Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Starling Murmuration

 


What a beautiful display nature gave me tonight on a "getting dark" walk. Starlings doing all sorts of shifts, creating patterns, and putting on a wonderful show.  Came upon it by accident, though others were prepared for looking -- seems this time of year/weather and location prone to it..had seen a few years ago around here, but not as dramatic as tonight. A true wow to stumble upon. 





Thursday, December 17, 2020

Ceramic Lamp -- third of series

 


The one above was for the "bit screwy" of a year 2020 has been for the world.  Rounds out the trio I made from clay slabs. Next step is wiring for lamps....want light up and down on the one with glass highlights so light can go through the small openings on base -- that project is now at the lamp shop!




Gingers -- over the years.

 


Tradition have done with my neices over the years. Above is 2020..perhaps with that sentiment too!   Looking at the retrospective, the candy grab seems to still be a design element.  Awaiting completion by the older one (given all the elements...working remotely on it this year), who hopefully has not outgrown this...but, we shall see.  Wonder if she choses the more natural decorations ..walnuts, crisp banana slices, etc. 




Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Snowy Egret

On my morning walk.  There was actually a smaller white bird there, and this snowy egret  flew in, fluffed self, and the other flew away.  Not sure what the other bird was -- long legs, white, roundish..smaller than the snowy egret, but not tiny.  Had camera out, but took the time looking through my eyes than glass, so at least that may be counted as a win. 



 

Elephant...from drawing, standing, glazed



From a drawing by my neice. Cut two shapes from slab, slipped together. 

 
                                             


Spraying it on -- Glazing Lamp

 


First time spaying on the glaze ..for smoothness. Dipped the white one, but this one is going to be green, so didn't want to have a bucket of green. Air compressor to help the spray. Almost magic. ;)

Dad's art apron from long long ago












Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Guest Artist -- Angel --Multi Media


 She made a decoration for the tree out of various elements around the house, and sent me a picture.  I believe the staff is included from recent "staff" conversations we have had ..found one on Abbott's, loved it, but left it there, b/c not really supposed to take natural things from the beach. But, she really liked the stick, and imagined having it her whole life, and the uses she could have until a hunched over older person (let's hope really really old, but no hunch!)

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Lamp ..Ceramics...with Stain


Experiment with a stain as opposed to a "glaze." Cone 5. Need to assemble the lamp parts, but basically ready to go. May add some metallic "paint" touches on the surface. 


 

Lamp with Glass Highlights



Ok, didn't turn out perfect, but first attempt. Need to figure out the join around the melted glass oval to the body of the lamp...glue, then grout perhaps.  Lampshade not right yet, but on the way. 









 

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Walks with Views

    Pretty week for walking. 




 









Thursday, November 19, 2020

Happy Friends... 2 flats for a 3D..



Glazed and free from the kiln.  Kind of test tiles, as hadn't used these glazes before. Too many stroke marks on the green one, but didn't set it to dip or spray.  Next lamp w/b sprayed, for more even coating. 

Cone 5


Below is "improved" version -- slightly thicker, and most importantly, joined all the way across top, allowing stance a bit further, so more steady on the feet.  Was to be black stonewear glaze, came out grey. 



  





 

Staining -- on purpose. Ceramic Lamp


 First try at using a stain at cone 5. Wanted to get a non-shiney color on the piece. Hopefully it will come out ok...a bit of an experiement, although the lamp here is not small.  I will remind myself of the importance of test tiles or say "yeah, risk worked" depending on how this comes out of kiln. 

Lamp with Glass Adornment...closer



Getting closer. Test tile with glass...next is the insert with glass for above lamp.  May it melt right.

              
 
      

 



                                                  

Sunday, November 15, 2020

The walk for the day


     Besides being gorgeous outside today, found a swing for the added joy that a swing brings.




Clay Elephant

 



                                              From a drawing my niece made for the project.




Monday, November 9, 2020

2 flats for an un-flat -- Ceramics

 

Had some drying clay and "waiting" for kiln / glaze to finish some other product, so "doodled" a sketch and made from some scraps.  Will see how they come out...very lightly slipped together. 

Saturday, November 7, 2020

Perfect Day....and at the beach


Received the wonderful news when just about out of wi-fi signal at the coast. Hoping it was really really true..and still am....but, may goodness prevail.  16K  sandy steps -- barefoot -- taken to the end and back. 




 

Saturday, October 24, 2020

Another lamp in process...Ceramics




Process experiment on lamp making. Making decoration different for each, but basic construction and pattern same. Believe tool there was one Dad used.





 

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Early evening walk...

 She was very nice to pose that way.