repose

work in progress for my upcoming solo show

I have been hunkered down and in my own head these past weeks. With a heavy show schedule ahead of me this summer and autumn I have needed time to think, without distractions and feeling like I need to explain this process...but here I am explaining it.

In the fast paced world we live in our mental bellies have expanded beyond capacity and it seems that the amount of information out there that we consume is unending. Admittedly I am very much a willing participant in this feeding frenzy. Lately I have felt overwhelmed with it all. Gorged. Too much to talk about, too much to see, too much to know. I kind of started to feel like I was drowning and that it was hard to get oxygen to my brain so I could think my own thoughts. Our own thoughts, a key and vital element to any creative person's life.

The amount of vigilance it takes to keep myself in the mix as well as simultaneously be creative can get extremely draining. I sometimes fear I will wear my own batteries out if I don't take time to let the machinery rest. I say this here because I think this is happening to people a lot yet we continue to be pulled in even when it is too much. As much as a person such as myself depends on people seeing what I do and make and wanting to know about me there is a point in which that in itself can begin to take away from the actual thing that I am trying to achieve, which is to make art.

washed brushes

So I have spent some time daydreaming (so essential for me). I have spent time running errands. I have gone on field trips. I've started going on runs again. I have worked in my garden. I have cooked myself some lovely meals. And I have planned vacations and breaks so I can visit a different reality other than my own (also very necessary for me).

I try to keep a gentle balance in my life. I am very much a person who is motivated by opportunity and projects but when too much starts to happen I can also shut down. Keeping things at a manageable pace and not making decisions based in fear like, if I turn down that order I won't be able to pay my rent, but based on how exactly it is that I want to live and what I can realistically manage. It is what I try to do though not always successfully. It is just kind of a sticky note on my brain. It's edges are curled and there are fingerprints and stains all over it but it stays there all the time.


So here's to letting the machinery rest friends!
See you all next week.

studio visit

a corner of my studio in the bayview

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my new studio space? It is so wonderful to be there and the only thing that could make it more perfect would be warm running water and it be out my back door...but I am not complaining. The light alone can't be beat.


books & tools

I have been feeling a little guilty about my neglect of this blog lately though guilt really isn't the right word for it. I am just distracted by other things and I do have to confess I have been a little enamoured with this lately. It seems to be more representative of my mood. Quiet and contemplative. Never the less I do have things that I must tell you about. So scoot on up a bit closer and have a quick listen.

First of all I have been featured in yet another magazine, Mary Engelbreits Home Companion. They even printed a quote from me. Wow what a thrill to see my words in print like that! I have been very fortunate with so much press lately. It is really lovely to be noticed and I do have this satisfying feeling watching the pile of books and magazines stack up that include a bit about me and/or my work. I never in a million years dreamed such would be so.
So thank you kind press people.
I send you a million kisses! (whether or not you want them).

work in progress

Meanwhile I am busy with so many new things. I am working on developing some small vases. My mold guy, handsome Hector, is coming to visit my studio this week and hopefully he will be making some new molds for me very soon. Also I am working on some new pieces (see above photo and no they are not large phalluses...they are upside down vessels) for an upcoming show called Line & Color that I will be participating in Atlanta, Georgia hosted by MudFire in April. I also just got an invitation to participate in an NCECA exhibit hosted by Santa Fe Clay called La Mesa that features 150 place settings. I will be one of many ceramists making a table settings for this show. So much already and its only three weeks into January.

keeping order

I am behind on everything friends. Not a good time of year to be running behind. I am doing all that I can do... My days start early and end late and still I can never accomplish enough.

I spent most of my day yesterday setting up my slab roller. After I got it up and standing I realized that I had put one part of it together incorrectly and had to take half of it apart and put it all back together again. I do all of this myself. No boyfriend/husband/partner here to help, no interns, just lil' ol' me. No need to feel bad for me, I am quite content doing things myself, never the less things seem to take longer than I anticipate and if something goes awry it is up to me to fix it.

So if you are waiting on something from me, please know that I have not forgotten about you. If you have sent me an email and I haven't answered it, I have been away from my desk most days (and some nights), but I haven't forgotten you. Really right now the only thing that is in order is the disorder of all that I have to get done. I am doing my best to keep up and stay happy and though the keeping up part has fallen a bit short the happy part is right on schedule.

Have a great weekend all!

a red & blue day

Yesterday was all about red and blue, well more aqua than blue really. I did not plan it this way. Only as I was uploading my photos at the end of the day did I realize the prevailing color theme.
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A very special guest came to visit me at my new studio. She came all the way from Vermont...My buddy Luara Zindel! She's visiting the Bay Area and I had the honor of hosting her as my very first visitor in my new studio.
(Notice my red and blue shirt-apron combination).
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The red and blue theme continues as I leave my studio only to happen upon this truck parked in the parking lot with this fabulous graffiti painted on it's side.

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I was not thinking about the red and blue theme of the day when I took this shot. I was just immediately drawn to it. Now what does the red graffiti say? At first I thought it said ROMEO but that second letter looks more like an E to me than an O. If you have it figured out please do share!

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And then last but not least this lady, who I am calling Comparative Indicator, came out of my Drawing Room yesterday. The newest addition to my collection of drawings for my upcoming show, Folklore, at the Candy Store.

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And what colors did I choose to clothe this this lovely lady in?
Yup you guessed it, red & blue, well aqua actually.

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a little order

I have spent the past few days moving into my new studio. Many thanks to my friend Cheryl for helping me with the heavy lifting and the mind bending physics it took to figure out how to get my desk through the doorway. Girls are great when it comes to moving. We don't compete for who can lift the most and when something doesn't work we use our brains (and not our brawn) to figure out a solution. Don't fret boys, nothin' beats you and your wonderful muscles.

I spent all of Saturday organizing all my bottles of glazes and whatnot, figuring out where the best place for the shelving to go, the work tables most advantageous position and coming up with space efficient solution for a casting table. I was going to have one built but after giving it some thought I figured out a better and cheaper solution. Ikea to the rescue! I will show you what I came up with once I set it all up. Whoa, and have a look at all them there molds. I made all those babies myself. I love them all stacked so neatly on my pretty new shelves. I put up my favorite picture of Ganesha who has graced every studio I have ever had (except for the one I was just in...no wall space to hang him). He is the remover of obstacles and hell, I need all the help I can get for removing obstacles in the studio. I put him over the casting area thinking maybe he might do some extra time and be the helper of lifting heavy molds as well. Beneath him is my collection of wooden paddles that I have gathered over the years and of course my test tiles hanging there on the wall like tantalizing pieces of candy.

I have tricked you a bit, only showing you the most organized corner of the studio. I still have a lot more situating to do. It it is going swimmingly though and I already feel happier in my beautiful light filled studio. I'll be back soon with more details of my progress.

For now happy Monday friends!