New work and around the studio

Some new pictures of stuff happening around the studio.  It's been a busy summer with commissions taking up most of my time.  I know, not a bad problem to have!  But it has taken away from my regular making.  I've been a busy bee the last 2 weeks getting new stock items made in anticipation of Christmas both on line sales and studio Christmas open house.

I just sold this sun and moon last night so it's on its way to a new home!

These magnolias, there were actually 4, have gone to Genuine Ga for sale in her gallery,

And I've decided George is now the shop mascot.  Isn't he handsome?

This was in the garden a few days ago.  I love this combination of Miss Huff's Hardy Lantana and the lavender of False Dragon's head

Just a glimpse of my world.

Dream Pot series

This is the process of how I make what I call my Dream Pots.  A little history; they are inspired by a dream I had one night several years ago.  It was so vivid and when I woke up I had to make a sketch.  As you can see I have to start with a "structure" for the clay.  Long slabs of clay are rolled out and draped over a balloon resting in a large cardboard tube.  I wrapped some bubble wrap to give it more dimension.

I use my slab roller to roll out the clay.  The slabs are very heavy and when I drape them over the balloon, they will fold and the ends will sometimes tear a little but that just adds to the organic look of this pot.  I will come back when all the slabs are positioned and "help" them a little with the folding and tearing.  I like the raw edge the tearing gives the slabs. Very irregular!

Thick slabs of clay rolled with a textured rolling pin for a swirly design.  This is 3 slabs so far.

4 slabs

A total of 6 slabs and an added base.  This is getting pretty dry and is very fragile at this stage.  It was bisque fired to cone 04.  It's so big it took up half the kiln.

After the bisque fire, it was a little less fragile but still hard to handle.  It's really heavy! I had to pour the glaze over it as it was sitting in a shallow pan.

The inside has a nice pool of blue color at the bottom and blue drips down the side over a pale milky green.  The tans of the clay show through the glaze.

I think it is gorgeous!  It's about 15" tall and wide.  I can visualize it sitting in someone's home maybe in a foyer on a table as a great display piece.

This will be Dream Pot #8.  We've decided that numbering will be a nice touch.  This is destined to go to my favorite gallery, Genuine Georgia in Greensboro, Ga.  She had the last one for less than a day before it sold!  I will be making more as I get the right kind of clay collected.  I use all the scraps of white, tan and brown clay that I use all mashed up together.  This makes the pots be different every time. It takes about 25 lbs of clay.

I hope you enjoyed the tour and the insight into one of my more diffucult processes.  

Can you make this bigger?

I had a question from someone asking if I could make this moon and sun plaque bigger.  I pondered on it for awhile and finally said I thought I could but I wasn't sure how it would turn out.  As you can see, it turned out pretty awesome.

This one is about 12" diameter.  The sculpting was all done by hand.  The "space" is
stamped with stars and shooting stars.  The moon is gun metal green with indigo accents.
I've done enough of these kind of plaques that they come fairly easily.  I know how to  handle the
clay and the finished piece so it doesn't break.

This one, on the other hand, was an exercise in patience.  After figuring out how to get a 17" diameter (I cut a string and tied a marker to it and drew out the circumference on a piece of drywall), I then had to roll out the slab, trim it and do all the stamping and sculpting.  I let it dry for a week under plastic to prevent warping and then uncovered for about 3 weeks.  I slid it onto the kiln shelf and then moved it to the kiln.  It would only fit on the top shelf.  Fired once, then  glazed and then fired again.

So now that it is done, I think I'll keep it.  There wasn't any final commission from the inquirer.  I just wanted to see if it could be done.  I don't think I would take on a commission for a second one.  It was a lot of work and possibility for disaster at every turn was high.  I wouldn't want that kind of responsibility!

It will look good hanging outside.

Magnolias-large and small

These hand built magnolias came out of the kiln this week!  I have been a little rushed trying to get them done. Each one takes about an hour to pinch out each individual petal and center cone and assemble.  They have to dry for several weeks before I'm ready to fire them. Glazed in an opaque white with light green highlights.  The speckled clay gives it an added dimension.  Each one is unique.  I do both large ones that are about 12" dia. and medium size that are about 8" dia.  They really make a statement as a centerpiece for the dining room table.  I have one on mine.

Sunny Sunflower

This is one of my sunflower sculptures.  Well, it's sunflower-like. I don't try to be botanically correct but you get the idea of what it is. I did this totally by hand, pinching each petal and attaching to a central disc.  I added some fringe detail around the outside of the disc for extra interest.  I curled the petals for a natural look.  This whole thing dried for several weeks before firing.  I held my breath as I loaded it into the kiln. I just knew I was going to break one of the petals and then the whole thing would have been thrown back in the clay recycle bucket.  But I made it! Whew!!

 Glazed in a sunflower yellow glaze with amber accents over a speckled clay.  I think the speckles give it a lot of depth and dimension.  High fired stoneware clay so it can go outside in the garden or on the porch.  Inside is nice, too!  About 10-12" dia.

Sunflower sculpture

Fringe detail

Another look at the fringe and the petals