New Year, New Stuff, New Events!

So it's been far too long since I have done an update, so tonight's the night! I am working on some new pieces that I will have on ETSY in time for Valentine's Day. Delivering some new work for Crow Valley Pottery up on Orca's Island. I am currently selling work in a pop up gallery created by Local 14 artists called The Art Spot. The Art Spot will be hosting a special Valentine's Day event on Sunday February 12th called 'Give Your Love Local'. There will be bins for food donations to the Oregon Food Bank and a variety of the local businesses in downtown LO will be participating in this event. There will be specials at all the participating businesses as well. And, to top it all off, I will be having a one day sale at Dirty Dishes on Alberta on Sunday February 12th from 12-5. So hopefully I will be able to see some familiar faces at any one of these places/events!

Mudshark Opening Night

Thanks to all who came out Friday night to start our show off with a bang! It was great to see so many old friends and to make some new friends. Tell all your friends about it!

Mudshark Studio Holiday Show

It's about that time of year folks, when artists emerge crazy eyed from their studios ready to share with the world what they have been slaving away at for weeks! I am no exception. Since I do not have a private studio anymore, I have teamed up with some friends (and some strangers) to have a collective show with Mudshark Studios. There will be 21 of us in all showing off our goods. Lots of different pottery styles, some paintings, some metal sculptures and some ceramic sculptures as well. I would love to see as many familiar faces as I can (and maybe bring some less than familiar faces with you!) so hopefully you can make it to one of two weekends. Best selection will be on the first weekend, of course, so get there early! Also on both Fridays of the show, we will have live music, food and free beer! Cheers!

Out of the Fire: A Special Show of Ceramic Art

So I have a show coming up next week at the Doll Gardner Gallery in SW Portland! It sounds like a great show since I know I am in good company with some other really great ceramic artists. All the work featured in the show is to be made so that it can hang on the wall--something very different for an all ceramic show! I have some plates that can either be used traditionally or hung on the wall, as well as some of my textured wall pillows. As usual, it will be a down to the wire event for me and that makes for a whirlwind weekend! Wish me luck and I hope that some of you can make it!

Thank You Corvallis!

Just wanted to thank all the wonderful people that braved the weather to come out for the Corvallis Fall Festival! I got a lot of great feedback, made some new contacts and met some really great people. I have to give a shout out to my booth neighbors: Aimee Herring, Jennifer Lommers and Sarah Brown. Aimee is a wonderful ceramic artist that is also going to be showing at Local 14 along with me next weekend. Jennifer Lommers is an amazing painter making beautiful and colorful works of art! Both of these ladies kept Jeremy and I laughing all weekend long. And, I scored some great gifts from 'A House In the Woods' children's clothing by Sarah Brown. If you weren't able to make it, maybe next year!



Remember that the Local 14 Art Show starts this Thursday September 29th and runs through Sunday October 2nd at the Forestry Center in Portland. I hope to see some of you there!!

The Latest and Greatest

So as some of you know, my husband and I recently sold our house. Which of course means that I also lost my studio! Currently I am renting space from a friend in Portland at Mudshark Studios. It's been fun to be in a new environment, and definitely takes some getting used to. There are now lots of people and lots of dogs around me all day, making for plenty of distractions! It has also been a bit chaotic because I have to produce enough work for two upcoming shows. The first is the Corvallis Fall Festival on September 24th and 25th and the second is the Local 14 Art Show running from September 29 through October 2nd. Both are known to be great shows and I am looking forward to them both!

Since I am now a full time studio artist, I have been making a greater effort to document some of my processes. Recently I have been making some butter dishes and here are some pics of that process. Enjoy!

First things first, a slab must be rolled and texture is added by rolling a carved roulette across the surface.



The slabs are then cut, folded and manipulated into the basic shape of the butter dish top. Some extra slab allows for a couple of salt and pepper shakers to be made as well.



Smooth slabs are used to create the bases for all the butter dishes and four square 'feet' need to be cut out and attached to each base.



All of the birdie knobs start out as a solid ball of clay and each one is made by hand, making them all individuals!

Once all the knobs are sculpted, they can be attached to the butter dish tops. The finished product is a flock of birdie butter dishes!

It's Official!

Today was my last day of work at Georgie's Ceramic and Clay Company! I am now a full time artist on the brink of a great adventure. Wish me luck and thank you for all the support that you have already given me on my way to this juncture!