GOODBYE 2010

It's time to take stock of 2010--our accomplishments and gratitude for another year of life on this beautiful planet.

The shift from 2009 to 2010 was marked by loss and catastrophe for some who are and were dear to me. My friend Jackie was in a terrible accident just before Christmas and is lucky to have survived it. But survive & even flourish is what she has done! And all of those who know her or have been touched by her in some way are amazed at her healing and how well she is doing. Much gratitude for that. My friend Linda became ill at Christmas--was in and out of the hospital & then suddenly died about a month later. The last time I saw her, she was fine. Then suddenly, she was gone. It was a shock, especially because she was so full of life and jokes and fun. She is greatly missed.

In 2010, I went from playing around & experimenting with ceramics again---to showing and selling my pottery at markets, art fairs and my Open Studios. In May, I purchased my own kiln and became a member of Mill Station Ceramics in Sebastopol, where I have a studio space and where I installed my kiln. I joined the Association of Clay and Glass Artists, and am signed up for a jury in late January to be accepted as an exhibiting member, which would greatly increase my options of exhibiting my clay work.

It was a tough year financially---the markets were slow and the outcome of many shows was unpredictable. Open Studios is still the best thing I do and I am grateful for that.

All in all, it was a challenging year, but a very creative year for me with my work. I have made some new friends and connections and I am really happy to be spending so much of my time doing the work I love.

2011 looks like it is going to be a great year! I will be writing about the plans for 2011 soon.

Images: Artichoke platter and bowl set

Butterfly serving bowl

A FEW MORE DAYS......

until Point Reyes Open Studios AND the Holiday Sale and Raffle at Mill Station Ceramics. Whew! I am in the last stages of glazing for a final firing tomorrow before the shows. I also have more work that is ready to be glazed & am hoping to get another firing done before the KPFA Crafts Fair in 2 weeks.

My complete schedule is in the right hand column here if you need an update.

In the meantime, I am sharing a few images from the previous firing that I haven't shown yet.

Happy Thanksgiving!

HOT OUT OF THE KILN

More vases from the "Reversible Vase Series"....and something new---slab built and hand painted cups! We're having fun here....more to come

FRESH PAINT

I just finished these two paintings this week---have been neglecting my painting a bit while I build up my pottery inventory. These are both acrylic on canvas--the top one is "Reclining Buddha with Fallow Deer" and the bottom one is "Four White Pelicans". It felt good to be into the paint again. I love going back & forth between the two mediums of painting and ceramics. Somehow they feed each other in terms of creative energy. Can't explain it very well--but it feels right.

I will be at the Healdsburg Art Festival this Saturday. The show is set up around the square in old Healdsburg and runs from 10 am to 5 pm. Should be a good show. It is a benefit for the Healdsburg Center for the Arts.

Sunday I will be in SF at the Stonestown Farmer's Market--located behind Macy's in the parking lot of the Stonestown Shopping Center off 19th Ave. near Sloat Blvd. The market begins at 9 am and goes to 1 pm. Come check out my new work!

MILL STATION CERAMICS--YESTERDAY'S OPEN HOUSE

My work in the foreground--Heide's work behind mine--that's Heide on the left.

The other side of my area.

Asa's work

More of Asa's work

Jane's work

Jane's work on the right--Asa's work on the left

Heide's work in the foreground--mine in back

Here's a few pics from our recent open house at the clay studio.

Here's What You Missed

For those of you who couldn't make it to this weekend's open studio, here is a quick peek at what you missed.

Labor Day Weekend Open Studio

Even though it's 9pm & I still am not set up for tomorrow's open studio--here is a little preview of new stuff you will see if you attend, and a reminder that I am open Sat & Sun from 11 to 5.

(And thanks for the nudge--you know who you are )

JULY FLIES BY

Above images: 2 bowls from my last glaze firing

I have been so busy I have not had time to catch up here on the blog. I have been showing some work at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts and that show is (already!) coming down on Monday Aug. 2. I have also been at the Grand Lake Market in Oakland a few times, and at the Stonestown market and the San Rafael Civic Center market as well.

I have several paintings working--all at different stages. And I am about to do another bisque firing with my ceramics. I am experimenting with a new kind of clay, which I am planning on using slips and oxides on, and am very excited to work with that again.

I will be doing markets through August, and then September is going to be a wild and mixed up kind of month. Here's the lineup:

*Sat & Sun Sept 4 & 5 (Labor Day Weekend) I will be doing an OPEN STUDIO at my studio here in Point Reyes which is in the Greenbridge Gas Station building. Hours are 11am to 5pm.

*Sat Sept 11 We are having an OPEN HOUSE at the ceramics studio--MILL STATION CERAMICS at 9878 Mill Station Rd (near Occidental Rd) Hours will be 3pm to 6pm. We have 4 members--all with different styles and processes.

* Sat Sept. 18 I will be at the Benicia Fine Arts Fair on 1st St. in downtown Benicia. This is a great show. Hours are from 10am to 4pm

*Sat Sept. 25 I will be at the Healdsburg Art Festival on the Square in Healdsburg. Hours are 10am to 6pm.

I also will be at Stonestown market and the San Rafael Civic Center market if I have enough energy.

And last but not least--Rainbow Grocery on Folsom St. in SF is carrying my cards & magnets again and has pledged to continue carrying them--so stop in and buy a card so they know I'm wanted! (Smile)

2 New Paintings

I was able to finish these before the Live Oak Park Fair last weekend. Both are acrylic on canvas and 11" x 14". The top images is "Two Plum Trees" and the bottom one is "Baby Owl".

The "Baby Owl" painting was sold at Live Oak Park Fair.

LIVE OAK PARK FAIR

Berkeley's 40th Annual

Live Oak Park Fair

1301 Shattuck Ave.

Sat & Sun June 12 & 13

10 am to 6 pm

This is one of my favorite fairs--I have been doing it now for about 4 years. The setting is lovely--quality of the work presented is excellent, and it is a pleasant and mellow event. I will be showing original paintings, giclee prints, cards and magnets. If you are in the Bay area, check it out. And it is only a couple of blocks away from some great Berkeley restaurants Come & enjoy!

POINT REYES OPEN STUDIOS

POINT REYES OPEN STUDIOS is this weekend--MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND--from Sat. thru Mon. 11 am to 5 pm each day. I have been working on the publicity committee and we have been doing everything we can to make this a successful event. And it looks like the weather is going to co-operate as well! We have 17 artists participating in many different mediums. It's a great event and a really fun weekend. We get all kinds of accolades for the quality of the work and of the event itself. So come to Point Reyes this weekend and enjoy!

I just finished firing some ceramic pieces that I will have on display. Above is a preview.

Pictured:

Quail Tile

Pomegranate Tile

Poppy Bowl

Pair of Pears Plate

Bunny with Veggies Serving Platter

All my ceramics are food safe and fired to cone 5. The clay I used for these pieces is Hawaiian Red.

BRANCHING OUT

Mill Station Ceramics Studio in Sebastopol

Making Tiles with Press Molds

My front porch studio in Pt. Reyes Station

8 Tiles in wet clay

Closeup of Quail Tile

Closeup of Pear Tile

A big THANKS to Laurie Curtis for the photos of me working on the porch

So much is happening I can barely keep up. With my changing situation regarding doing ceramics (no place to fire) I have spent a lot of time looking for something that will work and allow me to continue in clay. (I'm just really getting back into the swing of it--and loving it) I tried using a firing service and didn't have a good experience so I have decided to bite the bullet and take advantage of an opportunity that came my way.

I just joined up with a co-operative studio space in Sebastopol called Mill Station Ceramics Studio. We currently have four artists involved and are undergoing a reorganization, since several people left & there are 2 of us new people. I will reveal more in a later post.

And--most exciting for me--I have bought my own kiln and it is being hooked up at the studio this weekend---so no more problems for me getting things fired!

Another thing I have been working on is tiles and making molds. I am working out the process and have made 4 pretty successful molds and now have 8 tiles in wet clay that are drying and hopefully will be part of my first bisque firing in the new kiln!