From the Ground Up

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.

Drifting Off....

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".

Misbehaving

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.

Identity Crisis

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.

Birdbrain

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

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

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....

You Can't Judge a Book....

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.

Hiding Among the Fallen

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)

Outside the Box

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

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

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

Daydream in the Treehouse

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......

Self Analysis

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....

I Dreamed I Could Fly

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.....

Curiouser and Curiouser...

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

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.....

Are We Having Fun Yet?

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.....

Glaze test Friday - 3

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

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....