Plaster, Sand & Ceramics

Here are the products of a recent experiment sand casting with plaster.   I love the contrast between the rough, primitive sand, and the elegant whipped cream texture of the plaster. 

 I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I feel so content with how these turned out- that feeling is rare.  I often tell my students to celebrate their art and to be content and even joyful with the end result...so why not follow my own advice?!  

I made these ceramic nesting bowls a couple of years ago.  One of my favorite glazing techniques is using a white speckled glaze on the outside of a dish, and a vibrant color inside.  I also love coming up with new ways to add texture to my ceramic pieces.

Wise

My friend Tedd posted this on his wall today.  Something I have thought about, but in not so many words or with so much depth and clarity.  

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) with be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery–celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: ‘It’s not where you take things from–it’s where you take them to.’”
— Jim Jarmusch

Random Blake

I just want to remember Blake's attempt to make the wardrobe situation on Christmas Eve look classy.  His attempts to look like a classy old man turned into an education on moose knuckle for the nieces and nephews.

Christmas Besties:

PS  this happened last night:

He looks like a character from Gangs of New York. It only lasted a few min. before he shaved it all off.  I will miss his beard, for it kept me warm this winter.

Paint & Wire

I finished this painting a few months ago.  I was inspired by another painting that I couldn't afford, so I pretty much just ripped it off- not creative of me.  Or ethical.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right?

I am getting closer to finishing this wire mobile!  This has gone through a few reincarnations.  Initially I wanted it to be the wire frame with lights wrapped around it...but that looked so clunky.  Maybe if I used a bigger gaged wire it would have balanced the weight of the lights.   I was also scared my cat would start gnawing on it and get electrocuted.  I tried wrapping it with some felt "leaves", and thats where I am at.  Blake thinks it looks a little naked, and I agree. I need to add something to make it look a little more anchored.  Maybe it needs more foliage around the top, and maybe a chain of white flowers hanging in the middle??

 I enjoy working with wire, especially when it is a rusty old wheel that I find on my dad's porch.  Thanks dad- even though I'm positive you don't even know its gone.

Recent Projects

One of my goals as an art teacher is to expose my students to a variety of art making experiences.  I figured I should have the same goal for myself.  I am trying to dip into areas of art that I haven;t been trained in.  Sometimes that is really scary- but I had fun with these projects.

One of my sweet college roommates recently got married.  As a wedding gift, I painted their portrait.  I don't have much experience working with watercolor, but I like how it turned out- mostly because it sort of looks like them!

Blake came home from Goodwill with a wood burning kit for me!  It included two pieces of wood for $5.  This may be the most thoughtful gift ever.  I am enjoying learning how to make different textures and values...and smelling like a campfire when I finish!  I am a little paranoid I'm going to burn myself or set the house on fire- keeping my fingers crossed.

                                     

I carved a linoleum block to print some Christmas cards and gift tags.  The more I play with printmaking, the more I really love it.  I like how our Christmas cards turned out- however I did not send a single one...because I am a procrastinator and I just didn't get around to it.

Kitty at 10 months

Here are some of my favorite things about you at 10 months old:

You are getting really fat.  This means your bottom is really round and its too irresistible, I just have to squeeze it- especially when your eating.  This also concerns me a little, because I don't want you to get cat diabetes.  This is a real disease for cats and it is very serious.  You may have heard from the other cats in town that their parents are forking over the dough for their kitty dialysis treatments, but I am sorry to tell you that is not happening here, so consider not eating human food out of the garbage...or exercising more.

I love that, as I sit and type this, you jumped up onto the bookshelf but underestimated your girth and slipped off.  You are so funny kitty, and you bring a lot of joy into my life.  I can always count on you to make me laugh.

You let me put cat sweaters on you, and you don't put up a fight.  in fact I think you like wearing it.  

Sometimes, as pictured above, you find a cozy corner and make yourself comfortable.  You look like perv, and I want to give you a mini kitty beer can and some Doretos.

When you feel ignored, you drag your toys and put them at our feet so we know you want to play.

You have started chasing your tail, which makes me feel like I don't play with you enough, but also makes me laugh really hard.

You are such a blessing to our family kitty.

Headboard

This all starts with Kiki Smith.  She's an artist, and she is amazing.  The woman makes art like this:

She also created a perfume that smells like "cat pee and plant sex".  She went on to describe it as a faint cat-pee odor that reminds the artist of her grandmother’s garden.  This woman fascinates me, and I'll dedicate an entire entry to her someday.  This entry is about my headboard, that was inspired by Kiki Smith's trademark star design.  I especially love this artwork, and decided to loosely base my headboard design on it.

I dyed the fabric and embroidered the stars on using the most GIGANTIC embroidery hoop I have ever seen.  

Then I stapled it and some batting to a piece of wood.

The headboard is by no means perfect. It is not exactly what I was going for, but I really do love how it turned out.  I love the inconsistencies in the color.  Most of all, I am just glad I did it.  I am glad I took an idea and turned it into a tangible thing.

Student Work

Here are some of the chalk and oil pastel artworks my Art I class made.   I'm blow away by these 8th graders! I am really proud of their hard work.

Shawty

It is done.  I have been thinking about it for a long time...and kind of weeniered out and did it in stages.  Lindsay tricked me into going a little shorter than I planned, but I am glad she did!