art every day

Wishing Digital Art Every Day 334

My art for the day expands on yesterday's post...and can be found on my blog!

Portrait of Love Digital Art Every Day 333

Thinking of how much I love my family.

 

 

Echinacea Art Every Day 332

You can't tell from these flowers, but it has been face-meltingly hot 'round these parts the past few days.

If only I looked so perky and fresh in this weather!

 

Ceramic Feather Finale Art Every Day 329-331

Feathers finished!

What began as the idea of a peacock has morphed into something else.  Something flowing, lovely, and whimsical.  Exactly what it should be for now.

At it's largest points it is 7.5 feetX 4.5feet.

I'm really pleased with this piece, and have some plans to ammend it so that I can have it outside, make it more site-specific, and generally versatile.  Do you see those shadows in the bottom picture?  LOVE those! 

One of my friends in the class said something the other day that resonated with me.  She was talking about control, or the lack of control when it comes to art.  For four and a half weeks I tried to control the outcome of this piece, and continually felt defeated instead of delighted.  As soon as I STOPPED and just slept on it I was able to come up with an interesting piece of work.

I can't even begin to tell you how helpful my husband was during this...from bringing me lunch, supplies, and encouragement to driving around town helping me pick up the final pieces needed to complete this--the NIGHT BEFORE it was due--and sawing the wood platform, legs and supports at about 10:30 at night (sorry neighbors) in 103 degree weather.  All of this without a complaint.

Love.

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BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!

We--the Large Sculpture in Ceramics class at UMW, Professor and visiting cuban artist Carlos Enrique Prado have been invited to show our work at LibertyTown in August on First Friday!!

When?  5p-9p, Friday August 5, 2011 

Where? LibertyTown

916 Liberty St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

 

Please join us, and bring a friend!

 

 

 

 

A Peacock No More Art Every Day 328

So how long have I been talking about a peacock?  5 weeks, right.  Well, it is a peacock no more. 

Remember that sketch from yesterday's post?  Forgetaboutit.

I have to say 5 weeks is NOT enough time for a sculpture of this size to be fully realized.  Well maybe for a professional, but not me.  But, I am not giving up, I am just going to have to morph these beautiful feathers into something else for the Thursday deadline.

I'm kicking myself for thinking that I would stick to what I decided on DURING THE FIRST WEEK.

I know that's crazy.

That's not how my brain works.

That's not how art is made.

That's not how an artist works.

I move on, I forge ahead; with more thinking, contemplating, trial, and error I will figure this out.

Mandala?

Up a wall?

along the floor?

inside?

outside?

Okay, I am clearing my brain here a bit so I am fresh a little later.  Let me share a sneak peak of what I have been working on today and the last 5 weeks.

Can I just say how scared I was of the glazing process?  When I was putting the oxides on I just couldn't SEE what it was going to look like in the end.  The color that is stroked or sprayed on is NOT THE SAME as what it looks like when it is done firing. 

I had no idea.

After removing the first half from the kiln I was pleasantly surprised, they looked nice.  I was happy with the decision to make each feather different and NOT follow a pattern for the colors.  They are all different and all equally beautiful.

The real magic happened when Carlos and I placed them in a simple formation. 

In this case the whole is greater than the sum of its parts--by and far.  My jaw dropped.  I had made those.  A vision had become more of a reality than I ever thought in my wildest dreams. 

Now, although I am stalled I know I will have a lovely presentation on Thursday, and while it may change over the next few months I will be able to look back at this project and smile.

 

 

 

Peacock Update and Printable Art Every Day 326-327

 326

sooooooo.  This peacock is killing ME!  Okay, not literally, but I am in waaaaaay over my head.  In the end I will prevail (or at least that is what I keep telling myself), but my creative brain is really being stretched right now.  A sketch from last night gives a glimpse into what's going on, although I'm not totally clear myself. 

Wish me luck!

 

 

327

This is card number 16 for my goal of leave 100 art cards that inspire, anonymously from my Stupendous Life List.

This 3X5 card is kinda a reminder to MYSELF!!! more than anything! 

Remember, you are free to print and distribute to friends, family and strangers, but only to brighten their day!

Rough Peacock Sketch Art Every Day 325

I have been trying to figure out how I am going to make/finish the body of my peacock sculpture...open to suggestions!

Printable Inspiration cards Art Every Day 320-324

I can't wait to show you the sculpture I have been spending so much time on!  But, it's not finished...yet.  Soon!

Tomorrow I am glazing the last of the feathers (only 12 left to do) and loading all of them in the kiln for firing, I really hope they turn out beautiful, but I am a little wary of the oxides and glaze. 

Having never worked in ceramics or glazes they seem unpredictable and hard to envision what they will look like after they are fired!  I am using a combination of mostly copper and cobalt oxides with a very small amount of iron with a translucent glaze, almost clear.   

You should have seen me hovering over clay feathers with a small lung powered sprayer hooked up to a little air-compressor sraying the glaze!  What a hoot, but it was saving me a bunch of time.

Until I am finished you are getting cards number 11-15 for my goal of leave 100 art cards that inspire, anonymously from my Stupendous Life List.

11/100

12/100

13/100

14/100

15/100

WOW!!! So many printable inspiration cards for you to share!  Remember, you are free to print and distribute to friends, family and strangers, but only to brighten their day!

 

 

BMX Awesome-ness Art Every Day 318-319

WOW!

Printable Digital Inspiration Art Every Day 316-317

These are the 9th and 10th cards for my goal of leave 100 art cards that inspire, anonymously from my Stupendous Life List. 

You are welcome to download and print out to leave for a stranger, friend, or anyone else you can think of.

I'm really having fun with these, I hope you are too!

day 316

day 317

 

Sending happy thoughts, creative dreams, and wonderful ideas your way!