Playing in clay

This year I have finally been able to play in clay again.  I am a pottery freak and collect all kinds of ceramics.  I was so happy to find Antoinette and Edith at Kinnakeet Clay to assist me in creating these pieces.  They have a great gallery and studio. I have tried wheel throwing several times, but decided that being top heavy is not a good thing for centering on the wheel.  As a kid I played in mud and made all kinds of mud pies so I decided that handbuilding would be the ceramic technique I would try to explore.   I love the fact of using fiber, lace, stamps, fabrics etc to make  designs in the clay.  I can't wait to create more in 2016.

Clay Day

Went to Kinnakeet Clay- Studio & Showroom and played in more clay today. I got to meet more of the local artists and picked up my fish I made last month.


 

Today's Project.  A casserole dish.

5 Day Artist Challenge

I was nominated by Delia Marsellos-Traister who is a Fantastic Fine Metal Jewelry Artist in the Los Angeles area to participate in a 5 day Facebook Artist Challenge.  I took it as an opportunity to present my past work on line and to nominate some wonderful artist friends of mine.  I'm currently moving in a different direction fine tuning my skills in other mediums.  I enjoyed revisiting the past and seeing the continuity in my artistic journey.  Vibrant color, texture and whimsy was the constant theme through the use of a variety of artistic mediums. Here is a brief example of my work.

Day 5 - I presented my 'Soulful' collection.  I express my soul and creative spirit through vibrant colors, textures and all kinds of materials. 

Day 4 -  I presented another phase of my artistic journey, Hand weaving.

Day 3 - I presented another phase of my artistic journey, Ceramics. I found my voice in hand building clay after many poor attempts at the wheel. Once I went to hand building I was singing. So here are examples of my storytellers and baskets of course.

Day 2 - I presented pictures of my next phase of creativity, my knitting.  I began knitting again as an adult while going through some heavy duty life issues.  Knitting brought me comfort and joy and helped me find a new way to express my artistic voice.

Day 1 - I began my work as an artist when I found my voice in basketry.  Here are three examples of my work.

Be Bold, Tell Your Story!

The southwest pueblo native american's make what they call clay storytellers.  A women that is surrounded by lots of children listening to the story that she is telling.  I made my own version of storyteller's these pots that you see below. I am naturally a shy person.  I have had to work hard to overcome my shyness.  My grandmother and my mother where appalled at it.  Being the Bold Sassy extroverted women that they were.  They wanted me to be proud, bold and stand up and be noticed.  I wanted to hide in a corner and have no one look at me.  I noticed along the years when I spoke people wanted to hear what I had to say.  I then pushed myself to be bolder and stronger all the time.  Around the age of thirty I had conquered the fear and shyness.  I began to speak with authority and lead others.  I was a business owner and a CEO my employees looked to me for guidance.  As life has passed on and I have more experience I realize that I now have a story.  I again became that shy six year old.  Who would want to hear my story?  Everyone had one.  Yes, they do.  Just not my story.  Mine is unique and pertains to me and my life experiences.  I have put myself out there in social media now and am ready to be bold and tell my story.   Are you ready to tell your story?