The Holidays, Christmas Trees, and Being Creative

Can you believe that it is almost December! The Holidays. Christmas trees. Baking. The Gallery. Family. BEING CREATIVE.

I love managing the gallery. There are always many tasks. I never have a boring day. But, back to being creative. It is hard when I need to use the logical side of my brain most of the day. I have several serving trays and two sets of dinnerware to make that have been ordered for early winter. Luckily both customers are flexible as to when the sets need to be completed. It makes me wonder though if it allows me to procrastinate.

Josh Herman, www.joshherman.com, and I talked this fall about carrying his work. Josh and I met at MISSA, www.missa.ca, several years ago. We had both signed up for Robin Hopper's glaze formulation course. We worked hard in that class for two weeks. Over 2000 test tiles later, a strict formula for recording test glazes, and we were sent on our way to continue the paths we were headed down. Josh was interested in textural glazes. Look where he has gone with them!

Josh's forms and glazes are not easy. I know that for all of the successes that we see, he has had many smashed with the hammer. We have five of Josh's pieces in the gallery.

For my own work, I use reticulation glazes once in awhile. I have been thinking about focusing on them this winter. It's hard to articulate what swirls in your head when considering new paths. It is probably best to not talk about it, just be quiet with your thoughts, letting them formulate so that you do not get locked into an idea that might cause an unwanted path, ultimately. It is hard to know.

So, here's to putting tasks, thoughts, needs....into mental boxes and allowing the time to be creative.

 

It must be the texture

It's Monday morning and the week of Thanksgiving.  All of our kids and significant others will be joining us later this week.  I have a long to-do list both for home and the gallery.  However, I am pausing.  I have to wonder if I am procrastinating.  Yes, I am.  Oh well.  Maybe this is my way, of taking a breath.  Long breath in; long breath out.  

I am continually amazed by the information on the internet.  Some days I think it is too much and not good for us as human "beings".  Then, I get caught up in learning about something that crossed my path.  20 years ago,  I would not have been able to do this learning via my home computer.  

Tripod Wine Cup, Shang Dynasty

Shane Norrie

When I visit the Art Institute of Chicago, I always visit the Asian room with their Chinese Bronzes.  I am drawn to this piece.  Some day, I will incorporate something from this piece into my own clay work.  It is rumbling around in my brain, waiting for me to puzzle it out.  Another blog that I read is by Shane Norrie, a Canadian artist.  I love his glazes and forms.  

So, it must be the texture from stampings or glaze, that I am drawn to.  Because of the web, I can learn more about this information, and sometime, in the future, I will put it all together in my clay work.

Ok, enough "learning".  Time to get into the gallery.  Put handles on mugs, check the bisque kiln, get an order ready for shipping, pick up produce from my local CSA (Certified Sustainable Agriculture), grocery shop.......

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Desert, Weddings, and the Gallery

Last week was a busy one for me.  Getting the gallery ready so that I could attend my son's wedding.  Writing notes.  Making sure there was enough change in the till.  Thinking about arranging for social marketing posts in advance.  Re-checking notes to the artists who helped me out over several days.  The list and tasks seemed endless.  Then, I was out of time.  Off to the airport.  I always say "to hurry up and then wait".  Your life is now in the hands of the airline. Who knows if you will arrive to your destination when anticipated or the next day, due to delays.  I remind myself to be patient with everything and everyone around me.  Relax.  Enjoy the time processing thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head.  Read.  And of course, I have my ipad!

The wedding was in Scottsdale.  Land of sunshine and great bypasses.  Check out this turtle.  The wedding was wonderful.  We have a new daughter-in-law who we love.  I couldn't leave Arizona without visiting the Heard Museum.  It has been years since I visited and had heard that they had expanded.  Lots of great Native American art.

There were pots from two thousand years ago and current artisans.  I loved the wall of clay and glass totems.  I can feel a new winter project percolating.  I better write the ideas down before they evaporate to wherever lost ideas go.  Time to get moving, work out, and head to the gallery.  Tomorrow is Night Light and I need to decorate for the Holidays.

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