The Ceramics studio was closed for a couple of weeks, so I decided to add some fiber art to some of my previously made clay pieces. Here are some  of them. They also have some of my beach treasures included as finials to the tops.

A couple of large low bowls came out of the kiln yesterday. They are made with many different clay bodies marbled together. These are hand-built using a slab and a press mould.  They also have been carved, oxidized and glazes both dipped on and wiped off.  This week I made a couple that were constructed using the potters wheel. I will post them when  they are finished.

but my faThe other benefit I have found with the wheel, is the ability to make functional pieces. So now we have so many  bowls! My favorite is my "dog bowl" with my buddy Kettu on it!

For the month of September I will be having a show in the North first floor galleries of McGuffey Art Center. This show combines my fiber art with my ceramics. One side of the hall is a display of my "Urban voyeur" work done from photos taken in the Charlottesville area. The other half of the show (show below) is a combination of my ceramic work and my explorations done at the art retreats I go to with five other artists. We head to the off-season shore and spend a week creating and communing. Those works, in turn, influenced the colors and textures of the accompanying ceramic work.

For an overview of the show, and to see the fiber art wall, click here
Below are some works from the Sand and Sea wall.

click on photo to see larger image

One of the nice things about Ceramics is how the art can integrate into your life. My dog (a spoiled rotten creature) has many different treats depending on the occasion. So now she also has hand made canisters for each type of her treats!

I worked in the design industry for 40 years. During that time all handwork was replaced by the computer. Like and technology marched on. But I missed that tactile feeling of making with my hands. That is one reason that I love the fiber arts - cut, sew, touch - and now the same with clay!

Maybe it is the retro feelings of childhood mud pies, or fond and thankful memories of Don Hunt, my high school ceramics teacher, but either way I have been hooked. Three dimension work has never been my strong point, so I do struggle with that  a bit, but the equation of the serendipitous mixed with planning  that goes into hand building with clay is just right.

Below are some of the piece that I have made by combining several types of clay together. and used minimum glaze.

Each off-season, a group of us artists go for a week long retreat on the shores of the Eastern Outerbanks. It is a time for exploration, introspection and camaraderie. This year I made mugs for us all. I tried to reflect both the art style and the personality of each of us in the mugs. Truth be told, they probably held more wine than coffee!

A local ceramic studio, City Clay, opened its doors a little wider when they ceased doing classes during the pandemic. They allowed a few at a time to come in safely spaced and masked to work. My friend and expert ceramicist, Carol, invited me to go experiment with her. So fun!! I forged ahead and made a few things, but mostly was bitten by the bug.
I made some small items that I still use on my bathroom sink!  The square covered vessel holds my hair ties, etc and the small glass holds my toothpaste.

The square piece was embossed with a lino cut that I made.