Believe in Art

Photos of Most Recent Work

2012-02-13T14:40:00.000-08:00

Bass #2

Electric fired, cone 5 glazed on a dark claybody.

Catfish #1

Eel

Toad

Bass #1

Trout

Gotta work when you can!!!!!!

2012-02-05T14:34:00.000-08:00

Without any snow days, I was beginning to think it would be hard to get any work done this winter.....but I've had some good solid weekends to work! This bass and catfish are from my last batch of pots. Only two pieces fit in my kiln at a time...so it's a process for the firing. I took photos of them today when I was photographing my new pieces below.

The camel's head moves around the pot....but I think the nose is so fun!

The finished catfish pictured as finished, above is swimming on the pot....while this catfish is the pot!

And the lion......These pieces will be electric fired..so the lion's snout will not be glazed but will be rubbed with iron oxide and then scrubbed to give it a deep brown interesting finish.

Emerging fish

2012-01-29T09:39:00.000-08:00

I thought if I posted the before and after it would be interesting to see the difference. With glazing, you have to be able to envision what it will look like....and sometimes it works....and sometimes not.....and there are many happy accidents that can occur along the way!

These are two photos of the same piece.

And these are two photos of the eel of the same piece.

winter pottery, electric firing

2012-01-28T14:22:00.000-08:00

This is a series of pieces I began with an electric firing as the finish in mind. Since raku is very difficult to do in the winter, due to the temperature drop and firing with propane, I decided to see what my work would look like if I glazed it.

Above on the camel head piece I used iron oxide on the head and glazed the rest.

This bass is what it looks like before it goes into the kiln.....I thought it would be interesting to see a before and after photo.....so check back shortly to see it finished.

This trout was fired at cone 5. I've included two different views of it.

I have more in the kiln now...so will post more photos as they come out!

Christmas break in my studio

2012-01-02T11:32:00.000-08:00

I finally found some time to work in my studio over Christmas break. It seemed as though I'd never finish all the work for the Scholastic Arts and then the expected Christmas stuff with my husband's family....but after finishing everything....and enjoying some down time...I knew if I didn't do some work, I would feel I didn't take advantage of a chunk of time that should have been.

These pieces are done in brown clay and will be fired to cone 5 with glazes. It will be interesting to see how they come out. Rakuing is a summer sport in Pennsylvania, due to the cold winters.....although it has been quite mild until now!

Bass view 1

Bass view 2

Big Bass view 1

Big Bass view 2

Catfish view 1

Catfish view 2

Moray eel view 1

Moray eel view 2

Trout view 1

Trout view 2

Scholastic Arts...2012

2012-01-02T04:43:00.000-08:00

The Christmas season is a busy one not because of the holiday, but because of the Scholastic Arts Regional competition deadline is as we return for the new year.....which makes just before Christmas break, an incredibly busy and crazy time. We have to collect the artwork, get our students to register on line......register the artworks, get them to sign their forms along with their parents and return them to school.
Then each piece needs to be photographed because that is how the judging will take place. (something new this year) I meant for the photos to be better, but as it turns out....not this year. I was going to redo the backgrounds....but after cropping, color correcting, etc. all the photos, I felt I had spent plenty of time on the computer over my Christmas break and so called it quits for this year.
Next year, I will have a better plan!
So....the following pieces are this years best from Honesdale High School's pottery class.

Jackie Albano

Danielle Blair

Josh Card

Jennifer Carey

Desiree Crum

Vinny DeSimone

Candice Driver

Courtney Elmore

Valerie Gaglione

Jessica Hall

Dorie Henry

MacKenzie Henry

Rachel Krull

Shannon LaPoint

Katelin Lemon

Chloe Lienert

Abe Nolan

Ryan O'Shaughnessy

Noah Pietraszweski

Darby Propst

Blake Rickard

Kaylee Roy

Megan Saul

Shelby Smith

Emma Spittel

Allison Weidner

Inspiration

2012-01-02T03:40:00.000-08:00

Teaching not only gives me the opportunity to share my passion.....but as I do, I also need to show examples....so I have to come up with ideas for the demonstrations. This is when inspiration happens on a dime.....but can lead to new discoveries. This year when I demonstrated how to make a mug, I wanted to stress the creative end of things, because they all know what a mug looks like....but can they think beyond what they already have experienced?

And so.....these fish mugs appeared...and have inspired me to take the idea to my studio and work on it further.

Scholastic Arts....2012

2011-12-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

This horse was created by Chloe Lienert, a senior at Honesdale High School.

This tank is actually a working whistle and was created by Noah Pietraszewski

This is a busy time of year, getting ready for The Scholastic Art and Writing competition just before Christmas break is pretty hectic. I don't know why they have it at the beginning of the year, because there is some great work beginning to happen in my room by the first year students. My 3rd year students are doing some magnificent pieces. Each one is challenging themselves with their own vision. It's fantastic to see the students develop their voice in clay! Check back after Christmas to see their work. I will post all the work submitted on Facebook and then the winning pieces here. Can't wait to see who wins what awards and gets recognized for doing a great job!

Summer has ended....some time ago!

2011-12-04T13:08:00.000-08:00

This grouping is something totally different than what I have made before....I just wanted to go abstract, and play....and see where it took me. This first piece was inspired by the fiddle ferns. The next one wasn't cooperating, so I cut it off and stretched it thin. It has a very delicate, still in motion feeling for me. The stain changes from a green to a blue at the bottom.

This piece was created with a Calla Lily in mind. Later I'll post the frog in the Calla Lily. I think it turned into a formal collar with a textured button.

I get a Viking feeling slash Rhino feeling from this pot. I will definitely make more of these....so stay tuned over Christmas break...when I can once again....work in my studio.

August firing

2011-08-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

                                         I created these early in the summer.....experimenting
                                        with some different clays...and decided I like my raku
                                        clay best for what I like to do most!

The glazes in these pieces turned out really dramatic!

The last of summer!

2011-08-11T03:34:00.000-07:00

In a flurry of activity.....I tried out a new idea.

One thing leads to another...I guess, but this is all for a while, have to get ready for the new school year. These have to dry for some time before bisquing, so I think the next raku session will be in late September or early October.
Can't wait to see the results!

another octopus.....with three mice....don't know if they are the blind ones!

Summertime in the Studio

2011-08-05T04:18:00.000-07:00

What do other people do with their free time in the summer? I can't imagine doing much else when you have a good chunk of time and a great studio to work in.....there can't be much of anything better than this!

These two lizards are creating great tension between them and will look great on the intense red and black pot when it gets fired.

Just playing around with this abstracted rhino. Sometimes, you just have to do it!

So, when you look at this pot......do you see the octopus climbing in or out?

This was the last of the pieces for this time frame.....the frog may be a little large making it kinda cute....but I think I have to try some pots with interesting "collars", without animals.

As if this octopus found something to explore....under the sea....
not knowing someone else was doing the same!

When you say good-bye to one elephant.....you have to make another!

And one more!

I can't wait to see this one done....he really has an attitude!

Weather clear....raku done!

2011-07-12T06:46:00.000-07:00

It was a long, long winter....but I was able to get many pots made....and ready....waiting on my shelves for spring time. I had ordered my new kiln that finally came in early May....but then, the weather wasn't really co-oporating much at all!

Rakuing is an outdoor sport, and this spring didn't give us much sunshine!

Finally......there was a break in the weather, school was finished for the year, and my schedule was also cleared.

Raku, it was...and what a fine day!
My good friend, David Hamill, assisted me with the rakuing process....and together it was like ballet!

We got a system down and the raku kiln worked great.

A little burnt grass is not too much to sacrifice for such pieces!

Come visit me during the Open Studio Tour

July 29, 30 and 31st

from 10am to 5pm

and you can see these pots in person!

Three Frogs

Black Lizard

Black Octopus

Bull Elephant

Frog (view 1)

Frog (view 2)

Green Lizard

Hermit Crab

Iguana

Penguin Parade

Polar Bear

Bears

Red Lizard

Rhino

Rhino Pot

Seals

Walrus (view 1)

Walrus (view 2)

Yawning Lion

Memorial Weekend....I finally got some work done!

2011-05-29T19:46:00.000-07:00

After visiting Costa Rica...these had to come out....this lizard (dazzling intense green)was hanging out under a bridge where we stopped to see the Iguanas that appeared to be very tame and plentiful. This guy had a shop near the bridge, near the water. Over time his small shop grew into a much larger tourist stop. I think he has the Iguanas to thank for that.

These lizards were different species. They just seem to crawl so easily on my pots. The red will look great when fired. The clay that is grey will turn black from the carbon during the firing process which will make the red really punch!

These frogs just seem to be having a great time exploring their new home!

Presidents Weekend

2011-02-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

Finally, a chunk of time when I can put other things aside....so what if the dust in my house has piled past the more than usual....creativity helps me find my balance....so balance, we must!

Two chameleons exploring the pot.

An elephant with some straw twisted in his trunk.

Two views of the frog. He seemed to keep growing!

And another rhino. I think the rhino is my totem. Something about them.....

Two more!

2011-01-16T10:02:00.000-08:00

This piece looks similar to one I did before.....but it blew up, so I thought I'd try it again. I am playing with both ends, making the pieces more sculptural. They are also much more fragile....I must like playing with fire! Fragile and Raku hardly go together....but I'll sure try!

Hermit Crab in his shell. Now all I have to do is wait patiently as they dry...for a few weeks before firing them in the bisque kiln.
Talk about patience...I am trying to get a hold of Randy Brodnax. I want him to build me a kiln for my backyard firings and haven't been able to get in touch with him yet.

Finally got some time in my studio!

2011-01-12T17:56:00.000-08:00

I really thought I would be spending lots of time in my studio over Christmas break but there were too many things going on. So finally ...a gift came my way...a snow day.

I really needed that creative time, since I hadn't done anything since Thanksgiving!

There are two more pots waiting in my studio for some sort of animal.

I'll be able to finish them up this weekend and post.

Thanksgiving break.....final day!

2010-11-28T14:56:00.000-08:00

Long days in the studio but it is all worthwhile. I get my balance back in balance when I do my own work. It's important to take the time whenever I can get a block of time. Looking forward to Xmas vacation.

It's always interesting to see what comes out in clay each time I spend time in my studio. This walrus just appeared...but then it was feeling very empty in the other areas....so I added the walruses. I tried to add a flipper...but I felt it wasn't readable as a flipper.

And then came the seals.....just looking for a place to hang out for a while.

These penguins are a playful bunch....looking for adventure.

And this Iguana just seemed to grow with the pot. He thinks it's his job to guard it!

After the hours in my studio, re-balanced... I'm ready to go back to school...until the next break...hard to believe it's only three weeks!

Thanksgiving break....at it again

2010-11-26T17:19:00.000-08:00

I had high hopes for this Thanksgiving break...but it doesn't feel as though I have enough time....time, you wonder...for what...you work in your studio and get things done as you can. Yes, but one has goals you know....and my goal was to make 10 new pots this break.

This is what I have so far. I had a slow start...and some things didn't work out.....but in the end...it became a very bear day.

These first images are of the sleeping bear which is on one side....and the two polar bears are on the other side. After throwing the pot...I actually threw it down on the table. A new challenge. I'm not convinced the sleeping bear looks like a bear....but really....it is!

And I did want to make another lion. I think the lion is one of my more abstract pieces and I wanted to try it again. Just in case someone else liked it also.

And then I tried a few ideas on this pot and they just weren't working as I had envisioned....so I thought I would keep with the polar bear theme and have one coming out of the frozen waters while one looked on.

And then after at the end of the day.....this one finally came together. I think he really looks like I felt.....just wanted to relax and glad I was done.

Tomorrow is another day!

Rakued....the entire group!

2010-10-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

After a long weekend....they have all been fired!
Here are the results......

I underglazed the eye of the bird for a subtle difference.

I underglazed the stripe of the clownfish and the eyes along with the lips for the subtle change. The areas all reduced...but not as dark as the raw clay, giving a little more interest to the overall piece.

The frog was enhanced with majolica glazes. I didn't know how it would come out...but I felt the frog would be too black if I had just fired it. So, I added a touch of color...toes are nectarine, the dots on his back are blue and purple, and his eyes are red with black centers with the swirly branch being lime green...my favorite color...at least one of them.
It worked...the majolica glaze gives it just enough umph!

I was very excited about this lion....when I made it and then seeing it come out of the firing. The teeth were underglazed for a subtle difference and I love how abstract the whole pot is. I think this is one of my favorite pieces.

I was thinking to make the spots red to go with the pot...and then I thought black on black could be really nice. I really like how it turned out!

Remember the earlier octopus pot that I had said shattered into several pieces but I glued it together and took a photo of it and fixed the cracks in photoshop? Well, this is the real McCoy. It's all in one piece!

The ram's horns were underglazed for a subtle difference along with his eye. I'm surprised the horns survived the firing...actually, I'm thrilled they all survived! Raku is a process that has a high loss factor. The kiln gods were with me today!

And the last one is the sea turtles with the sting ray. This was fired and then sprayed with ferric which gives it the brown to yellows.

All in all...I think I had a successful weekend!

It's been raining all week......

2010-09-29T03:21:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to the weekend...I do believe I will be doing a lot of rakuing and fast firing as soon as the weather clears. Right now we are under a flash flood warning....no raku until I see clear skies!
I'll post photos as soon as I get them fired!

News Flash...this just out!

2010-09-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

My ostrich jar has been chosen to be shown at the Suraci Gallery at Marywood University. The opening will be October 23. Pretty exciting!

And I have also been informed that one of my elephant jars will be published in a book out this spring titled 500 Raku. I don't remember which one they chose...but one of these will be in there!

Labor day weekend comes to a close.

2010-09-06T13:43:00.000-07:00

I don't know what others do with their spare time...but mine is spent in my studio...working as hard as I can to get my ideas out of my head and into the clay. I always like to challenge myself, try new things and grow...as much as possible. This leads to many pots!
Yes, I do have the disease....I have the need to create. If I don't accomplish something each day, I feel as though I haven't achieved. Too bad I can't work in my studio every day!

This piece is titled Under the Sea with sea turtles and a sting ray.

Here's another view with the stingray.

I'll try an octopus again...the past images of the octopus, similar to this one cracked in a dozen pieces...so now, I am using the proper clay.

My husband says you can never have tooooo many elephants...and so........

The ram is a piece I envisioned a few weeks ago...but didn't get around to working on this until now.

I'm anxious to see how this eagle pot fires...what is raw clay will be black...unless I glaze a few places...and the yellow will be contrasting the black.

And the last pot of Labor Day weekend is the lizard. Now they will dry in my studio from 2-3 weeks....and then they will be bisqued and ready to raku.

hard at it.....

2010-09-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

And so.....those pots each took on a personality of their own. I first wanted to re-create those pieces that just didn't make it before.

I'm excited about this roaring lion....it will be fired so the clay turns black and the orange stain should look great against the black clay.

September begins

2010-09-04T14:47:00.000-07:00

Now that I have returned to school, my progress will be much slower. My goals are to create 4 new pieces a month. That is certainly doable....I think. We'll see how it goes!
This is where I began this morning. Using encapsulated stains for the colors.

Older work which lead me to where I am working today.

2010-08-15T05:21:00.000-07:00

The process is all very interesting. What I do in the past builds into my current works. So, I thought I would share with you my most recent past, related work so you can see the growth and development of it all.

After traveling to South Africa and going on a photo safari, these pieces suggesting an animal in a primitive form developed very easily. I used wax resist for the jar's decoration. These are raku fired.

Some raku glazes are more like fuming if you put them on lightly. I really like the matte surface and how it changed colors. Reminds me of a dancing flame.

Raku Giraffe Jar

They say when an elephant's trunk is up it will give you good luck!

The ostrich's head is poking out on the inside of the lid. Makes me laugh. This piece was chosen for a show at Marywood this fall...I'll keep you posted.

Just a bit more.......

2010-08-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

This is how the pot turned out after the lizard abandoned ship!

This photo was taken when each pot was full of promise!

from Lake Tahoe

2010-08-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

Elephants are my husband's favorite animal....so I make them with him in mind.

This one was made in Lake Tahoe.

And this octopus piece lives on in photos only. I pulled it from the kiln and sprayed it as it cooled, and then set it aside to work on the other pieces. At the end of the day I went to pick it up and it had shattered into several pieces. I liked it so much I brought it home to piece together for inspiration...and I was able to mend all the seams in photoshop to make it look whole! Oh, the wonders of technology....now you can't believe anything you see anymore!

Now I have my work cut out for me.....wish me luck!

Summer work

2010-08-14T09:05:00.001-07:00

These are photos of new work I made after returning from my Lake Tahoe workshop with Randy Brodnax and Don Ellis....two great potters who entertained as well as educated us, sharing their love of pottery, foods, and fun. Some of these pieces didn't make it through the process...due to my choice of clay....I just couldn't wait for the right stuff when I returned. So, some are just photos...and some live on....and I've learned a lot through the process.
Now I will just need to find the time since school begins in just one week!
I am inspired and motivated and have plenty of clay to make things happen. So....these are some of the pieces.

This one didn't make it.....glad I took a photo of it as it was drying.

This elephant has found a good home. Love the new owners, what a great couple!

And this frog just didn't make it....wrong clay...couldn't take the heat!


The lizard bit the dust but the pot survived..so now it looks like a dark planet!


This octopus was made out of a dark clay and I used a white slip to add to the texture. Because I had figured out that the clay couldn't take the heat...I fired it in an electric kiln. I like how it looks raw better than the glaze on it. So...I'm posting this photo.

New summer work

2010-08-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

Since returning from my Lake Tahoe workshop at the end of June....I have been inspired and feel as though I have entered the next stage of my work. Some of these have made it through the process....and some have not, due to using some clay without grog. Not all things make it in pottery...and especially in the fast firing process....which makes it all more exciting! Discovering the hidden secrets of the process help each piece make it to the end...in one piece.

I have plenty to work on now....in my free time!

School begins on Monday, August 23rd for the teachers...so I will have to squeeze out precious time to make new work...but now I AM DRIVEN!

Whale tails.....

2010-08-13T10:38:00.000-07:00

Or mermaids....It depends on what you believe in. This piece was raku fired without glaze and put in a metal can to smolder with newspaper. There is great texture and yellow and orange slip on the piece's surface with the black carbon filling the cracks.

From the deep sea

2010-08-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

This octopus pot is my crossover piece.....taking me to the next level with my fast fired pots.

Open Studio Tour

2010-08-01T04:43:00.001-07:00

The Open Studio Tour is this weekend....I've cleaned, mopped, dusted, and re-arranged. Pots, paintings and jewelry are inside and out, changing my point of view, which is always a good thing! I love seeing the pieces of jewelry I make on the people, each one finds a good home and looks great on each new owner!
Every year I meet new people and welcome back the ones I've met before. It's a wonderful weekend of reuniting and sharing!