Saturday, January 31, 2009

True Colors

A visitor at a show once asked me if I was a devil worshipper! I was showing a lot of different works - devils and angels among them. I find it interesting that many viewers will zoom in on the pieces that disturb them the most.

I'm not a devil worshipper, but I do like to point out that there must be two on the teeter-totter or it will just sit there. I'm constantly focusing on opposites and trying to find the right balance in my own mind.

The little imp shown here can't hide its true colors....

Friday, January 30, 2009

In Fool Bloom

Ah, the Fool! What would we do without him or her? I choose to depict the fool not as an object of ridicule, but of wisdom. I believe that there is much to be learned from the fool and that we need only look inside ourselves to find it.

One of the first masks I made was a fool - the piece shown here is one of the latest. I don't think I've come full circle quite yet, so there are sure to be more!

The mask is stoneware with engobes and pencils.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Down the Rabbit Hole

I've always loved Alice and followed her journeys in Wonderland. Even though I'm past the "one pill makes you larger" phase, I'll continue on down the rabbit hole to the game. There are just too many delightful characters to ignore.

This is a small mask - 4 1/2" high x 3 1/2" wide (about the size of a rabbit hole?!). I felt that making it bigger wouldn't have made it better. Small prototypes don't always work as larger pieces and vice versa!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Just a Little Bit Longer...

Don't we all want to stick around just a little bit longer? The title is a reference to one of those old songs that I can't seem to get out of my head. It surfaces now and again with its simple lyrics and repetitive chorus. The message here is that it seems to be those catchy little moments that leave lasting impressions. If only we could choose which moments would affect us so!

This yet another mask from the "leaf" series. It was sculpted with raku clay and the glaze is a mix of raku clear and copper matte. I was pleased at how the combination became mottled.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Getting a Bit Rusty

Here is another of the "flat faces"... this one looks like it has been forgotten somewhere and left to the elements. Although I don't like to admit it, I feel like that when I realize that I'm not getting any younger. Yikes, where did I leave that oil can?

It is a busy time in the studio - I'm just beginning to get out of my winter doldrums and pushing forward like the trees that are bursting to bloom. Working on this blog is getting me motivated to come up with some new stuff - wish me luck!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Parallels of Attitude

I used to slipcast many of my masks and then sculpt on top of the "face blanks". I'm doing less and less of that these days - for the joy of sculpting! This is one of the last cast pieces that I made (about a year ago). At the time, I was also experimenting heavily with raku techniques - especially copper mattes. This mask is the culmination of those efforts.

The title of the piece came as I worked on the glaze combination. I felt that it expressed my own changes of attitude while discovering new methods, and incorporating the best of the old....

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Guardian Angel

I don't really believe in angels, but I know that there is something watching over me. You can call it what you like! I've chosen to express it like this because the angel gives a feeling of protection in a tangible form. I can't always see what I know is there - and to explain, or prove it is impossible.

This fits in with another of my favorite subjects: the balance between good and evil. Over the years I've been exploring this idea, but I'm sorry to say, I don't have any answers.......yet.