Rock arrangement, beach walk

Walk on the beach...beautiful day. My rock arrangement here did not last long. The only people on the beach in about a 45 minute span obliterated with their steps. They were a-typical destroyers, but nonetheless, they destroyed. Accident perhaps. But, interesting lesson. Not all bad, just a hmmmm. 

 

Jumbo Gingers -- 2023 .. year #14

The kids jumbo gingerbread cookies -- even as teens they humor their Auntie. We have one that touched the sun, and has some of the galaxy on it -- including Saturn and the Milky Way. Then, we have the ginger that had a wounded leg (Auntie pan transfer issue), with it getting taken to extreme with additional decorated injuries, and a cane for support...not a candy one. 

 

Altered forms - Ceramics

Working on concept of similar forms, aligned, and altered. 

Various clay bodies, all initially thrown on the potter's wheel.  

 

Goblet -- bigger than an elephant

 Large goblet for notable achievements. Bigger than an elephant.

Same Mountain - 3 different hikes

 

                         

Took a hike  each day, three days in a row -- two different towns in the county, all miles apart. Yes,  being a relatively tall mountain in the area helps. As does the weather. Refreshing geographical marker with each view. 

Cooper's Hawk, Band Tailed Pigeon

 

I was walking around a local reservoir, and a Cooper's Hawk scooted from one tree to another along my route. Thought was that he/she might have prey, as wasn't flying away.  Just a minute or so later on the trail, all the sudden I hear noises -- branches snapping-- and -- BAM -- inches from me, this band tailed pigeon falls from above. Since I had just washed my hair, I was very grateful for the inches. (Yes, that is a joke, even if I was a dirt ball, I wouldn't want the headless bird to fall on me). Have witnesses -- it was inches. Feather fluff flying. 

Black Mountain bowl and balls

 

Used Black Mountain clay for the first time in my memory. Wanted the contrast with white family glaze. I had thrown a simple bowl to hold my test tiles (balls).  Had planned 8 balls, but ran out of class time. Found that my hand was big for the ball shape, could have done it on hump, but was trying to regulate my shape, so keep the amount of clay the same by measuring prior....the hump might have given me too much flexibility, giving my balls too much freedom to come out same ballpark shape. I think there is pun potential there, but enough close calls. :) 

Dad Project

Getting near the show opening. Has been a lot of organizing records and photographs. Learned that there was six years of travel rather than one before he arrived here and met Mom. Wasn't a secret, I just had not been aware.

 

Balls of Clay, Mock up of building in clay

Tried a clay body new to me. The balls are pseudo glaze test tiles - was trying to see if I could get consistent size. My hand is definitely larger than the balls here, so a little tricky on shaping on wheel. 

Below is quick mock up of the Marin Civic Center. Did it in honor of the contiguous curve, and various related shapes.   I ran out of time on the roof and endcaps of the roof on long building. Smashed it. May go back and do it again, but when have time to have element dry enough for proper placement and carving/cutting of windows, roof design, etc. 

 

Ceramic Sculpture - complete...maybe

Not the greatest picture (hmmmm), but ceramic sculpture recently out of the kiln. This piece and I have been talking to since creation, and the dialogue lead to it being covered, but still wisps of transparent. 

Part of my lesson in making it is that I liked it better when the center pieces were "smooshed," but I was using them as practice for aesthetic of having something there in the middle, and then moved to throwing the center pieces. Bummer. The glaze was same thing ..planned it one way, circumstances led it another way, new meaning. Then when it came out of the kiln, a bit much for my eye to look at, so veiled. Meaning there too. But, won't go into it here. :)  

 

Bird - ceramic

 Assignment was to make a cylinder.  I did, but there was a thin part near top, so folded it over. Then  fashioned it into a shape that looked like a bird bath, so, made a bird for it. Scrapped the bird bath when wet, but bird made it through to glaze. 

Land's End Trail -- bikes, ships, greetings

Took a walk on a Land's End Trail. The first photo below shows a bike way down there....how it got there, and the rider whereabouts unknown. Saw a human swimmer there -- no spotter with him/her....brave to be doing that in ocean. Saw a big white "paint" splotch on a rock that ships used to use for navigation into the port. Is Fleet week this week, so also saw some naval vessels, and sweetly a boat welcoming them in spraying a hello. 

 

Rock Quarry, and swifts

  

Fun couple of late afternoons evenings side by side. Behind-the-scenes local rock quarry visit...such views, plus interesting seeing parts of the process. Very nice of them to share insight. 

                        Swifts entering silos for overnight rest at brick yard..,,just down the street from quarry.

Ride day 2023

 

Behind the scene work -- year 16 for me. May we rid the earth of this disease. 

Ceramics - thrown and altered

Trying a new way of learning...throwing pieces for not just practice of technique, but also to alter, and not keep. I was trying to make a certain shape for the top of this vase that wasn't working out...so, I used what didn't work anyhow, kind of making fun of myself with the look for mock horror (the big "o" mouth). I then proceed to cut it for its slow demise, but, ended up liking the cuts and added shadows. Did destroy it, but learned. 

 

View - all sides

 Nice hike to rock cropping for a view. Fog, red tails, and laughter. 

Senior Ball Dress -- decades ago and now

                          

On the left: Yesterday, brother's youngest. On the right, same dress many (many) years ago, senior ball evening. 

                                 

 

                    

City search revealing images

Two of the players of the 1940s Art in Action at GGIE. 

Will figure out the bat connection I hope...different artists, but think there is likely a reason. 

Treasure hunt for artifacts and antics. 

 

Tree Design

I think it did it on purpose.

 

Light, water, and all the rest

Evening stroll with pinkish clouds adding to view. 
 

Ceramic Sculpture - Terra Sigillata

Thrown pieces, assembled. Terra Sigillata finish. Concept on learning and adapting less than sought or "perfect." 

 

Purple skirt with fringe -- upon the Bride-To-Be's request

I shared a picture from a magazine with her at a party about six months ago, and she said I "had to" wear it to her wedding. So, I am!  My version is much more tame in the fringe department (the original is layers of leather fringe, mine is not), but not totally tame as skirts go. The bride gets what she wants ..at least for one day.  Bringing an outfit to change, as it is liable to be warm, and this is a lot of skirt! 

Yes..,,looks a bit long there on the one side...perhaps a fix, or perhaps not. 

 

Silk Scarf Dress

 

Dress made from silk scarves. 

Sculpture from the kiln

 

The seed planted long ago. Latest from the kiln. All thrown pieces, assembled pre firing. Glazed "normal," then splattered some glaze.