Cindy Biles - Clay Sculptor

The Chameleon Contest! And the Winner is....

2011-09-01T04:50:00.006-04:00

There were so many great suggestions.....but I had to choose one.

Rachel C. wins for the name

Guacamole!

It's green, fun to say and something I like a lot!

Rachel receives a two hour clay sculpting class for two people, materials included.

Congratulations, Rachel!

Thank you, everyone, for participating. I"ll probably do this again in the future--there are other clay critters in the studio without names!

Guacamole

Can You Say, "Camouflage"?

2011-08-05T21:40:00.006-04:00

As a former zoologist, many of my artist-in-the-school programs involve animals and their adaptations. Here is a video shared by my good friend and amazing sculptor, painter and master of other art forms, Cindy Billingsley.

From: Every Day is Science Friday, host Ira Flatow

http://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/watch/10398

Name that Chameleon, Win a Class for Two!

2011-07-09T18:51:00.010-04:00

Name Me!

When I chose this photo of a happy chameleon for my postcards for teaching clay sculpture classes, I had no idea how popular s/he would become. People of all ages have remarked that they picked up the postcard because of his (her?) great expression.

Even I still smile when I look at the photo.

Well, it’s time for this joyful Spokeslizard to have a name. Please send me your best suggestions and the author of the name chosen will win a 2-hour sculpture class for two people (includes clay and one firing) at Out of the Fire Sculpture Studio, in Saxapahaw, NC.

Anyone may enter! E-mail your entries to cbiles@triad.rr.com, or find the studio on Facebook: Out of the Fire Clay Sculpture by Cindy Biles. Deadline to enter is August 31, 2011. I'll post the winning name on Facebook and here in September.

Summer Fun!

2011-06-28T07:31:00.006-04:00

Summer Fun

14" X 19" X 14"

Just finished Summer Fun, in time for the new show at the Saxapahaw Artists Gallery, in Saxapahaw, North Carolina. Members of this cooperative gallery are the featured artists for the month of July. We'll have an opening reception on Friday, July 1, from 6-9PM. There will be wonderful art, food and drink, music, conversation, good times. Hope to see you there!

Mason Stains, Demystified - an article by Jennifer Hoolihan at Highwater Clay

2011-06-10T10:17:00.005-04:00

This just in from Jennifer Hoolihan at Highwater Clay, in Asheville, NC. Jennifer and Les have helped me many times when I've had questions and needed advice on clay and glazes as has another great friend in the area, Paul.

Here is the article:

Ceramic Stain

Act One

by Jennifer Hoolihan

On your visits to Highwater Clays, you might have noticed all the brightly colored bags of powder neatly lined up in the stain aisle. Perhaps you were beguiled by the visual display but wondered, what are these? Good question! Read on, and we will provide a little clarity on the wide world of ceramic stains in part one of our tech tip stain series.

Ceramic stains, like the brand Mason Color, offer a rainbow of color for the modern clay artist. What exactly are stains? Simply put, they are manufactured colorants. Stains are compounds made up of different oxides and minerals. Metal oxides such as iron, cobalt and copper are blended with elements like zirconium, zinc and tin. These auxiliary ingredients are used to stabilize and widen the color range of the metal colorants. Each stain has its own unique recipe. Once the raw materials are blended, the stains are heated to facilitate the chemical reactions needed to produce and stabilize the desired color. Some stains need to reach a high enough temperature to fuse, others just need a good cooking. When the heating process is complete, the stains are ground into a fine powder of about 200 mesh and washed to remove any remaining soluble material.

The point of this extensive procedure is to make a colorant that is consistent in hue and also stable across a wide temperature range. Colors and subtle shades that are difficult to achieve using raw oxides are provided for with stains. A stain doesn't really incorporate into a glaze melt the way a raw oxide does. In a stain, the stabilizers act to protect the coloring metals from being sucked into the wild molten glass of a melting glaze. The colorant remains suspended as a tiny particle in the melted glaze. A raw oxide, on the other hand, hooks up with other elements as a glaze gets molten. These other elements, such as titanium, tin and boron and the atmosphere of the firing can have a profound affect on the color development of raw oxides.

Often times the powder form of a stain is very similar to the fired color, thus taking a lot of guess work out of surface decoration and glazing. However, this is not to say a stain isn't affected by the chemistry of a base glaze. Different stains are more stable than others. This is where knowledge of specific stain colors comes in very handy. Fortunately, the Mason stain reference chart supplies all kinds of useful information. Mason, and other stain manufactures, won't tell you the exact recipe of a stain but they will tell you the components, like if it contains cobalt, nickel, etc. Those random little numbers listed under the color sample give valuable clues on how to use each stain to its fullest potential and avoid unhappy glaze results. It lists how much stain and opacifier is needed to replicate the color shown in the chart. This is really useful since some stains are stronger and more opaque than others. It gets really juicy when you start reading the reference numbers for each stain. You find out which stains don't play well with zinc (most greens) and why your pink glaze fired out splotchy gray (not enough calcium in the base recipe). And why are there 6 different black stains? It's all in the reference chart. You still want to test, test and test, but the reference chart gets you off to a good start.

Now that we have covered the 'what' of ceramic stains, part two of our series will delve deeper into different ways of using stains. We'll learn various ways of incorporating them into your work with recipes and useful tips. We'll also get a bit more technical to increase our understanding of the ins and outs of the Mason reference chart. Until then, happy potting.

New Classes at Out of the Fire Studio!

2011-04-08T15:54:00.013-04:00

I've been an Artist-in-the-Schools for 8 years or so and now, with the studio, have wanted to teach more classes here.

I have had workshops for teachers in Wake County, where they earned C.E.U. credits, a very fun birthday party for a 17 year old young woman and her family and friends, and a teenage guy, who is very serious abut his art.

So far, I've taught hand building and sculpture in clay to people ages 4 to 97, and would be happy to extend that age range!

If you're interested, or would like more information on these and other classes, please call (336) 376-9091 or e-mail cbiles@triad.rr.com.

This is the list so far, but once I figure out my summer schedule, there will be more classes of a bigger variety. FPr example. I would love to work with teens who would like to take a serious sculpture class--experience level would not be that important, just a desire to learn.

Also, I'd love to have classes that go on for 4-6 or 8 weeks. Feedback I've received lately, though, suggests that people prefer not to commit too many days at a time, and I can understand that!

So I'm starting with 2-day classes, where you sculpt one day and come back in two weeks to glaze (or in the case of very young children, paint) the piece after I've fired it.

If there are other classes you would like to see offered, please let me know!

Clay Sculpture for Adults: Why Should Kids have All the Fun?

Picasso said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Let go of self-judgment, have a great time and create something wonderful for your home or garden! We will sculpt during the first class and glaze our magnificent works during the second class, two weeks later. Sculpture tools are provided for use during class. First Session: May 9 and 23 (Mondays), Second Session: June 13 and 27 (Mondays), Third Session: July 14 and 28 (Thursdays). 7-9PM. $45 per session, includes 5 pounds of clay, glazes and firings.

Big Hands, Little Hands—A Great Clay Adventure!
A child and his or her Special Someone will learn a lot and have a lot of fun as they coil, roll and pinch clay to each create a masterpiece! You get to spend quality time with that special young spirit and remember the joy of play as you release your own inner child. We will sculpt during the first class, and glaze or paint during the second class, two weeks later. Sculpture tools are provided for use during class. First Session: June 11 and 25 (Saturdays), Second Session: July 16 and 30 (Saturdays). 10AM-12Noon. $55 per session, includes 6 pounds of clay, glazes, paint, and firings.

Visual Art Exchange Exhibition!

2011-03-28T08:30:00.006-04:00

Caroline and Grace

Just delivered 6 pieces from my People and Their Companion Animals series to the Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh, NC. They're in the Exchange Gallery there, in the front, so can be seen from the street.

Four other artists are in this show, which opens Friday, April 1, also a First Friday in Raleigh. So the town will be buzzing with people checking out the art and food scenes.

The exhibit runs through the month of April.

You can see images from this series on my Studio Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Out-of-the-Fire-Clay-Sculpture-by-Cindy-Biles/301948273679?ref=ts

Here is an excerpt from my artist statement:

My art, influenced by an educational background in biology and anthropology, reflects my interest in the interdependence between humans and other creatures with which we share the planet. Inspiration comes from a desire to understand the world from a non-human point of view. This, along with many years of experience working with animals large and small, has enabled me to interpret nuances of behavior, subtle but evident if we take time to learn these languages.

With patience and mutual trust, humans and animals can develop a bond where both parties communicate on an intuitive, or even spiritual, level. Although technology enables people (who have access) to exchange information frequently and instantly, there is still a fundamental human need for direct connection with another living creature. The companion animal lives in the present, accepts us at face value, finds joy in simple pleasures, and offers unconditional love.

Balancing Act

2011-02-25T19:46:00.007-05:00

I have not found a way to keep up with creating my own art, social media, teaching, etc. Not complaining! I've been working a lot as an artist-in-the-schools for the last few months and have had the good fortune to be in some nice shows.

Big Flowers, recently installed at a school in Wake County, NC

With that going on, I haven't posted any blog entries in a long time. I have been posting to Facebook--as much as I love this blog, I can upload photos and captions and rearrange things so much faster on Facebook. If you get a chance please check out the Out of the Fire Facebook page. There are photos of finished projects and work in progress at schools in Wake County, NC.

Thank you!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Out-of-the-Fire-Clay-Sculpture-by-Cindy-Biles/301948273679?ref=ts

THE Second Annual Saxapahaw Holiday Open House Tour!!!

2010-12-09T11:16:00.011-05:00

I've been so busy making art (for the Tour and Christmas commissions), I am late in posting this!

This weekend, on December 11 and 12, local artists and business people of Saxapahaw are hosting a Holiday Open House Tour. (Saxapahaw is a small village located about 20 minutes west of Carrboro and between Burlington and Pittsboro.) There'll be lots of holiday cheer, art, performances, even a tree lighting.

Here at Out of the Fire we'll have free mini classes where you'll get to play with clay and I can offer some instruction. Not as intense as our regular classes, since I'll have to circulate a bit, but you'll get to see if you like working with clay (I haven't met many people who don't), and make something wonderful. I will fire it and get in touch with you so you can pick it up. I'll even try to have it ready in time for the holidays.

We'll also have refreshments for you to enjoy while you look at art in the studio and the gallery. From one-of-a-kind sculptures (large and small) to ornaments to adorn your tree. I have to confess, I had to swipe a few to put on mine!

And, there is some garden art outside--mushrooms and toad houses, sun faces and Garden Spirits.

This winter we'll have classes at the studio, and if you sign up now, you'll get a 10% discount!

If you can't make it this weekend, don't fret--just give me a call at (336) 376-9091 and we'll set up a time for you to come for your own private tour. I'm here almost all of the time, but it's best to call ahead. Out of the Fire is on Church Road, just 3 doors down from Rt. 87, 10 miles south of the intersection of Rt. 87 and I-40. You can also get here from the Mill area, our "downtown," and from Old Greensboro Highway.

The studio is spruced up and ready for the holidays.

Here is the rundown of all of the people participating. For updates, more information and a map see our very fun interactive web site, designed by Steve Durland: www.saxapahaw.com.

See you there!

Benjamin Vineyards & Winery – Wine tastings, including our seasonal Spice Wine, and light fare. Twelve Days of Christmas Art Show featuring more than 35 pieces, representing the work of over 20 local artists. Dec. 11 and 12 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. 6516 Whitney Rd. 336-376-1080; www.benjaminvineyards.com/

The Bridge at Rivermill, Center for Fitness, Movement and Healing Arts – Open house, 15 min massage/acupressure sessions by donation Dec. 11 and 12 from 1 to 4 p.m., art showing and movement demonstrations Dec. 11 and 12 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. 1647 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Rd Judith Brooks: 919-260-1430, Leigh Johnson: 919-619-6405; http://www.thebridgeatrivermill.com,

The Hawbridge School, a tuition-free public charter school, grades 6-12, will host an Open House for prospective students and their families as well as a Hawbridge Designs sale of student-designed silk scarves colored with locally grown natural dyes. Proceeds from the sale support the school's art department and its programs. Sunday, Dec. 12, 1-6pm, 1735 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road. 336.376.1122 or www.hawbridgeschool.org.

Out of the Fire Sculpture Studio – Kiln opening and open studio with free mini-classes and discounts for early enrollment in winter classes. Refreshments and light fare. Dec. 11 and 12 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. 6035 Church Road. 336-376-9091. Email: cbiles@triad.rr.com. Face book: Out of the Fire Clay Sculpture by Cindy Biles.

Paperhand Puppet Intervention is offering shows of Love and Robots Dec.10, 11 and 12 at 2 p.m. and 7:30p.m. at the Community Center. Tickets and more info are available @ www.paperhand.org.

Roxy Farm Antiques – Antiques and art show by Louis St. Louis. Join us for some Yuletide cheer with locally grown wines from Benjamin Vineyards & Winery, along with homemade holiday hors d' oeuvres. Dec. 11 and 12 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. 5768 Church Rd., (336) 264-7731.

Saxapahaw Artists Co-op is having an art show with sales of works by local artists at the Co-op Gallery, located next to the Saxapahaw Post Office. Justin Johnson, award-winning local jazz and blues guitarist, will be performing on Saturday. He will be playing originals from his recently released album "Stream of Blues," as well as Christmas arrangements from his brand new Christmas album, "Justin Time for Christmas." You can check out his music at www.JustinJohnsonLive.com. 1610 Jordan Drive, Saxapahaw NC 27340. The gallery will be open on Saturday Dec 11 from 12- 8 PM and on Sunday from 12- 7PM. Contact Suzanne Connors (336) 693-4606 for more information.

Saxapahaw Rivermill will feature a Showroom Open House of the new Rivermill Lofts and Marketplace (next to Rivermill Salon) and mill tours, on Dec. 11 from 2-6 p.m.

Saxapahaw United Methodist Church Open House Sunday Dec 12 from 2:00-5:00 with Music, hot cider, and cookies, followed by the Annual Christmas Family Night Program from 5:00-7:00 pm with children's skits, music, soups and sandwich dinner. Non-perishable food and toy donations for the local "Food Pantries" and "Toys for Tots” are welcome. 5624 Church Road. (336) 376-3630.

Victory Calls Stables will have an Open House. Location: 3316 Sax Beth Church Road. For more information and times, call 336-376-8505; or see www.victorycallsriding.com.

Getting to Saxapahaw:

From Chapel Hill/Carrboro take HWY 54 West, approximately 13 miles. Turn left on Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road. From Hillsborough, take Orange Grove Road to HWY 54 W to Sax-Beth Church Road. From Mebane, take Mebane-Oaks Road to HWY 54, travel across to Sax-Beth Church Road. From Burlington, take I-40 to exit 147 toward Pittsboro approximately 10 miles. Turn Left onto Church Road.

Masterworks - Bridget and Opal

2010-11-09T10:07:00.004-05:00

The Carolina Designer Craftsmen show is coming up Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 26-28, see http://www.carolinadesignercraftsmen.com/buytickets.php) at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. I won't have my own booth this year, but will be participating in their Masterworks Program.

A Masterwork is defined by the Guild as "a piece that is superior in design, quality, originality, price and/or size to what you would normally make and display in your booth. This piece should be the same style of work that you are making now, but more elaborate and more wonderful. It could be that dream piece, the one that you've held in your heart...that you have always wanted to make."

This is my third year as a Masterwork artist. This year, my piece will be a further exploration of my body of work addressing the intimate and mutually beneficial relationship between humans and their companion animals.

The inspiration: in the last year, some of my friends developed serious health issues and are facing them with incredible optimism and grace. Their situations have touched me deeply and this piece is a tribute to them and others who live each day fully, with hope and courage

Bridget and Opal

16" H X 14" W X 11" D

The name “Bridget” means “strong” in Celtic. The opal is a healing stone representing hope. The wolf, used here to signify the long-standing relationship between humans and dogs, is a Zuni fetish for loyalty and strength. In some Native American cultures, the wolf is seen as a great healer and pathfinder on the journey of survival. As a fetish, the wolf is usually carved in alabaster or white marble. Turquoise is a symbol of faith, protection, courage, healing and balance.

By the way, you many not be able to read them in the picture, but the numbers on Opal’s tag represent my last name:

2-9-12-5-19

B I L E S

THE FIRST Annual Alamance Studio Tour!

2010-10-09T06:51:00.014-04:00

So far, I have not found a way to make art and keep up with things that need doing in the house, like laundry (cooking has been fairly regular), and keeping up with the social media to network and market my art. So thank you, readers, for checking in and know that if it seems I've quit writing, it probably means I'm in the studio. I have several new pieces--even have some pics.

Pathos, the first in my newest body of work.

Clay, slip, terra sigillata, underglazes.

Don't worry, they're not all sad!

I will post more soon.

These days, I've been preparing for the first annual Alamance Studio Tour, to be held at studios throughout Alamance County. Thirty-nine artists from the Alamance Artian's Guild (http://www.alamanceartisans.com/) are participating. Several are sharing a studio, and the studios are located close to each other--some almost clustered, so you can see a lot of art in almost every medium you can think of, without traveling very far. Since I've been a member of the Guild (when it started about 5 years ago), I've been amazed at how many talented artists we have in this area. And so many in Saxapahaw--and I didn't even know about them. And, I learned of even more as a result of helping with the organization of the Tour.

Also, in each cluster, there is a great restaurant--so you can shop, eat, and shop some more! The famous General Store is a mile away from my studio in Saxapahaw, NC (#22 on the tour). Seriously, there is no pressure--we hope you will stop by and see what we've been up to!

I'll have my garden art, several big sculptures, including new work. So new that some may still be in progress--you can rush clay only so much. You'll get to see them in various stages of creation. I don't know about you, but I love behind the scenes stuff!! I feel like I'm being let in on a little secret.

This newest work is a departure--perhaps a little edgier than previous work, and has received great reviews from hubby and my photographer, Jason Dowdle.

So come to the Studio Tour! It's a scenic, relaxing drive--Saxapahaw is a jewel in a beautiful landscape. It really is another world out here. You'll see artists in their natural habitat (well, most of us will clean up our studios a bit for you--there's natural and there's a company ready!).

Dates and times:

Saturday, October 16: 10AM - 5PM

Sunday, October 17: Noon - 5PM

For more information and a downloadable map, see http://www.alamancestudiotour.com/

You can also find us on Facebook: Alamance Studio Tour

We have a gorgeous brochure--email me at cbiles@triad.rr.com with your name and snail mail address, and I'll send you one.

I look forward to seeing you there!

The Bascom and Craft in America

2010-08-13T14:41:00.011-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while--lots going on. Unfortunately, some our our dogs have had serious health issues and that has kept me very busy. We have our hands full. Being an expert worrier, I have to confess I haven't been eating and sleeping as I should. But I have been making as much art as I can.

Anyway, this just in--a real day brightener!

Max and Gizmo was accepted into the American Craft Today exhibition at The Bascom, in Highlands, NC.

Carol Sauvion, executive director of the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated Craft in America television series, was the juror for the show. She is also the creator and executive director of Craft in America, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting the history, practitioners and techniques of craft in the United States and their impact on our nation’s cultural heritage. She is also curator, juror and speaker at institutions such as Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institute, and Getty Institute.

The exhibition opens October 2 and runs until December 18, 2010.

For more on Craft in American, see:

http://www.pbs.org/craftinamerica/tv_series.html

Shoulder Cats, in color

2010-06-11T19:15:00.005-04:00

Finally!

Shoulder Cat 1:

Shoulder Cat 2:

Both are sculpted in clay, hand built using coils and slabs. The color comes from underglazes. Each man is wearing a titanium earring.

Big Flowers, Part II (Stems) and "Little Flowers" That Aren't So Little

2010-05-16T15:22:00.008-04:00

Segments of flower stems that will be stacked. Third graders made the leaves, Special Programs students made the lady bugs, and I extruded the stems, which are hollow.

Right now, my plan is that these flowers will be 3 1/2 to 5 feet tall.

Special Programs students also made other masterpieces, including six "small flowers," 9 inches to a foot in diameter.

Aren't they adorable? After glazing, we'll mount them on rods and pipes.

A BIG Project

2010-05-16T11:16:00.024-04:00

I'm an artist-in-the-schools and have been fortunate enough to be hired by two schools very recently. When a school contacts me, through the annual Cultural Arts Festival in Wake County, NC, for example, I meet with the cultural arts representative and as many other people involved--art and classroom teachers, to hear their wishes. As a former biologist/anthropologist, I like to integrate our clay workshops and residencies with classroom studies, if possible or desired. We made animals and coral reefs at one school-- more on that soon.

At another school, three classes of third graders are studying flowers and pollination. The idea was a legacy project (a gift from a grade level that stays with the school). We also wanted to include students from three Special Programs classes, grades pre-K through 5. So the project had to be BIG.

An image came to mind immediately, but I still spent some time researching. For example, bees were to be involved. So I looked up the preferred flowers of bees. In class, we discussed the symbiotic relationship between bees and flowers. What bees like and why--one thing is easy access--the bee has to be able to get in and out of the flower without too much trouble. (My favorite anomaly is the snap dragon, where the bee's heavy body opens the lower lip of the flower so the insect doesn't get stuck.)

I came up with sunflowers--they have large faces and lots of parts so each student would have plenty to do. As a bonus, the tall straight stem of the sunflower means we could represent it well as a totem.

Since I like to mull (neurose?) over things, my "well-planned" project evolved as we went along. Hey, as I age and (hopefully) gain wisdom, I am learning to keep my options open. This is art, after all!

Halfway into the project we gave the students the option of giving the flowers human faces. They loved the idea. This necessitated ordering more glazes and, as long as I was doing that, brought up the idea of glazing the flowers colors other than shades of yellow.

Looking at colors available commercially, I made a few suggestions. Then Miss Ruby, the wonderful lady who helps out at the school, was my right hand woman and is now a certified clay artist herself, brought in a greeting card with images in those very colors. That closed the deal.

But I get ahead of myself. Once we got all of the parts made and semi-assembled, I brought almost everything back to my studio. Students made a lot of extra parts, including petals and bees, so I'd have options when I got everything to the studio.

It took two van loads! Needless to say, every horizontal space in my studio was crammed--including tables, the slab roller and the space under the tables.

Right now, everything is assembled, I have a few cleared out spaces in my studio, and flower parts are drying in preparation for the kiln. Here are some photos:

One of three big, happy flowers, adorned with friendly bees. Third grade students made the petals, face parts and bees. They also added texture. I tried to share the wealth of work among as many students as possible--one student made an upper eyelid, another a lower, one a left nostril, another a right--you get the idea. They got a pretty advanced lesson in sculpting a portrait!

Special Programs students made any lady bugs you see on the flower faces and stems (see next post). I rolled out the slab for the face and put the pieces together.

Another big flower. Pretty cool, huh? I'll have to go back and measure them, but off the top of my head, they are probably 15-18 inches in diameter.

Once they were firm enough to handle, I flipped them over and added a hollow clay tube and internal supports. The hollow clay pipe will house a metal pole when the flowers are installed. The flowers had to dry a bit more inside, then I scored and added slip to areas to which the back would be attached:

This process involved keeping some parts wet by spraying and covering them, while letting other parts dry out. Timing is everything!

Below is the back of a flower, documenting the class, date, and names of the artists. I also added the names of the teachers of the Special Programs classes. I plan to write something up with the names of all of the students and adults involved, for the school's use. There just wasn't enough room on the back of the flowers for all of the names!

Wet paper towels around the flower back are keeping the backs of the petals from drying out too fast. The hole in the back of the flower will allow us to secure the flower head to internal metal supports.

Once this side firmed up a bit, I flipped the flower back so it was face up, touched up things and added the rest of the petals.

To be continued.....

Seeking the Holy Gra-yish Blue

2010-03-23T07:27:00.012-04:00

So much goes on behind the scenes.

Since I spend a lot of time sculpting a piece, I want complete control over the colors--no "glaze surprises" (there is no such thing--too many variables--application, kiln atmosphere, but we can always hope!). As a fellow clay artist said, "When you open the kiln, it's either Christmas... or Halloween."

Now, I am trying to be more spontaneous, and do like surprises. Even get some "happy surprises" when I open the kiln. But sometimes it's Halloween. Happens to everyone in this business.

I also want consistency.

The answer is to use commercial underglazes, after testing them on small slabs of clay--test tiles. Since clay is made of a mixture of of products from the earth, there is some variation in the composition of different batches of clay. For example, the latest batches have talc that is very different from that of earlier batches. In fact, the wet clay is a different color and consistency. It still fires up white and so far works well with my glazes and underglazes. But I'll be running lots of test tiles with this new clay.

And, as when you paint a small area on the wall only to discover a color looks different in context or when the whole wall is painted, so it goes with some of the underglazes. For example, people can have very bright blue eyes. BUT, when I used what I thought would be good colors for blue eyes, I got scary looking people with laser beam eyes. Yikes! They just followed you around the room. Same with skin tones--some people looked quite jaundiced.

In future work, I might want these effects, but that hasn't been the case so far.

Also I have found that the color can change slightly if it was applied before the first firing (on greenware) vs. after (bisque) , or refired. (Some of these pieces get fired three or four times.) That's OK for a shirt, but can be disturbing for skin tones, eye colors, and even animal coat colors. So, I have been seeking blues that have a touch of lavender or grey in them. And I keep a lot of records, including when the underglaze was applied and batch number.

After many test tiles to find good colors for skin tones, blue eyes, and cat colors, I ordered more underglazes yesterday. Unfortunately, the choices are limited. Many of the colors I worked with years ago are no longer made--companies are much more safety conscious and now (a good thing!) and some of the chemicals in glazes and underglazes were not safe. And some promising colors that I recently tested, so thought were available, were not in stock. The supplier thinks they may have recently been discontinued

Needless to say, the quest continues...

Newest work--Shoulder Cats!!!

2010-03-22T18:03:00.008-04:00

Not sure where this idea came from--although my work is getting more serious, I can't resist the temptation for a little whimsy or the unexpected. Also, we had a sweet little kitty named Puddles who, at 5 pounds, would climb up my leg, etc. and get to my shoulder. There she would ride around while I continued with daily activities.

Shoulder Cat 1 (soon to be renamed), bone dry.

Shoulder Cat 2 (also soon to be renamed), leather hard.

These have been a long time coming--so much has been going on--all good:

Applying for shows. Getting in to shows. Lots of teaching in the schools. In fact, I am just returning from the Post Office--mailed my application for teaching for two more years. That was a lot of work--included a 10 minute video of me in the classroom. Lots of editing as we recorded parts of three classes. I was glad for that--in one class, someone bumped the camera, so it was moved for much of the time. Don't you hate when that happens???

I use a Macintosh, so got a few lessons in iMovie and iDVD to get the final version of the video. Big, steep learning curve (for me) there.

For the application, we also had to include images of our work and examples of the educational materials we would provide for workshops (one-hour visit with each class) or residencies (multiple visits with each class).

Lots of stuff. But now I've been doing this for a while and am pleased with my portfolio. I've even got a nice slide show of students' work. But it took a while to create all this stuff in the first place. And to get it all together for things like these applications, since I like to add as much new stuff as I can each time.

Anyway, the two new scultpures are now drying. (A third--not a shoulder cat--is on the way.) You will find more more images of these Shoulder Cat pieces on my Facebook Fan Page:

www.facebook.com/

then search Out of the Fire Clay Sculpture. I'll put a link here, but the url seems to change a lot--perhaps someone can enlighten me:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Out-of-the-Fire-Clay-Sculpture-by-Cindy-Biles/301948273679?ref=ts

As with so much of my work, a lot of research is involved. I've found many images on the Internet. I even check out Friends of Friends' Facebook pages, and have written to theses folks to add to my collection of Shoulder Cat images.

And, I include this for your viewing pleasure, though I don't think I care to make a sculpture this extensive!

http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/03/06/shoulder-cat-challenge/

Facebook Fan Page Revisited

2010-03-22T17:54:00.004-04:00

I am slowly joining getting a handle on social networking.

As I said in an earlier post, I love Facebook Fan Page--I get swept away navigating all over the place in Facebook, and Twitter is too brief for me (but give me time on that one). Have Linked-in page, but haven't done much with that yet. Gotta spend time in the studio!

If you check out the Facebook Fan Page, you can see photos of my work in one place, rather than having to scroll around, as you do in this blog.

Anyway, since I am still not sure how to list the Fan Page address (the url seems to be different every time I check it), if you go to

http://www.facebook.com/

and search

Out of the Fire Clay Sculpture

you will find me.

I also have a personal Facebook page--lots of posts from friends about art and animals.

Artist Statement

2010-02-22T08:05:00.003-05:00

I keep tweaking my artist statement--always feel it's too simplistic. Anyway, here goes with the statement for the North Carolina Artists Exhibition. Feel free to comment. Be gentle--you know how sensitive we AR-TISTES are.

----------

With patience and mutual trust, humans and animals can develop a bond where both parties communicate on an intuitive, or even spiritual, level. Although technology enables people (who have access) to exchange information frequently and instantly, there is still a fundamental human need for direct connection with another living creature. For many, this is provided by the companion animal who lives in the present, accepts us at face value, finds joy in simple pleasures, and offers unconditional love.

When creating a sculpture, I use coil, slab, additive and subtractive techniques. With a science background, my process is to research the subject in depth and incorporate a great deal of realism and detail. At some point my artist side reminds me to lighten up and play. This often manifests as a bit of whimsy or the unexpected—in the cases of “Caroline and Grace” and “Max and Gizmo,” the number on dogs’ tags is my name in numeric code:

2 9 12 5 19

B I L E S

THE 2010 North Carolina Artists Exhibition to be held Sunday Feb. 28

2010-02-21T14:30:00.003-05:00

Soon Caroline and Grace and Max and Gizmo will be putting on their winter coats and traveling to Raleigh for the 2010 North Carolina Artists Exhibition!

We are all very excited.

Artists were allowed to submit up to two pieces and both of mine got in!

I found out that over 400 pieces were submitted and, due to space limitations, only 67 were accepted, so I'm very happy.

Hope you can come to Raleigh to hear the Juror John Beerman's lecture and see the show!

Date:

Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010

Location: Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts

Juror's Lecture (Mr. John Beerman) 2:00-3:00 in the Meymandi Concert Hall Lobby

Exhibition Opening and Awards Ceremony: 3:30-5:30 in the Betty Ray McCain Gallery.

The show will run until May 4 and the gallery will be open during performances at the Performing Arts Center.

Caroline & Grace and Max & Gizmo Going to Raleigh

2010-02-14T21:09:00.004-05:00

This just in--Caroline and Grace and Max and Gizmo have been accepted into the Raleigh Fine Arts Society Show. Opening Reception, with Juror's Lecture will be Sunday, Feb. 28.

More information coming soon!

Max and Gizmo

Caroline and Grace

Facebook Fan Page!

2010-02-13T13:44:00.009-05:00

I can't figure out how my colleagues keep up with all the social media and find time to create art!

Having said that, I managed to create a Facebook Fan Page for Out of the Fire. Here is the url:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Out-of-the-Fire-Clay-Sculpture-by-Cindy-Biles/301948273679

You can also access it by the widget on the right side of your screen. Please check it out. (There is also a widget to my personal Facebook page). I am doing a much better job with the Fan Page--have up-loaded photos and the latest news.

I must say, I am loving the Facebook Fan Page--like a combination of blogging and a web site, and very user friendly. Way to go, Facebook! Please consider becoming a fan--I like the way the page looks--very businesslike, and I will keep it concise.

I have some more to upload on this Blog (which I also love--Thank You, Google!), but have held off, since it takes forever with my camera-to-computer system (long story). I am hoping to resolve that soon.

For now I can tell you, I recently finished sculpting a piece that I am very pleased with, and have started two more. We've had a lot of things happening the middle of that, including teaching at a school in Raleigh.

More to come!

Sheer Stubbornness

2010-01-24T11:10:00.011-05:00

In my last post, I indicated I was "incubating." That includes reading excerpts from the blogs of other artists, signing up for RSS feed and e-mail notices.

One artists is Lesli Kathman of Blackberry Lane Pottery. She makes molds of her incredible horse sculptures.

Check out her blog at:

http://blackberry-lane.blogspot.com/

Now I've had a little experience in mold making, but nothing like this. And I'd never say "never," but I don't see myself making multi-part molds. (I can be patient about about a lot of things--this is not one of them) Still, reading her blog has been most educational and awe-inspiring. Lesli is very generous in sharing her techniques and things that go on behind the scenes (so much about the process is not just the making of art, but preparing, cleaning up, experimenting and learning). Perhaps someday I'll get to meet her.

In her January 24, 2010 post, Lesli discusses the steep learning curve of mold making and how so many aspects of the ceramic process require a lot of knowledge and experience. Her last phrase really resonates--

"the most useful trait for someone taking up ceramics is just sheer stubbornness."

To that I would add practice, persistence, and a good sense of humor.

Incubating--Creating without Getting Your Hands Dirty. Sculpting--Getting Your Hands Dirty

2010-01-22T22:42:00.000-05:00

The studio was idle for several days as we prepared for the holidays (way too last minute!) and took time to reflect on 2009.

The last year has been a bittersweet journey--mostly sweet, but some doors have closed. I won't go down memory lane here, except to say the healing process has been a journey. However, I do see daily reminders that things that seem to be gone are not really so, just in a different realm. There are some life experiences for which you cannot prepare, and they change you forever. Already, I have seen the influence in my art.

I haven't forgotten that many very big windows opened in 2009, not the least of which was getting the studio operational and the gallery set up!

These days I am plotting out some exciting activities for 2010, doing research for new projects, and sculpting like a fiend (can you say "long days in the studio and lots of hand cream at night?"). That's part of the reason I have not been blogging as often as I'd like.

So thank you for checking in! I promise, a lot is going on behind the scenes, including a couple of new works--the sculpture is almost done on one. It fits in beautifully with my People and Their Companion Animals body of work, but may be a surprise to those who know me. All I will say for now is, it's been in my head, and I am thrilled it's now out in the 3-D tangible clay version.

As soon as I can get my camera to communicate better with my computer, the photos will come faster and furiouser. ;-)

I the meantime, here are some angels for inspiration created by, Yes--2nd graders that I worked with just before the holidays.

Can't you just hear them singing?

Out of the Fire Sculpture Studio

2009-12-15T18:40:00.005-05:00

I am still trying to find a balance between creating art and marketing--even posting to this blog on a regular basis gets pushed aside. I wish it weren't so--it's a lot of fun to chronicle activities in the studio and at shows. Even though the comments are few and far between, several people have written me, so I know there are lurkers out there.

Thanks!

The posts also have been image-poor--it's a bit of a process (long story), so I don't post as many photos these days as I'd like.

Anyway, thought you'd like to see a couple more images of the studio. Earlier posts showed a teacher workshop in session, and how full every horizontal surface can become before a show.

Here is the studio before the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Show--I repainted door panels and pedestals. There are other pedestals to the left and several short ones below that did not get included in the photo. Preparing for a show can be a lot of work--and that's for the non-art stuff!

A sea of white

And here is the outside of the studio, decked out for the holidays. Photo taken Dec. 14, 2009.

Out of the Fire Sculpture Studio

As I write this, the studio is very clean, after the first ever Saxapahaw Holiday Open House. I'll try to get a photo of that--not very exciting, but the transformation is pretty amazing, considering it was a Sea of White a few weeks ago, then a storage unit for boxes after that--we could hardly move.

I have a gallery space here, too--will get a photo of that.

On the Cover of the Rolling Stones

2009-12-06T09:21:00.004-05:00

Would you believe in the Life section of the Fayetteville Observer?

Melissa Clement, who is an artist herself, and a reporter for The Fayetteville Observer, attended the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Show. She said my work "stands out," which was such a high compliment. Melissa interviewed me and wrote an article that is in today's paper.

Guess I "did good"--she is usually allowed a very short article and only one photo. They included one of me and one of Bodyguard.

Here is the url for the article. If my photo shows up, hit "Next" in the photo box to see the art.

http://www.fayobserver.com:80/Articles/2009/12/06/956960

Thank you, Melissa!

The FIRST EVER Saxapahaw Holiday Open House!!!

2009-12-01T11:48:00.009-05:00

On Saturday, December 12, I will be joining other artists and entrepreneurs in Saxapahaw for the FIRST-EVER Saxapahaw Holiday Open House!

I continue to be amazed at all of the things you can do in our small town--from the Saturdays in Saxapahaw music event and Farmers' Market (www.rivermillvillage.com), to Oktoberfest, to volunteering at Paperhand Puppet Intervention (did that one day-much fun!), to eating at our Country Store (amazing food!), to visiting Benjamin Vineyards (great wine and art exhibits, too!), taking canoe rides, visiting our wonderful Roxy Farms Antiques shop (and meet the most wonderful Roxy herself!), spending the night at the gorgeous River Landing Inn--or attending their art receptions (complete with terrific food and live music), taking movement and dance classes, taking a class here at my studio, and many other things.

So we are hosting this Holiday Open House Tour to let people know. Grab a friend and come on out. You'll be able to share in holiday festivities, see demonstrations, taste local wines, attend free classes and other activities, and shop for one-of-a-kind gifts. All within a community of a few square miles. Amazing!

To date, businesses and artists and their offerings include:

Benjamin Vineyards & Winery - Winetasting, including seasonal Spice Wine and two new dessert wines, Twelve Days of Christmas Art Show featuring more than 35 pieces, representing the work of over 20 local artists. 6516 Whitney Rd. 12 noon - 5 p.m. 336-376-1080. http://www.benjaminvineyards.com/

The Bridge at Rivermill - free movement and classes from 9:30-10:30a.m. and 2:00-4:00p.m., acupressure sessions, available by donation from 1-4 p.m.. 1647 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Rd., www.rivermillvillage.com, www.metaformmovement.com, www.leighbrown.info, 919-619-6405, 919 601-1282 or dblondiedancer@aol.com.

Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co. - Guest Appreciation Day: potluck, gear swap and free paddle trip. RSVP requested. Saxapahaw Community Center. Noon-5:00p.m. 336-260-6465, info@hawrivercanoe.com .

The Hawbridge School, a tuition free public charter high school, will feature an art exhibit and the launch of its student-run microenterprise, Hawbridge Designs. A wide variety of student-designed silk scarves, photo greeting cards, recycled art works, and large art pieces will be available for purchase. Proceeds from the sale support educational programs. Prospective students and their families are especially welcome from 2-4 pm when the school's music ensemble will perform. 1735 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Rd., 1-6 p.m. 336-376-1122 or www.hawbridgeschool.org.

Out of the Fire Sculpture Studio - Clay hand building and sculpture demonstrations, free mini classes. Visitors will be able to create their own masterpiece, leave it for firing and pick it up at a later date. 6035 Church Rd. 10a.m.-5 p.m. 336-376-9091 or www.cindybilesblog.blogspot.com/.

Paperhand Puppet Studio -exhibit of large puppets used in their productions. 1-4p.m. Saxapahaw Community Center. www.paperhand.org.

River Landing Inn - coffee, tea, Christmas cookies and snacks, exhibit of quilts by Violet DeKnikker. 5942 Whitney Road Graham, NC 27253. 12noon to 4p.m. (336) 376-1502 or matt@riverlandinginn.com.

Roxy Farm Antiques - A Dickens Christmas Carole Open House! Fine southern antiques, including primitives, baskets, quilts, hats, vintage photos, brass candlesticks, tree ornaments from Mexico, and much more. Tiny Tim, Scrooge and the Ghosts from Dickens', A Christmas Carole, will be singing Christmas carols. Join us for some Yuletide cheer with locally-grown wines from Benjamin Vineyards & Winery, along with homemade holiday hors d' oeuvres. 5768 Church Rd., 10a.m.-6p.m. (336) 264-7731.

Saxapahaw Artists Co-Op - wide range of unique items for holiday gifting 10a.m. – 6p.m.

Tour Maps are available at numerous locations throughout Saxapahaw. Tour locations will be well marked and numbered.

Getting to Saxapahaw:

From Chapel Hill/Carrboro take HWY 54 West, approximately 13 miles. Turn left on Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road.

From Hillsborough, take Orange Grove Road to HWY 54 W to Sax-Beth Church Road.

From Mebane, take Mebane-Oaks Road to HWY 54, travel across to Sax-Beth Church Road.

From Burlington, take I-40 to exit 147 toward Pittsboro approximately 10 miles. Turn Left onto Church Road.

I'll post updates as I hear about them, or you can call Benjamin Vineyards & Winery (336-376-1080) or check their website: http://www.benjaminvineyards.com/.

Preparing for the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Show in Raleigh, NC

2009-11-24T17:34:00.011-05:00

Just picked up my rental Metrovan. Kevin and I will fill it up with art and booth furniture tomorrow and head to Raleigh. Bodyguard, Caroline & Grace and Max & Gizmo will make their debut at this show. I'll also bring new big dogs, teeny ornaments, and small dogs and llamas. Also, my blackware--inspired by potters of the pueblos in the American Southwest.

I know I have not kept you up to date on studio happenings in the last several days--had so many things going on, I didn't have time to write about them!

We've put in some late nights, but it has been rewarding to see the work finally finished and the set up ready to go.

Hope to see you in Raleigh!

Sneak preview below--photos by Jason Dowdle

Bodyguard--the first in this new body of work, People and Their Companion Animals.

To give you an idea of scale, this piece if 21 inches tall. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my brother thinks the girl looks like me in high school--even before the piece was glazed. I had not noticed it, but he is right.

Caroline and Grace

Max and Gizmo

Caroline & Grace is 15-16 inches tall and Max & Gizmo, 17 inches in height.

You would not believe how much time I spent picking out colors, including colors of the dog collars! I considered what the character would choose, what glazes are available, what works well with colors of dogs, enough contrast, not too much contrast, etc. Made many, many test tiles and, will be doing more, as the new batch of clay has a different formulation, so may give different colors with my glazes. Not such a big deal for clothing, but people's skin tones--wow--so many colors that looked good on the test tile did not work for larger areas. So I will be testing a lot more. I am currently using mostly Amaco underglazes, but if anyone has suggestions for good skin tones, of all colors, please drop me a line.

The dogs' tags have the numbers 2912519, corresponding to letters of the alphabet for BILES:

2-9-12-5-19

The ladies' dogs have heart shaped tags, but Gizmo's tag is bone-shaped. It is unintentional, but Max bears a striking resemblance to Kevin's father (though Max's face is much fuller). Also, Kevin used to have a vest almost that color.

Quick Update

2009-11-22T14:51:00.006-05:00

Whew--I've been so busy, I have not been able to post lately. Within the past week, I've taught many very talented second graders at a school in Raleigh--they made wonderful sculptures which we will paint on December 3.

This past weekend was the Whimsical Women show, in Winston-Salem. The show is legendary for its superb organization and incredible food (made by the artists). All of the artists help with some aspect of the show--which gets us out of our booths and, yes, even do some shopping ourselves!

I got to visit with artists who I knew for a while, hadn't seen for a while, or met at the spring show, held in May, in the Chapel Hill area.

Many, many thanks to Luli Sanderford, our hostess, and her sister, Linda Palladino. Also the many other organizers...I'm afraid to name them for fear of leaving someone out--except I have to mention Brenda Moore--who I met through classes at Sawtooth many years ago. She makes exquisite maiolica.

As I write this , I am taking a break from unloading the van.

With the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Show coming right up, I spent some time this morning repainting pedestals. Had repainted the wall panels earlier this week--will take and post a photo if I have any time or energy left. Needless to say, the studio is a sea of white. Once dry enough to handle, we'll arrange all this "furniture" and set up a mock-up booth. Would have like to have done this weeks ago, but too much going on! All good problems!

Carolina Designer Craftsmen Art Show

2009-11-12T10:22:00.001-05:00

This is my third year of running with the big dogs. The Carolina Designer Craftsmen will host its annual show at the North Carolina State Fairground in Raleigh from November 27 to 29 (Friday through Sunday). The hours are:

Friday, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

To learn more about the guild, please visit their website:

http://www.carolinadesignercraftsmen.com/

There is a two-year jurying process--you are accepted first as a probationary member, based on images you submit. Once the jury sees your work at the show and approves, you are a member. Still, there is a standards committee who reviews artists' work every three years. So standards are high.

I am bringing what is the beginning of my new body of work, People and Their Companion Animals. What with research, sculpting, glazing and at least two firings, each takes several weeks to create. I hope to have three of those pieces completed in time. One will be in the Masterworks section and the other two in my booth, number N-3.

Also, I've made a couple of medium-sized and smaller sculptures, as well as several dog and bird ornaments. (I have to admit, they are cute, and I'll have trouble parting with them!) So, I'll have something to offer at all prices.

The cost to produce such an event is high, so there is an entrance fee--$7.00 for a day pass. Sorry about that!

So come by, no pressure to buy, but remember, I have a lot of hungry mouths to feed! ;-)

Seriously, I've been out of the social loop for a while and would love to see you.

Saxapahaw Holiday Open House

2009-11-10T18:47:00.009-05:00

I've been attending meetings with a group of other artists and business owners living and/or working in Saxapahaw. On Saturday, December 12, we're hosting a Holiday Open House.

People will be able to see us in our studios or workplaces, enjoy holiday refreshments, see demonstrations, taste local wines, attend free classes, see art shows, share in a pot luck dinner, enjoy music, go on a canoe ride for free, and do some shopping. And this is all within a few square miles.

We thought this would be a great way for people to see what our small community has to offer.

So far, participants include:

Benjamin Vineyards & Winery - Winetasting, including seasonal Spice Wine and two new dessert wines, Twelve Days of Christmas Art Show features more than 35 pieces, representing the work of over 20 local artists. 6516 Whitney Rd. 12 noon - 5 p.m. 336-376-1080. http://www.benjaminvineyards.com/

Elementary Dance Education Academy. Rivermill. dblondiedancer@aol.com

Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co. - Guest Appreciation Day, with potluck, gear swap and free 2-hour paddle trip. RSVP requested. Saxapahaw Community Center. Noon-5:00p.m. 336-260-6465, info@hawrivercanoe.com

The Hawbridge School (tuition free public charter school)- art exhibit and launch of student-run business, featuring sale of student-designed dyed silk scarves, photo greeting cards, recycled art works, and large art works. Proceeds from sale support educational programs. 1735 Saxapahaw-Bethleham Church Rd. 1-6 p.m. 336-376-1122 or www.hawbridgeschool.org.

Out of the Fire Sculpture Studio - Clay handbuilding and sculpture demonstrations, free mini classes. 6035 Church Rd. 10a.m.-5 p.m. 336-376-9091 or www.cindybilesblog.blogspot.com/.

River Landing Inn - coffee, tea, Christmas cookies, snacks. 5942 Whitney Road Graham, NC 27253. 12noon to 4p.m. (336) 376-1502 or matt@riverlandinginn.com

Roxy Farm Antiques - A Dickens Christmas Carole Open House! Fine southern antiques, including primitives, baskets, quilts, hats, vintage photos, brasscandlesticks, tree ornaments from Mexico, and much more. Tiny Tim, Scroogeand the Ghosts from Dickens', A Christmas Carole, will be singing Christmas carols. Join us for some Yuletide cheer with locally-grown wines from Benjamin Vineyards & Winery, along with homemade holiday hors d' oeuvres. 5768 Church Rd., 10a.m.-6p.m. (336) 264-7731.

Benjamin VIneyards and Riverlanding Inn have been great supporters of local artists, with multiple shows throughout the year. Benjamin Vineyars has its Twelve Says of Christmas Show up, with a Meet the Artists reception on December 13, from 1-4PM.

We Create What We Know (Even If We Don't Realize It)

2009-11-08T09:22:00.007-05:00

In an earlier post I mentioned that my brother thought the girl in Bodyguard looked like me. Recently, I saw the photo again and it was uncanny. This has happened many times before--several pieces I've made resemble relatives, friends, etc. Even hands and feet--though all unintentional.

Here is the photo Dave was talking about:

Me, in high school, with hair almost down to my waist.

And here is Bodyguard:

Update on Bodyguard and Caroline and Grace

2009-11-02T13:47:00.005-05:00

As I write this, Bodyguard is in the kiln at a toasty 1200 degrees.

Here are some photos of her just before she went in. She received more layers of underglazes, including many fine details here and there and some very stylish highlights in her hair. Don't worry, they won't be so contrasty after firing.

The girl's skin and tee shirt will be a little darker.

There are two shades of black on the dog's body. The result will be almost unnoticeable.

Caroline and Grace have received their first layer of underglazes.

I did not add her pupils--creepy, I know. Her irises are a color I haven't used before so I'm running a test tile in the kiln right now with Bodyguard. If I don't like it, I can glaze over it.

Caroline and Grace, side view. Max and Gizmo are drying in the background.

Looking at photos of fawn chihuahuas, I glazed Grace's nose dark brown instead of black. Either color, or even more of a pinkish shade, would have been correct. I love the curve of Grace's body--she is really cuddling Caroline!

Bodyguard--more glazes and second firing

2009-11-02T06:20:00.005-05:00

As expected, Bodyguard needed a little dermatology to clear up her blotchy complexion.

I added more layers of underglazes to the piece to even out her skin tone. To add depth and interest, I added underglazes in colors related to, but not the same as, the first layer to the girl's eyes, tee shirt & hair, put more dark brown and black in the dog's ears, and used a slightly different shade of black in the dog's body.

Kevin loaded her into the kiln yesterday--he was able to carry her from the studio this time. We still set up a pedestal for her to sit on before he lowered her in. Clay shrinks when it is fired, but she is still 20 inches tall.

As I write this, Bodyguard is warming up in the kiln, preparing for her second firing, today.

Twelve Days of Christmas Art Show at Benjamin Vineyards in Saxapahaw, NC

2009-10-31T20:41:00.027-04:00

I live in a very small town, called Saxapahaw. Pronounced SAX-pa-haw. I love living here. We don't even have a stop light, and I mean that in a good way. We are, however, becoming a destination for lovers of art, farmers markets, good food and good wine.

To see what I mean, check out the Saxapahaw-Rivermill web site:

http://www.rivermillvillage.com/

This year, our local winery, Benjamin Vineyards, is hosting its second annual Twelve Days of Christmas art show. Artists were invited to interpret one of the days mentioned in the song in any way they choose. I had hoped to participate last year, but the studio was still under construction and the Carolina Designer Craftsmen show was coming up fast.

Even though we get the invitation in July, somehow the time evaporates. Due to the configuration of the winery, pieces that can be hung on the wall were preferred. I had an idea, but there would be some challenges. So I spent a lot of time figuring out how I would execute my plan.

Here are some images of the piece, called "Rhythm Man," resting on my work table.

Sculpted but not dry yet. Later I will refine the beak.

Top view

Can you guess which day it represents? There is a clue on the bird's leg band.

If you need a refresher course on the Twelve Days, here is the last verse:

On the twelfth day of Christmas,

my true love sent to me

Twelve drummers drumming,

Eleven pipers piping,

Ten lords a-leaping,

Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree!

The biggest challenge was to make Rhythm Man as lightweight as possible, yet able to support the weight of the bird. The second biggest challenge was connecting the bird to the tree trunk securely. As you can see, there are only two contact points between the bird and the tree trunk--I could have had the beak touch the trunk, but wanted to portray the bird looking around--if you ever watch them (or find videos of them on the Internet), they tap on the tree for a while, then look around--it's mesmerizing (or do I need to get out more???).

Anyway, lucky for me that they brace themselves with their tails.

To do this the tree started out as a solid log and the bird as two hollow pinch pots. As they firmed up, I carved out the tree, leaving shelves inside. Also, I cut the bird in half (that used to be painful for me, but I'm getting used to the idea of cutting open my work. I did apologize to the bird for the invasive procedure, but he's better for it.) and hollowed it out as much as I dared. The piece is still heavy, but manageable.

Below are images of the piece after underglazes and a little acrylic paint are applied.

Rhythm Man, front view (when it's rotated 90 degrees and hung on the wall)

Rhythm Man, side view. You can see the ever-present Bodyguard in the background, in the process of receiving more layers of underglaze before she returns to the kiln. The little pieces of colorful ceramic are test tiles. You'll see those blues in future posts!

I was pleased with the result and dropped off the piece yesterday. At the winery, Nancy and Andy Zeman, owners, and Travis greeted me. They brought me to the wine tasting room, where I got to see several other pieces--very nice. Thirty-five artists, working in all mediums, will be represented. It's going to be a wonderful show.

While you're here, check out Benjamin Vineyards and Winery's site:

http://www.benjaminvineyards.com/

The winery is open Thursday through Sunday, 12 Noon to 5PM. The Twelve Days of Christmas show runs from Nov. 5, 2009 through January 3, 2010.

I didn't have my camera with me, but can tell you the vines were beautiful--bright yellow leaves.

----

FYI, the red bellied woodpecker is my husband's favorite backyard bird. I'm partial to the white breasted nuthatch (so dapper in his little tuxedo) and Carolina wren. While looking for images on the Internet, I came across Vickie Henderson's blog--she has posted an entry about the red bellied woodpecker after I sculpted the piece, but I was able to reference her images for glazing. She has photos of the bird from many angles, which helps so much for 3-D work.

Vickie is also an artist and creates beautiful watercolors, among other work, including a whooping crane coloring book. Check out her blog at http://vickiehenderson.blogspot.com/

As you can see, she has a post on the Carolina wren--I'll be referencing that one someday, I'm sure. Thank you, Vickie!

If you look at older posts on Vickie's blog, there is a video of an adorable baby whooping crane and its family--you can see how nurturing and protective it parents are. It was so sweet, I had to watch it a couple of times!

Status Report

2009-10-31T19:31:00.006-04:00

Many apologies for the lack of postings. I've had some hardware and software issues. I have added several posts and images to posts beginning with the Sept. 26 entry. So, if you don't mind scrolling back to that time, you'll see in chronological order what's been happening in the studio.

The Life and Times of Max and Gizmo

2009-10-19T15:15:00.013-04:00

It's all about communication and support. No, I'm not talking about relationships....

There is so much going on in these larger pieces that the viewer does not see.

To facilitate drying and make sure air can flow out of the piece easily as it (the air, that is) expands during firing, I poke, drill or otherwise create holes between the compartments that make up the sculpture. Also, coils (snakelike pieces) of clay are attached in places that will support extra weight, like the back of the neck. You can see that in the above image. Soon I will extend the coil up out of the neck to join the head, which is created separately. I will also add a coil inside the top of the chest and extend that into the front of the neck. Talk about an inside job! (sorry, I couldn't resist.)

I come in peace....and my little dog, too.

Is there a draft in the studio???

[Do I need to get a life? As you can see, it's dark outside--I've been putting in some long days.]

Hear no evil, smell no evil. (Keeping thinner areas, and places where I need to add clay, moist.) Wow, those chopsticks smart!

Kevin came in to the studio with a shirt and vest to model. It was late, we were tired and my first try was close but not quite it. So first thing I did this morning was remove most of what I'd worked on.

After much tweaking and shifting around of clay, I was happy. Turns out, the man's chin peeks between the dog's ears an his collar covers almost all of his neck.

Doh! There were some great details in there that no one but me will have seen. Kevin said, "Have you considered just doing a person?" Definitely, and life would be sooo much simpler! But this is an unusual topic and one that is close to my heart. Angst, I can always count on you to be close by!

Anyway, it's hard to stop fussing with a piece. I finally had to say, out loud, "Put down the clay tool and step away from the art."

Max and Gizmo, hanging out with "The Girls." All are in different stages of development.

No doubt I will continue to tweak the piece as it dries and notice things I didn't see when actively working on it.

In the meantime, it was actually fun to clean up the studio and go outside to play with the dogs, who have been feeling very neglected.

Bodyguard--Into and Out of the Fire

2009-10-18T13:05:00.013-04:00

What I saw when I opened the kiln.

YEA!!!!!

Caroline and Grace

2009-10-17T21:36:00.002-04:00

How I started each of my People and Their Companion Animal pieces:

Humble beginnings. This bottom rim is pretty thick, so I've poked holes in it to help it dry a little more evenly and relieve stress during drying and firing.

Any idea of where this will lead?

See those snake-like coils of clay climbing up her back? More on that later!

Long story short, lots of stuff happened, and we are shaping up!

Bodyguard appears to be growing out of Caroline's head.

That is a chop stick in Caroline's chest, holding up a bottle of hand cream--many things in the studio serve as armatures. Once her neck firms up, these accessories will be removed. The dog is sporting wet paper towels to keep areas moist so I can work on them later.

Does this hand cream make me look fat???

"The Girls" often hang out together:

Caroline and Grace

Time to get cracking on Max and Gizmo!

My hope is to finish this third piece in time for the Carolina Designer Craftsmen show on Thanksgiving weekend.

Whimsical Women, Woo Hoo!

2009-10-15T19:54:00.010-04:00

Last May, I visited the Whimsical Women spring show, held just west of Chapel Hill, NC. There I met many terrific artists, some I already knew. I just didn't know they led secret lives--being members of this well known and wonderful organization. (Visit their blog at: http://whimsical-women.blogspot.com/) Also, I spoke with Linda Palladino, one of the founders, showed her a photo of my cat fish, and described some of my other work. She decreed that I qualify as a Whimsical Woman! She could have said, Whacky, Way Out, Weird, even, but she said Whimsical--and I love that....

So I'll be bringing my work to their Fall show, held November 21 on the farm of Luli Sanderford (Linda's sister), in Winston-Salem. Rain date is November 22. Hope to see you there!

That's me, 10th from the right--does the red skirt make me look fat? ;-)

Seriously, if you'd like an invitation, email me at:

cbiles@triad.rr.com

and I'll e-mail or snail mail one to you.

I've been working on large pieces for Carolina Designer Craftsmen (which happens over Thanksgiving weekend), as well as a good sized piece for the 12 Days of Christmas show at Benjamin Vineyards, here in Saxapahaw, where we live. With Whimsical Women and another potential show (the latter later this month, yikes!), I just started making more small dogs and some teeny cat fish, which was so much fun.

It's been a tough summer, what with the loss of our last horse and my father, but I have been plugging along with my art, as my father said he wanted me to do. I continue to think about him constantly, and have had the privilege of meeting many people along the way who have lost a parent. They assure me that my reaction is normal, and it will take time to feel like myself again.

Although I am thoroughly enjoying making the big pieces, they are challenging and require a lot of concentration. Not constantly--I do have periods of autopilot and spontaneity, but there is also plenty of brow furrowing. But last night was like a little vacation. I was grinning, laughing and, yes, even talking to the small dogs that were materializing from the little lumps of clay in my fingers. Great fun!

So, thank you, Linda--I hadn't felt Whimsical for a while. You gave me a wonderful gift!

Caroline and Grace are Born and Another on the Way

2009-10-15T18:59:00.011-04:00

Bodyguard stayed in the kiln for three days, soaking up the heat and releasing any vestiges of moisture. That was probably way more than necessary, but I wasn't going to take any chances. As she was nearing completion and still drying and getting underglazed in the studio, I started two other pieces, but intentionally did not progress very far, since I need to concentrate on one piece at a time.

These pieces start out as a ring and are built up using coils or narrow slabs.

Then I build up from there.

Caroline and Grace. See? You can tell where this is going, right?

This will be a middle aged woman cuddling her dog.

The third piece in this body of work will be an older man and his small dog. It was inspired by a photo I found on Bill Owen's blog. Check it out--you'll be glad you did.

http://newenglandphotos.blogspot.com/

I love his sense of humor and his beautiful photos! Bill is clearly an animal lover; that means he's good people.

Here is the photo, in a post entitled The Old Man (and Old Dog) and the Sea, dated Sept. 6, 2007. It really speaks to me. Two old friends, very comfortable with each other--so quiet and peaceful. We have a lot of dogs and most are around 50 pounds and up. No peace and quiet here!

There is a little work to be done from the ring to the finished product.....which I plan to name Max and Gizmo.

At this stage, Max and Gizmo look like a tank top.

The tops of his shoulders are going to have to firm up before I can continue.

---------------------------

I often bring a real dog to the studio. Usually it's Toby. He's got plenty of toys there, but I still have to keep an eye on him, as he likes to eat clay that falls on the floor.

Typically, he spends the first part of his stay playing with his toys, then looking out the door for squirrels and other visitors.

One of our many avian visitors, photographed through the front door. Last year it was a flock of guinea fowl. This year it was this rooster. Why they would hang out in a yard with barking dogs (albeit fenced in) is a mystery to me.

After a while, Toby's ready to call it a day. He's not terribly concerned about my deadlines.

Mom, are you almost done? I'm bored. Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored.

Behind the Scenes

2009-10-12T09:09:00.014-04:00

Since this was first posted, I have added a photo.

------------------------------------------------------------------

I love living on the edge--for me, that means challenging myself to make new things and never getting too comfortable. It's not obvious to witnesses but, on some level, I must love the little rushes of adrenaline that come with the stress during those "What was I thinking?!?!" moments. For you real thrill seekers, this must sound pretty lame, but it doesn't cost anything (except many sleepless nights). What's she rambling about, you ask. Why, getting Bodyguard into the kiln, of course!

On Sunday evening (October 11) my husband, Kevin, and I (mostly him, with my "encouragement" and plenty of nail biting--don't you know he appreciated that!) loaded (I'd say "placed", but "loaded" is more like it) Bodyguard into the kiln last night. She's probably dry, but I am taking every precaution.

My kiln is in what used to be a tool room off the garage (my old working space), about 100 feet from the new studio. The path is bumpy and Bodyguard is heavy. To get her there, we placed her in the back of our van. Kevin drove and I rode in the back with Bodyguard. Sorry, no photos, since we really needed to focus.

I was a little nervous about whether we could get her into the kiln without damaging her. Since she'll be traveling, I made her a little thick, so she'd be sturdy. However, until she's fired, she would be very fragile.

The piece has a lot of places to use as handles, but most would probably not support her weight at this stage. And she is tall enough (21 inches to the top of Chet's ears, though she will shrink a bit during the firing) that it might be impossible to hold her from the bottom raise her to above waist height and lower her into the kiln.

I measured a lot, to determine the maximum height of the kiln shelf so we wouldn't have to lower her any more than necessary. We went through a few dry runs of how to pick her up, what to do if she needed to be maneuvered in mid air, etc.

Kevin had worked in the garden much of the day, so didn't really need one more physically demanding task, especially at 8:30PM, when we hadn't had dinner.

We placed a pedestal in the kiln room to have a place to set her down before the last lift (and in case we had to stop and regroup during the process).

We took a deep breath and with almost no help from me, Kevin got her safely into the kiln.

She'll be at a toasty 150 degrees, sweating out every last bit of moisture in her dry sauna until I fire up the kiln. And she's still smiling!

Bodyguard, safely in the kiln

Bodyguard--The Saga continues....

2009-10-10T07:56:00.001-04:00

There are sooo many decisions to make after deciding on the general concept, even if the piece is finished in my head.

I am a big fan of the expression, "If a little is good, a lot is better." I am slowly learning that, most of the time, "Less is More."

With Bodyguard, my original plan was to stamp a pattern on the girl's shirt and have more detail in the bottom of the piece. But those details would have detracted from the focal point, the faces. So I opted to go with a solid tee shirt and keep things bold.

To minimize the number of firings, I decided to apply underglazes to the piece before it was fired.

Bodyguard, the first layer of underglazes on the girl.

Bodyguard, the dog with underglazes.

After firing, the colors will be close to what you see here. The girl's skin will be a littler darker and her tee shirt a little brighter. I put one coat of underglaze on more area, so she may be blotchy.

Some people can work on many pieces at once. I find that when I have tried that, the quality of all the pieces suffers and I end up being unhappy with the work and destroying it. I can, however, begin other pieces, as long as I focus on one at a time.

As this piece neared completion, I started on the next two so they could start to firm up and be ready when I was. Stay tuned!

The Clay Speaks--Update on Bodyguard

2009-09-26T08:42:00.001-04:00

I have just finished the first layer of underglazes on Bodyguard. To avoid having to fire the piece too many times, I applied underglazes to the unfired work (greenware).

Although my plan was to have a fair skinned girl with red hair and blue eyes, the more I looked at the sculpture, the more I felt the need to go in a different direction--brown haired girl with brown eyes. As you can see, the faces of girl and dog are at the same level, with facial features lined up. Also, the dog's eyes are quite anthropomorphic. I wanted the eyes of both to be the same color. Although Boston terriers, like other dogs, can have blue eyes, I felt that might be a bit much. So the brown eyes work.

Here is an early photo--I have more recent ones, but need to update my iPhoto. In the meantime, I wanted to get this entry posted.

After firing, the girl's skin will be a little darker. I'll layer on more underglazes (in slightly different colors) and refire.

Because these two "own each other," the dog has a collar, to which I will attach a bone-shaped license tag, with numbers that correspond to my name:

2-9-12-5-19 for BILES.

----------

Well, here's something spooky--heard from my brother the other day, who had seen my earlier post (before any underglazes were applied) and said, "I see you in this piece." That reminded me of when I was a Tween, had longer, straight hair and was thin--and, yes, there is quite a resemblance! So that may have been a subconscious influence on my hair and eye color choices. Growing up, we had only one dog, a cairn terrier mix my Uncle Gino rescued from the animal shelter. His name was Mickey, after a dog my father had in his childhood. Mickey and I were inseparable. Spoo-ky....

Sharing Our Passions

2009-09-25T09:20:00.005-04:00

When not in the studio, I'm in the classroom, as an artist-in-the-schools. For the past 5 years, I've been contracted by schools in Wake and Johnston Counties. With a background in biology and anthropology, and a tendency (possessed by many artists and scientists) to find connections between things, I've developed several programs that integrate different subjects (the technical term is "content areas"), like science and social studies with art, and, for that matter, math, reading, etc.

It's been a great opportunity to share my passion of working with clay. And to learn from very fearless creative people who are shorter than me--6 year olds! Just kidding. So far, I've worked with people ages 4 to 97 and have learned so much from everyone I've met.

Like being fearless and just enjoying the process, with little concern about the outcome (ages 4-6), what happens if you get too worried about the end result (a few kids here and there, ages 8-10), never to have preconceptions (all ages), the wisdom of enjoying the process with little concern about the outcome (yes, I know I just said that, but this lesson was from a 97 year old--amazing how it takes 90+ years to relearn that lesson, huh?).

On Saturday, 18 elementary school art teachers from Wake County, NC (Raleigh and Cary areas) came to the studio for a half-day workshop on clay projects. The theme was animals and I set out several models I'd made for various grade levels.

We had a great time. Talk about dedicated! My husband was a teacher for many years and we know teachers spend countless hours outside of the classroom preparing lesson plans, grading papers, etc. Art teachers need tons of energy--they have to set up for different projects many times a day and there is the potential for a lot of mess making that has to be cleaned up between classes (which are a few minutes apart) and at the end of the day. I can make a pretty good mess with clay, but can you imagine paint, glitter and glue???

These teachers traveled an hour or more, so really gave up most of their Saturday.

They brought wonderful food. Sorry--no photo here ;-)

We shared ideas.

How one idea can work for different grade levels.

The teachers made several models they can use for projects with their own classes.

What a thrill to be in the presence of so many talented people!

A creative use of tools. This poodle was made by one of the participants.

I used to be terrified to speak in public but it's not hard when you're passionate about your subject.

Even the clay models had a good time.

Afterward, I heard remarks like, "I can't wait to get back to the classroom to share my new knowledge." One teacher said she now has a project for her fifth grade, studying Pre-Columbian art.

WhaddaYOUlookinat? A jaguar pot for students studying pre-Columbian art.

Many thanks to Slater Mapp for taking and sharing the photos!!!

New Body of Work

2009-09-23T12:34:00.005-04:00

Nothing like a commitment or deadline to get ideas out of your head and into the kiln!

For a while, I've had in mind a new body of work that combines human and animal figurative sculpture. So, way back in May, I signed up to create a Masterwork for the Carolina Designer Craftsmen show. It's held every year in Raleigh, NC, over Thanksgiving weekend. This is the guild's 40th anniversary.

Several ideas ran through my head, but I felt most passionate about creating a series of pieces on people and their companion animals. Here is a brief overview of how the Masterwork piece came to be.

People often bring their dogs to outdoor art shows and, in recent years, I noticed a lot of pugs, French bulldogs and Boston terriers. I hadn't seen a Boston terrier since childhood, a long time ago! So I became interested in why these breeds are enjoying a resurgence. Consensus is they are great family dogs, and do well with couples who live in apartments and can't let dogs run loose.

We have a lot of dogs, but all have pointy noses, so I challenged myself to sculpt the aforementioned breeds as part of my "Big Dog" series. (By the way, if you read my previous post, 5 dogs, including pointy nosed Opal and a fictitious daschund I named Madge are currently at the show at the Center for Creative Leadership, in Greensboro, NC. )

The piece, entitled, "Bodyguard," is inspired by a photo I found searching the Internet (I think I keyed in "people holding dogs"). Up came an image of a girl holding a Boston terrier. It made me gasp aloud, "That's it!" OK, being somewhat compulsive, I continued my search, but this photo was clearly the keystone for the series.

The photo was taken several years ago. The girl, Phoebe Thompson, is the daughter of Julie Zickefoose and Bill Thompson III. The dog (or is he a person in a dog suit?) is Chet Baker, named after a famous jazz musician. To me, Phoebe has a mysterious Mona Lisa smile, with a touch of attitude, and Chet has a "Just try and mess with my person" look. Of course, I'm not sure what Phoebe and Chet were actually thinking, but my initial interpretation was that these two would fiercely protect each other.

Phoebe and Chet--the photo that inspired the Masterwork. (Photo from Julie's blog, included here with her permission)

Since the image is 2-dimensional and the sculpture is 3-D, I needed to be able to represent Phoebe and Chet from different angles. After this initial discovery, I've been following Julie's blog (check it out at http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/), where she posts many photos of Chet ("Chet fixes"), along with many other wonderful photos. [Quick digression--Julie is a Renaissance woman! Bill is editor of Bird Watcher's Digest--his blog is http://billofthebirds.blogspot.com/ . (Check out the end of the telescope.) They know everything here is to know about birds and Nature!]

That has been most helpful. However, it was obvious I needed a live model. I didn't know anyone who had a similar look, but our friend Sheri did....

Savannah came to the studio and was very patient as I took some photos and measurements--if you stand like Phoebe, what do you look like from the side and back; how long are arms relative to hands, relative to face, etc. Since our dogs are either too big or too wiggly, Savannah held a beach towel part of the time.

Savannah--a most patient model!

I incorporated a lot of realism, but also took some artistic license (see post on Harried Possum). And, although my initial vision was a red-haired, blue-eyed girl that may change, too. Hope you don't mind, Phoebe and Savannah!

Per the rules of the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Masterworks Program, Bodyguard may not be shown in any exhibition before the guild show in November. However, I am allowed to show photos. So here is a preview--

Bodyguard

Bodyguard, close up

As I write this, the piece is drying slowly in my studio. Please send good karma that it gets through its firings safely (and that I can get it into the kiln! It's heavy!).

Currently, I'm working on two other pieces (a middle aged woman cuddling a small dog and an elderly man with an old dog) for this body of work. More on those later.

Beyond Our Understanding

2009-09-04T07:55:00.019-04:00

Dad and me on a bridge over a gorge at Cornell University

I wasn't sure I would post this, but have to get it off my chest. You may have noticed that I haven't posted in a while. It's been a difficult summer. On June 20, we lost our last horse. He was 30, and had some health issues, but it was still unexpected and we were in shock.

Then, on July 9 we got a call from my brother--the kind you dread: "Call me."

My father, who had worked on July 8, became suddenly ill at 3AM and called 911. After many tests, he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

I was able to travel to upstate New York (600 miles away) see my folks on two occasions this summer. During the second trip, my father's condition suddenly worsened and we lost him on August 22.

So the last few months have been a whirlwind (or maelstrom) of shock, grief, disbelief, extreme worry and sadness. So I won't share all the details, but will mention a few things.

My cousin, Joe, is a priest and most eloquent orator. He truly captured my father's spirit and essence when he spoke at the wake and during the church service--how my father always helped people and made their lives easier through his work. And that death is "beyond our understanding."

When we told people about his passing, grown men would break down. People I had never met were sobbing as they shook our hands at the wake. So many told us about their interactions with our father--how much he helped them, how he brightened their day with his jokes and funny stories, how they always looked forward to seeing him. I knew he was very generous in his dealings with people--he did a lot for what he charged, not at all like the stereotype of lawyer jokes. But I had no idea how much until the wake--it was a rainy evening, in the summertime, when a lot of people we knew were out of town. Still, the line extended out the door and we shook hands with visitors for four hours.

People have asked me how I am able to function so well. I don't, much of the time. But, if I appear to, it's for two reasons--it's still pretty unreal, and Dad was never one to dwell on unhappy events or thoughts. He kept telling me, "I don't want 'my situation' to interfere with your work." When I feel down, I remind myself of that.

Still, there are so many questions--How could this happen to such a kind and generous man? How could this horrible process be going on inside him and no one know? He devoted his life to taking care of his family and, after we moved away, our mother. Why did this happen now, when his garden, his pride and joy, was flourishing (unlike most gardens in the area, and ours in North Carolina)? He never got to see it or to taste his tomatoes and cucumbers. Did Dad know he was unwell, but didn't want to worry us? Could we have done more?

Some things we are not meant to understand.

We met so many amazing people on this journey. The compassionate and tireless nurses, staff and residents at Wilson Hospital, Woodland Manor, and Bridgewater Center. I spent the night there--Dad's last night. He was not able to speak, but could communicate through hand squeezes for a while and, after that, eyebrow movements. A couple of nurses told me what I would see and, when I described other changes, assured me that these are part of the process of dying. It was surreal to be told, "That's natural" or "That's ok," but the last thing Dad would have wanted was to suffer.

I'm glad that Dad got to enjoy life until very close to the end. And I'm glad my mother is safe and doing well, despite many recent changes. Thank you to everyone who told us "Ted stories," who were so kind to my family, and who continue to visit my mother. I'm almost afraid to mention names, for fear of leaving someone out. But I have to say, we cannot thank Aunt Elvira and Uncle Sam enough, as well as Aunt Jennie, cousins Marilyn and Ron, Judy, Anita, Uncle Gino, my parents neighbors, Dad's colleague Charlie Collison....the list goes on. Thank you to Pucedo's Funeral Home, who so gently helped us through this experience. Thank you to John and Donna, who arranged for a 21-gun salute, to help send Dad on to his Next Life.

We've been so fortunate to have been spared the experience of losing a parent until now. To those of you who have been through it, I realize that when I've said "I'm sorry for your loss," I really didn't appreciate the depth of the phrase until now.

A 21-Gun Salute--a most touching and beautiful ceremony. Veterans and soldiers from 5 wars participated. Father Joe is on the right. (Dad served in the Air Corps in World War II--before we had an Air Force!).

Art for the Animals, Part II

2009-08-15T21:49:00.000-04:00

Here are images of my other big dogs that are in the show:

Opal

The real Opal, one of our "puppies," who are over 5 years old now, has a big smile and curvy legs, like a Queen Anne chair. So I made her legs here extra curvy and left some sharp edges, to suggest wood or furniture.

The story of of the puppies is a good subject for another post. Here I'll just say I named most of them after jewels. Opal had spots that had different colored specs in them. Now her spots are more uniform in color.

The real Opal modeled for part of the time I sculpted, though she preferred to sleep under the slab roller. She was not too happy about having various parts of herself measured!

Madge's Balancing Act

I wanted Madge to look very stable, like she could sit up forever. So she has stout parts, but also sinewy muscly parts, as do most daschunds I have seen. I worked from photos.

The show was great, as I expected. When you arrived, a representative from Red Dog Farm was at the entrance to the building with Tallula, a black angus calf. There was also a dog. Inside were a kitten, parrot, bearded dragon, and, of course Netop, the painting dog, along with her companion Ruby, who is part Carolina Dog. Our puppies' mother is a Carolina Dog and, coincidentally, one of our puppies is named Ruby.

Netop gave a great performance--he is a ball of energy. Ruby was getting experience socializing. We had a great talk with their owners.

Art for the Animals

2009-08-09T21:18:00.010-04:00

WOW-I am one of 7 artists invited to exhibit in a show called "In Our Care" at the Center for Creative Leadership, located on Route 220, just north of Greensboro, NC. As I mentioned in an earlier post, when Laura Gibson, the art coordinator and an animal advocate, invited me, I was thrilled. This is a very prestigious place to exhibit and I had the privilege of showing there a couple of years ago as a member of Alamance Artisans Guild. I'm still yelling "WooHoo" out loud, but probably at this point the people in downtown Raleigh can't hear me, just those around the outer Beltline.

I got to see some of the exhibit when I brought my work to the Center--it is great. The work is very diverse, but Laura knows how to hang a show.

The other artists are:

Addren Doss-pastel and oil--wonderful!

Louise Francke--watercolor and oil--Exquisite!

Elaine O'Neil-beautiful and intricate textile collage

Rose Rosely-folk sculpture--she paints on wood and metal and you can't resist smiling when you see her work

Traer Scott--beautiful photography that really captures the spirit and sould of her subjects

Now, I mentioned 7 artists--the 7th is a canine. Netop, the painting dog, will be at the reception--he loves creating art and makes excellent work! Seriously, some of his work reminds me of Chinese watercolor--I took a class in that--it wasn't easy!

Doh! Netop's got a website, too--so he's one up on me:

http://www.netopthedog.com/

As you can see, I'm the only clay artist in the show. Five of my big dogs will be there. Here's a taste:

Fawn. I gave her big paws because a pug owner told me hers was a big dog in a little body. I got a visual image of a lion, then the big lions in from of the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC. So I made Fawn's paws like those you might see on a lion statue. There really is a method to my madness!

Roxie (the tennis ball is also clay, with underglaze). I like the idea of the dog looking more toylike than her toy.

Also in the show are Opal (the only sculpture that looks like one of our dogs), Madge, and Pepper. I'll post those photos after the reception. There is one more big dog, Paisley (a pied brindle French bulldog), but she developed a hairline crack on her third firing, so she'll be staying with me. That happens when clay gets fired multiple times, though I have to admit I have been very lucky. I hated to see it happen, since she was a lot of work, but I'm happy to keep her.

Paisley

When I took the dogs to Jason Dowdle, my awesome photographer, his dogs (Roscoe and Riley) started sniffing them. Roscoe also got very excited when he saw the tennis ball--he wanted me to throw it!

The show runs from August 10 to November 19. There will be a reception on August 28, from 5:00 to 7:00, and artists will bring smaller pieces to sell then. (I'll be bringing my small dogs and llamas.)

These rottweillers take a lot of time to make, so I have only a few at this point. But I'll also bring some other breeds. NOTE: Also mentioned in an earlier blog, although there are realistic elements in my work, I do like to have some fun as I create and often include some anthropomorphism (often in the eyes or gesture), exaggeration, etc. As these dogs say, "We don't meet breed standards, but neither do most people!"

Llamas

A portion of every sale at the reception will help support Red Dog Farm, in Greensboro, NC. They rescue and find foster homes for cats, dogs, farm animals, alpacas, you name it.

For more information about Red Dog Farm, see

http://www.reddogfarm.com/

I hope you will check out their website and find out how you can help. If everyone did a little something, it would make such a difference in the lives of these precious creatures!

If you'd like to see the show, but can't attend the reception, please call Laura at (336) 510-0975.

The MOST FUN You Can Have at an Art Show

2009-08-05T10:35:00.015-04:00

Everyone says this, but I can't believe how past the time goes. Already, it's time for Debbie's and Eric's show, Come Out and Play. This is their 8th year! I am so thrilled to be a part of it.

Every year, Debbie and Eric offer their beautiful farm as the venue. They invite artists to install work in the yard, around the pond, in the pond, on the porch and even in the house. The list of artists gets larger and more impressive every year. All mediums are represented--painting, sculpture (clay, metal, stone, wood, fiber, mixed media, you name it), glass, etc. (I have to say that for fear of leaving something out.)

Opening night is usually the last Saturday in August, from Noon til Dark ("when the cows come home"). Artists bring covered dishes, Eric fires up the grill, Debbie prepared vegetarian and non-veg main dishes, and they provide drinks and eating supplies. Then they have get-togethers every Saturday in September, from 4Pm until dark. Many of the artists attend those days, as well.

To see their flyer, go to http://carrboro.com/comeoutandplay/

This has become a huge event--attendance increases every year. People get to walk around this lovely place (called JimGin Farm, after Debbie's parents), look and (and buy!) amazing art, eat fantastic food, and visit with artists and art lovers. Debbie and Eric have been involved with animal rescue, and allow dogs on leashes to visit with the people and their horses and cats.

Every year we say, "Wow is it that time already?" And then we're sad when it's over and we have to wait another 11 months.

It really is the most fun you can have at an art show.

New Body of Work (still play!)

2009-06-24T10:39:00.028-04:00

Sometimes ideas are in my head for years before they come out. Maybe they just need to brew a while, like a rich lager, or the nuances blend and soak in, like the ingredients in your favorite coleslaw dressing.

To have work at various price points, and to experiment with some new directions, I've been making small pieces. When I do that, I also tend to be a little freer and experimental in a loose, whacky sort of way. Like the difference between doodling on scrap paper and drawing on the expensive stuff.

I am creating a new body of work and will be making some bigger pieces. A little scary, what with the economy, but this will feed my soul.

I love being able to fuss and to include a lot of detail in my work. Well, I say "love," but there is a certain amount of stress involved, since the detail work takes a lot of time and can't be rushed. My left brain always has an idea of what I should accomplish in a given amount of time. My right brain says, "Wouldn't it be nice to linger a while on this section?"

With the two sides of my brain doing battle like this, in my early clay days, I felt pressure and angst (as ceramics professor Mike Sanford correctly described it). Still, I had fun, in a manic, tortured sort of way.

Here is a product of those times. I am very proud of her.

Harried Possum--fun under pressure. When I was working B.S. (that's Before Studio!), in the garage, with no temperature control and poor lighting, I gave myself 3 weeks to create this piece. Problem was, my scientist-self kept researching possum anatomy and I nearly drove myself crazy. (I know it's "opossum," but saying that takes so much more effort!) Finally decided to stop looking at pictures and have some fun. So here is a slightly anthropomorphic Mama Possum with her "To the Moon!" fist, as her babies skittle all over her back (if that's not a word, it should be). I made their feet large, figuring that's what she must have felt--all those little claws digging in her back and toes pulling her hair. (If you do the math, that's a lot of toes!)

Every component was built hollow. Note that the possum and log are both tripods. You can't tell from the images, but the ears and tails have realistic texture and are very possum-y.

Detail view below.

Check out the teeth on that little one! You don't have to understand Possum to get the message!

And here is the back of the piece--

After the work was fired, I painted it with many layers of acrylic paint.

==============

Now, with (1) a few years of experience under my belt, (2) the DESIRE to fuss, in a good way, and, (3, a harder lesson), knowing when to STOP, I'm going to give myself a gift of time. Time to create more pieces like this, in all their fussy detail and glory!

Dances with Clay

2009-06-17T19:06:00.000-04:00

An important purpose of the studio is to provide a venue for people to come and play with clay. To express themselves, have fun, and maybe we'll sneak in a little learning. So, while we are working at honing our craft, here, work really feels like play

Picasso said, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."

And that is so true...at some point most of us tend to get self-critical and judgmental. As an artist-in-the-schools, I've seen it in students as young as 8 years of age.

Mike Sanford, my ceramics professor at Elon University, used to say (and probably still does) "It's only clay."

And THAT is so true. (He also told me to try to have less angst. That's been a tougher lesson.)

Clay is very forgiving. As one of my young students told me, "I love clay! If you make a mistake, you can fix it." Over the years, I've found myself quoting him and adding Mike's remark, along with, "This is YOUR art. It is not possible to make a mistake."

Still, it takes a while for some of us to loosen up, relax, enjoy the process. If you find yourself saying, "I could never make something like that," or "I'm not artistic," then I say:

Let's make "Artwork" an oxymoron!

That's not to say we shouldn't or don't art seriously, or that I never stress over a piece--I still stress more than I should. But the clay, like a child, will tell on you. When people see my art, the pieces they respond to most are those where (1) I got so engaged I completely forgot myself, or (2) I stopped my struggle-fest and reminded myself, "It's only clay." [Thanks, Mike!]

Remind me to tell you about the piece, "Harried Possum."

Anyway, those art "works" must send out some kind of kharma.

Two stories:

First:

A family came over to celebrate their daughter's 17th birthday party. We had a clay party with family and friends, ages 5 to adult. While one of the adults was fussing over his work (for him, it really was more like work than play), his five year old son would make something wonderful, gleefully mash it and create something new.

He did this at least half a dozen times. I finally told him I'd be happy to give him as much clay as he'd like, that we can put all of his masterpieces in the kiln. Nope, he was having a great time creating and re-creating.

Second:

My friend Wendy (an awesome metal and glass artist) volunteer-teaches a weekly art class at a senior center. Her students have seen a lot of life and are still going strong. She asked me to fill in one day, which I was happy to do--figured these people had a lot more to teach me than I could possibly teach them. Ten or twelve women came in--one in a wheel chair, some a little slow moving, all excited about the upcoming "adventure." I'm sure they come in to Wendy's classes like that every time.

One lady stood in the doorway and did a little dance, a nonverbal way of saying she was happy to be there. She was 97 years old, by the way.

A few people stopped by to tell me, "We'd love to take your class, but it conflicts with aerobics. Sorry!" Wow--how could I be upset about that?

The plan was to make clay faces--I call them Garden Spirits, human faces with leaves for hair. I showed an example, along with one of my Kitty Gargoyles, faux finished to look like marble, as an example of how I thought we could finish our Garden Spirits. (One of my artist-in-the-schools offerings is a gargoyle unit.) The director and another member of the staff joined us.

One lady said, "I want to make a cat!" In two minutes, everyone else did, too.

Who was I to argue? We made cat faces (one cat turned into an elephant--these things happen....).

One lady was careful and perfectionistic--I have to include that for completeness and to convey how difficult the habit is to break. But the others threw caution to the wind! Some had arthritis and needed assistance; some created cats that were not so realistic; one woman made a cat in honor of a kitty she had earlier in her life.

They had fun sculpting. They had even more fun painting when I came back a couple of weeks later with the fired pieces.

I think the red cat looks like one of the Beatles during their Yellow Submarine phase.

By the way, that 97 year old lady is still with us (she is now 98 years young). I haven't seen her since, but am told she hasn't changed a bit!

So what happens to us between ages 5 and 97? So many things....

When "working" in the studio, I often think of the little boy and those ladies. I may crank up the radio (my husband's mondo boom box from college) and dance a little, when I'm by myself. (And hope no one's coming to the door!)

Needless to say, if you come to the studio and want a handful of squishy clay to play with, just ask. Then have fun smooshing it in your hand or making art. Neither you nor your creation will ever be criticized. I may offer a suggestion if I think you'd like to hear one. If you want a critique, just ask ask. I'll be gentle. This is a supportive, nurturing environment and always will be.

BUT--don't ask me to dance in public--I can't move nearly as well as that lady.

Scruffy Is In

2009-06-16T08:31:00.000-04:00

If you come to the studio, you may meet one of our dogs.

My name is Scruffy because, when I was born, my Mommy said,"What a Scruffy Puppy!" The name stuck. She's always telling me how gorgeous I am. I'm very sweet, but a little shy, so couldn't sit still when she got in my face with the camera.
--------

I've been telling them they need to get part time jobs. Hey, dog food is not cheap! I have a specific project in mind for Toby--can't say much about it yet--have to finish writing the job description and see if he accepts. I think he will--he loves clay! So much, I have to pick up any I drop on the floor. Immediately. Geesh! You'd think we never feed these guys.

My name is Toby, and I am a busy boy! This is not a special effect. It's almost impossible to get a still shot of me. I'm also the inspiration for the little clay dogs with the tennis balls in their mouths.

Meanwhile, other pooches may be in the studio keeping me company, greeting visitors, modeling (for free--so don't tell them about unions!) or soaking up sun. There is plenty for them to do.

The Week (and a half) in Clay

2009-06-14T20:14:00.001-04:00

Last week slipped by quickly, but I finally downloaded images from the camera.

Tom glazing one of the four mushrooms.

Suzanne glazing a mushroom. She used three different glazes on one of the pieces and we were all pretty excited to see the result. The combination caused the glazes to run more, which let the underlying stamped texture show through. A happy surprise (Christmas, if you read the earlier post).

Suzanne picked up the mushrooms on Friday and headed home to clear spaces in her garden for them.

Suzanne is happy with her marvelous Mystery Mushroom

View from the top.

A Fungus-y fungus. Great glaze.

On Saturday, Jackie and Mike came over and glazed their magnificent lantern (photos below) and bird bath (or feeder, it hasn't been decided).

I love this picture. A moment earlier, they were working so intently, they weren't smiling, and I mentioned that. Still, I wanted a candid shot. (can't make the underline go away-sorry!)

Still smiling--see how fun it is to work with clay?

I've been preparing for the garden show in Greensboro, NC on June 20 and making dogs and a llama for the show called "In Our Care."

Birth of a (clay) llama. Head is on the upper left. I'm building hollow forms, using slabs and coils.

The kiln just finished a bisque firing (the first of two firings) and I'll open it when it cools down enough--probably late tomorrow morning. As soon as possible, I'll reload and run a glaze firing of work for the garden show. Nothing like a deadline to increase efficiency!

On Tuesday, there's a meeting with a parent of a talented artist who is coming by to talk about classes. Wednesday I'll be teaching in Cary, NC: Kindergarten, first and second grades. That's always a lot of fun and the students always amaze me with their creations.

To top it off, I've sold a few pieces, so a productive week (and a half)!

Commercial Break

2009-06-09T23:30:00.000-04:00

I did want to let people know about a couple of events in the Chapel Hill/Burlington, NC areas. One is the library show in Carrboro--sorry about the short notice, but if you get a chance to see it before it comes down tomorrow afternoon (June 10), it's at the Carrboro Branch Library on Fayetteville Rd.

For directions see http://www.co.orange.nc.us/library/carrboro/index.htm

Curator Alex O'Connor's website is http://alexoconnor.com/

Also, this Thursday, June 11, Emily Weinstein has a reception and book signing. It will be at the Alamance County Arts Council, on Main St. in Graham, NC. Emily is a wonderful painter. She is also a friend of animals and works tirelessly on their behalf. At this show, she is offering her book, "Saving Magic Places," and 20% of proceeds will go to the Piedmont Land Trust. So she's working on fauna, flora, and Mother Earth, too.

Emily's website is http://www.weinsteinart.com/

In addition, and also at the Arts Council, clay sculptor Tinka Jordy will present her new work She creates wonderful large figurative sculpture. I've met her briefly and hope to talk with her at the reception.

For more information, directions, etc. see the Alamance County Arts Council website:

www.artsalamance.com

As you can tell, I love the work of all of these artists! And many others.

Fungus-y Fungi

2009-06-09T20:00:00.000-04:00

Just opened the kiln and was pleased with the results. I think Suzanne and Tom will be happy with their mushrooms. Those are some fungus-y fungi! Tom is a microbiologist, so this is most appropriate! They haven't seen them yet, so that's all I'll say for now.

I threw in several test tiles and got some good results, as well as some serious Halloween. I have a love-hate relationship with test tiles. They just seem to take so much time.

Other ceramists may disagree with me on that, but (1) I'm pretty impatient in some areas of my life, and this is one of them, (2) I usually do them late at night, "Since I'm running the kiln, I might as well throw in some test tiles." (I'm always glad I did), (3) "Hmmm, wonder what happens if I try this combination," and one thing leads to another, so I end up being in the studio much later than anticipated.

Still, since a fair amount of work goes into each sculpture, I'm highly motivated to make test tiles--little slabs or pillars of clay that are usually fired before applying the glaze, to mimic conditions the artwork will go through. Every type of clay (clay body) will have a different reaction, and different kilns will give you different results. It's like trying to bake using someone else's cake recipe and wondering why yours doesn't rise as much. The test tiles give you an idea of what you might get--gravity can cause the glaze to flow as it melts down over the piece, and give some beautiful surprises (or not). You can get very interesting effects where two glazes meet. And there are slight temperature variations in different areas of the kiln, enough to make a difference. Glaze experts, who know the chemistry behind the all this stuff, have spent decades testing and analyzing. There are even computer programs to predict what you will get or how you might change a given recipe to get something else . Still, even the experts will still tell you, "But go ahead and run a test tile."

Even after all that, the test tile gives you only an idea--like those little color swatches at the paint store. You look at dozens of colors, chose the "perfect" one and, when you paint the whole room, it's not what you expected.

Despite knowing this, I continue to have a preconception of what I'll find when I open the kiln. If I get a "glaze surprise," even if it's a happy one, I'm often just a little put off, at first. But then, I almost always decide I really like the result. (Maybe it's a control thing!) And, more often than not, it inspires a new sculpture, much like what a fiber artist, for example, might experience upon discovering a new fabric.

Mushrooms and LLamas and Dogs, Oh My!

2009-06-08T18:52:00.000-04:00

It's been an interesting day in the studio--I've been very fortunate to be invited to some really nice shows and have been making different types of work for each one.

Currently, I have four pieces in a lovely show (which ends on Wednesday!) in Carrboro, NC called "Animals Without Borders," curated by Alex O'Connor. She is an amazing painter and an animal lover. I was so thrilled when she invited me to participate. As expected, I found myself among the most excellent company. Alex asked me to bring my "Cat Fish." This body of work is whimsical and folk-arty, and one of the closest things to functional pottery that I do these days. Many are fitted with a piece of PVC pipe and can be connected to a small pump to become a water feature.

They came to be because I needed some color and to loosen up. Until then I had been handbuilding vessels inspired by Native American potters of the American Southwest. My first few pieces were a little more "traditional," but one thing led to another....

Almost functional art:

Sex Pot. The surface is not a glaze, but a layer of dilute slip, composed of fine particles, called terra sigillata. The clay is very white--and looks like ivory after the first firing. The piece is fired a second time in a sealed container with combustibles (usually shredded paper). As the kiln heats up, the paper burns. Carbon from the smoke binds with the clay, resulting in the black color. This process is called "firing in reduction" or "reduction firing," also seen in raku. Even though I know what to expect (or what I hope to happen--see future post), the transformation is so dramatic, I always gasp aloud when I first see the piece.

I love these pieces; they have won several awards, including cash prizes in national shows. But they are so labor intensive!

-----------------

An example of my non-functional art--

Garden Spirit, clay with bronze coating and patina--real metal, so it oxidizes as it is exposed to the elements.

-----

Anyway, back to the Cat Fish--

The Garden Spirits were a step in the whimsical direction, but it was time for some downright wackiness. Also, I figured I could use this experience to practice a new way of making hollow forms. It was supposed to be a temporary thing, but people ask for them, even when I suggest other work!

Rocko, the Cat Fish--Dysfunctional art?

------

There is a show in Greensboro, NC on June 20, called "Potters in the Garden, sponsored by the Master Gardeners. Jane, the woman organizing the show, is also a clay artist. We met through the Carolina Clay Guild. In addition to Cat Fish, Garden Spirits, and sun faces, I'm making mushrooms. For ages, I'd wanted to make "Toad House Roadhouses" and, after working with Suzanne and Tom on mushrooms, made a few of my own, adding front doors. OK, it was a bit of piracy, but I did suggest the stamps we all used for the caps and offered some technical advice.....Still, I have to give them credit for putting all the information together, and helping me to get the concept out of my head and into the kiln.

Later this summer, I'll bring my "big dogs" (the clay species--they don't bark and you don't have to clean up after them) and other work I'm able to complete to a show called "In Our Care," at the Center for Creative Leadership. It's a corporate venue located north of Greensboro. Another great honor, as people from all over the world go there for conferences and workshops. Laura, the woman curating that show, invited a small group of artists and she probably heard me yell "Woo Hoo!" 45 miles away, when we got off the phone. She didn't have to finish the question--I could only say yes. Laura puts together awesome shows and this is a fantastic opportunity. I had the privilege of showing there as a member of the Alamance Artisans Guild a couple of years ago. A percentage of proceeds from this show will benefit Red Dog Farm. They rescue dogs, cats and farm animals, and even have alpacas now and then.

Check out their site:

http://www.reddogfarm.com/

Blogging lesson

2009-06-08T07:27:00.000-04:00

Cranked up the kiln this morning and will spend a few minutes (while it's still quiet around here) learning more about blogging.

Here are some photos of Jackie & Mike and Suzanne & Tom, making their wonderful garden art. I think it was late January. The goal is to finish the pieces while their gardens are still going. What with all the busy schedules, we've had that much trouble connecting!

Mike and Jackie making art--It's funny, when people are so engaged, they don't smile, so when I show photos, I feel the need to say, "They're really having a great time!"

See?

Tom making mushrooms.

Suzanne making mushrooms

Well, this has taken me a while and it is time to move on to other things. I'm probably missing something very simple, but the "Compose" window is so small, I've had a hard time moving images around. I'm pretty sure I'm better at teaching clay to other people than blogging to myself!

When I download them from my camera, I'll post photos of Suzanne and Tom glazing--they made it a point to say the whole process was a lot of fun--more than people would expect. If you ever get bitten by the clay bug, you'll see what they mean!

2009-06-07T09:30:00.000-04:00

Just opened the kiln and so far, so good. This was a first firing for the ware---the bisque firing, to prepare the work to receive glaze and be fired again.

In general, the bisque firing is slower than the glaze firing, and is intended to burn out materials in the clay that could cause problems for the glaze. There is a lot of chemistry in pottery making!

I usually work in earthenware--kiln temperatures are set for around 1900 degrees F for both the bisque and glaze firings. In this case, I'm firing stoneware, and the second firing will be around 2200. Those few hundred degrees make a huge difference--clay bodies and glazes are formulated to withstand the extra heat. Some colorants would burn out at these temperatures.

As a sculptor, it takes me a while to make enough work to fill the kiln, so every firing represents weeks or months of work. Knock on wood, I've been pretty lucky--not too many unpleasant surprises. A very experienced potter acquaintance one said, "When you open the kiln, it can be Christmas...or Halloween!"

Take us to your leader, or at least feed us and throw the ball! (what we want to see when we open the kiln)

Friends Suzanne & Tom are coming over this afternoon to glaze some pieces they made a while back. This couple, along with Jackie and Mike, were the first people, other than myself, to create work in the new studio (more on that in another post).

The four of them made wonderful pieces for their gardens. So many, and big enough, that I couldn't fit all of the work in one load! That gave me the opportunity (read motivation!) to make some work to fill a second kiln load. Those pieces, if they come out well, will go to a show in Greensboro later this month, called "Potters in the Garden."

I'll plan to take some pictures, but have to unload the kiln and clean up the studio so we'll have room to work. I have a lot of projects in progress, and people who know me can tell you I'm pretty messy.

In the meantime, if you want to see the type of work I create, please check out the websites for Carolina Designer Craftsmen (http://www.carolinadesignercraftsmen.com/member_page.php?member_id=240) and Alamance Artisans Guild (http://www.alamanceartisans.com/1_hand.php?id=3).

[One of these days, I'll figure out how to create links that work!]

2009-06-06T11:30:00.000-04:00

And another thing...

BTW, the new body of work is for a show coming up in November. I am a member of Carolina Designer Craftsmen and will be creating a Masterwork. Haven't figured it all out yet, but the topic will be the connection between humans and companion animals. When I plugged in "companion animal," Chet Baker's image came up. Not the jazz musician, but his canine namesake, a Boston Terrier owned by Julie and her family (or perhaps he owns them, it's complicated!). Hope neither is offended by the search engine results--the four-legged Chet is really part human--has his own language and a better wardrobe than I do.

Funny--growing up in the late 50s-early 60s, lots of people had Bostons but, until last year, I hadn't seen one in ages. What's been great with Julie's blog is she has photos of Chet from all angles--more than once, I have stopped dog owners to ask if I could photograph the top of their pooch's head, etc. That's the thing about sculpture--it's 3-D.

Possibilities for the Masterwork include therapy animals, unconditional love, etc. I think this will be an exciting journey!

A single step....

2009-06-06T09:43:00.000-04:00

Wow--my first post--a toe-dip into the social networking pool. I've been thinking about doing this for a while, but couldn't seem to get started. Then, surfing the Net (do people still say that?) for images for my next body of work, I ran into Julie Zickefoose's blog. I've never met her, but can tell you she is a Renaissance woman--most knowledgeable naturalist, wonderful artist, eloquent writer, amazing photographer, musician (haven't heard her perform, but it's bound to be good...the members of her group, The Swinging Orangutans, sure look like they're having fun), devoted mother to two human and a non-human (but almost!) children. Check out her blog and you'll see what I mean. You can get there from here (Julie, hope you don't mind my sharing!): www.juliezickefoose.com/

Anyway, Julie's blog has been so much fun to read, I was inspired to get started on my own. No doubt there will be a lot of refinement and changes as I learn the mechanics. Whereas my husband is the technology expert, I sometimes think I was meant to live in an earlier era....before electricity, and flush toilets (for example, I don't know if the above link will work)...but I digress.

If I may provide a little background--not to brag or yap forever, but in hope that some of this will resonate with many of you.

Formally trained as a zoologist, with a strong background in anthropology, I am enjoying a second life as a clay artist. (This seems to be a common occurrence--I've run into so many scientists-turned-artists!) As a teen, I used to dabble--draw, doodle, even painted a little in oils and acrylics. I adored my middle school art teacher. One day, upon seeing my clay sculpture, she said, "You know, you really aren't very good." That shut me down for many, many years.

Lessons learned:

1. It's amazing the impact a thoughtless remark can have on a child or young person--I think my brother and I were very sensitive children, but I see this a lot, even today. I am grateful to that art teacher for helping me to become an encouragement (I hope and at least try to be) to my students. The little ones are pretty fearless, but I've seen the hesitation and self-doubt in kids as young as 8. As for adults, fearful of mistakes, we can spend a lot of time staring at the clay before making that first mark in that wonderful, squishy, and most of all, forgiving material.

2. Don't believe everything someone tells you.

3. Trust your own inner wisdom. (Still have trouble with that one!)

I'm having the time of my life, getting my hands dirty doing the very thing a well-meaning "expert" told me I was not good at, and sharing my passion. It doesn't get any better than that.