aaaaannnddd, done.

         The frantic clamoring and rushing to get a show up always leaves me feeling like "whoa". after its done.  You just get used to the rushing and filling every second of the day with "go, go, go!", then the reception happens, then you're done. and suddenly the blinders drop off and you realize there's a whole world of things you haven't done. And that maybe a couple days away from the studio may do some good for your psyche.

So here I am, 6 days after the show.  I definately took a little break from the studio, but not too relax.  Actually, I think I may have forgotten how to relax around the time Bush got re-elected. Really.  So, no relaxing, but I did buy a desk for $5 (and have done a multitude of other things, including adding lots of stuff to my etsy!)  So I undertook repainting the desk. 

Here it is before I began: 

Here is the handles that came on it:

       And of course our curious little kitty had to know what this new playtoy was all about...She managed to get paint on her nose because she needed to pass it by her kitty sniff test.  There are also a couple footprints in the paint on top of the desk...*sigh, jasper...

    But painting went rather fast and here it is drying.  I got these sweet little copper knobs to complement the green paint.  should. look. awesome!

   
    And...so far it seems like it may have been a fail.  I must have not sanded it enough, because you can run your fingernail over the paint and it will peel away...Or it could be that the paint isn't drying because it doesn't get over 55 in our house...So its sitting in the middle of our living room, just like this.  If the paint still peels Saturday, I am going to have to scrape ALL the paint off, sand down further past the previous finish, aand repaint. SUCK.  No matter what: I will get an adorable desk out of the situation. I am determined to put that $5 to good use (and the 25 the painting materials cost)

   I may have been better off relaxing to a movie, but that's just not my type A nature.

Gettin' down with the plum

      Remember the milk dud mountains?  Their surface are finished and they got installed on the wall today!!

           Here is a pic of all of them on a ware cart, patiently waiting to be hung each in their own distinct place:

     This is an in process shot:  They were painstakingly numbered and installed exactly on the wall in specific places. yep. Took. a. long. time.  But I feel like I really learned a lot from making this piece so I am completely satisfied and happy with the process.

     I did several layers of inks on the surface, then did more detail with prismacolors.  Here are a couple individuals:

   

 

     I did do quite a bit of measuring that really helped in the installation process.  I measured exactly how far the circles were from the midpoint of the overall composition, and took notes on where the pieces fell according to a vertical diameter line, thus the need for a plum line during installation. It still took me about 9ish hours of install time, but not as bad as if I had tried to do it free-style.

Our resident show opens this Friday, and there is still so much to do--my head is spinning!! But it is going to be great fun and we are all really excited!

Something else I am really excited about it is these cups:

They aren't exactly what I was hoping for, but I feel like there is a lot of potential here.  They look the most like my drawings that I have been able to achieve on functional work.  After our show I am excited to nerd out and really try to develop this further. 

Anyway, very soon I will be updating my website to include newer images and adding many things to my etsy.

--That is all.

Thanks for reading!!

Ima a milk dud machine...

Check these out:



       I am working on a new wall piece for our residents show (which opens Oct. 28th!), and right now all the pieces look like giant milk duds!! They definately won't when the piece is done, but it makes me chuckle a little while I'm working on them. Someone did ask if I get hungry for milk duds while I work. And....no. But it does make me thirsty for beer. Or maybe thats cause I've been in the studio a lot and that makes me want beer. Or maybe I just really like fall seasonal beers. Whatever, I'm too poor for beer so its too bad anyways...

 I really like this image of the duds, they look like round mountains with no vegetation. Or... milk dud mountains! (wouldn't that be delightful?)


    I have also been working on many new forms and surfaces. Here is one little tray that I really like so far. The slip on him is a light green; I am so excited to get him fired!!

 
    Here is a pot I made for fun. I am really enjoying the design, I hope others do too! It is definately influenced by all the geometry writings I read over the last couple months.

    I have been experimenting a lot with my surfaces and designs. I have a whole slew of pots to fire as soon as I get the glaze tests through the kiln--woot!! I will be posting images of those soon hopefully.

Until next time:
      Gilbert says goodnite!!

AAARRRGGGH!!

Just a quick rant:  I'm sure most artists will identify with my predicament.

I work too much to work!! I am very lucky to have found a job so quickly when I moved to Asheville to start a residency at the Odyssey; its apparently not easy around here though it only took me a week and my partner about 3ish...

but now I have been working at the restaurant 6 days a week!!! and on my only day off I have a shift as resident on duty for 8 hours.  ballsacks.  I work best when I have a good long day to play and work on several projects.  but I have no full days to work on work.  I have like 4 hours every couple days. I have asked for less hours, and the manager's very cordial reply was "ill try, but no promises"....that does not make me feel reassured.    so i want to find another job, only i dont have time to find a different job. and i cant just quit because jared's (my partner) paychecks wont catch up for a couple weeks.

aaand to compound my stress level, we have a resident show, southern highlands craft sale, and a studio stroll, all coming up in a month.  fuuuuckkk.  sometimes i feel like i should just quit the jobby job and make crazy amount of work and just work my ass off to sell it.  easier said than done though, so too risky.  (i like good food and a roof to live under)

well, i hope i dont sound like a whiney twat.  things will work out, however they happen.  keep me in your thoughts/prayers/meditations/daily human offering/whatever you do-- send good energy my way man.

take care darlings

oh and pics of new studio soon, i promise.  i took some but they were grainy yucky.


----little update-I quit!! I moved here to do the residency, i'm not going to let some serving job take over my life.

Ooooh pretttyyy!!

I like these pots:







I love the depth in the glaze and slip decoration.

 Simple. Beautiful.

Thank you, Mr. Sean O'Connell, for making such beautiful objects.  I want one.

That is all. Take care lovelies.

I have a confession....

I am a terrible blogger.  It's been almost 2 months since I wrote an entry...and so much has happened that I could have written about.  The time just wasn't available...but, I can quickly do a little catch up now...

So, I spent a solid 6 weeks on the east coast, between travels, visiting people, and teaching.  I taught at Snow Farm for the high school summer program. The students were faaantabulous!! And so was my co-teacher, Ariana Kolins, who is my new ceramics wife.  She really makes really lovely handbuilt work.  Since I am mainly a thrower, teaching together was the perfect team.  Here are some pics of students' work:

Gabe's Fish Pot--fantastic use of mishima

 Isabel's Tree--She decided to

 pit fire it, and the natural surface was a great choice for the form!

Olivia's Slab Built Pitcher--what a great form!



    There were many other fantastic pieces made--I wish I had taken more pictures!!  (Students, if you read this send me pics!!)

So, in other news:  I have relocated to Asheville, NC to do a residency at the Odyssey Center.  I moved my stuff into my studio last week and I am anxious to get working!  My space is very cozy--at the far end of the resident spaces.  Pics posted soon of my new space and of new work in progress  :)

 I am slowly re-entering cyber-land from my summer hiatus, and with that I am posting more things on etsy. 

Take a look here:  my etsy 

Thanks and take care!!

Dear Ceramicists!

Want more valuable ceramics blogs?  You've probably seen this listing already. But, if not, I challenge you not to find at least a few to add to your blog list...

http://www.guidetoartschools.com/library/best-ceramics-blogs

Enjoi!!