More Inspirations

This time last week I was rushing about trying to get ready for my visiting guests. I'll be honest, I was worried and I had some concerns about meeting two people I had only talked to online. I was also nervous about some of the activities they wanted to enjoy in NYC. How would three of us enjoy The Met together? In the past this has never worked with others. Ultimately I questioned what the fascination was with Steph and this Gordon Ramsay.

Porcelain at the Met

I have to laugh now cause the moment Steph and Barb got into the car it was like I was picking up family from the airport. We jumped right into conversation and it continued well into the night over Chinese food and a good bottle of Robert Mondavi. I made sure to order extra Chinese food cause I was convinced we'd be starving after visiting the Ramsay restaurant the next day.

The first thing all three of us did once our feet hit The Met was head to "The Horse Fair". Along the way we all got lost in this painting or that sculpture and somehow we all managed to quietly bump into each other again after an hour or so. I felt comfortable being with them and I didn't feel any hesitation in pulling out my sketchbook to pen down my thoughts.

From The Sketchbook

Notations on vessels

Designs & formulas for china painting

I was urning to view sculpture and pottery. If it was a vessel or it was shiny I was there gawking at it. I saw so much china that fascinated my little brain that I had to take a powder with a nice bottle of water and some Excedrin. It was just far too much information and my head was spinning. I am so glad I decided to take aspirin with me. In past visits to The Met I suffered with an all day migraine because of the visual stimulation. This time though I was determined to be fully ready to take on Gordon Ramsay. I was really ready to add to the list of questionable critiques he received online for his restaurant The Maze.

Food As Art

There's a scallop under there

It's eggplant dressed to the hilt

As luck would have it for Gordon, his wait staff was totally charming and his food, I must admit, was pretty spectacular. If there is a recession going on you'd hardly know it by the way the place was filling up as we sat enjoying our bread. And let me tell you, this was not regular hunk-o-bread they plopped on the table. It was fancy schmancy gourmet bread that was gently placed with care and yes, we asked for seconds cause it was like bread of the gods.

Actually, everything we ordered was not only the most gorgeous food we had ever viewed and totally camera worthy, but it danced on the palette like no other food we have tasted. And I have been to many, many restaurants and affairs here in the city. It's probably a very bad thing that I am craving more of it. I'd have to make a heck of a lot more to sustain THAT kind of habit, but it was an excellent ending to a perfect day filled with art and inspirations. It's still resonating.

Wax & Deadlines

Waiting for finish

After I finished blogging my thoughts yesterday I decided to pull out almost everything I had started sculpture wise, but neglected to finish. When piled together, the lot is fairly large. I believe some mice are missing, which doesn't surprise me. They like to scamper about the studio and they multiply quite fast in wax.

One by one I am determined to finish them and I will start with the easiest sculpture to mold. Molding is a real issue in the studio. In thinking of the new year that is quickly approaching I feel a very good goal coming on and that is to become more proficient in mold making. I will do this. The four legged horse Ophelia will be cast in porcelain. I promise, as will little Leela with her twists and turns and out stretched leg. I will do this.

Pulling these unfinished pieces out so soon after visiting The Met has sparked renewed interest in all the pieces. I want to see them finished. I want to feel them in clay and paint them up in pretty colors. That desire is pushing me to finish. I love when that happens. No matter what the outcome the spark is there and that is half of the battle.

Get my good side dear

Of course, all this spark must be contained for a day or two just until I finish my Just About Horse deadline. There has been so much happening here both studio wise and family wise I only had time to finish one side of the project horse. LOL This time around we are helping artists explore painting the dappled grey. It should be running in the Jan/Feb 09 issue. I took a TON of photos and there are new techniques I'm using and I will be discussing them this time around in the magazine.

More beautiful leaves to share

Lastly, the pear tree in the neighboring yard has finally let go of its leaves and I couldn't resist sharing two more beautiful finds with you. I love how the colors are shining like lightening through the black of the first leaf. Almost as soon as I took these shots both leaves turned brown and lost their brilliance forever.

Now THAT is nice!

Sake set

Now THAT is a beautifully glazed set! Ms. Steph, who is visiting me all the way from the mid west, brought me a gorgeous sake set and I woke this morning and took a few moments before my son woke up to really, really admire it.

A part of it has been raku fired and I am in awe of how gorgeous raku is in person. I have been dying to try raku firing. My favorite part though is the blue glaze and the pooling that has occured on the inside on each of the perfectly shaped cups. I'm inspired and feeling defeated at the same time. To hold such a perfect set in my hands really makes me want to try even harder to make even better pieces.

The piece is definitely setting the tone of what I want to view at the Met when we go there today. I want to view as much ceramics as my brain will allow me!

So, off to wake my guests. By the time we have a bit of breakfast and get going the rush hour here in NYC should be over with and travel into Manhattan should be more comfy for my guests.