Saturday, October 22, 2011

One by One


Just finished this tile of a sheep which is about 10 x 10 inches. I applied multiple layers of slip for the wool. I might darken the nose a little. Following is the poem, Sheep, by Carl Sandburg:

Thousands of sheep, soft-footed, black-nosed sheep — one by one going up the hill and over the fence — one by one four-footed pattering up and over— one by one wiggling their stub tails as they take the short jump and go over — one by one silently unless for the multitudinous drumming of their hoofs as they move on and go over — thousands and thousands of them in the grey haze of evening just after sundown — one by one slanting in a long line to pass over the hill —

I am the slow, long-legged Sleepyman and I love you sheep in Persia, California, Argentine, Australia, or Spain — you are the thoughts that help me when I, the Sleepyman, lay my hands on the eyelids of the children of the world at eight o’clock every night — you thousands and thousands of sheep in a procession of dusk making an endless multitudinous drumming on the hills with your hoofs.



When I told Gary I signed up to have a booth at the Greek festival and asked if he'd help me. He said sure, they have great Greek beer. Part of my heritage is Greek on my mother's side, perhaps that's why I love the seafood and the seashore so much. Sadly my mother didn't share much about Greece with us; so I try to absorb some when I have the opportunity. I've been working on the tile above post firing; I might change his hair to white. Gary said he looks like a fisherman; I think he might be a Greek fisherman.


Next week I'll have a booth at the Greek Festival at Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Lecanto on Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday 11 am to 3 pm, that's October 27 through the 30th. Gary will be there to help out since it's such a long show. I'll have my wall sculptures, tiles, and functional pottery too. If you're in the area, please stop by and say hi. We highly recommend this festival which has excellent and authentic Greek food, music and dancing. Stay away from the ouzo till the end of the day. Ha. Just turned on the kiln for another firing. This post is part of show and tell Saturday for Artists in Blogland. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

21 comments:

  1. Could well be a Greek fisherman. Just finished reading a book based on the island of Lethe. Not sure if this is a fictional place but about a family who migrate from Greece to the island off the USA. Good luck with your booth.

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  2. Love the poem! I have a soft spot for sheep as my grandfather raised them. And, yes, your tile looks like a Greek fisherman. You seem to be having a good time there, creating. When do you sleep? :)

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  3. Hi Anna, thanks, oh I'll have to look that book up, a fisherman story would be a pleasure to read. I hope the festival goers like pottery. Ha.

    Hi Teresa, thanks, sheep seem such a symbol of innocence I have always been drawn to them and they provide such a nice item of wool for clothing without being killed for it. I went to bed at 10 pm and amazingly fell promptly asleep and woke up at 3 am. Already had the post typed so just posted it. I usually only need 6 hours of sleep a night so last night was only one hour short. ha.

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  4. That's funny - I was thinking the same thing Teresa was - wondering when you sleep :)

    The use of the purple in the fisherman is really nice. Love the sheep, but I'm predictable that way - biased toward the animal imagery :)

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  5. Hi Linda! Thanks so much for checking out burntnormal. I love your work--especially the animal/people tiles...So colourful, expressive, joyful. Nice to meet you!
    Yolande

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  6. I thought your awesome sheep was made of fiber at first glance. Great JOB! And don't you live near Tarpon Springs?!? Greekville. :)

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  7. love the texture you've captured with the sheep! and the poem is perfect.

    the greek festival sounds like lots of fun-- greek beer and all! enjoy!

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  8. There is a Greek Festival in Honolulu every year. Some day, I hope to beat the crowd, find parking nearby, and attend the festival. Lots of Greek food and dancing there!

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  9. The sea water border on your page really compliments your pottery. It just gets better and better!

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  10. Good luck at the booth! I also thought that sheep was made up out of fibers. Lovely!
    manonX

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  11. Very cool...love your art! Wishing you the best of luck with the festival! POP ART MINIS

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  12. The sheep tile has great texture xx

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  13. Stopping by from Artists in Blogland, come by for a visit!
    http://georgie-hornpuddinnpie.blogspot.com/2011/10/your-chance-to-win-dont-miss-this.html

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  14. Linda, Love your tiles and the information about your Greek heritage. I sent information about the Artists in Blogland to Becky's Blog and hope that she is interested. A terrific concept!

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  15. Wow!! This sheep is awesome!!

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  16. Hi Linda,
    I really like your sheep tile! Check out the very first post on my blog. You'll find some photos there of my vacation on Crete. On one of them you will see how I got caught up in the middle of a flock of sheep!!
    Have a nice sunday!

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  17. These tiles are fabulous! I esspecially love the sheep one. :)

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  18. Wow, great pieces. Have fun at the show, I'm sure you'll do great.

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  19. Hi Barbara, thanks, I guess I'm lucky not needing as much sleep as anyone else. I read that there are a few people who only need less than 7 or 8 hours and I must be one of them. I think the animals have their own personalities and I hope to capture a bit of that with these.

    Hi Yolande, thanks, glad you feel the joy, the world needs joy as times are tough for too many.

    Hi Bohemiannie, thanks, I am glad to hear you thought the sheep was made of fiber because I was trying to make his wool look real and I think fiber would surely be more realistic than liquid or fired clay.

    Hi Mollygirl, thanks, I hope the texture stays this way after firing; can't wait for the Greek festival - it really is a lot of fun.

    Hi Gigi, thanks, do try and get there early in Honolulu, most festivals Gary and I usually get there early and it's much more enjoyable for us too because we don't normally like the crowds either except when I am selling pottery that is - then crowds are a good thing. Ha.

    Hi Ms Sparrow, thanks, I can't take credit for that border as it is one that blogger provides, but I did choose it because it reminds me of the gulf waters so close to us and it looks so realistic.

    Hi Manon, thanks, so glad you thought it was fiber, I tried to use soft colors to imply the appearance of real wool.

    Hi Joni, thanks, I hope my pottery is well received at the festival.

    Hi Tracey, thanks, I am getting braver with my texturing techniques.

    Hi Georgie, thanks for stopping by I'll check out your blog too.

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  20. Hi Kate, thanks so much, yes let Becky know about the artists in blogland. I can't even remember how I found out about it but it is fun.

    Hi Blackpumpking, thanks so much, hope he turns out after firing.

    Hi Dorien, thanks, oh that vacation was wonderful, perhaps one day I will get a chance to go there; I loved the sheep and the potteries and handicrafts.

    Hi Natasha, thanks, I may have to do more sheep, sometimes these guys get lonesome. Ha.

    Hi Kathryn, thanks so much, hope it doesn't rain that weekend.

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  21. Oh Bohemian Annie I do live fairly close to Tarpon Springs and try to go there when I can.

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment