Behind the Mask

All Fall Down

2012-02-01T15:46:00.000-08:00

I made this sculpture a few years ago and I was thinking about it today. It seemed an auspicious time to post! It's strange sometimes how so many things are connected - or seem so - and I welcome those moments of realization. I don't even remember what the thinking behind this piece was (and, I don't think I was that crazy about the end results), but something brought it to my mind so, I am paying attention!.....

Left Behind

2012-01-26T15:36:00.000-08:00

On one's personal journey, many things get left behind. Some of these things we no longer need and others have simply been forgotten - but the images stay and, often, leave a trail.......

This one of a kind raku and mixed media wall sculpture measures 12" high by 5 1/2" wide by 3 1/4" deep. The mask and individual "leaves" may be removed from the shadow box but I think that the box enhances and defines the piece. Either way, it is ready to hang.

A Wooden Heart

2012-01-24T22:13:00.000-08:00

She's gotten out the hammer and nails and has fashioned herself a protective covering. It is not so strong that it cannot be damaged, but beware of splinters....

The size of this small ceramic sculpture is 3 1/4" high by 2 3/8" wide.

Fallen Angel

2012-01-23T13:50:00.000-08:00

I've made three different pieces using the idea of "fallen angels" - however, I'm using the idea as a metaphor rather than as a religiously based concept. My version of a fallen angel is something that is slightly tarnished and a little broken but, in spite of that, persists.....

And here is a quote by Jean Cocteau:
I feel that there is an angel inside me whom I am constantly shocking.

This raku sculpture was made in three parts: Head, Wings and Body and assembled post firing. It now resides in Hungary.

Swirls and Eddies

2012-01-20T20:43:00.000-08:00

When you're "going with the flow", have you considered what you leave in your wake? I'd like to think that we leave behind more than just a few ripples......

This small ceramic raku mask measures 3" high by 2 1/4" wide.

Rising Above it All

2012-01-18T20:36:00.000-08:00

No matter what is going on in life, it can be helpful (and sometimes necessary) to rise above it all. Of course it's not possible to literally raise yourself up - but it is quite possible to elevate your own mind to get a whole new perspective on everything......

This small ceramic and driftwood sculpture measures 3" high by 2 3/4" wide.

No Trespassing

2012-01-17T15:33:00.000-08:00

I know that I'll never be a "Julia Butterfly" (I love the creature comforts too much) but I'm extremely sympathetic to the cause. Many times I feel that the forests, and what is happening to them, are a sad metaphor for what is happening to humanity.....

The mask is sculpted of stoneware and measures 12" high by 7 1/2" wide by 3 1/4" deep. I made this piece while I was a resident at the International Ceramics Studio in Kecskemet, Hungary - but finished it at home in my studio.

Fly By Night

2012-01-16T22:15:00.000-08:00

I've made quite a few pieces with Dreams as the subject or the inspiration and will most likely continue to do so: it is difficult to ignore such a ready source of ideas! The only thing that worries me about mining my dreams is that they are so personal - and I'm not sure if anyone else can relate. I suppose it shouldn't matter but, since my work is my way of communicating, I feel that I must also be an "editor".......

This small ceramic wall piece measures 5 1/2" high by 5 1/2" wide by 1 3/4" deep. The wings are glazed with gold luster.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/83744504/fly-by-night-ceramic-wall-mask

Do You Believe in Magic

2012-01-15T21:46:00.000-08:00

Magical realism, like the uncanny, projects an uncertainty suggesting that ordinary life may also be the scene of the extraordinary. There is magic all around us - but we must choose to see it. When our eyes are open to magic, even the smallest things become miraculous.....

This ceramic wall mask measures 6 1/4" high by 5" wide by 2" deep.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/83663857/do-you-believe-in-magic-ceramic-wall

Making order out of Chaos.....

2012-01-14T12:02:00.000-08:00

This photo of my desk (shot today) is a glimpse of what my workspace is like. Yes, I'm messy, but that is the way my mind works: via the chaos, order Will come. Often, I'm too caught up in mental machinations to even consider taking the time to tidy up my desk. Eventually, the desk will become so crowded with "stuff" that it bothers even me - and I will put it all in order. But one thing is certain - it won't remain that way for long.......

Stick Figure

2012-01-13T20:29:00.000-08:00

Although she is lacking in substance, she means well - and she's a pro at blending in.....

My small ceramic "stick figure" measures 2 5/8" high by 2 7/8" wide.

The "Stick Figure" can also be found here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84001700/stick-figure-ceramic-face-pendant

Moonshine

2012-01-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm back! I took some time off from blogging (guess I burnt out a bit), but I'm hopping back in to share some of what I've been up to for the past year.

Here is a small celebration of all things clandestine! There is much to be said for all the good things that can be accomplished by the light of the moon.....

This small ceramic raku moon measures 2 3/8" high by 2" wide.

Silent Scream

2012-01-10T22:20:00.000-08:00

Keeping too much inside oneself has consequences. Usually it's not possible for others to see the inner turmoil - but sometimes it is written all over her face.....

This small ceramic sculpture measures 2 3/4" high by 2 3/8" wide.

All The King's Horses

2012-01-09T17:00:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling a bit like this today (fell off my bicycle this morning) - so I decided to post this long gone piece to commemorate the event!

Some things are so broken that they cannot be fixed. So, the question is: What do we do with all the pieces?.....

The size of this small ceramic face is 2 5/8" high by 1 3/4" wide.

The Carrot or the Stick

2012-01-08T21:41:00.000-08:00

And so, you may ask (as I do): why must we choose? And is the stick always the poorer choice?....

This small ceramic sculpture measures 3" high by 2 3/4" wide. It is available for sale in my Etsy shop.... http://www.etsy.com/listing/87362182/the-carrot-or-the-stick-ceramic-face

Metamorphosis

2012-01-07T22:24:00.000-08:00

Between sunset and sunrise is a time of magic and transformation. The butterfly becomes a moth and flits about warming her shoulders by the light of the moon......

This small ceramic sculpture measures 2 1/8" high by 2 3/4" wide.

Up a Creek

2012-01-06T21:46:00.000-08:00

I made this piece as a statement about being helpless. Although it is presented in a way that is somewhat amusing, there really isn't anything funny about finding oneself without a paddle. I've chosen to depict the idea in this way because I feel compelled to acknowledge that life isn't perfect - but can't bring myself to do it without a bit of humor.....

This is a one of a kind ceramic sculpture for the wall. It's a good sized piece - measuring 15" high by 9" wide and 7" deep. It is ready to hang in a special place.

This piece is for sale in my Etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87712085/up-a-creek-ceramic-wall-mask

From the Ground Up

2010-09-09T16:43:00.000-07:00

Everything begins somewhere! Here, I'm showing a metaphoric birth and realization of an idea. I like the concept of wonderful things arising from a fertile mental ground.......

This raku wall mask measures 9 3/4" high by 5 1/2" wide by 3 1/2" deep and is ready to hang.

Simon Says

2010-09-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

And so, do we do what Simon says or do we choose our own paths? Here, I'm using a child's game as a symbolic "big brother" - and, by now you've probably guessed that I march to a different drummer.....

The size of this small raku mask is 4 1/4" high by 5 5/8" wide and 1 3/4" deep. It also happens to be for sale in my Etsy shop: http://unmasked.etsy.com

Drifting Off....

2010-04-08T16:56:00.000-07:00

There are times when I feel that my head will surely explode with all the information and ideas held within. And then, there are gentler times when (like a slow leak) all that good stuff drifts and flows to surround....

The size of this small raku mask is 3 1/2" high by 1 5/8".

Hold Onto Your Hat

2010-03-09T14:18:00.000-08:00

Life can be a wild ride and I find it a good idea to hold on to those small, but important, details. This little mask is doing just that....

The size of this piece is 3" high by 3 1/4" wide.

Swiss Cheese Memory

2010-03-05T13:36:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like I have a giant head full of memories that elude me. Oh yes, they're all still there somewhere - but retrieving them is another matter all together.....

The size of this small raku mask is 3 1/2" high by 1 5//8" wide

Cupid's Evil Twin

2010-02-06T14:44:00.000-08:00

Hey, what is this little guy up to - and do we really want to know? When I think of all the failed relationships in the world, I imagine that the evil twin has been busy indeed...

The size of this small raku mask is 2 1/2" high by 1 5/8" wide.

Dear Heart

2010-02-05T14:55:00.001-08:00

I've often heard this word duo uttered when someone is being extra kind or sweet. My granny used to say it to me and this is what I imagined (and still imagine).....

I know I haven't been very active with this blog lately....and it's not because I haven't been working and creating! It's just that I've been working out a lot of new ideas and glazes. Lately, I've been spending a lot of time on stains and the possibilities are endless. Of course, the technical aspects are alway something I must tackle "head on"!

Misbehaving

2010-01-29T13:39:00.000-08:00

This is for all of you who might, like me, possess an inner imp. You know the one: it's a whisper in the ear to just "go for it".....

The size of this small raku mask is 3 3/8" high by 1 1/2" wide.

Rose Colored Glasses

2010-01-22T15:06:00.000-08:00

Oh, to see the world this way! I long to be able to do it, but so many impish little dark things keep clouding the vision. Guess I'll just have to settle for the mask seeing a perfect world....

The size of this small raku piece is 2 1/2" high by 1 3/4" wide.

Into the Mystic

2010-01-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

I like the idea of sailing off into the Mystic - with dreams swirling about and endless possibilities. Sometimes, it seems as if so much is hidden from us and yet, many times, a closer look can reveal what we never knew existed....

The size of my little "explorer" is 2 1/2" high by 2 1/8" wide and there is a tube affixed to the back for hanging as a pendant or on the wall.

Curtain Call

2009-12-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it seems as if all of life is a curtain call - and, just like this little mask, we may be called upon to appear in yet another drama. If so, we must be ever ready to participate....

This is an older glaze test that I recently finished (#5!). Its size is 2 1/2" high by 1 7/8" wide.

Identity Crisis

2009-11-30T13:33:00.000-08:00

These little peas resent the assumption that they're alike! After all, who would like being told that they are not unique? I believe we all have the capacity to defy comparison.....

The size of the pod is 3" high by 3/4" wide and has been multi fired with a final raku glaze firing.

The Hybrid

2009-11-19T13:42:00.000-08:00

Do you ever feel "different"? I often do and, when I do, it's usually accompanied by a need to fit in somewhere. Here is a wistful solution: hybridize! Sometimes it only requires a slight mental adjustment to blend right in - at least for a little while.....

The "Hybrid" is multi fired, 2 3/4" high x 2 1/4" wide.

A Little Night Owl

2009-11-18T14:35:00.000-08:00

The little owl works through the night - just like so many artists we know! It's a good time to get things done, whether it be capturing those pesky mice or creating a work of art. The only interruptions are the voices calling quietly in the night....

This is a multi fired raku piece and the size is 2 3/4" high by 2 3/8" wide.

Birdbrain

2009-10-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

It is known that birds have tiny little brains - but isn't that because they have tiny little heads? I'll wager that they are no dumber or smarter than any other critter. I'll go even further to suggest that they are pretty smart to keep their distance from most humans.....

In keeping with her name, Birdbrain is very small: 2 1/2" high x 1 3/4" wide. There is a tube affixed to the back for hanging as a pendant or anywhere else. FYI, this piece is #444 in my glaze tests - I seem to be making myself crazy with these little guys! Of course, this number is on the back of the mask, along with my signature.

Traveling Companions

2009-10-24T13:23:00.000-07:00

It's always nice to have a friend to travel with - even on a short journey. These two will always be together no matter where they touch down....

The size of this small mask is 3 1/4" high x 2 1/2" wide and there are tubes affixed to the backs of each leaf to facilitate hanging. This piece is a bit unusual since it's a bit deeper than most of my glaze tests. The sides of each face "butterfly" upwards.

See No Evil

2009-10-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

Don't you wish it was so easy not to see some things? I made this small mask with the idea in mind of a sort of mental blindfold: one that would screen out the unpleasantries. I've got mine near at hand just in case....

Karma

2009-10-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

Whether you choose to believe in a force such as Karma or not, doing good turns and being a good person is its own reward. I like the idea of Karma being circular and part of a continuing story that we all have roles in. Some say that what goes around comes around and I believe it.....

Soul Searching....

2009-10-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

I've done a lot of this lately (soul searching, that is) and it seems that no matter how hard I search, it's hard to find! I feel as if I've just been flinging my arms about - doing a little of this and a little of that and (to my mind) a whole lot of nothing. Perhaps I'm stuck, perhaps I'm coming unglued, but I'll keep on searching that soul till something makes sense.....

You Can't Judge a Book....

2009-10-03T16:20:00.000-07:00

There are so many clever covers, but it's what's inside that counts - or so the sage voices say! This little mask isn't fooling anyone with its angelic exterior, for it's easy to see what is underneath. Would that all disguises were so easy to detect....

This pendant is a reminder that things aren't always what they seem! The size is 2 3/4" high by 2 1/4" wide and there is a tube affixed to the back for hanging.

Free Falling - a visual journey....

2009-09-26T00:17:00.000-07:00

I've got Autumnal changes on my mind! Thought I'd share the transformational journey of just one leaf.....

Hiding Among the Fallen

2009-09-22T18:38:00.000-07:00

I'm not exactly sure what I mean with this recently finished mask: chalk it up to my own frailties and insecurities. Hiding seems to be the central theme behind my work (at least as I see it) and I've spent a lot of time interpreting this theme in as many ways as possible. And, I'm not finished yet...

Currently, I feel as if I'm on auto pilot - plugging away in the studio and "Birdgirl" is emerging wishing for an out. I definitely have "got the urge for going" and I'll have to let it go...... (for now)

The Offering - revisited

2009-09-18T19:30:00.000-07:00

I just sent this piece (Offering) out, so as usual, I worked on a photo print to send along. This isn't the print I ended up sending....but it was the one I liked the best. For some reason, it seemed a little too "dark" to include with the actual piece (which is a more hopeful and lighthearted mask). I posted the original mask two entries ago so you can see what I'm talking about.
Often times, I feel I must tone down my dark side so as not to scare everyone away. But I admit to appreciating both sides of the coin.......

Outside the Box

2009-09-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

Thinking outside the box can lead to many things! I believe that most creative sorts use this kind of thinking to great benefit, but there can be dangers - as evidenced by this little piece. Is there such a thing as TOO creative???

Yet another glaze test from my Etsy shop: I've been a bit lazy with posting some of the bigger masks, but I promise that there will be more to come (and soon). The size of this raku mask is 2 3/4" high x 2" wide and there is a tube affixed to the back for hanging as a pendant or anywhere a creative reminder is needed.....

Offering

2009-09-07T18:13:00.000-07:00

My little Birdgirl would like to offer a twig for your nest. We all need building material and whether it's for a nest or something more substantial, it's the thought that counts (or so she tells me anyway)! This is another recent addition to my Etsy shop and for lack of another bigger piece to show, I've decided to share some of my glaze tests with you.

The size of the mask is 2 3/4" high by 2 3/8" wide and there is a tube affixed to the back for hanging as a pendant.

Flights of Fancy

2009-09-03T19:22:00.000-07:00

Often I feel that there is not enough whimsy in my life. It is then that I create a piece such as this: pure fantasy - or fancy and for a moment, I can rise above some of the mundane. I consider myself lucky to have this ability and it pleases me to share it......

The size of this small mask is 2 5/8" high by 1 7/8" wide and there is a tube affixed to the back for hanging. I just finished the piece this week and it was added to my etsy shop.
http://unmasked.etsy.com

Surfacing

2009-08-31T15:33:00.000-07:00

This mask was finished just in time for the last show and it's a fairly accurate representation of my state of mind for the past month or two. The Winter and Spring (as some of you may have guessed) were a difficult period for me, but Summer brought a new and improved outlook. And so, "Surfacing" was born. I have imagined myself emerging from the deep - fully clothed and swimming cap intact - hopeful and yet pensive and wondering: What next?.......

The size of the mask is approximately 14" high x 6 1/2" wide and is sculpted from stoneware. I had originally planned a raku finish, but the piece dictated otherwise!

Daydream in the Treehouse

2009-08-25T14:04:00.000-07:00

Here, I've combined two of my favorite themes: dreams and houses. It seems that my themes are evolving - so much so that I wonder about the beginnings of an idea and why it must be forever changing! Perhaps, like a dream, there is no telling which way it will go. There is no such thing as control.

The occupants of my treehouse are not that different from each other and yet each is an individual with a task to perform. I enjoy giving my dream subjects some responsibilities when I'm awake so that I can lie back and enjoy the view......

Animal Instincts

2009-08-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

I'm baaaack! It's been a busy two weeks with the ACC San Francisco show and some delightful after show visitors. I'm just now catching my breath and ready to get back to more regular posting! Today's mask is based on a piece that I made a few years ago. This version is smaller than the original....and that is a trend in my studio right now. I've been making some smaller (more affordable) works in the hope that they might be a bit easier on the pocketbook. I'm still making the larger masks, but I find myself spending more and more time on each piece. I was able to finish a few for this last show and I'll be revealing them soon.

This little mask (7" high x 3 1/2" wide) is yet another tribute to the animal kingdom of which I consider myself a part.......

Not Far From the Tree print

2009-08-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

I've been too busy to spend time in my archives searching for photos to post, so I'm again showing a print. This one is from an old small mask that I made and which someone recently asked me to revisit. I didn't make a new ceramic piece (although I might in the future) but decided to play with the image instead. I hope you will enjoy the results as much as I enjoyed creating it......

Moving Right Along

2009-08-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

Here is yet another piece from my "Shigaraki" period. Looking back, I see that all of the masks I made there represent some form of change or movement and this one is a perfect example. Even now, in my raku frenzy, I'm still working with stoneware and stretching its limits as far as I can. The big challenge now is to fire it to near vitrification (for strength) and then use low fire treatments and a final raku firing. Some ceramists have told me that this couldn't be done - but, where there's a will.......

Self Analysis

2009-08-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

This is a mask heavily influenced by a painting: "A Visit to the Psychoanalyst" by Remedios Varo (one of my faves). I rarely make a piece so directly linked to another's work - but this one just had to be!

I'd like to believe that self analysis is the key to understanding oneself, but it seems that the more doors are opened, the longer the hallway becomes (and this piece was made in 2001)! I'm not ashamed to admit that a visit (or two or three) to the psychoanalyst has become necessary, but I am a bit embarrassed that I put it off as long as I did....

A Wing and a Prayer

2009-07-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

This mask came to be as a result of my uncertainties about changes in my processes and materials. While at the Institute of Ceramic Studies in Shigaraki, Japan in 2003, I was truly at the mercy of the Fire Gods! Besides using a much higher firing clay, I also had to adjust my glazes to fit. As a result, I spent a lot of time holding my breath and crossing my fingers. It was during this period that "A Wing and a Prayer" was born.

I learned a lot during my residency (about clay AND about myself) and discovered that I thrive on uncertainties! Perhaps all that breath holding affected me.....

Night Owl print

2009-07-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

I'm busy in the studio now - creating new works for the upcoming show (and to add to the blog!). In between the studio work and my "regular" life, there is still time to play. I did this pic last night....it's an alteration of a mask that I showed here in January. If you'd like to compare images, check out the original at:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VMpyXXCZJSs/SXZo-6LQBjI/AAAAAAAAADk/-uAERHCAVmM/s1600-h/Night+Owl+-+2.jpg

Now, I'm back out to check a kiln.....

Life Support

2009-07-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

This piece was conceived and made at the same time as the previously shown "Heart Attack" and further illustrates how I work within a theme. All the work I'm currently doing is in this same framework: lots of ongoing themes that sometimes mutate into new themes. For me, creativity is an evolutionary concept and, by its nature, never static.

"Life Support" is another one of those masks that I wish I'd written a few notes about when I made it! Without a doubt, I had hearts on the brain - but the motivation has escaped me.....

A Heart Attack

2009-07-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

I love words - and plays on words, and this piece is clear evidence of that! Most times it is somewhat challenging to get an idea across using only a face, but this mask was almost too easy. Of course, this heart attack is not of the medical emergency sort: I'd like to think that we can be overcome by whimsy and heartfelt delight at any moment.

I made this mask circa 1999 and I still think about it occasionally......

I Dreamed I Could Fly

2009-07-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a mask that I finished just in time for the show last weekend. I've always had flying dreams, but never quite enough of them to suit me: there is nothing quite like the feeling of elation at lift off or the idea that anything is possible. And that is why I gave the piece an expression of apprehension. I chose to depict it in that way to show that the dreamer knows she must awaken and is not quite ready for that to happen. I guess what I'm trying to say is that all good things must end but there will be other nights and new dreams.....

On the Spot - print

2009-07-13T10:27:00.000-07:00

This is a postcard size print that I made of one of the small glaze tests that I sent out last week. I feel that this is one of the nicest ones yet and I hope to improve with the photo alterations. Sometimes, they look a little corny to me, so I think that there is a lot of room for growth - and that interests me!

As some of you may know, I was at a show in Palo Alto this past weekend. I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome and I'd like to let everyone know how much I appreciate your support and encouragement. In my solitary work environment I sometimes forget that I have that.......

Curiouser and Curiouser...

2009-07-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's mask got me thinking about today's: it seemed like a natural follow-up. I do find myself thinking of things in a thematic way these days, most likely in an attempt to organise my mental closet. In any case, as Alice says: life is "curiouser and curiouser" and I've decided to give up trying to figure out what the meaning is. Seems to me we should just get on with enjoying the ride.....

Feed Your Head

2009-07-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

Remember.....what the Doormouse said! Some of you will remember this as the reverberating last words from a favorite old song (circa 1968, The Jefferson Airplane on Surrealistic Pillow - for those of you scratching your heads). It's one of those stanzas that will play back many times in my head, and it did just that recently. Time to bring out this mask for another look and a reminder that nourishing the mind is as important as nourishing the body!

I've been out of town for the past few days and haven't been able to work on the blog. I'll be home till Friday morning when I'll head out again - this time to Palo Alto for the ACGA show at the Art Center. If anyone's in the area, please stop by on Saturday or Sunday and say Hello.....

A Change of Heart

2009-06-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

I was going to post another altered photo today but I had a "change of heart" and decided to let this mask out for an airing. I created this piece a couple years ago - and I still have it. For some reason, the times I've shown the mask, it has gotten very little attention (even with the moving, changeable doors which everyone usually loves). Perhaps the message is just too obvious! Anyway, until she connects with the right home, I get to enjoy her in mine.....

Spring Green revisited...

2009-06-26T14:49:00.000-07:00

Some of the masks that I'm working photoshop magic on are becoming more interesting to me than the originals. I'm not quite sure what this means, but I think that it's going to have a real effect on my glazing and finishing techniques! It is quite difficult to get away from the safety of the tried and true and take a leap into unknown territory but, speaking as an artist, these leaps are inevitable and necessary for growth......

Foolhardy

2009-06-25T14:14:00.000-07:00

Yet another Fool - but this fool is ready for anything! If one is willing or unable to prevent playing the fool, there must be some type of protection from the consequences. Here I've chosen armor as the device and it's nailed on good and tight so that this Fool can bumble along at will. Whether our protective coverings are real or metaphoric, they play an important role in shielding us from lifes' unpleasantries....

Branching Out & Melting Down

2009-06-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

I've got a lot going on out in the studio of late and haven't had as much time to devote to the blog - perhaps you've noticed! I didn't feel like digging through the "archives" today, so I'm showing one of my latest passions: photo altering. I've decided that whenever I send out a mask, I will include an altered image of the piece. I just finished this one - and it will be making a trip to the post office (along with its original model) as soon as I finish this post...

Look out Michelle, here it comes!

All Fall Down....

2009-06-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

This week's subject, or should I say verb, is falling. Falling, drifting, descending or however you choose to think of the downward journey. Here, I've crafted a piece that depicts the face as ripe fruit ( a little influence from Archimboldo!). I think of fruit as an almost perfect metaphor for the face: from blossom to over ripe and everything between. I think my own face is becoming quite ripe, but there's still a way to go before landfall......

Free Falling

2009-06-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

This little mask is on a journey much like my own. I feel sometimes as if life is very much a free falling adventure with little to grab onto to slow the descent. And then too, a wind can come up and change my course - or a bird could capture and carry me away. So many possibilities and yet, so little control. I wonder if we're all free falling and colliding with each other as the winds play.....

Brainstorm

2009-06-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

Is this how a "brainstorm" would look? Well, for me it's one possibility - and my work is all about possibilities and what ifs. In my quest to personify ideas, the results are sometimes a bit strange and even a little foreboding. I do enjoy hinting at (or poking fun at) some of life's mysteries.

This piece was made early in 2000 when my brain was working overtime. Its size is approximately 9" high by 4" wide and I have no idea where it now resides......

A Different Perspective

2009-06-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the simplest pieces are the most effective at delivering their messages: I feel this mask falls into that category. With its skewed angle and shrinking grid it seems so obvious....but is it really? Beyond the obvious is the question (yeah, always with the questions!) why is a different perspective necessary or even desirable? I'll leave that for you to answer - or not....

The size of this stoneware mask (2002) is about 7" high by 5" wide and she's hanging around somewhere on an unknown wall......

A Gathering of Old Friends....

2009-06-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

Here is a grouping to illustrate what I was talking about in my last post. All of the sculptures are wearing masks - except for the "Open Heart". The masks can be removed to reveal the face underneath. I play around with these and put different masks on the sculptures: there are always so many possibilities within my own creative sensibility that I have a difficult time putting limitations on it.....

Open Hearts

2009-06-02T13:23:00.000-07:00

I was pleased to find that I still had photos of these small sculptures since I thought they had been lost in a computer crash. I made them circa 2000 and they were the first sculptures that I meant to be stand alone pieces. Previous small sculptures had been created as stands to display the masks......and a number of people commented that it was a shame to cover them up! So began my journey with freestanding pieces. I love making them but it's difficult to find places for them in my small studio: walls are so much easier! That said, I'm having more and more ideas for new ones and have a few in the works......

These particular pieces are each around 10" high and were made of earthenware clay.

With A Little Help From My Friends....

2009-06-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

This mask made its debut in November of 2005 and it's one of those pieces I still happen to have: probably because it's a mask that is just too personal for others to relate to. It's always interesting to me observing the public and how different masks attract different types of people. I never know which pieces will find their way into new homes or why they were chosen over others.........although, sometimes I'm given a bit more information than I would like!

I don't make work with the idea that it must be pleasing to others, or sell-able but to release ideas that are trapped in my mind. However, it pleases me greatly when I am able to connect some of my ideas with those who share them.....

Are We Having Fun Yet?

2009-05-29T14:48:00.000-07:00

I've been having fun - going through photos of masks past. This one is from 2002 and seemed a good fit for a Friday that's arrived on the heels of summer. I used to do a lot more harlequins, and I still do make a few small ones, but they just aren't as interesting to me anymore. That is probably because I've done just about all I can do with them (for now). At the moment, and for quite some time, nature, nurture and dreams have taken center stage.....

Half Empty or Half Full?

2009-05-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

How we look at things really does matter: it can make the difference between feeling good or bad, ascending or descending, too much or not enough and on and on and on. When I look around and see my life as half full, there is hope. In those darker moments, when I see it as half empty, I question my very existence. At this point, the choice becomes clear: half full is enough...

I pierced this mask all over to imply leakage - and this in turn implies that one starts out full.

Bored Game

2009-05-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

The older I get, the less time I have for games. This mask is a manifestation of my lack of tolerance and a not so subtle statement about the nature of games. I know that we're programmed early on to be participants, but there comes a moment when you or I must say: Enough, already! I've reached that point and now must decide how to live the rest of my life.....

Glaze test Friday - 3

2009-05-22T14:02:00.000-07:00

And so, it's Friday again and I thought I'd post a couple of tests from this week. Tests are about all I've been doing lately, but next week I must get serious about starting some full size pieces.

Inspiration

2009-05-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

I think of inspiration as something that is always there, hovering just outside of consciousness. All that I need to do to reach it is to relax and let it settle in place. For, isn't it everywhere? And if it is (as I believe it is), then one must only have a receptive mind to find it. Then, of course, what we do with that which is always there is another story - and one that I will need to address very soon....

Out of the Woodwork

2009-05-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

I've done many pieces with a face either emerging or blending in with a tree. I use the tree as a symbol for many things, including growth, hiding, vulnerability, strength and solidity. Here it is meant as a metaphor suggesting emergence - or shedding the exterior force that holds one back.

And so, here I sit....waiting for the branches and the bark to fall in a heap all around me....

Where Do We Go From Here?

2009-05-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

This is the follow up piece to "Which Came First?" (shown a few days ago) and it too poses a question. Once we're here, then what??? So many choices, so many directions are possible - but what happens when you arrive at a crossroad? I'm asking these questions now because it's where I find myself and I'm puzzling through a load of options. I love making and sharing the masks, but it feels as if I'm working inside a vacuum: I've been sucked up and everything is whirling around inside. It must be time to empty the bag, but I'm not quite sure how to do that.

Yes, it's a difficult time, but I'm certain that it will pass - and soon, I hope......

The Center of the Universe

2009-05-14T15:11:00.000-07:00

Aren't we each the center of our own special universe? If not, it seems like we should be! Of course, that doesn't mean that others don't matter or aren't important - it's just that we need to recognize our own uniqueness. If we can value ourselves for what we are, then it seems that we might be more likely to appreciate the special qualities of others....

This mask is a very early piece - probably nine or ten years old. Heck, it's not even a teenager yet!

Half Wit, Half What....

2009-05-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the "Fool" this week - guess I'm in a foolish mood! Last week, I re-viewed the Kurosawa film "Ran". There's a wonderful fool in that picture: he's always at the King's side and often makes cutting, witty remarks that warrant him needing to be quick to dodge the whacks. A loveable and yet painfully honest fellow. That's how I like to think of my own inner fool - but without the whacks.....

Fool's Paradise

2009-05-12T13:15:00.000-07:00

I borrowed some imagery in this piece! If you couldn't tell, it's from Rousseau and his wonderful primitive gardens. For this mask and the series of pieces that followed, I sculpted and carved the original face, then made a mold to create others. Especially when there is intricate carving done, a mold can be quite useful and time saving! This particular mask was cast with earthenware slip, sculpted upon and then bisque fired. I used underglazes to color the different areas - then gave it a final firing. The finishing is with pencils.

There have been many fools created in my studio and perhaps I am the biggest fool of all. But, seriously, I enjoy making them for they are (for me) symbolic of everything lighthearted and of the kind of wisdom that exists in simplicity.....

Glaze test Friday - 2

2009-05-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

Here are two more recent glaze tests. In a way, they cancel each other out, but I can't ever seem to show (or make) a devilish piece without some sort of balance. The sweeter mask is named "A Watchful Eye" and its task is to keep an eye on "In Sheep's Clothing"......

I find myself somewhere in between the two!

Which Came First?

2009-05-07T13:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a mask from my "archives" - meaning it's another blast from the past! It marks a beginning of my egg pieces and nearly the end of my work with lowfire, earthenware clay. I'm still using the egg as a symbol but have abandoned the earthenware in favor of stoneware, sculpture and porcelain clays.

The eternal question that this mask asks is eternally puzzling to me: not so much because it's a question that can't be answered, but because I wonder why we ask it...

Carried Away

2009-05-05T13:37:00.000-07:00

I just got "carried away" with this piece and had a bit of fun. No great message or deep meaning here, just a comment on how important it is to let oneself go sometimes. I'm guilty of being far too serious most of the time so, occasionally, I take off that mask and wear the more frivolous one. I grant myself permission because I know that balance is a good thing.....

Lightheaded

2009-05-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

When I was a child, my mother was always telling me that I would "lose my head if it wasn't screwed on". I don't remember being especially prone to losing things.......perhaps she was warning me of what was to come! At this point in my life, losing and forgetting are daily tests - and I'm on my way to school naked and unprepared. Lightheaded is my version of keeping my head where it belongs, even if it is a bit emptier than it should be.....

Glaze test Friday

2009-05-01T13:44:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd show some of my glaze tests today. I use these to test my engobes and glazes and to try out different ideas. I don't always make bigger pieces based on these, but often I get new directions from the results. These little guys are some of the latest out of the studio and I'm thinking of making this a regular Friday feature. Yes, I've got a lot in the works!

They do have names also:

top - A Rosy Outlook

middle - Bewitched and Bewildered

bottom - Simon Says...

Till Monday, adieu....

Fallen Angels

2009-04-30T13:43:00.000-07:00

I love to draw leaves and on this mask I went a little crazy! Autumn is my favorite season with leaves falling all around in a gentle hurricane: reminding me of cycles and renewal. The leaves make me think of falling angels touching us on the way down and softening the path ahead...

Back to Nature

2009-04-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

Before beginning this mask, I was thinking about how weeds grow through cracks in the sidewalk and how tree roots can lift the foundation of a house. Nature is a force that doesn't seem to be deterred by all our man made structures. Of course, it is continually restrained and restricted, but eventually (if left alone) it will overtake all. I like the idea of nature being the winner in this scenario....

Face Mask

2009-04-28T13:57:00.000-07:00

This mask seems like a timely additon to my blog collection - face masks are big news right now! However, I wasn't thinking about disease prevention when I made this piece. For me, face coverings and veils suggest hiding something or protection from others. And this mask is meant to be a metaphor for vulnerability. Would that it were so simple to protect oneself!

I've been working steadily in the studio but finding it difficult to start anything new. It's not that I don't have ideas, but something is holding me back!? It might have to do with a lack of pressure.....

Midas Touch

2009-04-23T13:25:00.000-07:00

This mask is based on the mythical King Midas and carries the message that we should be careful what we wish for: yet another theme I'm fond of using. I try to be content with my life and who I am, but can't help but think what if? What if...... and of course, that lead to wishing. I sure wish I wouldn't do that!

This is an older piece and I'm sure I had a reason for the coin on top of the head - but I can't remember exactly why I put it there. It probably has something to do with mechanical functions and automatic responses.....

Coming in For a Landing

2009-04-22T14:08:00.000-07:00

This mask resided for quite a while on the homepage of my website - until finally being replaced by the "Blue Queen". The only thing that the two have in common, besides my own favoritism, is their "crowns".

Coming in For a Landing was the beginning of Birdgirl in mask form. As you probably already know, Birdgirl is one of my alter egos and I use her to express many of the emotions and questions I have. This piece is a bit sad, I know: her twig crown has lost its leaves and become tears. Although the leaves cannot be replaced, they can fall to earth to be reborn while Birdgirl continues on her way....

Beginnings

2009-04-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

Here's another piece about growth and beginnings. I think of the mind as fertile ground for all the seeds that have been planted. In this mask, the ideas have taken a physical form - a fitting metaphor for the mask itself. What remains to be seen is the fully realized idea.....and what it becomes is not as important as the process.

Back to the studio to contemplate some new beginnings!

Faded Beauty

2009-04-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

Here's the follow up piece to "American Beauty", done about two years after. In this mask, the rose has lost some petals....and will continue to lose them. It seems an obvious message, and yet as the rose fades there is still the opportunity to bask in the sun and enjoy its warmth till dark fall.

This is one theme that I probably won't continue - for what is left but a pile of petals? That's a little too close to the dark side for me. And although I can't deny its presence, I don't care to focus on it......

American Beauty

2009-04-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

Since the roses in my yard are either blooming or soon to bloom, I thought it was time to bring out this tribute to roses mask from 2003. I happen to think that people and roses have a lot in common - at least metaphorically: I'm thinking specifically of the stages of growth unfolding in their own time and season. A fully open rose seems symbolic of all that is at its peak, both lovely and fragile. It seems a shame to cut them....

Just a Drop in the Bucket

2009-04-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel so small. When I consider how big the world is, how many people there are and how much wonderful art has been created (among other things), my own insignificance whacks me upside the head. We're all just small drops in a very large bucket. When the bucket becomes full, the hand of fate tips it to allow so many more drops.

So many tests in the works this week. I may show some here soon - if all goes well!

In a Blind

2009-04-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

With this mask, I'm using the "Hunter" as metaphor. Hunters establish a blind so as to be invisible to their prey, but this hunter is using it as a means of blending in to an uncaring world. Perhaps by keeping our true selves hidden, we will be more able to hunt the elusive enlightenment that beckons from the edge of the forest.

Hidden Resources

2009-04-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

I've been relying heavily on masks from the past lately - they are becoming my not so hidden resource! This mask is one of my earliest hinged pieces and I can still remember the agonies of construction: the pieces never seem to fit together in seemingly obvious ways.

The idea behind this mask is one of inspiration. Where does it come from anyway? For me, the little head inside represents that inner voice we all possess. One can close it up behind the mental doors, or let it out to whisper in our ears. Forever listening to the inner voice is a bit like leaving Pandora's box open.....

Second Sight

2009-04-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

Possessing second sight is supposed to be about having the ability to foresee the future. I've given this mask extra powers with a little help from two more sets of eyes! The background of the main face is meant to be a table cloth or other everyday kind of fabric that is so familiar, we barely notice it. This puts the focus on the windows of the soul and the magic that can be revealed behind them.

I'm not sure if I fully believe in the idea of prophetic vision, but I like to think we're capable of more than what is commonly accepted.

Strategy

2009-04-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

Is having some sort of strategy a good thing? I'm not so sure about that! Seems to me that the word implies games and winning. And if it is applied to a life....what a sorry state. Of course, it's nice to feel the winner sometimes, but if life is a game then there must also be losers.

While making this mask, I was definitely thinking of the corporate world (in which I worked for a few years a very long time ago). I consider myself quite fortunate to have escaped! So, does that make me the winner????

Palindrome

2009-04-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

I've always enjoyed word games and palindromes. That is what led me to this piece: the challenge of creating a visual palindrome! Actually, this was one of the easier challenges I've given myself and the mask dictated in which direction it wanted to go. The harlequin element had to be included - perhaps to suggest the folly of such an idea, but more likely to emphasize the mirror image. It's hard to say why my subconscious moves one way or the other.

Most of my work begins with this type of challenge. It is then given over to a myriad of subconscious ramblings until my hands finally connect with my brain. Whew.....

Waiting in the Wings

2009-04-07T15:52:00.000-07:00

I recently found this idiomatic definition of the title: If someone is waiting in the wings, they are in the background, but nearby, ready to act on short notice. I feel, sometimes, like that is how I spend a lot of my life - ever waiting and ever ready.....but for what!? I wanted this mask to show a little of the apprehention and anxiety that this condition can create.

I hope someday to come out from behind the wings and use them to better purpose.....

Metamorphosis

2009-04-06T15:29:00.000-07:00

I've done a number of masks that focus on the idea of metaphysical change. This leads me back to opposites time and time again. And when thinking of opposites, I can't help but feel that it is a circular sort of logic at work in my mind. Thus, colors merge and cause and effect become united.

This is an older piece (from 2002) ... a good one to think about as Winter morphs into Spring and brown turns to green. I sign out today with a quote from Goethe:
"Human life runs its course in the metamorphosis between receiving and giving."

Life is But a Dream

2009-04-03T13:43:00.000-07:00

Isn't it? If I were to have a "theme song", this would be it. This simple childhood song plays on a continuous loop in the back of my mind. Occasionally, I'm confused about whether life is the dream or the dream is life. Either way, it's a fine journey!

I purposely left the boat empty of passengers.....there's room for you to get on board if you like.

And so, it's Friday....not much to say about that.