Blown Away

The first time I saw an Andrew Wyeth painting, I wanted to go home and throw away all my paints and just hang it up.

I knew I could never paint that well.

And to make it even worse, the show combined TWO masters: Wyeth and Winslow Homer. It was equal to two body blows.......but to the mind.

It was a wonderful show; one that you could walk right up to the paintings and nearly stick your nose into it. No guards to speak to you, no alarms going off. Everything was covered with protective glass, of course, but these days, you cannot get that close to a painting, unfortunately.

Anyway, I just discovered a sculptor whose work has had a similar effect on me. Her name is Tricia Cline.

I found her work through an incredibly deep art/museum site called The Curated Object. Ever so often I return to this page to mine it a bit more. Wandering through the indexes is always intriguing.

Not only is Tricia Cline an accomplished artist she is Self-Taught. So forget about a long string of art schools, degree initials, and everything else recommended to assure artists their worthiness to exhibit.

Just take a look.

Her website is: www.triciacline.com

Curated Object: www.curatedobject.us

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Worth Repeating

Yesterday, I was transferring jpegs from my old computer to my laptop. And I ran across this tray I did a couple of years ago. It is a variation of several trays of this design. I find it to be very satisfying to make. The glaze technique always gives good results.

Here's how you do it:

Dip a piece into the base color. In this case, it is white. Use wax resist and a fine brush to block out leaf/branch forms or whatever you desire. You can roll the brush in your hand while to paint to produce a lovely variation in the line.

Load up a pitcher with contrast glaze and, holding the piece at an angle over a catch bucket, pour the darker glaze over the white undercoat. Voila! Something like the example.

A couple of times, I've splashed dots of an even darker glaze over the top. One day, I'll try blocking out a second area with resist and applying a third glaze just to see what happens.

Bye, bye

The kickwheel sold. Yeah

Couldn't have gone to a better home.


Now, do I contribute to Public Television or the Federation for the Blind?
I give to both.

1. Public Television because I think education and information is important and it's the only outlet that is still providing the programing that was the "great promise of television".

2. The Federation for the Blind because, as children, my sister and I would play the endless argument game: "If you had to choose, would you rather be deaf or blind?"

I finally decided I would rather be deaf.
Although giving up music forever would be endlessly painful, I could still remember it. Losing my sight would be devastating.

Brent Kickwheel

This Brent kickwheel is in my studio, eating up space that I need.

The one pictured is a nice, natural wood-colored one; the one I've got is red, blue, green --like a child's toy colors. (I try not to look at it.)

A lady who was moving to China wanted me to sell it and I said 'okay'. Why do I say 'okay'? I'll send whatever I get for it to charity.

Anyway

It's a nice wheel. ( There's a larger wheelhead on the one I have.) I've used it for trimming and it has a really good feel. Very sensitive and well-balanced. The flywheel is made of two large plywood discs with an open space between to insert regular building bricks. You could move them around if you felt the wheel wasn't balanced, but the wheel gives an even spin.

The whole thing comes apart and breaks down for easy moving, but re-attaching the wheelhead and the balance wheel is a bear. I'd recommend moving it in toto.

I have it posted on Craig's List for $100.00, so if any of you are in the NW corner of the NW ie Western Pinninsula of Washington near Seattle and need a wheel, send me a comment and we can arrange a deal.

P.S. I also have a 4 harness full-sized folding loom in my storage building.

Don't Let This Happen to You

Some years ago, I tried wrapping a small jar with copper wire.

I dutifully placed the piece on a set tile to guard against any drips on the kiln shelf. I used very thin wire.......This came out of the kiln.

I loved the result of the wire melt. Fortunately, it didn't drip too much and there was no sticking to the shelf.

.......But.........

I couldn't get the lid off.

I tapped.

I sawed.

I even bought a Dremel diamond bit. But to no avail.

It makes a nice paperweight. Or doorstop.

I must try it again, but the next time, design a catchment for the copper pooling.

Of course, if you ever wanted to seal something up permanently, this would be just the ticket.