Something "appealing" to the sense of smell was today's task. Certainly not an appealing smell, but it was the first thing that came to mind when the sense of smell was mentioned! A couple of years ago we had a little skunk family that took up residence in our detached (thank goodness) garage. They couldn't have been cuter! We watched them parade in and out every evening until they moved on. So this pen and ink drawing is a tribute to the "summer of the skunks."

Paint chips

 The assignment was to make something from paint chips. Cut paper is always fun and gives crisp results. Ho hum.

New Pottery





 As many of you know, I have been obsessed with my wheel-thrown pottery class for the last 6 weeks. I have really enjoyed learning some new skills at the wheel and trying out some decorative finishes and glazes. I'm pretty pleased with the progress and am very impressed with the teaching at Access Arts. In May there will be a Raku firing that I'm signed up to take part in - very exciting! So, here are my "products," some turned out better than others, but I figure that as long as I'm improving, it's all good.  Someday I hope to throw some really tall pieces!

Fruit bowl

Flower Pot



Pitcher

 I still can't get these photos to go where I want! I think you can figure out what they are without titles.

 

 

 



My Pottery Family



 The suggestion was to ask someone else to tell you what to make today. Rebecca (7) was visiting, so I ask her. She wanted to use the light table to "trace a picture." So I traced a picture of my dad playing his guitar. Rebecca found a photo of me and traced it. She added color. I notice I have quite a few wrinkles!
She is very observant, notice the curls in my hair.

Finger painting

 Today I got to do something you would do as a child, so of course, I chose fingerpainting! I'm ready for some more serious artistic endeavors, although these are a lot of fun and aren't time consuming. That's a good thing because I have been compulsive about pottery for the last 5 weeks. I have all but three "results" back and will post pictures soon - not professional by any means, but I have improved a bit.

 This was a weird one - the assignment was to make something out of bread or toast. I used the bread machine to make some whole wheat dough. I shaped it into a profile face that was supposed to look like a March wind. Somehow the eyebrow kind of looks like an eye after the bread rose. That leaves the eye and the cheek looking rather strange. It tasted very good, however, so all is not lost.

Juggler

The assignment was to "have a ball." I combined that with another assignment "to work with mistakes or accidents." Almost all the work I really like is accidental! I usually clean off my extra paint when I finish and slap it on to small canvases. Some of these "grow" eventually into something likable. So this is how "Juggler" was born. I enhanced the clown figure juggling balls of different sizes. I like this happy little piece. It has lots of texture, some printed and some etched. He isn't a particularly happy clown; I imagine him juggling his emotions - happy and sad - as they come his way. 

Steam drawing

 Well this turned out to be a lot of fun! The assignment was to draw on a foggy mirror or glass and photograph it. The results were not too impressive as the fog wouldn't stay put long enough to draw much. But messing with the photos turned out to be interesting! The first is a cinemascope version of the drawing turned on its side. The second is a heat sensor photo. The Blue one is just reversed colors and the purple is neon effect. This isn't very artistic on my part but it sure makes some nice abstract images.

Blue

 Here are the three pieces I did for the "Blue" show at CAL. I can only take two. The first is called, "Juggler." Sort of a comment on how we handle our emotions - a mix of happy and sad. The third is, "Solitude," and cold, icy landscape that in its own way is very peaceful. We'll see how it goes with the jury!

T shirt scarf

 Today's assignment was to make something new out of an old T-shirt. It did not necessarily have to be wearable and you get extra points if you buy your materials from a thrift shop and then take the item back. I volunteer each month at The Wardrobe, so I found this like-new purple T-shirt for a dollar. The scarf is made by cutting 1" strips which are braided, looped and fringed. The edges of the strips roll in when you stretch them. I braided about halfway and looped the cut sections in an appropriate length, leaving the loose ends for fringe. Don't worry, everyone is not getting these next Christmas!

Dinner Napkin folding

 

Major no-brainer on my part for this assignment to "do something creative with a dinner napkin." I guess I wasn't in the mood to be that creative and really stretch the imagination! Just a pretty napkin on a pretty plate. 

This assignment was to use found objects to arrange - The top and bottom pictures are of a curious knot of gnarled driftwood. The middle is some deer bones that were dragged into our yard and a piece of netting from a produce sack. I like found objects, but don't see a lot of future in making art out of them.  

 

Clay is dirt

 Yesterday's directions were to make something out of dirt. Since clay is dirt, this pot is my product from using dirt (plus a few chemicals and silica.) I have been obsessed by my pottery class the last month! I have learned a lot about wheel thrown pottery and as always, enjoy the decorating part. I have lots of nifty items waiting to be glazed, so you'll be seeing more in the future!