Copyright and other blogs currently being worked

Happy Year of the Dragon. Here is my Dragon Girl Bird sculpture from 2018.

My info

Monday, March 18, 2024

New glaze, old pot

 I somehow had two vases that had been bisque fired in 2020 when I stopped going to the clay studio in Black Mountain.

They sat in boxes in my apartment as the pandemic passed, and I again returned to the studio this February. And now it's the middle of March, so I brought them in and glazed them last week. There are SO MANY studio glazes!


I chose a white liner, and then two dips into glossy green, first the bottom part, then after that dried, the top. It means pouring the white glaze into the vase, swishing it quickly around and pouring the excess out. Then that glaze has to dry a while (maybe an hour) before the clay can absorb the next glaze.

Before I start any glazing, I paint liquid wax all over the bottom and a 1/4 inch up the edge so no glaze will be on the bottom of the pot.




As you can see, there's a space between both the greens. But isn't bare clay. I dipped the top again into the white glaze, but it was very runny, and acted just like a clear glaze. Sometimes it gives mottled effects on the green, but not this time. If I make more vases, I'll try again!

Pardon my screen saver background...I have so much stuff around my house, there's no clear wall to photograph pottery against.


Today's quote:

When an individual is protesting society's refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him. -Bayard Rustin, civil rights activist (1912-1987)

Saturday, March 16, 2024

More dragon work

 A meeting of dragons was held at the philodendron place on the table. Lighting was better, but still tinted a bit green. However, dragons don't mind that at all.



Needed some better shots of Little Miss Dragon Number One. She has a nest full of dragon eggs.



And today she wants to introduce to you, her brother (or sister, we're not sure actually) Dragon Number Two.















Today's quote:

Since there is nothing but just this moment, the time-being is all the time there is.

DŌGEN

Friday, March 15, 2024

Gruff, short film

A whole lot of paper cutting, bending, posing...

I saw an interview on CBS Sunday Morning with Julian Curry, who did all the cutting and filming! Incredible artistry. 


His studio is in his garage...

He used the cutting techniques that are used by scrap-bookers...and then those by stop action animators. Just fantastic.

And he showed us how his set was made from Amazon boxes.

Here's the short film.





Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Number One Dragon 2024

 

Number One Dragon of 2024 - finished and waiting to fire.

The test was for my fingers mainly, as to being able to hold tools, and make small details with minor shakes. I may test strength later on the wheel. But for now I've only had a couple of times when a cramp started and I was able to stop and shake it out effectively.


Glazed Number One Dragon - Sorry iPhone enlarges his head when I try to get close!

Number One Dragon, glazed with matt black and matt bronze green.

Some pieces that go into making a dragon.

Today's quote:
At least one way of measuring the freedom of any society is the amount of comedy that is permitted, and clearly a healthy society permits more satirical comment than a repressive, so that if comedy is to function in some way as a safety release then it must obviously deal with these taboo areas. This is part of the responsibility we accord our licensed jesters, that nothing be excused the searching light of comedy. If anything can survive the probe of humour it is clearly of value, and conversely all groups who claim immunity from laughter are claiming special privileges which should not be granted. 
-Eric Idle, comedian, actor, and author (b. 29 Mar 1943)

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Well, there goes all the PC things that have been removed from humor in our society!
As a blond, I remember howling at blond jokes!







Monday, March 11, 2024

Monday Murals

 At the clay studio building, I've shared several other murals before. But this one is hard to see by a passing car, especially when looking for a parking place. Only someone walking by might get a glimpse of it. I took a break to get some fresh air, and stood right under it, looking at the retention pond where a lot of clay/glaze sludge washes out, as well as rainwater. There over my shoulder I was surprised to see this.









After I enjoyed looking up and down and examining each tile, I went inside and asked Charles who had made the tiles. He said lots of people, all ages. I could see many were made by children. I asked when it was made, and he said about a year ago.

I love how it's strung together by loops of wire, and each column hangs freely from the pipe above.

Sharing with Monday Murals! Thanks Sami for hosting this meme!
Today's quote:

One does not advance the swimming abilities of ducks by throwing the eggs in the water. 

-Multatuli (pen name of Eduard Douwes Dekker), novelist (1820-1887)

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Susan Seddon Boulet

 I have long admired her work. I even think I still have a poster which I hung over my desk for many years...there's a fantastical aspect of the paintings...interweaving of myth and magic and humans.




Forest spirit, 1994


A dragon boat

Small household spirit, 1989






Today's quote:
 

Peace is an invitation in daily life to breathe deep, right here, in the uncertainty.

MORGAN HARPER NICHOLS

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Truth vs Lies

 The world famous painting- “The Truth coming out of the well” Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1896.


According to a 19th century legend, the Truth and the Lie meet one day.

The Lie says to the Truth: “It’s a marvellous day today”! The Truth looks up to the skies and sighs, for the day was really beautiful.

They spend a lot of time together, ultimately arriving beside a well. The Lie tells the Truth: “The water is very nice, let’s take a bath together!” The Truth, once again suspicious, tests the water and discovers that it indeed is very nice.

They undress and start bathing. Suddenly, the Lie comes out of the water, puts on the clothes of the Truth and runs away.

The furious Truth comes out of the well and runs everywhere to find the Lie and to get her clothes back.

The World, seeing the Truth naked, turns its gaze away, with contempt and rage. The poor Truth returns to the well and disappears forever, hiding therein, its shame.

Since then, the Lie travels around the world, dressed as the Truth, satisfying the needs of society, because, the World, in any case, harbours no wish at all to meet the naked Truth.

As published on Facebook.