Driftless Magazine

HEY.  I am SO excited to post about this project that I got involved with a few months back.  I lived in Cleveland for over 4 years while I went to school at the Cleveland Institute of Art and I really fell in love with the midwest.  It's in my blood you see, as both my parents grew up in Michigan.  So when I saw that the wonderfully Miss Shelly from Vegetarian Ventures was putting together a magazine all about the midwest I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it.  And so I wrote a guide to the Cleveland gallery scene and I am honored to have that article represented in the first issue of Driftless.

But Driftless needs your help!  Please check out their indigogo page so that we can raise the funds for the first printing of this amazing new publication.

Looks beautiful right!? I can't wait to see the final product.

Progress/Process

Hey all.  I wanted to share with you some of my process in creating my ceramic sculptures.  

But first I wanted to update you on my studio progress.  Check it out!  I can hardly believe how dark, dirty, and gross (I know I keep saying this) this studio was when I first began tackling it.  Now it is a bright, mostly clean, mostly uncluttered space.  There is still much that I plan to do.  We want to paint the styrofoam and the peg boards that aren't already white and most likely add some more shelving or storage.  But most importantly, I have my kilns hooked up and I've just finished my first bisque and I have my first glaze firing up as I type!  

So on to process.  Currently I've been making these three dimensional letters that will eventually spell out stuff at my upcoming show (September!!).  The first step is that I build the letters from slabs (using templates I made ahead of time) and let them get bone dry.

 Then I take little ink drawings I've done from many sources.  These are from photographs I took while in Paris last September.  

And I etch the drawings into the surface of the letters.

 Then I fill in the grooves with black slip.  It doesn't matter how messy I am in this step.

The final step is to scrape away the top layer of clay and slip surrounding the drawings.  This only leaves the slip that ended up in the grooves! 

Ta-da!  Cool drawing-on-clay technique.  

Studio Reality

In case you were wondering, I'm still obsessing over these garlands I've been making.

Also in case you were wondering, my dark, scary, dirty, floor-less shed became a studio in the last few weeks.  The floor got replaced, painted sage green, and I set up my throwing station and got to work!  Most importantly, I finally found and purchased the perfect used kiln!  My electrician should be coming any day now to hook everything up and replace the lighting in the space.  I know I've been really scarce with the blogging lately but I promise when these last changes occur I will post bountiful pictures!  Also to come... in progress pictures of my new body of work!

The Salty Platypus

 

I'm so excited to post about this new shop that I am a part of!  Dana is from Greensboro, NC and she has such a creative vision and talent for photography, marketing, and web design.  I am so flattered that she wanted me to be a part of the Salty Platypus.  Collection One went live today!  Check out the Salty way to shop!! The items I have featured in Collection One are actually pieces I made for my senior thesis show at the Cleveland Institute of Art.  They are cone 10 porcelain with a shiny white glaze and real gold lustre.

Pom Pom Garlands

My newest obsession is pom pom garlands. I honestly can't believe I never learned how to make them sooner but now I can't get enough!

Trip to Asheville and studio floor

Mom and I took a quick one night trip to Asheville last weekend. We went to Highwater to grab some kiln furniture and hit most of the museums, galleries, and studios in the area. Our lodge was so nice. The view was incredible and it was so peaceful.

Also check out my work in progress floor in my studio. Eegads kind of scary! I still can't believe that soon I'll have my very own ceramics studio. I get more excited every day.

Studio update and Spring (might be here)

Can you guys tell?? Progress has so been made. I've mostly been on cleaning duty because that shed is shock full of scary mold and dead bugs. Also our handy man put in a drainage system this week in front of the door so that water will no longer rush in when it rains... Causing the aforementioned mold. I'm starting to search for kilns, flooring solutions and more storage. Meeting with the handyman tomorrow to discuss steps for the kiln pad!

Also Dolly's is full of fun spring prints and some really cute new greeting cards, from Brooklyn of course.