Barbara's Art Blog

These boots were made for walkin'

2010-01-11T19:49:00.000-08:00

Since my last posting-l've been places...
Summer 2009 was an incredible summer-and a busy one-working as a Wilderness Ranger for the Forest Service

And teaching Art at The Canvas

I also had a show at the Silverbow in Juneau during the month of August entitled "Just for the Halibut" (http://www.silverbowinn.com/)

And sold artwork to Annie Kails (http://www.anniekaills.com/)

When I returned to Montana in the fall, I was excited to start creating in my new art studio. It has 15 windows-mostly south facing-with amazing views into the woods.

I love my kickwheel (Thanks, Canvas!) Tim and I brought it down from Alaska)

I needed clay, so my buddy Corey and I took a trip to Helena to Archie Bray...
(http://www.archiebray.org/)

And I picked up 750 lbs of clay (yeah, Josh--thumbs up!)

And then I went to work on insulating my kiln room.

Packing the first load into the kiln on Dipsey Doodle Lane!

I'm really excited about this new creation: Xtra Tufs!! Inspired by the world's greatest boot, I wear these things every day I'm out in the field for the Forest Service, and on days it's raining in Juneau. So, yeah-pretty much every day. Did I mention that every man, woman and child in Southeast Alaska owns a pair of these?

My first 2 ceramic XtraTufs were created as gifts for the world's greatest people: My Dad

And Tim (my husband)

Over the summer and into the fall I've had so much inspiration...

From the Museum of Modern Art....

(October: New York, New York)

To the World Wilderness Congress...

(November: Merida, Mexico)

To the natural world....

My boots have been places.

Playing with mud is fun!!

2009-02-15T19:26:00.001-08:00

I love making art. When I'm in the studio, time stands still. Troubles doen't exist. I'm in a zone. I love creating art for the sake of creating art. I don't know what satisfies me so much, but I'm quite content playing with mud all day long.

I have been doing a lot of research-trying to teach myself new techniques and experimenting quite a bit. Here's what I've been up to!

Horsehair Firing:

There's nothing quite like the smell of burning horsehair.....

Last week, I experimented with horsehair firing. I had created some porcelain pieces (the white clay pieces), and after bisque firing them, I re-heated them up to over 1000 degrees and pulled them out of the kiln with tongs....

I laid pieces of horse hair on top of the hot bisqueware, and they carbonized instantly--leaving a beautiful black shadow of where the hair was placed.

Moon snails!!

Inspired by the shells I've picked up in Alaska, I'm very excited about these new pieces..........

I start by throwing a vessel (something that may look like a flower pot) on the wheel...

...and then I push the outside walls together, closing the form at the top

Afterwards, I cut the closed top form off the bat, let it dry out a bit, then flip it over and trim the other side, so it ends up being a closed sphere!

I then sculpt the wheel thrown piece, carving the outside and pushing from the inside of the piece...

Fish vases:

More fish vases! They're spawning! Soon there will be a whole school of them!

These tall vessels are first thrown on the potter's wheel, and then shaped by hand. I add on fins, lips and eyes, and carve in details, such as the scales.

Other stuff:

These are starfish that will be glazed and set on top of a mirror:

Another sea urchin (thrown hollow form) and more starfish.

Silkscreening on clay!
A new experiment: Silkscreening on clay! It was a complete success!!! (I LOVE when that happens!!)

This is a process where I transfer a silkscreened design onto clay using glazes.

I pull the glaze across the silkscreen with a squeegee onto a flat piece of clay...

The image from the silkscreen is transferred perfectly!

Soup Supper Fundraiser!

I am working with the Whitefish Middle School 8th graders every day for the month of February. I have proposed a grant, where the students will create 2 soup bowls in the week that they are in my class. They will get to keep one, and the other they will donate to the Flathead Food Bank (http://www.flatheadfoodbank.com/) annual soup supper dinner. This is a fundraiser where community members pay $20 for all you can eat soup, bread and dessert--and at the end of the meal--they get to take home the soup bowls! All proceeds go to feed local community members in the Flathead County (Montana). We are still waiting to hear back about the grant, but we decided to move forward with this project, as the soup supper dinner is happening at the beginning of April.

In the spirit of helping others less fortunate, I have decided to donate all of the money I am making from teaching this month long workshop to 2 worthy organizations: Save Darfur (http://www.savedarfur.org/) and the Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/).

Do these kids look like they're having the time of their lives or what?!?

Thse are some of the soup bowls the first group of students made...

Stumptown Art Studio:

This is the studio I create and teach at in Montana: Stumptown Art Studio (http://www.stumptownartstudio.org/). Notice my "rock star parking" there in the front of the building (the bike locked up against the post)

Views of Big Mountain from the front door of the studio.

I have been adding new postings to this art blog, so feel free to scroll down to see it all, or click on the headings to the right under "Archives" to shortcut to the starfish, halibut or other studio work. Feel free to leave remarks by clicking on "(#) comments" at the bottom of any post (there's a little pencil icon next to this), then post your comment, go to "comment as" and pull down the drop down menu. Go to "Name/URL", fill out your name (you don't need to fill out a URL), and click on "continue"......or email me at: lydon_barbara@yahoo.com

What's cookin' in the kiln

2009-01-24T10:33:00.000-08:00

I was going to be a peace talks negotiator, but I thought I should have something to fall back on.

That's why I was an Art Major........

Good things are happening in the studio! Creating, experimenting, discovering, laughing....

I have been working on wheel thrown hollow forms. This sea urchin is double walled--one in the center, and one on the outside. I pull both walls up and connect them together--like a donut. Then I trim and round the edges.

After it dries a bit, I cut it off the bat, turn the form over and shape the other side. Then I add little bumps of clay to give it some texture. I've added holes on the back of this piece, so it can be hung on the wall, or sit on a table.

This is a large mountain goat mask. We see goats almost every day in Tracy and Endicott Arm in southeast Alaska, as well as in Glacier Park in Montana.

--And these are funky soapdishes I made by combining stains with porcelain clay. I then take my blue and white clay bodies, flatten them, and squish them into designs.

Finished glazed pieces!! Creating with clay is a long process: You sculpt the clay, then let it dry slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwlllllllyyyyyyyyyyy....and then bisque fire in the kiln for about 12 hours. After waiting another 12 hours for the kiln to cool off, you can finally glaze your piece, then load back in the kiln, fire for another 12 hours, let cool.........And then...........The long awaited anticipation is finally over!

Charlie the halibut: He's big, he's red (and orange) and he TOTALLY ROCKS!!!!

Whoa! This salmon swam right into the wall. Very cool.

My 1st attempt at a sea urchin(thrown on the potter's wheel then manipulated):

New starfish out of the kiln: Eddie, Joe, Jack, Deb and Troy.

Glazed cups and coral vases:

Friends at the studio!

Corey throwing on the wheel. He is participating in the Whitefish ArtWalk this Saturday. He throws big, beautiful bowls that are brightly glazed. Hey--is that Joanna in the background?!

Troy and Sarah! These guys ROCK! Sarah throws beautiful (perfect) funcional ware, like groovy mugs and amazing tea pots and Troy does a lot of handbuilding; He's been working on masks that are very expressive and unique.

This is Mike. He's one of the nicest guys I know. He throws perfect tea pots, mugs and bowls. And he has got glazing down to a science.

Getting fired up!....Updated January 18, 2009

2009-01-18T10:03:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a busy week! I have so many ideas floating in my head, but not enough time to bring everything to life.

Here's what's I'm cookin' in the studio.....

This is a little fish that will be used for a windchime (finished windchimes hang vertically)

Carp vase! This thrown vessel was altered into a fish that looks like he's leaping out of the table. Very cool.

This is a squid mask. He's about 23" tall and 11" wide.

Coral vases....for flowers, pens & pencils, or decoration.

I just love making these little starfish!!! I've added some color to the clay...I wonder what they will look like after they've been glazed?

More fish! This here's Sam and haibut and Brad the rock fish.

--The Easter Bunny is going to be psyched to see this! A coiled clay basket.

Check back for more new and exciting creations.......

Just for the halibut.....

2009-01-06T21:31:00.000-08:00

I have always had a fascination with fish....but I am really intrigued by these bottom feeders. They're just so....big. Oh, and they have both eyes on one side of their body. Totally cool.

Each of my halibuts are hand-made and completely original. Each one is named (name is stamped on the back of each fish). The are all wired and ready to be hung on your wall!

Meet Mary. She's one of my latest and greatest. I love everything about her: her large size, her polka dots and her colors (consiting of blues, creams and browns). How can you possibly resist those big, blue eyes?

Mary-$130 (approx. 19" x 14 1/2")

Here'ssssssssss Jackieeeeeeeee! This flatfish is very funky, with wavy patterns all over her body. She's got great color, too. Mostly brown with hints of blue and cream. What a catch!

Jackie-$80 (approx. 18" x 12 1/2")

This is Charlie. Don't be fooled...There are NOT more fish in the sea like this one! His bold orangish/redish glaze is truly one of a kind!

Charlie-$130 (approx. 20" x 16")

Though Sarah is not the biggest fish in the sea, she’s got fabulous colors and patterns that make her stand out from the rest!

Sarah-$70 (approx. 13 1/2 " x 10")

This here's Hal the Halibut. Hal's got great movement--with lots and lots of wavy patterns all over him. His fins are bold cobalt blue, and his body is blue and beige....If you're fishin' for a new friend--Hal's a great choice!

Hal-$85 (approx.18" x 15")

Other halibut that have come and gone........

"The sea monster that didn't get away"......HA! We got him, Dad!!

Patti

Newly hatched starfish!

2009-01-04T19:29:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the latest starfish I've created as of December 2008. Each one is hand built; no two are alike. They are all shapes, sizes and colors, and every one has its name stamped on the back. If you are interested in buying one of these sea stars, please email me @ lydon_barbara@yahoo.com or post a comment here on my blog.
**If necessary, I can ship. S&H cost: $10.

Larry (sold)

& Katherine-$30: Katherine’s dreamy light blues and browns enhance this beautiful small star. (approx. 5 ½” x 5”)

Jack ($30)-The creamy light blue swirls flow over the greenish blue body of this wild sea creature! (approx. 5 ½” x 6 ¼”)

& Eddie ($30) - The blues and purples on this guy look like a tie dye; Far out, Eddie!
(approx. 5 ½” x 5 ¾ ”)

Mike-$30: Kermit said, “It’s not easy being green”, but to Mike—it’s a piece of cake! He’s beautiful! (approx. 6” x 5 ½)

Deb ($15)-With Deb’s petite size and rosy highlights, she sure is pretty in pink! (approx. 3 ½ “ x 4”)

& Joe ($30) -Joe’s got the blues…and the creams! (approx. 5 ½” x 6”)

& Patti-$30: Patti’s metallic silver glaze and wiggly arms and legs make her unordinary!(approx. 6 ½” x 5 ½”)

Molly-$25: Small but striking! Molly is a bright burgundy star with a funky cracked surface texture. Very cool. (4 ½ ” x 4”)

& Sam (sold)

Julie-(sold)

& Tim-$30: Very funky semi matte/metallic green glaze. (approx.6 ½” x 6 ½”)

Steve-$40: Steve is big, bold and beautiful. The blues and creams on this star will blow you away. (approx. 9” x 8”)

& Jon-$35: This stout echinoderm is mostly brown with lighter brown textured bumps. There is a hint of blue that is reminiscent of Northern Lights. (approx. 8” x 7”)

Jim-$30 (sold)

& Bob-$25: This little starfish does not have any texture on him; He is very smooth, which make his unique glaze stand out. (approx. 5” x 5”)

Chris-$45: Great movement, Great colors. The varied greens on this star are spectacular. (approx. 11” x 9”)

& Melanie-$25: Melanie is a smooth, bright cobalt star with soft, subtle bumps. (approx. 4 ½ ” x 4”)

Cindy-$30: Cindy’s soft, light and creamy greens make her stand out from the rest. (approx. 6” x 6”)

& Mark-$35: This lively starfish has a magnificent blend of blues, with a hint of cream. (approx. 8” x 7”)

Brenda-$30: The semi-matte orange glaze on Brenda makes her look life-like! (approx. 6” x6”)

& Jen-$30 (sold)

Patrick-$35: This sizeable starfish has subtle blue spots under its blue coat. Nice touch. (approx. 8” x 8”)

& Judy-$40: A wonderful blend of greens with a hint of brown; The textured bumps really stand out on this one! (approx. 9” x 8 ½ ”)

Getting fired up!...updated Fri, Jan.9, 2009

2008-12-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the latest creations I've made--soon to be (or being) fired in the kiln......Stay tuned for finished products....
Salmon swimming into the wall:

A sea urchin:

More fish:

Heart bowls (just in time for Valentine's Day!):

Sometimes I get a little side tracked in the studio.....Introducing.....Mr.PinchPot Head!!! (comes with various accessories....)