the steps of Southern France. They have a tasting room, where  I really only liked the Rose variety, but then taste is so individual, and people left with cases of something.                      Their  gift shop tantalizes you with handmade soaps, dish towels, cooking  items, anything to get you to leave behind your dinero. I bought two plants as well, which I plan to use in containers for now. It was an adventure, and who doesn't like that?!

 

 

Calligrapher, Hard at Play

Calligrapher , Hard at Work, could be a good title here. I just spent a wonderful weekend retreat in the Prescott forest. I call it " summer camp for grown ups", although some might debate the label. Here I am copying out some lettering for a small book I am creating.                                                       I have been a professional calligrapher, based here in Sedona AZ, for  decades. I am a member of the Calligraphic Society of Arizona, referred to as CSA, for all that time. Most of the members are in the Phoenix area, and that is where all the monthly workshops and meetings are held. Unfortunately , I really do not attend very often, due to the distance. But this was two nights in a church camp, with bunk beds and the cafeteria. We stayed at Emmanuel Pines, and they could not have been more helpful and accommodating. This was a special occasion, a chance after Covid to gather as a group.                                                                                         The teachers were fellow members, and the variety of  projects  impressive. For example: Making hanging paper "weathergrams" to leave in trees outside or our rustic cabins. Will they be susceptible to the weather?  Of course. Must art always be  " permanent," or can it just exist in the present? Nature seemed to be the theme ,and it was exciting to write on wood for one project, then creating three in a mobile. We  cut out  stencils to apply to a blank page ,and used both the negative and positive spacing. 

Throughout the days, I was working on the technique for a small book, which I actually almost finished. There was a dedicated lesson on making books from envelopes. We calligraphers are a frugal bunch. That was a challenge, but I did wake up early and go through the process in my head, before I got up in the frosty morning. Maybe I will change the title of this blog. It was fun!

Feathered Mystery

 

Inspiration comes in many ways. In these dark and cold winter days, a sale can light up an artist's creative spirit. So it was for me. I recently sold two masks at the Wyatt gallery, here in Sedona, AZ, where I live and work. I  realized it was time to complete  this large  "Feathered Mystery." It  spans some eight inches wide by 20 inches  to the tip of its feathers.                                                    

    I'm not sure people realize all the processes involved in  a complicated creation such as this . First comes the raw clay to form my  dimensional  concept. I usually work in series, so this has some relationship to previous masks of this size and style. I have to think ahead to what will be  the final effect and colors.. Fortunately,  I own feathers of exotic birds that a dear friend of mine with an aviary sends my way. Birds naturally molt, so there is no harm to any creature,                                                                                   Clay is at its most fragile when just dried. Lots of clean up, and sanding is necessary, and it's tricky handling such a large size Next the colors are applied. I do use premade low fired glazes since they wear so well and fire so brightly. Then it goes into the kiln to about 1800 degrees. It will come out strong  enough to go into its last firing. This is a  primitive firing, using natural combustibles. Potters have been using this style forever. Everything turns dark, so it must be cleaned up to show off the decorative  colors.

I have a very reliable way to hang these creatures. Copper wire wrapped in yarns to accentuate and soften the hangers. Finally the feathers. Here I also added some turquoise and coral in among the feathers. This brings up the innovative side of my brain. Lots of hours, days, even weeks to finally complete. Just wanted to spread a little insight into my creative process. Comments?

Calligraphy for the Holidays

Here I am, demonstrating my calligraphy, with watercolor, at the Sedona Arts Center  yesterday. 

Nearing all the holidays, that was my theme for my demo in their front lobby yesterday. I sell my calligraphy cards and prints there, so it is relevant to what our visitors are seeing me creating . Thanks to Taylor also.                                                   Each card I make is decorated by hand, with watercolor or gouache, a non transparent color. This is what I usually write with,  although a new stash of colored inks are working well on envelopes Those inks  are almost permanent , lately leaving a nice red  stain on my fingers. I was told by staff member Debra Shinn, that  I should consider this my badge of honor.  Cate , the high school artist working there, made a lovely video of my hand actually painting, which is on Facebook  also. It was kind of exciting to see the actual sequence of brush strokes. Check it out.                                                           My technique here, is to write out  my original, then print on card stock, so it will not bleed when I add wet paint. I can do many alphabets, but people seem to like the Italic style . I like using  Uncial also, which is on my sign . Each card  is a one of a kind. Watercolor is tricky. Once you make your "mark" it stays. Corrections usually make it worse, so there is always an element of surprise, even for me!                                                                                           I don't know if people are aware, but I taught Calligraphy at SAC for fourteen years, and then went on to teach at NAU for five years as adjunct faculty. I see my demos as a way to educate the public  about the beautiful art I love . 

 

The Art of the Cat

Opened the kiln today and what did I see? Cat bowls. One where it is only the cat, and then a little whimsey, when I added the mouse. I could probably name it "El Gato mira al Raton"= the Cat looks at the Mouse". But that's a lot of words when you are writing very small with a paintbrush at a weird angle. Yes, everything is drawn freehand . I like creating animal pieces. I have made ceramic boxes with a horse on the top. It helps to have a creature that can be somewhat stylized, so it is easily representative.                                                                                 I make each bowl shown here by hand, using a white porcelain clay.. Then I take my tiny paintbrush, dip it into cobalt blue oxide, and draw all the lines and letters you see here. Over that I pour a thin coat of a clear glaze, which  lets the design show through. I  high fire this in my kiln, enough to put in the microwave and dishwasher. Yes, those are the main questions that buyers ask.  Here in The USA they are very clear that all glazes must be  lead free, so that is why its's not bad to buy American. Sounds like a sales pitch? It's not . Simple truth.

Follow the Mask

 Here I am , following my passion and creating masks again this summer of 2022. This one is what I call  a miniature mask. All is relative, n'est-ce-pas? It can  can fit in your hand, or hang on a very narrow wall.  There are  guidelines for a "true miniature", something about an inch equaling a foot. Not my thing, although I do like to make tiny pots also. This creation, titled " Yellow  Secret" is part of my on going series, called " Small Spirits".                                  There are so many influences on my work. I used to travel with a very small sketch pad, about the size of this mask. I would go  to a museum in Mexico, for example, and stay for for three hours and make little drawings. Or I would be  in some archeological place and draw what I saw. When I was invited to Hopi dances in their Plaza,  the sketching would have to be in my head, but it was there. So I am not certain what left the largest influence to my style in this field . Anyway, most often the masks tell Me what to create.                I am currently showing these works  at the Wyatt Gallery at  Hillside, on 179 in Sedona, AZ. I invite you stop by and take a look.

The Sedona Visual Artists' Show

Here I am with my entries for the Sedona Visual Artists'  Show, at the Sedona Arts Center located 
here in town. Actually this  is the first Live show for the group in the last two years due to Covid. It was fun to be among  a group of talented artists with the freedom to show what work they've been doing for the past two years.                                                                          For myself, the first year and a half  of the outbreak really stopped me creating anything. The galleries were closed. Everyone was stuck at home; living in sweats; watching netflix ; eating inappropriate food. What was the point in going to the studio to spend time on something no one would ever see? I think you could call it artistic depression. Others have  experienced this . Did You?

  But jewelry is  small, and since I have other stones, that was a way to see some beauty in a more doable  time frame . Clay can take months to create; fire; clean up; then clean some more. A call from a client got me back to making the big bowl. Ah hah, work awaits. So here I am with my lovely earth brown, porcelain beaded  necklace, with the nice, chunky turquoise stones and the  bracelet and earrings to complete the set.  I hold the biggest bowl I can fit in my kiln. So this started out as a blog about a show and talked about the changes in all our lives up to this moment. Comments?

 
 

The Magic of Museums

The magic of museums. Here I am in front of the display of old books at the Clemenceau Heritage Museum in Cottonwood, AZ, not too far from Sedona, AZ, where I  live and create my art.  For years I have passed this building, but never went in. Finally I opened a door to the history of  the Verde Valley. The hours are different and admission is by donation.                         This building was the original school for the town of Clemenceau and surrounding areas.  I never even realized there was a a town by that name!  Apparently there were too many towns containing  the name Verde, so Mr.  Douglas, Jerome mine magnate, named it after his  WWI  friend, French premier Georges Clemenceau. In 1960, the newly incorporated Cottonwood took over this area.                          Inside the museum is an original classroom with all the desks and books. There are displays of useful items from the turn of the century onward: farm implements; medical and dental tools; kitchen objects; old washing machines; toys; eyeglasses; ladies outfits and jewelry, just to name a few included items. There is a room on  Jerome mining, and  an entire room with a miniature railroad.           What fun to see  the pictures of graduating classes during the 1940's and 1950's.  These names are now on  streets in this area. There was Ms. Anne Jordan of Sedona, wearing the snazziest white shoes  with her cap and gown.  Scrapbooks  of historical events in all the surrounding towns intrigued me, especially Sedona.        What magic there is in this local jewel of history.        

                                      

The Art of Musical Instruments.

 Standing in front of a delectable selection of instruments from some far away country, here I am visiting the Musical Instrument Museum,  located  in our  own  city of Phoenix, Arizona. I  haven't been writing much lately. It was the holiday season, with Christmas, New Years, and then my very own birthday month of January.                Being a maker of ceramic drums, and  a dancer, music has always been a love  of mine. This seemed a fitting way to spend my birthday. My sister flew in to celebrate with me , so I figured this would also enchant her. We spent the day there and even had a  delish lunch  in their dining room.  Be sure to give yourself  plenty of time.  We got there early and stayed all day  There are 2 floors packed with every style of instrument,  from antique to present.                                              Opened in 2010, it was the private collection of a  wealthy man who decided to share with the world  his special love. There are over 15,000 examples of different items that have sounds that are unique in their own way. They give you a headset so as you stand in front of a display, the sounds come on.  What is so touching to me is how universal  the art of music is, and  will continue to be interpreted by those who follow us, in their own creative style. Comments?

Our Gifts from land and Sea

 

  Here is my latest creation a coral, turquoise and crystal necklace. I like to work with organic pieces because they are individual in size, shape and color. The turquoise and crystal are stones that can be found in Arizona.I have seen bits of crystal embedded in the red rocks of Sedona while out hiking.

  But coral, that is a different story. Coral  started out as a live animal, not a plant as it would appear. They are marine invertebrates, like the sea anemone and jellyfish.  Often they are form reef barriers made up of individual polyps  that wave in the water. They can be  found in tropical waters with the symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae that absorb sunlight and provide food. They also extend their tentacles to catch plankton and other edibles. Why the color? These pieces are somewhat an orangy red. I have seen darker reds and pinker. Corals adapt to the light and water temperature and  also come from colored proteins made by the coral animals.                                                                            Native Americans  use this material to make their jewelry  As I read my words,  I realize what a gift from nature is this set. I think the day of unlimited coral may be changing.  Hopefully these natural products are harvested responsibly. The supplier said they would carry it no more. I will enjoy what I create. This creation is a precious jewel from the sea and the earth

Here I am in my latest jewelry creation , a necklace of  black stones, decorative beads, and of course, the noble bone skulls. It is approaching one of my favorite holidays, Halloween, an occasion of much celebration here  in my town of Sedona  and other areas in the Verde Valley. This particular piece is for sale in the Heritage store in Jerome, AZ 

It is a very ancient celebration , dating  some  2,000 years back to the Celtic celebration of Samhain. It was the end of summer; the crops were in; it was time to celebrate before the dark and death of winter time. There was a belief was  that on October 31st, the ghosts of the dead could return to earth, before their Celtic new year of November 1st.  

In 1000 AD, the Catholic church made November 2nd "All Saints Day" to honor the deceased. In Mexico, it became Dia de los Muertos, day of the dead. It was the immigrant  Celts, the Irish,  who brought  this  holiday  to America, with candy and costumes, a long tradition.  What a melange of the ancient, the  religious, and holiday spirit has evolved into this modern day celebration.So I like to celebrate by dressing up and creating some fun fashion for  this magical, mystical holiday. Comments?

Calligraphy in a Card

Here is a summer selection from  my series of calligraphy cards. This is a one of a kind creation, using  freeform watercolors to make the writing pop! I chose this message because it speaks to me . As we all get older, we realize wealth is not just in having "more". Quality is as important as quantity. I love the idea. Am I there yet? Probably not, but its's a nice goal.                                                                                              It measures  four by six inches, a nice little message to send. It is necessary to print the card from an original master because my paint would bleed out if  applying it over the black ink I  use. Here is a  mixture from my palate  applied  in a random manner. Just doing whatever the paint tells me.                                                                  I am writing in the Italic style, one of the most popular alphabets, used since the time of Queen Elizabeth the First ! We don't use the word  font with calligraphy. Leave that to the computer.  I like this alphabet because it gives me a chance to flourish my letters. Not quite as easy as it sounds, but here's my years of practice put to a fun result . I also use other calligraphy styles on the different messages I create in my collection. I  can even do a special request. Summer brings the visitors who want to take home a small momento  of Sedona. How perfect is a card?