Interpretation

Featured Tiles:  I like to think of this set of tiles as an example of relationships:

The tile on the left is the opening statement:  "This is what I am; This is the standard."

The tile on the right is a variation or response:  It takes the example of the above and elaborates as if it were saying, "I accept your statement and respond. I am an elaboration of you." Or, "I see your bid and raise you one."

Also working in this design dynamic is the shape and strong black framing of both tiles, bouncing the eye back and forth toward the center. The outer curves work in the same way, leading the eye back and forth between the tile: The left tile has a larger outer margin on the far left; the right tile sweeps toward the far right border, but a similar strong outer border on the right and the strong vertical in the center of the image stops the eye at the far right. 

The tree-like center designs are isolated as images, but relate to each other in motion toward the center, also bouncing the eye back and forth, yet slowing the flow by corresponding dark verticals.

How wide the center division between the two tiles is also important. If hung too widely apart, this dynamic would not work as well.


I don't think these things as I am working. These design elements are almost subconscious and are part of an artist's "eye". They either look right or they don't.


This same back and forth happens a lot in music:  Theme and Variation and so it can be in clay.

So, what do you think is going on here?

These guys are fun to move around to get different impressions.

True Beauty

Went to a flea market a couple of days ago and came home with this.

It's on the column over the fireplace.

Iconic.

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

Wow. I just got my toes wet at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.

It's one of the biggest shows of it's type in the world and venues are sprinkled all over the city. I can see why people come from all over the world to this event.

It's very easy to get into sensory overload cruising through display tents and huge rooms with tables overflowing with shoals of every color and type of beads, pendents, glass, fiber, wood, metal. Bedazzling walls laden with strings of crystal, glass, silver, etc., aaaaaagh

I went the first day to a relatively small venue in a hotel north of town. Several large rooms were bursting with wares while two wings of the hotel had individual rooms set up for the show--on two floors.

This string of beads really caught my eye. At first I thought they were clay beads and was amazed at the marvelous texture. The vendor told me they were Mexican agates.

They had a good heft about them and a wonderful texture. After spending several hours looking at wares until I was cross-eyed, I had to return to buy them.

Don't know what I'll do with them yet, but the following day at another show, I found some spooled fine silver chain that I think will be great to string them on.

Yes, I am hooked. I've only gone to just the bead and jewelry part of the shows, but I've seen things there I've either been searching for or haven't seen before.

And the great thing is, most of the vendors will bargain!

More Tile in the Works

While I was doing the Robot Tiles, I made a dyptic using clay to sculp plant life as if it were being seen through windows. I applied black underglaze to the outter rims to frame the image. It was all I could do to keep from painting the whole thing and then and wiping off the underglaze on the sculptures.

Must remember to do this again. Reference post on Making Two.


Anyway

I'm really anxious to see how these turn out. The photo is of the greenware.

Finally in Ar-ra-zona!

We drove a vanload of furniture and dogs to Tucson, literally threw everything into the house; put the dogs in a kennel and left for convention in Las Vegas!The lobby in Bellagio with the Chihuly ceiling.And a beautiful early blue/gold piece in a small bar.

The yard has gone completely wild. I'm amazed how things grow here.

Of course, the second day we were here, my standard Schnauzer found a skunk at 4 a.m. She ran into the house and proceeded to scoot her body all over the rugs. Sacre cerise! Un pew! Le kitty que'l terriblay odeur!Having absolutely no experience with le chat de peu, she got sprayed.

Fortunately, it subsided after much airing and vacuuming.

Back to work

At last I got back to claywork! Seems like I've been walking thrugh mud with all the other demands on time. A while back, I found two plaster molds for plates that were used to make ceramics plates by pouring liquid clay inside, allowing it to set up then unmolding the form. I usually throw plates on the wheel, but this time, I used a half of one of the the molds - the part that would make the inside half of a large plate - rolled out a large slab of clay about 3/8 inch thick to drape over the plaster and create a plate form. It turned out well, although I have my doubts if it was any easier or quicker than just throwing on the wheel. I cut the rim off at angles using a fettling knife. The inside of the plate is round, the rim is angular. I like the way it looks. Think I'll make a batch and experiment with glazes playing with different glaze layers and the angular rims. We'll see.



Here's a photo of the back of the new Tucson house from the 18th hole. The vegetation on the fence is bougianvillaea. Can't wait to see it in all it's glory. The house has a Tuscan feel with stucco walls, cornices at roof edge, red tile roof, tall windows and doors; a feeling of coolness and space. It will be nice to be there.

Back from Tucson

Just returned from Tucson after taking a sun-break from the dreariness of the Northwest. Not that I don't love it here, you just need to feel some warm sun and soak up some D once in a while.

My cousin Beverly and her husband Andy, bookending us in front of a great steak house, were a welcome sight. It's been too many years since we last saw them. We visited two of my favorite potters in the world as well as Realtor friends that we know from Jim, my husband's, business. Two weeks went so very quickly!

We did a blitz check of the house market there and found a lovely place to escape to when the rain gets to us. To be able to go somewhere with special friends there too is icing on the cake.

The clay scene is well-established with many choices of work areas and markets. There exists there a fine appreciation of the potter's art and I will look forward to working there.

We returned home only to find that the electrical work we had done resulted in no water in the house (we learned this only after we had emptied the storage tank) so a call to the electritian was the priority this morning. Everything is working now, thank heavens, and life can get back to normal. We are looking at a very busy end of the month as well as a full March, so it's good that these kinds of problems can get taken care of in a hurry.