Work in progress- Reaching for a title....

Sometimes the first glaze firing is pretty good.  I think it needs more...but I always do. :)  These pieces seem so dark I thought a lighter title might help.  The other option is Waving Not Drowning which is also a poem by Stevie Smith. http://www.artofeurope.com/smith/smi1.htm (thanks to Emily Santiago for the poem reference) I am thinking about what the third piece will be.   I like to work in series of 3.  Life perservers, tornados, and ?

New work

I painted their fingernails today. The hands on this piece all belong to women.

Work in progress-Another firing

This is firing number .... well let's not talk about it too much. :) I like the surface. Just trying to decide if the hands need something more.  I was thinking of putting nail polish on the finger nails to let folks know these are women.

Inspiration- Oyster Dress

 I have to say that this blows my mind. It is so incredibly beautiful and inspiring.  Check out the MET link for the details. I took down the pic to because of the copy write. I highly recommend clicking on this link.
http://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/oyster-dress-irere/

Work in Progress- Glazing

Glazing can be fun but it can also be brutal.  This was brutal.  Sometimes putting off making a decision bites you in the ass later.  You would think making the red strips would not be a big deal but it was. I have already fired this once.  We will see how many times it goes into the kiln.  My guess is many. :)

Process-Tests, tests, and more tests

Now I am trying out some different formats. On the larger one I did inlay with the lines. You can't see it yet, but you will once I get it fired.  I think the little Yemen is quite cute. It really needs a texture makeover.  It can happen now that I am done with my sillybus for tomorrows class. Yea!

Working it out- Birthing a new idea

Tunisia

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

 If you have been following my blog you might remember the World Mapper images I posted a while back.  I printed maps of several of the countries struggling for regime change and have had them hanging in my studio.  I have been thinking about how to develop this body of work.  I enlarged them and did tracings to help me understand the lines. (Strange I know, but it works for me.) I see abstracted butterflies and insects. I am going to start researching cocoons and see where that takes me. 

Work in progress-Pink melting glaciers

I am not sure about this one.  It sort of feels finished and is a companion piece to be shown with the green one I did a while back.  Sometimes I have to sit with them a while and see if they are finished. I was hoping for a more sparkly pink and this is what happened.  I might put a coat of pearl luster over it.  I am not sure yet.  

Bug of the Week- Da Bee

I went a bit crazy with the bee drawings.  It has been a bee filled week. After the swarm at my studio Tom and I saw a swarm in the Castro on 18th Street. People had to stop and wait for them to be on their way. I have never had so much bee action in my life.  I even drew one when I was drunk.  Too fun!

Work in progress

Today was a good studio day. Juan was working too. I am having fun with the porcelain.  I am down to my last bag of Southern Ice.   I love mucking around with slip.  I was covered with it in about 2 seconds.  I think the wet work is done on this one.

Bug of the week- Da Fly

I was slightly grossed out while I drew this.  I think it was the tongue and all of the little hairs that pushed me over the edge.

Inspiration- Group insect movements and the shapes they create

Night vision image of Monarch Butterflies

A few days ago a swarm of bees flew over the massive roof of my studio building and parked themselves in the vents above one of the live-work spaces.  My studio is in North Oakland at Alcatraz and Sacramento. Not exactly a rural spot.  This made me start thinking about the shapes groups of animals or insects make when they travel or move into new homes.  For some reason it is easier for me to research these forms thinking of bees and butterflies. The mass movement of humans gives me pause.

New work in progress

This one is finally moving along.  I had to let all the rings get to the same level of dryness.  Fingers crossed it stays standing up over night.  I have some props strategically placed just in case.  I think that the recent tornados have entered my subconscious. It was so much fun to add the texture.  I hope it gives it some swirling motion.  Tomorrow I sort out the inside.