Stirring Angel Complete

Stirring Angel Finished

October 2015

 

 

 

Stirring Angel and I struggled.

I was rattled by the roofers, she got too hard, her head fell off, and I blanked out on her wing until Victor draped a tendril of Bittersweet Nightshade over her shoulders.

The glazing of 'Stirring' needed to be distinctive, in order to reveal how much energy and resilience she has. I wanted to show growth in organic, but soft colours. 'Stirring' needed to look related to 'Resting'. There needed to be a similarity in their pulse, and skin tones.

 I first glazed 'Stirring' the week after Potter passed away. I was pushing her, not feeling her. The result was aggressive. I walked away from her for several weeks...

When I came back, I was feeling  'our' peaceful resolve. I sprayed on more glaze, with confidence, and she came out of her second firing looking right.

She was the first piece I sold in "Before the Rush" 2015. She now lives with a resilient woman in the home she was destined to live in.

 

 

3 photos by Gary Viola

 

 

photo by DBE

 

LIFELINE

 

 

Accidents create wonderful art. The challenging part for me, is to view an accident in an opportunistic, and positive way.

 

 

A platter, which I call "Lifeline" evolved accidentally.

As I was rolling out my slab of clay, the fabric sandwiching it, wrinkled as the clay went through the slab roller. I was at Victoria Jenkins 'Clay Camp', and working on her fabulous slab roller. It can handle big, glamorous chunks of clay. I was enjoying 'pushing my envelope' by making HUGE slabs with it.

 

 

 

Once the slab came through, I peeled back the top layer of fabric. Victoria was hovering over me, helping out.

The fabric had wrinkled in several places, indenting the clay.

 I paused, and Vic said,

"You can fix it!"    

                                                                                                                                                (You have to know, that Vic and I could fix anything, if necessary.)

We pulled it the rest of the way out, and set it aside. I've learned that that is the best way to deal with clay disappointments. My eyes need to view a piece with fresh eyes, in order to adapt to surprises.

 

 

Two minutes later, the decision was made. Leave it alone, and take a new approach.

 

 

 

 

Even before "Lifeline" was glazed, everyone who saw it OOooohed!

 

Because the indentations were soft, I wanted the glaze to be soft, too. It is a platter I just want to stroke.

 

"Lifeline" is inspired by the creases on the palm of my hand!

Photos courtesy of Gary Viola

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seeing My Work

How do others perceive us?
Those perceptions shift like grains of sand.

How do others see our work?
 
A photograph is a tool,
but those perceptions also shift like grains of sand.

I hope that the sand is golden!

                                                            photo by Bill Millward 

                                                       

                                                          photo by Gary Viola