Biggest bugs

Desert Botanical Gardens had a free day on Tuesday, so Tom and I went for a stroll.  

One of the current exhibits is a group of about 8-10 immense bugs made out of polished wood.  They are incredibly cool, and scattered artfully throughout the garden.

So if you're into bugs, I recommend a trip over there. 

At the gallery

Here's a picture of my stuff before the artist's reception last Friday night.  There were a lot of people there, and I got a commission for two of the littlest altars.  So that made me feel good.


Herberger turned down my latest submittal.  Oh well.  Try again later in the year.  I can't get picked every time.  


Starting to make the new hummingbird tiles for our latest group project.  We're doing 10 more benches:  prefab this time.  They're going to be placed on the main patio area in front of Chandler Center for the Arts. 

Sources for ideas

Our ceramics instructor went around the group during the last class asking "where do you get your ideas?"  

For these tiles, I'm having to come up with 15-20 different ideas, so I've gone to my idea book.  As a class assignment a few years back we were to put together a book of ideas to use as a resource.  Since then I clip patterns from magazines as I read them.  (My own magazines, of course!) Those that catch my eye employ colors or shapes that appeal to me.  Fabrics are especially good:  the design flaws have already been worked out:  I use them as jumping off points, utilizing some of their color combinations, or design concepts.  I saw something like this on a summer sundress.  

Another source for ideas is truly basic.  Pick something you love, and go with that.  I truly love quail.  I think they are the neatest looking little birds.  This is the first time I've tried to paint one.  Not bad for a first effort, right?  

 

Working on Christmas

I got three more tiles out of the kiln, so now I only have 8 more to do.  Then I'll have enough trivets to give all the women in my family for Christmas, plus a few girlfriends.  The bench is from my backyard.

It's a good learning experience regarding composition.  I have to keep the subject simple, easy, yet interesting.  Some have failed, so I may have to re-do a few.  We'll see.

Positively the last one

This is the last altar I did.  It  didn't make it out of the kiln in time to get into the Day of the Dead exhibit at Vision Gallery, but I'm glad it turned out so well.  This is the one for my brother.

At the studio we finally got confirmation on the date of our huge Student Ceramic Sale.  It will be on Thursday, November 17, from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Student Center at Chandler Gilbert Community College.  If you're looking for Christmas gifts, this is the place to come.

I'm coordinating the set-up and tear down this year, which is a new experience for me.  

Still working on Christmas gifts.  Will post some pics next time. 

New series

I'm getting that old urge to try something new.  I'm thinking acrylic for this series.  

I've always wanted to take pictures when I see concerts on TV, because I love how the lights fall on the faces of the performers.

I took a series during the last Rolling Stones concert I saw and they're a little blurry, but still gave me some great images to play with.  What do you think?  Would this work or not?
 

2nd attempt succeeds

I re-did the shot glasses with the pattern on them, and just used one of the new glazes:  green blue black.  The one on the right was dipped in tan matt first. 

I'm much happier with these than the ones I spent such a huge amount of time on.  

Another lesson learned!