Ruan Hoffmann

I've been a follower of Ruan Hoffmann's work ever since I first saw it on Pinterest. The way he uses the clay as a painting and drawing surface is masterful. I especially like the thin and casual form  he achieves with his ceramics. He puts some political, etc. messages on the works also. See more here.

Cecile Deladier, Part 2

Remember the post I did on French ceramicist Cecile Deladier back in January? Well, here she is again, with more work. I saw her featured on Remodelista, here, and here, and I was struck by how wonderfully she understands flowers. That's what makes her vases so perfect. She obviously loves to give flowers and plants something to accentuate their unique beauty. I also like the tenderness of her forms. I've been gardening like crazy since we returned from Italy. No time for anything else right now. It's amazing what a few weeks away in the middle of May will do to your garden. Havoc! So that must be why I am so drawn to these vessels. Also, I am taking a break from making ceramics because my teacher had a baby and is moving house (good excuses!) so we will start back up again in September. I miss working with clay so much. 

Sara Radstone

Ever since I fell in love with clay I've wanted to do more sculptural work. Sara Radstone, a British artist, works primarily that way. You can see more of her work here, at Marsden Woo Gallery in London, where she is represented.

Ceramics Update

 Here is what's been going on over at the ceramics studio. This large vessel on the top left has a removable collar so it can be used in two different ways. The vase to the right is really about a foot tall, so that other one is gigantic. Both are coiled. Then you see the big vessel with underglaze. Below the big vessel has had a wax resist design applied, and then glaze. Maybe it will be out of the kiln next week and I can show you the finished product.

 I've been playing with faux bois. I have this little rubber mat with the design on it that gets pressed into the clay. I like it. Below are a series of shallow bowls and plates in various states of underglaze, glaze and on the bottom are finished pieces.

I really look forward to my time in the clay studio. Ingrid Bathe, my teacher, always gives me new things to think about and work on. Just this past week she suggested that I think a little bit about the thickness I want my finished work to be....good thought, and one I always overlook! Much to learn.

In the Studio

Here's what I've been working on lately. That top painting I just finished and shipped off yesterday. The Chemex drawings were just added to my Etsy shop, over here. The plates are the most recent things out of the kiln. I have 2 large pots that are waiting for me to decide on glazes. My teacher, Ingrid Bathe, has been teaching me how to make glaze test tiles for standing vessels. So maybe before too long I will have the finished pots to show you. I've been enjoying using the plates for serving dinners. Just as Ingrid said, I like the work better after using it. I've also been keeping up with the daily sketchbook. I feel lots of energy and inspiration because it is the beginning of a new year. I hope your beginning is going well too!

Cecile Daladier

This gorgeous work is by Cecile Daladier, a french ceramicist I just discovered. I love the spontaneity of the forms and glazes she works with. Her tumblr blogs are over here, where you can see lots more, and take a look at her journal on tumblr to see some great shots of how she is using her work at home. I've been using my ceramics more at home on the advice of my teacher, and it is a great idea for getting to know how to improve the work. 

Happy New Year!

What is inspiring you in this new year? And what are you wishing for this year? What are you planning to accomplish? How do you hope to grow? Where do you want to go? I love January because it is a chance to start fresh and refocus on what is important in my life. So to answer some of the above questions about myself....some images, of course!

A big plan this year, and every year, is to make art every day. I work in sketchbooks often, and learn so much about my process by doing that. I'm also continuing to explore the poured acrylic work on panels and canvas.

I plan to continue my study of ceramics with Ingrid Bathe. I learned so much last year, and have a lot of work I just glazed and some which is drying, so I'll have photos to show soon. In the meantime here are some artists who are inspiring me in ceramics and painting.

I do not know who the artist is here, but love the form.

Takahiko Hayashi

Kazunori Hamana

Kazunori Hamana

I am part of a monthly book group and we are reading Anna Karenina for the next 2 months. Yes, we felt we needed 2 months! And I am getting so much pleasure out of Art As Experience, the old art school staple by John Dewey. I think it has so much wisdom about getting pleasure out of the everyday experience of living, and that is always a resolution of mine.

And then there is food (as if I have not indulged enough this holiday season), I got out my favorite dessert cookbook, Alice Medrich's Pure Dessert, and made this panforte. Very chewy and hard, but such subtle flavor of orange and anise, nuts and figs. Ummm. And check out the 101 Cookbooks Library here. You can join and then give and get all kinds of cookbook and recipe reviews from ordinary cooks.

I would love to travel this year, and we may have a trip in the works, but we shall see. Above all else I will strive to be patient and maintain my inner peace as much as possible. Heaven knows our world needs more vibrations of peace!

Happy New Year!