The Red , the White and the Blue

Here is my appropriate 4th of July  ceramic platter. Entitled " The Red, the White and the Blue", it is currently showing at the Jerome Artists' Cooperative in Jerome, AZ. 
I like to abstract the familiar. I have created in this theme before, with each piece still totally a one of a kind.The American flag, with all its significant colors, yet interpreted in my own  particular style. I like our flag, with its bold colors and symbolism. An artist can be inspired. 
Rather large in size, almost 15" across, it has a foot to stand on, but it usually hung on the wall. To get these bright colors I use four coats of lower temperature glaze; fire in my kiln for durability, and then finish it off with a primitive fire to create that crackle look.I like the juxtaposition of the modern colors with the older patina, like the image I am portraying.  
So, on the evening before  the 4th of July, I choose this art  to send out to all of us, everywhere. 












 

The Glass Book

Here is my latest creation, "The Glass Book." The covers started out as drinking glasses. They were fired in a kiln to a high enough temperature  until they  melted flat. They measure approximately four by six inches. Although my decorative lace hides it, the bottom section is heavier, because the base is thicker and rounded.  
     This was a real technical challenge, having never done this before.I chose lace for the outer covers, because of its transparency . Choosing to put a pastel blue paper gave a dimension to this creation.A lace piece floating on the inside served as a  decorative front page. I used the long stitch style of sewing the pages right to the lace, and then gluing that right to the glass itself. Herein lay the problem.The weight of the glass  made the book move when turning the pages. This was not what I wanted. 
So I had to do what  all artists do. Take the challenge to invent a solution that looks like part of the design. I realized I had to strengthen the support system. Since my theme was white and lacy, I used additional ribbon, both thin and more decorative, to create hinges, and make a tie closure. More cut out flowered pieces made the symmetry of the front and back more pleasing.
I am happy to say it worked. Below is the finished open book. Lots of lessons when undertaking something never tried before. I am pleased with my glass book.

A Kitty Family

My thoughts are still on the family concept. This photo shows a recent handmade porcelain bowl. I made for a friend with three cats. In a sense, these are his four legged family. 
Usually, my bowl has one gato, which is Spanish for cat, or un chat,which is the french word, depending on what language I am feeling that day, or what has sold. Adding  the foreign words to my creation is a way for me to use my hard earned language skills. I like to appeal to  other peoples' native tongue and have fun with that. As a calligrapher, I love using  letters on any art form I can create. 
This series has  a different approach to the basic bowl shape, which I choose to make not the round. I hand draw each figure and letter on the bowl before it goes into the kiln for the first firing. Often I use a cobalt blue because it makes such a nice contrast when it is high fired with a clear glaze. The white color is the  actual porcelain clay body revealed. Now the bowl is strong enough to use in the oven or microwave.This part of my work I call my "Critter" pots. I enjoy using animals on my artwork because  we can all relate and share some connection.
 I enjoy making art that makes you smile.

A-mer-i-ka

This is a ceramic wall piece that I have currently hanging  in a show  at the Sedona Arts Center. The show theme is "Freedom", and my abstract rendering of the red, white and blue,  interpretation seemed to fit that theme nicely. 

 It is a large platter,@ 14" across, hand built rather than wheel thrown.While it hangs nicely on the wall, it has a foot, so it could sit on a surface as well. I like creating  those options.  When it gets that big across, there can be a possibility of cracking, so it is a victory not only in style, but survival.The freedom to push the clay to its outer limits and see how far I can take it. 

We just finished celebrating the 4th of July.I watched great fireworks! I thought of the  immigrants coming into the United States. In all those accents , arriving at Ellis Island,a new life in a new land of freedom, which they might call "A-mer-i-ka."

 I travel a lot. I like to see first hand what I read or hear  or have a fantasy about.What is that place is really like, compared to where I live?  Reality turns out to  be more interesting to me than all  my speculations. I am grateful that I can do this. I know there are countries where woman cannot. I have visited there. 

Space

It's about the feeling of space out there. Often it is inspired by  a location. This calligraphy piece is entitled "My Alaska Vision", after spending a summer in that great country. Quite vast; lots of sky; green; endless open canvas. Somehow I wanted to leave the viewer with that sense of majesty. Black creates a deep background that I feel draws you in. I wanted that  stark contrast, just like in the land and those who dwell there, both two and four legged. White jumps out at you saying " look here". Black and white. Yin and yang."Look closer", it seems to invite you the frame. 
. And always proportion. More empty than filled up, more quiet than busy,   just like the land that inspired it. 

 So how much to include in your artwork, how much room  to leave open? Space has power. It can have a stillness, or it can add to the drama of what you are creating, in the studio, or in your life.  Space, the last frontier.