See a Hood College Photojournalism interview from my senior exhibition with Meg Depanise

Hood college photojournalism interview for my senior exhibition with Meg Depanise

Recent Art

Hood College, Senior Show.

Thanks everyone!

What an exhilarating show opening on March 19th!  I am just now coming down from it!  A special thanks to all who came out to support us that night (and week!). Especially to my brothers and sister who traveled far to be there.  They loved my work which I am so happy about!  Also, my dear husband and children have been going it alone for a long time so that I could spend the time I needed to pull it all together.They have been wonderful. I could not have done it without their support and encouragement.

I also want to thank my awesome friends in the Hood studios for their input, critiques, help, suggestions and good times.  What a great group of people to work with!  And the faculty at Hood, I can't say enough about them.  They are a wonderful team of people who really go the extra mile to answer hundreds of questions, encourage exploration and testing, show us 'how to...', and a zillion other things. 

Surface Decoration Class

So, new opportunities are opening all around me with classes this term.  There is never enough time to fully explore any of the techniques we are learning about!  I guess that's what the rest of my life is for, eh?

So far we have played with paper clay, combustible and non combustible additives to clay, stretching clay, nerikomi, colored porcelain clay and zougan! I feel like I was able to fine tune my skills in creating pure form last semester, particularly in my porcelain class, now to the surface decorations that will complete those forms into completed works.  Very exciting to me!

I will get some photos up here this week and share the fun!

It is amazing how seeing and handling the ceramics at the Freer Gallery is impacting my ideas and approach to my work.  My desire to be more careful and intentional has deepened. I find my mind wandering back to the forms and decorative elements I was attracted to that day. For instance, the celadon glazed pieces were breathtaking.  I have a new appreciation for this particular glaze, which is not so easy to apply evenly and deeply. I loved the carving, decorative handles and oriental motifs I saw.  I will take days to really let the whole experience soak in.

On other fronts...it is a special day in my studio.  I am firing the little kiln I brought last year for the first time, even as I am typing!  Cone 010 bisque, a light load, just for the test.  So far so good.  I will let you all know as time progresses our ups and downs as the kiln and I figure each other out. ......I want to name it, it that weird?

Gorgeous pottery from the stacks at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington DC! It was a fabulous opportunity!