Client's photo

A client of mine wanted one of my tall flower vases for a space above the buffet in her dining room.

She picked out colors  before I made it, then discussed with me what she wanted to put in it.  We had different ideas, but I have to say I really think what she decided to do works really well.


She's pleased, I'm pleased.  It's all good!



 

New Patterns - Empty Bowls

A lot of us ceramic students contribute our work to the Empty Bowls Project in the fall, which raises money for the local food banks.

It's a great opportunity to refine some of your forms, and glazing options - i.e., repetition makes it better.

I've been wanting to incorporate some new African type patterns into my work, and tried the ones you see here.  These have been bisqued, now I'm going to put oxide in the centers and clear glaze them.  I'll post a picture when they're done.

If they turn out as I hope, I think I might just make some more for myself.  Which one do you like?

Next!

I've been painting up a storm, working on an inventory to deliver to Mesa Art Center (MAC) by the end of August.

Just finished this one yesterday.  It's an old shack down the road from the cabin we go to every year.

It's title is:  The Hard Sell. Appropriate, doncha think?  

On to the next:  a watercolor of Chimayo.  It's my favorite church to paint, but I've never painted it in watercolor, so it's also a new experience.

Some new work

A friend asked to see some of my new work, so this is the photo I'm sending, plus the one below.

New designs for sugar and creamer, little footed bowls, and some of my new luminaria glazes.  

Also trying to do a little more handbuilding, with the vase below.

Whatcha think?

 

What a night (and day)

Boy, if I could only paint as well as nature.....

Was down in Tucson Saturday for young Mr. T's 3rd birthday.  Rained in late afternoon and early evening.  We went with our best buds, Dan and Stretch, to dinner at this cute place in the Hotel Congress, The Cup.  Got out of dinner and this is what we saw.  

Perfect ending to a great day.  
 

Step 2

So now my little girl has been bisque fired, and I glazed it today, but as I look at the photo I have to wonder why I didn't put blue underglaze on that one piece of the checkerboard bedspread.  I wonder if I can give an esoteric spin to that and leave it, or do I have to fix it and re-fire.  

Hmmmmm

My favorite editing tool

Just before I peel the tape off and count this one done, I decided to take a picture.  And here's what I need to fix, top to bottom:
1.  Vegetation in upper right needs more depth, vegetation on left is too even and needs more depth.
2.  Upper flower's left edge is lost. Have to darken the background.  
3.  Little flower underneath that has a blending lower right edge.  Needs definition.  
4.  Underside left of next flower on right should curve in, not out.  Fix.
5.  Flower just to the left of that has an upper left edge that looks squared.  Huh-uh.  
6.  Lowest right flower's stem is too rigid, needs an inward curve. 

Anything else?
 

Glazing the new luminarias

So these are the two glazes I tried with those commission luminarias.  I like them both, so I think I'll do half in one and half in the other.  

I have also been liking a new glaze combination:  brown celadon over oribe.  It's not food safe, and it runs a bit, but I find the color combination appealing.  See luminarias below.  What do you think?