Mess!

The mess that is the studio

EEEEEEEK!!!
Whatta mess!

Yes, that shot is of my very messy and very disorganized studio. Getting ready for this show has proved to be extremely challenging. I've been literally firing all hours of the day except when I sleep. I've even started using the little Quickfire to fire up small flat pieces. I've never regreated bying that extra kiln. It's so nice to have on hand.

My photography area has turned into the "everything" section and I'm pouring molds, glazing, cleaning greenware and even painting acrylics in this station. I've also never regreted having another drafting table. It's always managed to be of use to me.

Well, back to the studio.

The "everything" section
of the studio

Countdown...

8 foot banner ready for the fair

10, 9, 8....

Just a couple more weeks before the Christmas Fair. It's all I've been focused on. It's all I'm working on at present. It's gonna be great this year. I have so much stuff ready to sell at the fair. I decided to splurge and purchase a banner. It was a sweet deal through Vistaprint after I ordered a ton of notecards and business cards. A definite impulse buy that I now am happy I took the plunge on cause it's a sweet lookin' banner and I can just imagine it hanging from my table.

Ups and Downs

New ornament design
in the green ware stage

A day of ups and downs.

That's the description of today in a nutshell. Had some ups and had some downs. The best "up" was most definitely cleaning my new Christmas ornament because I have struggled for weeks with this design and I finally have the mold in working order. I had to let go of the lovely flow-y mane for a choppier one, but it's ok. I'm just happy to see the piece come to fruition. I hope to have at a few fired by tomorrow and at least one glazed by the weekend. It should prove to be a lovely piece for the tree.

Another "up" was receiving the first Christmas presents from one of my dear online friends. I took this shot before I opened it. It was wrapped so pretty and I sat and just enjoyed it fully. The piece inside (a ceramic) was gorgeous. I'm totally inspired! I've also solved a few problems I was having with pin designs through this gift. I will treasure it not only for it's beauty, but for the knowledge it afforded me. Thank you! You know who you are! It totally made my day.

I love that tag!

The "down" part today was having to turn down another job for 2010 because my kiln is too small. I could not, in good conscience, go forward with accepting something I know I could never produce. Even if I do get a kiln in early January I couldn't commit knowing that right now I don't have the equipment to fulfill the order. This "too small" issue needs to be resolved within the first quarter of the new year. No matter how painful it might be now. It needs to be tackled.

Chicken Lady

Woaha! I need to clip some wings!!!
I had no idea they could fly up that high
without much effort!

"The chicken lady who plays with clay."

If anyone would ask me to describe myself that is what I would say. Without a doubt I have officially become the chicken lady this week. Perhaps it's the pressure of the upcoming fair and my kiln being too damned small to make a dent in all that I have made that is driving me loopey, but I've found myself just sitting about the garden petting my chickens. It's soothing. It's meditative. It takes away the thoughts that I really, really, really need to spend that money to upgrade my needs in the studio. I can't ignore that any longer. I need to get a bigger kiln.

Newest Raku sculpt

Perhaps that is why I am really enjoying the raku firing process as I've come to know it in my little world. I fire electrically with the Paragon Quick Fire then plunge the red hot pieces into metal coffee cans. It works. It's not traditional, but it sure as hell works. Check out that sculpt! I love it! I almost don't want to sell it. There is something so satisfying about it to my eye. There is something "chicken" about the shape too. I can see a head...a tail...some legs....a chicken!

It's official...I'm the chicken lady!

Close up of raku sculpture

Free Range Monday

Chickens free rangin in the garden

Monday....

....cleaning day. I've come into the habit of cleaning my house and getting things organized on this day. I've found that doing these menial (but necessary) chores at the start of the week helps me focus better on my artwork. I get it out of the way and know it's done. Nothing more to worry about.

Near the end of the afternoon I took some time to enjoy my chickens free ranging. The sun coming in, the willow tree loosing it's beautifully colored yellow leaves, and the warmth of an unseasonally warm November afternoon made me feel very happy.

Even MORE!

OOAK Hand painted
Mouse Card
(Acrylic on Bristol)

Day three....I'm a painting fool. I can't stop. Images and critters and horses galore are all bursting to come out. I guess it was only a matter of time before the illustration side in me was going to explode. I've only been ignoring it for a long time now. Every so often I draw my mice on porcelain, but haven't done an all out illustration on canvas in several years. Needless to say, I'm having a lot of fun.

All those years of painting 3-D pieces really helped me build more confidence when I paint on a flat surface. I know each artistic endeavor helps all others, but when I stopped illustrating I did so because I was frustrated with the business and frustrated with my skills. I had plateaued and didn't know how to get to the next level so I turned to painting what I loved: model horses.

"Start of Winter"
2" x 2" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

It feels great to get the paint from my head onto the canvas just the way I envisioned it. It feels great to be off that plateau I have been on for so long. Now, I wonder, how will my 3-D pieces be effected after this grand explosion of the flat surface? It's a very exciting time and I can hear my portable easel whispering to me. It might be time for new, but familiar adventures.

How sweet are these mini canvases?
Shot showing sides

"The Dancer in Purple"
2" x 2" acrylic on canvas
SOLD


"Humpf"
2" x 2" acrylic on canvas
SOLD

More

More paintings. Still on a painting high.

Draft painting
Acrylic on Matte Board
(unfinished)

Stock horse in the snow
Acrylic on Matte Board

Hairy horse trotting in snow
Acrylic on cardboard