25 March 2007

pottery paradise




spring studios at the sugar mill in Bequia

Earlier this week I journeyed out to an area on the island called Spring to visit the Spring Studios Pottery. Spring is a bucolic wonder... Swaying palm tree groves speckled with grazing cattle and a backdrop of sparkling turquoise ocean waters. The road that leads there is lined with bushes of jasmine, oleander, trumpet vines, flowering frangipane, breadfruit and mango trees. Humming birds and bright yellow banana twits zoom about to a background concert of bahhhing from the infamous Bequian sheep (that look like goats) that I affectionately refer to as sheep-goats . Getting there is dreamy, even in the heat of the day.





















I love to visit potteries whenever I travel. To me potteries are like churches...most places have one and well, in a way, clay is my religion so i feel very comforted and at home in them. Spring Studios are about as idyllic as they come. The pottery itself is in an old sugar mill that has been transformed into small individual working studios.Walk inside of what looks like a roofless stone ruin and you find small spaces where potters, painters and artists work.
Each studio, some larger than others, has its own unique feeling. Some are lined with large leafed plants, some more spare, enclosed by walls of large stones and all of them are open partially to the sky.

large pot on the wheel

The pottery attracts artists from all over the world. A french potter was working there earlier this year as well as Maria from England who is one of the resident potters currently working at the studio.

Maria throwing pots at Spring Studio


There is a large room with a gas kiln, a room where the clay mixing and recycling take place.


Lorencia (left) from Bequia showing off some of her creations as they are loaded onto the stacked kiln shelves.

Kerry (right) from St. Vincent was very proud of his work having just recycled all those bags of clay he is looking at.




...and a shop where the Artists can sell their finished wares.

Just to make you drool even more there is even a little pool in courtyard of the building. It really doesn't get any better than that...unless taking off to the beach (a five minute walk) and cooling off in the warm waters of the Caribbean ocean is your preference, which is exactly what I did.

I'll be back soon with more island tales and sneak peaks at some more local talent.

Now off I go for a sail.

15 March 2007

my heart is singing

Orange with dogwood flowers & red interior 10.5"x10.5"x5"
It is time for me to take a little break to recharge and reconnect with my sweetheart. I leave you with this most recent lovely that I pulled out of my kiln the day before yesterday. Very rarely do I feel like I have made the perfect bowl...this is one of those rare moments of feeling. The red is so deep and gem like, the yellow dogwood flowers have a delicate crackle to them and the orange just makes my heart sing. I hope it will do the same for you.

I will be gone for the next few weeks but plan on popping in with some vacation updates from this lovely place. So keep checking back.

07 March 2007

standing tall

Look at this group of vases! Kind of like a bowling alley of vases (alas the name pin vases). I am sending the green and blue one (in the way back) off to a store in Austin, Texas called Finch along with some bowls and plates. The other four are available for sale! The white & ivory (sold) in front, the teal & ivory to the middle left, the red standing behind and the yellow in the way back. I had intended to have individual photos of the ones for sale but they turned out quite dark. If you are interested in one these for your spring blooms (they are all water tight and hold the perfect amount of flowers) pop me an email at diana@dianafayt.com





pin vases 13.5" x 3.5" $170 each

05 March 2007

a little black & white for you

As promised here are the small plates (and one larger plate {waterlily} that I am offering for sale. The large plate measures 11"x 11" and the small plates are 7"x7". The prices and dimensions are stated below each image.

water lily plate, white & ivory 11" x 11" $92

jasmine plate 7"x7" white & ivory sold

honey suckle plate, white & ivory 7"x 7" sold

sprig plate, white & ivory 7"x7" $48

chicory plate, white & ivory 7"x 7" sold
Also there still some of these bowls left. Give me a holler at diana@dianafayt.com if any of these plates (or bowls) tickles your fancy.

02 March 2007

a little more color...

three bowls 8.5" x8.5"x 4"

I spent the entire day yesterday painting bright luscious colors on my forms. I have to get everything finished in a week because I am finally going to go on my vacation to visit my sweetheart (we haven't seen each other for five months). Yay! I got myself a new bathing suit today (can you guess where I am going?) It has something to do with the work I did for my show.

These past couple of weeks have been so interesting very up and very down. I've slowly climbed out of my funk and rash of bad luck and have been equally blessed with good fortune. My show opened last week, the phone is starting to ring, possibilities loom in front of me and well boy I am glad February is over. I plan to post some plates (small ones) for sale in the next couple of days so keep an eye out.

I wanted to leave with you with a little more color until then.