Lane Snapper

I think my Native American roots encourage me to appreciate what I receive from the land and respect the source by honoring it. I'm grateful to be able to occasionally afford the fresh fish available here, to have the knowledge to cook it in tasteful ways, and to live in a place with so much natural abundance.

The fish market we go to, Shelley's Seafood in Homosassa, is independently owned and the folks running the market are very knowledgeable about the fish. I benefit from their knowledge about the natural resources around these parts.


The fish we chose last week was Lane Snapper (image taken from Wikipedia). I sauteed the snapper in some minced garlic and fresh ginger sprinkled with dill and chives. I served the snapper with mixed wild and brown rice and some snow peas sauteed with crushed mint. Oh so delicious.

A local festival called me last night and asked if I wanted to show my work this weekend. But I'd have a hard time selling enough work to pay for the cost of the booth space, let alone make a few dollars so I declined. I read some where attendance has to be at least 30,000 before a person can make a decent amount of money to cover expenses for a show. Plus I wouldn't have enough work made to sell. I just don't make volumes of work. There's a show in Gainsville this weekend I just found out about, which is very well attended, but the entry closed months ago.


Thinking out loud here, I've been wondering what type of pieces I can make as a staple, some bread and butter work so to speak, which can complement the other work I like to make. You know the wall plaques and the sculptures and the vases like Mrs. Peanut. I had lots of nice compliments on Mrs. Peanut from the gallery. No one has bought her though. Anyway trying to decide on some pieces I can make with affordable prices to sell. Above are more mugs. Once I get up to thirty I can pick a few from those I'll make repeats of. Some of the mugs look like tumblers so I may pick a couple of those too.


Then there's my pinch bowls which are good for soups and stews which I like using myself, so I figure other's might like them. They seem to sell well, perhaps because they're pinched. And my free form salad bowls. And that square plate the fish dinner is served on.



Now wait a minute. None of these pieces go together I mean they aren't the same style. I like the minimalist look of the square dinner plates, but my bowls are round. I think I can design a bowl which complements the square plates. Or perhaps if the glaze or slip work is the same the plate can be square and the bowl round. Hum.


I think all the work I put into cooking our food deserves to be served on a plate which I put some work into as well. I've made this and I've made that and they're all different. For instance these trays, I like the leaves and slip work, but I don't like the wavy edges. If I put a leaf design on the first plate that would be much more appealing to my eye. Those combed dots with that speckled clay would be nice on one of those plates too. I want to make a set of dishes, at least I'm thinking about a set. These things about style, design, and what to make take time to evolve. Almost forgot this post is part of artist's in blogland show and tell Saturday. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.