Gallery Openings & Mosaic Bowl

Val Tyrrell and her friend Bev stopped by today for short tour of my gallery, Blue Starr Gallery, and my gardens, Springville Lavender Gardens. Val had to rush off for her opening at the Mason House Gallery in Lindsay May 30 through July 4th. Val and David will be exhibiting their horsehair pottery and Chinese brush paintings. Mason House Gallery is located at 147 N Gale Hill Avenue in Lindsay. Normal gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. If you get a chance stop by the gallery. I have seen Val and David's horsehair pottery and it is wonderful. Their Chinese brush paintings are new to me so I look forward to seeing their paintings too.

In addition to horsehair pottery and Chinese brush paintings, Val and David Tyrrell also make ceramic musical instruments. I took a ceramic musical instrument workshop from Val and David a few months ago. The ceramic flute I made in their workshop is on display at the Porterville Art Association Gallery at 152 N. Main in Porterville.


Arts Visalia will feature a solo exhibition of paintings by James Entz from June 4th through June 28th with an opening reception Friday, June 6th from 6 to 8 p.m. Arts Visalia is located at 214 E. Oak Avenue in Visalia. I had a chance to meet James in his studio during the Three Rivers Studio tours in March. The photo on the announcement doesn't do justice to James' vibrant painting, Deep in the Heart, acrylic on wood panel. James has developed a unique process where he applies various layers of acrylic over a long period of time and then carves through the layers to reveal wonderfully colorful patterns. Some of his paintings are a year in the making. This is an exhibit you shouldn't miss.

Today I started my second mosaic bowl, which is about 15 inches in diameter and 6 inches tall. I am using natural stone tile for the mosaic and I've just finished the interior of the bowl. I haven't decided on a rim treatment for the bowl. I will be grouting the turquoise-gem mosaic bowl, (see previous post) and the stone tile bowl in the next couple of days. I've done a trial placement of the copper tubing on the turquoise bowl and I am pleased with that treatment. I look forward to finishing the turquoise bowl and then I'll decide on the finishing touches for the stone mosaic bowl, perhaps leather or driftwood.

Seeing Double & Fingers in Too Many Pies

Yes, you are seeing the same teapot in this post too. I am pleased to report my teapot took another first place in the Porterville Art Association member show. My teapot will be on display at the Porterville Art Studio Gallery at 152 N. Main Street in Porterville for the next couple of months along with a few other of my ceramic pieces. The show also has some wonderful pieces from many local artists, so if you get a chance, plan on visiting the gallery.

The last few weeks I have had my fingers in too many pies. I decided to take a little break from ceramics and I have been doing some organizing, reading, and dabbling in other artistic media. While Spring cleaning I discovered lots of art materials stored in cabinets and closets. I found a pack of canvas board I bought at a local garage sale a while back and I have been working on this mixed media piece, Garden Dream, 9 x 12 inches, for a few days.I found two 15 inch diameter and 5 inch tall ceramic bowls some time ago at a thrift store. The bowls were bisqued, but I had no idea what kind of clay there were made of, so I didn't want to risk glazing them. So I decided to mosiac the ceramic bowls. Here is my first bowl. I haven't grouted it yet. I happen to like turquoise and brown together and the colors complement my home's decor. I would like to find some copper-colored grout and perhaps finish the rim with copper tubing.
A friend of mine sent me a gift certificate and I have been reading two books I purchased about developing my artistic career. One is the fifth edition of How to Survive & Prosper as an Artist by Caroll Michels which has been updated for on-line marketing and exhibition. The other, Alyson B. Stanfield's, I'd Rather Be In The Studio was recommended by Cynthia Guajardo on her blog Colorado Art Studio. Both of these books are excellent and I've come to realize I have much more to do than just work on my art. Which means I'll be keeping my fingers in all those pies.

A Blue Ribbon for My Ceramic Teapot !!!

I am pleased to announce I was awarded a blue ribbon for my ceramic teapot at the Sequoia Foothill Art Show this weekend. This is the first show where I have entered my ceramics and I am so proud. The photo of my teapot isn't the greatest, but all the ceramic pieces were displayed close together in front of a window, so this was the best I could do. When I saw how my teapot and other works were displayed, I thought I might suggest wood pedestals for ceramic pieces to be displayed on for next year.
I was prompted to enter some of my ceramic pieces in this show since it was to be judged by Una Mjurka, a well known ceramic sculptress. Our show always displays one of the works from each judge. The piece above is one that Una provided to be exhibited. Once again my photo isn't the greatest due to the lighting and the background. I was in awe of her magnolia sculptures. My magnolia tree is in bloom now and Una's sculpture is a wonderful likeness. I love the soft matte glaze she has chosen for this piece.

The show is held in my hometown of Springville, which has a population of about 1500 people. But the surrounding communities all enter their art which probably encompasses a population of about 70,000 people. The show is organized by all volunteers and they do a great job in a short amount of time. There are many talented artists in our area and everyone looks forward to seeing all the art. There were oils, pastels, pen and inks, photography, mixed media, kinetic sculpture, even a children's art section. Despite the heat wave we were having this weekend, the show was well represented and attended.

Glazing Inspiration from Clouds

While I was watering my lavender this morning, I couldn't help but notice the clouds in the sky. The wind was carrying them in all different directions blending them into streaks of feathery, wispy, and puffy forms. If only I could blend glaze colors together like the clouds - wouldn't that be spectacular. Then I remembered the ceramic jar I purchased this weekend from Scott Vaughn and Wayne Duke of Reedley Clayworks. I remarked about how the glazes reminded me of a desert landscape. Looking at the jar again, I see a resemblance to the cloud formations I often see at my home. Now I know why I was drawn to purchase this piece of pottery at the Redbud Art & Craft Show in Three Rivers.
The glaze on the jar looks like it might have been sprayed, but I am not sure. I hope some day my glazes will be as beautiful as that on this jar. Of course, Reedley Clayworks has been doing pottery since the 1960's, so they have much more experience than I do. Spraying glazes is one technique I hope to try one day to see what effects I can create with my own ceramic pieces.

Slab Rollers

Since I do mostly hand building, I have been looking for a used slab roller for some time. They don't often come up for sale used. Last week I saw an ad for a used slab roller and called right away, but, unfortunately the slab roller was already sold. I was so disappointed. So I did a search on the internet and was excited to discover a post about how to build a slab roller fairly inexpensively on a forum in Wetcanvas. Apparently the original poster found the instructions in a book Getting Into Pots: A Basic Pottery Manual by George and Nancy Weitlaufer, originally published in 1975 by Prentice Hall, this book is now out of print. The instructions were also reprinted in Ceramics Monthly in February 1977.

We had our last ceramics class for the semester yesterday and one of my classmates, Edwin Batsch (second page on the left), who makes kinetic sculptures and clay masks, agreed to build me a slab roller. Ed is very talented when it comes to anything mechical and he thought making a slab roller would be fairly easy. For him, maybe, but not me. Ed and I will get together in a week or so to purchase the supplies and then he'll build the slab roller. I can't wait to have my very own slab roller. I am dreaming of all the things I can make this summer with a slab roller close at hand. Not having to transport slabs in the back of my car and back again will make it possible for me to spend more time working with clay.

Upcoming Shows

Today I submitted three ceramic works to be judged at the
Porterville Art Association member's show. I also have four additional ceramic pieces exhibited at the show. The show will run 4 months.

Next weekend, May 10 and 11, I will attend the Arts Alliance of Three Rivers Redbud Art and Craft Festival for two days. I'll have my ceramics and photographs and a few lavender and other floral items from my gardens for sale at the festival.

The following weekend, May 17 and 18, I will be entering the Sequoia Foothill Art Show with some of my ceramic pieces. I am looking forward to this show since one of the judges, Una Mjurka, is a well known and accomplished ceramic artist. Una is an Associate Professor at California State University at Fresno and her work has been in 135 exhibitions and has received many awards and honors from 1993 to 2006. Una has contributed to more than 30 publications and her work is in collections in 11 states and Latvia.

I'm refining my checklist of what I need to set up my booth and making sure I have plenty of business cards and an updated portfolio.