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"Creativity takes courage."   -Henri Matisse This guy is finally finished! He certainly needed a hat. It's made with galvanized metal and painted. I'd like to make some more of these - I'm still working in my sketchbook on how to change it up some. My husband has been making birdhouses for years. He enjoys working with wood and I wanted to showcase one of his latest creations. Following his lead, I started making some birdhouses out of clay: The top one is made with Dixon clay -- a great... Read Full Story

"While working on one piece, another concept often emerges and it is this constant stimulating flow that causes my work to evolve." - B. J. Adams "Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.  -Goethe I went to my last Debra Fritts' class today and brought in some of the pieces I've been working on. It's so wonderful to get feedback and comments from a room full of people whose work you respect. The encouragement and ideas to go forward were something I really... Read Full Story

"Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere."   -- Albert Einstein This is the piece that I've been working on in Debra Fritts class. It's finally ready to go in the kiln. This is the first piece that I have made that doesn't resemble something you should use for eating or drinking. I actually threw the head and neck and attached them to the box that I built with slabs. It's interesting to me that I think about design from the wheel first. I am just getting... Read Full Story

"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus."   -Mark Twain "In the universe there are things that are known and things that are unknown, and in between there are doors."  -William Blake I find some of my best ideas come when I least expect it. Why is that? I recently read an article that encouraged painters not to finish a painting in one sitting. The reason given for this was that it allows the subconscious mind a chance to come up with creative solutions. I agree... Read Full Story

"The artist's world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It's always on his doorstep." -- Paul Strand Yesterday Bob and I went to Scott Antique Mart -- once a month vendors fill two giant buildings with all sorts of unique and fun stuff. We try not to go too often cause for us - there's too much we can't resist -lol. But yesterday we found two tile tables to go with our glider which was a find from a couple of years ago. Where else can you find... Read Full Story

I decided to treat these box tiles like canvases - as if I had my drawing materials out. I put a layer of yellow terra sig (think acrylics) - using a dry brush technique on the entire piece. Then I used underglazes like water colors - very thin. I penciled in and then scratched through my design. Next I will add some underglaze color within the design. After firing I will probably use acrylics to finish it. The roof is a wash of RIO, GB and water. My two year contract on my Iphone ended... Read Full Story

"The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity." Carl Jung "In the universe there are things that are known and things that are unknown, and in between, there are doors." William Blake I find it fascinating to think about whether creativity is play or is it being able to lose yourself by getting out of the way of your thinking self - or is it just plain hard work? I believe it is Maya Angelou who says that 'luck is... Read Full Story

"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour whatever he does." C. S. Lewis "Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings." Victor Hugo The photo on the left is what I chose to work from in Debra Fritts ' class. The class is supposed to work on figurines but I think only one student is actually doing a figurine. But anyway the main objective was to work small. I... Read Full Story

Check out this 'Life List' by way of  Kelly, at Kelly's Art Journaling . RED is what I have done. This is just for fun. Copy and paste and put it on your blog.  Highlight what you've done in red or change the type back to black if you haven't done some of the things. Notice I've even added some 'commentary' on some of the things. No need to 'tag' anyone either. Hope you enjoy! Hey - it can't always be about clay or art or serious stuff -- just silly fun is good too :) 1. Started your own blog... Read Full Story

This is a reworked piece on paper. It's done with acrylics, oil pastels, pastels and inks. I'm still enjoying making marks on paper. This week in Debra's class she asked us to make five quick line drawings of how we spend our day. It was an interesting exercise. I created all my drawings in one sitting at the end of the day. My last one was definitely much better than the first. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's drawings tomorrow in class. "Even in art and literature, no man who... Read Full Story