art every day

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!

Dan Finnegan Pottery Art Every Day 315

My ceramics class took a little field trip today.  We were lucky enough to visit local artist, Potter Extrordinaire, & Master of the Kiln, Dan Finnegan. 

If you haven't already, Check Dan's work out, simply beautiful.

Dan Finnegan's Website

Dan Finnegan's Blog

LibertyTown Arts Workshop

 

MORE over at my blog, Crafty Dayeseye

 

Adventures in Ceramics Art Every Day 299-310

Have I really been MIA for 2.5 weeks?!!!  I suck!

Man have I been busy!  I am going to skip a few days and let you know what I have been up to Art Every Days 299-311.

I started a new summer session and am taking 2 classes, Digital applications of art (photoshopping techniques) and LARGE SCULPTURE IN CERAMICS.  And he means LARGE.  I am currently working on a 3 foot tall, 9 foot LOOOOOONG peacock. 

I have been spending a minimum of 8 hours a day in the studio, sweating, feeling new muscles, hand building, pounding, wedging and playing in clay.  Not to mention mixing and extruding fresh clay.

I made my first plaster mold!  That was really cool.  My instructor Carlos Enrique Prado, who is visiting from Cuba this summer (and ROCKS!) spent hours working with me to make the mold.  First we made a beautiful piece, I have never worked in ceramics before; he taught me techniques, tricks, and gave me tips all along the way.  Then we made and poured the plaster.  When I came in the next day I had a beautiful plaster mold of a feather for my peacock.

I almost cried.

I had made that with my two hands (and the help of Carlos').

Since then, I have been making feathers..17 inch long, 8 inch wide, 1 inch (or so) thick feathers, 36 to be exact so far.  They are drying right now...that is why I have time to type right now.  Tomorrow I will begin planning the body which will be wire.

Birds have been popping up all around me lately so I thought I would embrace it instead of trying to fight it. I read somewhere that a peacock is “a symbol of integrity and the beauty we can achieve when we endeavor to show our true colors”.

The beauty we can achieve isn’t on the outside, it is on the inside, how we think of ourselves, project ourselves to the world, and embrace others. Every day is a new learning experience for me. Navigating a new campus, new classmates, new professors, and pushing the boundaries I have set for myself…even when I don’t know I set them. I am trying to embrace these things and learn to understand the ‘beauty’ I can achieve through these experiences.

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I still owe you days 294-298 and I promise I'll share 'em!