Latest ceramic sculpture.

Just wanted to share my latest sculpture,

  a monochromatic, cream-colored, ceramic creation

that is fresh out of firing. 

Handmade, one of a kind, with a seashore theme.

Seashell table decoration, inspired by vintage epergnes.

Great as a business card holder, also!

 Showing it in process, still working with wet clay.

Handbuilding fun!

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Inspired by antique sailor's Valentines

and having a great fondness for boxes,

I created a treasure chest encrusted with ceramic seashells 

and glazed in a matt clear glaze.

Before firing, view of front and back.

A little history,

A sailor's Valentine is known as a form of shell craft, a  souvenir, or sentimental gift made using large numbers of seashells. These were originally made between 1830 and 1890, and they were designed to be brought home from a sailor's voyage at sea and given to the sailor's loved one.

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Drawing and painting on ceramics

Inspired by Danielle Donaldson's, 

The art of creative watercolor book,  

I chose to experiment on ceramics.

I used a vintage wooden handled tracing wheel 

with dark glaze on it to freehand draw the shapes,

then filled in with color and details.

I made a large vase shape to play on.

And a large bowl shape.

Just a little creative fun at the cottage by the sea!

Now available at Haven, Laguna Beach.

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Fishnet with seashells pitcher

This lovely came about when a girlfriend gifted me 

with something new to experiment with.

A cotton steaming cloth that made me think of fish netting.

I dipped it in slip and draped it across a pitcher shape

then added some of my seashell pieces to attach it here and there.

Because the netting was a rather tight weave

 I had to blow out some of the clay 

so it would show off the pattern and design.

Continuing the asymmetrical composition on the opposite side 

with my seashell creations.

YaY, another successful experiment!

Mermaid sail boat

created with porcelain clay

and a remnant of dotted swiss fabric was used for sails...

We cannot control the wind... 

but we can control our sail as it catches the wind.

Learn to set the sails of your perspective

 and use the winds to move you forward toward your goal.

Happy New Year friends!

Grateful to share the creativity in Somerset Home Magazine!

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Mosaic glass and ceramic seashore themed tree

I found the basic block wood tree at TJ Maxx and more.

It had a quirky lean to it even though it stood tall and strong.

Something about its simplicity and shape pulled me in 

even before I saw that it was marked down to $9.00

 It hung out with me in the cottage studio and bits of this and that visited

 just to see if they were compatible 

and what creative direction we would be taking.

                                                                           

It began to come together with some cool glass tile pieces leftover 

from a back splash in turquoise and blues 

and a few of my latest color tests on tiles 

in analogous colors cut into strips to fit in.

Bits of sea glass, ceramic seashells, pearls and even a few stray

 buttons, bright colored marbles all found a new home.

                                                                         

Here are a few fun closeups...

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Thrilled to share the fun in Somerset's Holiday issue!

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Nautical shell

Art inspired by nature.

I was asked to do a little demo of my craft 

at a local gallery on Forest Ave.

This is what I chose to work on

 as it was all about art and nature month in my little seaside town.

Below is my finished version of the nautical shell

inspired by the real shells in front of it.

Both beautiful and useful,

as the artist and textile designer William Morris was quoted as saying. 

It is a great size for chilling your champagne in 

or for a favorite floral arrangement!

Inspired by Anthropologies new ceramic dish designs,

       shown here...

I pull out a piece of bisque and some glazes to create

my own version in a turquoise color scheme.

I begin with a quick pencil sketch then begin mixing

 and layering colors and use a darker blue for the outline

 on the fish before putting it in for the final firing.

My fish has his own little personality and was fun to create! 

How cool is that to make your own dishware?

...and the creative roll continues!

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