The girls are done!!!

Stick a fork in them!

Now I need a vault to put them in so that I don't have

any disasters before they get to their soon to be new home in Long Island!

That said.... I have had some other work come out but my new way to take photos is by 

an open door and right after I shot these, the sun came out!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

(works great when overcast...)

They really shrink... as you all know... 

They started at over 26" as the tallest height and 

we are down to 22 ish...

However, here is a smaller little sumpin' sumpin'

that I am saving for Vessels Gallery in Boston as a possibility for some work she will be showing!

Shhhhh....

3 Sisters....

Well.. I am done creating the girls...

These chicks are about 24 inches tall give or take so we shall see what happens as they shrink... but they had to FIT IN THE KILN....

This is a commission and my buyer wants to see how some glaze ideas I have will work on it...

The real deal is she would have loved wood fired pieces... But that ain't happnin' so...

I am going to try out some sprinkling of color on some small pieces I still have to carve a little...

Using glaze.... the clay is tan...standard 225... which I like, alone... but hopefully I can achieve something she likes.... I have some ideas...

I am also thinking a lot about pinching clay again... frankly I really like to mix up my techniques.

Bothe creatively and physically it feels good to switch around a bit especially when the thumb or brain starts to go numb and tingly...

1 down, 2 to go...

In the studio...and so it goes...

Drying a bit ... close to 25" now... They have to shrink to fit in the kiln... 

They are DYING to be carved!

These are currently being bisque fired... I did a 12 hour hold at 180 F so hopefully no explosions...

This is Chai... She is meditating... She is ZEN like that...

Really?

You have GOT to be kiddin'.

Until we meet again Deer Isle...

So.... this was my farewell view before we headed back from
Deer Isle, Maine yesterday at sunrise.
This trip was fabulous... Amazing nature...outdoor activities.... ARTISTS ARTISTS ARTISTS... INCREDIBLE farming... delicious fresh home grown produce, eggs, cheeses.... handmade food... and craft...
Nice nice people... new friends, old friends, potters, writers, gallery owners, painters, black smiths, metal smiths, multi- media artists....cooks...
Dogs... cats, chickens, pigs, goats, SEALS...
Standup Paddle Boarding in the bay.... scrounging for drift wood and inspirational shots along the coast...
Our puppy swimming and catching a ride on our stand up paddle boards...
Our sons harvesting 75 mussels for dinner, fishing, swimming, boating, paddling, finding insects and starfish and the SEA URCHIN...
LOBSTAH LOBSTAH and MORE LOBSTAH!
Amazing sunrises and sunsets...
Oh and WINE....
So let me back up... I was working on these pieces before I left... Hope to get the teapots into the kiln tonight...

This was my car knitting on the way down and back.... more to do but close to finished... It's a mercerized cotton yarn with texture(picked up on the boston trip) Hope to finish the "Wrap" soon to wear it... Plus... I have other knitting to get to...

This was one of the many views and the SEALS would swim around a little island out there making wide circles around the stand up paddle boards!! They are like DOGGIES!!!

Inspirational rock.

These are some driftwood finds..

Crazy inspirational tree roots...

LUSCIOUS cabbages planted at Four Seasons Farm!

The view from the studios at Haystack School of Craft.
I WILL do a workshop there... eventually...

More rock inspiration.

and more...

and more...

Listen.... it was an amazing trip and we seriously have thoughts regarding longer term plans up there someday... but for now... it is back to it... The Garden State... full of inspiration and ideas, activity and peace... I already took a walk and paddled on the river here to GRASP on to the feelings that we

had there. It is a magically wonderful peaceful place... you should go... if you can. 

So worth the 10 hour plus drive!!!!

Taking a Break

Deer Isle, Here we come!
Going to enjoy Down East, Maine.
I plan to relax, walk, stand-up paddle, sketch, do yoga, meditate, walk, explore, maybe bike, relax, try to check out Haystack, sketch, write, read, do puzzles, drink wine and eat LOBSTER!







Now....
If the kids can get along, and the weather can cooperate, I hope to pull myself out of the latest black cloud that prompted that last post...  Pottery explosions, freak accidents of pieces toppling over, kiln stilts sticking to a shelf and then dropping and cracking huge, labor intensive platters.



And then,
I think about how we must take each moment of each day with presence and embrace life.

A woman I knew as a beautiful lady, rocker and amazing photographer was heading to a job and stopped at a gas station complaining of a headache.
Then she was gone. Aneurism.
You NEVER know, so seize it.

Your light lives on, Linda.

Impasse

See that blank space?
That is where my head is.
Or is it...?
You know how light/white is actually All COLORS?
Well...THIS is actually where I am now...internally.
EVERYTHING and NOTHING.
Mid-life crisis?
Nah...I have these crisis issues throughout my life so I can't chock it up to that.

I am referring to my art but it is not like I live in a vacuum(although, sometimes when I am working in my studio, it feels that way)...It IS EVERYTHING and NOTHING.
WHAT AM I DOING?
Certainly not saving the world...
Of course, I never really set out to do that.
I am intensely drawn to create, to MAKE, to use my hands, etc, and produce.

And so I start to analyze...
"Why Clay?"
Well, Clay drew me in with the touch of it.
The malleability.
The way in which it responds to touch ...but that is fleeting too...
The way it changes at different stages.
It is so responsive at first and then it is eventually DONE.

It is like Clay is telling me,
"I gave you a chance back there and you blew it...
You need to pay more attention to me when I need attention...
NOT when you feel like it...Miss Thing!"

Now, this starts me thinking,
"WHY CLAY?"
Well... As we all know(ceramic artists especially),
She/He is really tricky, that little Clay You-Know-What...
She/He lures you in and entices you and all while letting you see from existing creations what she/he is capable of becoming, as well as coyly letting you infer other future outcomes...
"If I could do that(for Voulkos, Karnes,Takeazu,fill in name of masterful artist....),
you might want to see what else I can do...Come on baby, give it a try, I dare you..."

A little slutty, no?
I mean, really.
And so for about 9 years now, I have let that little trollop in...
flirting with me, taking time away from my family, other interests,
exercise at times, giving me back problems... you name it...
And yet...Clay has thrown me a few bones:
Happiness when pieces please me visually.
Interesting discoveries that lead to more, heavier involvement.
Accolades and purchase from others that reinforce the direction I am going in.
The huge array of possibilities of what can be done with Clay...endless...

That "YOU-KNOW-WHAT" has me wrapped around his/her little finger and messes with me on a regular basis.
AND, I can't help wondering if he/she is keeping me from getting out there and meeting some NEW interest/medium/life interest...
If you are in a relationship already it's pretty hard to put yourself out there to meet others...
Just sayin'.
I mean, I feel like Clay and I have been heavily seeing each other over these nine years...
We have a history, wonderful memories, as well as knock-down, drag-out fights and really, it can be a little difficult...(exploring abuse and toxicity)...

I am in a strange place.
(As a fashion designer, I NEVER thought that I would leave....)
I consider myself an artist. I do.
What that means, REALLY, can be rather loaded...
But, is it time to explore other mediums(or even techniques, applications,genres) more seriously...
I have gone out on a few friendly dates while maintaining this "serious relationship" but I have continued to return to Clay...
I continue to knit...but not any serious fiber work...
Drawing, only to sketch pots...
As I type this, I have a sinking feeling...
Sort of like I am being a cheater even  revealing these thoughts...

Meanwhile...I won't likely be DROPPING Clay like a hot potato...
BUT... before I DIG in even deeper, I feel like I should put these thoughts out there
and ask the universe for thoughts, opinions, empathy?
I have always seen other mediums coming later in life...

Don't get me wrong... I don't want to work specifically with Glass or Metal....

I may want a "three-some" with them some day...

NO... it is more about remnants of my past...

Fiber, Textiles, Jewelry... perhaps... Drawing even...

And I really think I am just getting an itch that will be satisfied if I continue to explore...without abandoning...

Just feeling very "carpe diem" but also not sure I want to do play the field so much that I never have any real intimacy and rich relationship...

On that note... I will be going into my overheated(bisque is going) studio to
"hook-up" with Clay and see what today brings...
Please don't mention this to Clay as it may just be a phase and I don't want to rock the boat....

Sidney Swidler

Yesterday I was out taking a walk with Mike and I get a phone call that shows up as Michigan... I am thinking... WRONG NUMBER.
This gentleman introduces himself as Sidney Swidler... sounded familiar but wasn't sure why...
He tells me he is interested in this piece of mine on Etsy and that he really has been a collector over the years and a couple of years ago he gifted 804 pieces to the Crocker Museum and he is retired but he is still doing some collecting.
It sounded real and I agreed to help him purchase the piece and thanked him so very much for his interest!!!
We followed up on the telephone today as he completed his purchase and I had a long, lovely conversation with him about his decisions were made, especially the gifting decision...
He continued by telling me he has already sent a photo of the piece to the lovely lady at the Crocker Museum as they are to choose pieces from his collection to take when he leaves this earth( I let him know I truly hoped that was not in the near future...being in his mid-eighties, he had no interest in leaving yet.
Of course NOW I need to buy the Book!
Needless to say, this was a wonderfully cool experience and I could not be happier having met this fine, appreciative gentleman... so I wanted to share it with you!

Kansas City Clay Guild Teabowl National

Happy to be included in this show again this year!

"KC Clay Guild Teabowl National 2012"

August 17-September 28, 2012

Opening Reception is August 17th, 2012 

Thornhill Gallery • Avila University • 11901 Wornall • Kansas City, MO

BOOM!

Happy 4th.
These 2 were entered in the StarBrick Gallery Salt n Pepper show.

They are in!
Gala Show opening Friday July 27th 5-10 pm 
Starbrick Gallery 
21 West Columbus Street, Nelsonville, Ohio
in the Historic Square Arts District, one block north of RTE 33.
starbrick@gmail.com

Frustration with a dash of... Happy?

None of those last items worked out exactly as I would have liked...
The teapot is ok... but the texture is not my favorite...
I didn't love the glaze on the carved  cups and I drop one and it shattered while glazing... nice..
The bowl is the saddest... 3 places with cracks on the inside carving that did not repair when I tried.
Makes me cranky...
Frustrated.

I get little fissures too and if the pieces were glazed and covered with color and texture, it would not matter... Wabi Sabi and such.
BUT... my aesthetic seem to bring me back to these pieces that are glazed or slipped or sprayed with slip of various clay colors and the little "imperfections"(sad but true description) ruin the pieces for me... and others?
I guess I have to SUCK IT UP and go with my gut...

One thing I have been working with is spraying slip on the pieces and the finish becomes sort of sprinkle-y finish.
I may play around with layering, going forward but for now, the clean, dry, matte finish is the the closest to the the way the pieces look leather hard- my favorite time in the process.
Below are some quick shots or what I have pulled together for some upcoming competitions and recent pulls from the kiln with the  subtle sprayed slip texture...
The white pieces are stoneware with a porcelain slip, the tan salt and peppers have a red clay spritz of slip and the others have a porcelain spritz of slip...
The beginning...

Off to the Outerbanks tomorrow... LONG 8 hour+ car ride... I will take photos, sketch book and maybe some thrown pieces to carve down there... we shall see... 

New Developments

In the studio...

Do I have more growing to do?

Hmmm... This is what I got as a response to an app to a pretty high end show.
I am not sure what to do.
Do I react?
I want to see what was chosen, for sure.
I felt like it was a reach... 
but I WAS STILL HOPING FOR ACCEPTANCE.
Admittedly, I have a lot going on right now (outside of the work) and I do believe there is a reason for everything and yet... I STILL WANTED TO GET IN.
It would require booth development and outlay of funds and a lot of work and hours and physical exhaustion...
But I STILL WANTED TO BE ACCEPTED.
I do still feel that I have room to develop my surfaces and  feel like I am still vacillating between
not wanting to create work that is overly refined and "Perfectionist" and still allowing the detail of the carving not to get lost in too much texture... 
SO...I can't help but wonder if I was really ready to apply 
or
wonder if I should consider changing my direction.... 
AND YET....
I feel like I am still HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION....
BUT if you can't wait for all of the lights to turn green to leave your house,
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE REALLY READY TO APPLY FOR A SHOW?
If I don't try, I will never know...
BUT  I am missing the CRITIQUE PART... 
Was it the actual work that got me declined?
Was it not high enough in terms of quality/craftsmanship?
Was it inexperience on my statement of shows I have been in?
Was the work not cohesive enough?
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
Would you guys consider giving me your thoughts?



 : Sorry, your application has been declined.

Dear JUDI TAVILL,

Thank you very much for giving our 2012 jury panel the opportunity to review your application for the ___________Craft Show. I am sure you understand how difficult the task is to select from so many fine applicants and especially to have to turn down excellent artists in an effort to create a balanced show.

Regrettably, they have not selected your work to be included in this year’s show. We greatly appreciate your interest in the < _____________ Show and hope that you will apply again.  Each year we invite a different mix of jurors, and their perspective and emphasis will be different from those of their predecessors’.

Sincerely,

____________ Director, ___________

Category: Ceramics
Artist: JUDI TAVILL

Artist Statement:

The human body, nature, and the world around me are inspiring to me. I am not interested in replicating but, rather, reinterpreting this in my work. My textile background ultimately informs the work as well. The process of creation and the manner in which I choose to work stimulates me creatively, allowing for investigation and exploration. I use several different natural clay colors and throw the form on the potter's wheel, then I proceed to alter and carve interchangeably. It is the synergy created during this hand-to-clay contact that is both meditative and energizing to my soul. The residual markings found in all of my forms, affirms the reality of how the human spirit remains part of the vessel’s creation. I am emphasizing the vessel as a sculptural vehicle but many pieces function. The location the piece comes to reside in will ultimately determine its scale and presence. These forms find harmony in environments from modern to rustic. This completes the creative process for me.
MANDATORY: Booth Description or Booth Image
Pipe and drape in clean,neutral fabric. Various table/shelving/pedestal style configurations with clean organic, modern approach.1 black & white(antiqued) enlarged image hanging with artist name. Overhead lighting track style and possible floor covering.
2011 SHOWS PARTICIPATED IN (Other than Crafts America Shows)
No retail/wholesale craft shows in 2011. The KC Clay Guild's Juried Tea Bowl National Show Kansas City, MO 2011

OF COURSE, in the middle of typing this, I get a phone call from a gentleman in Ontario who seeked me out to buy THREE of my vases as a surprise for a ceremony renewing the vows of his marriage after FORTY  years... and on MY ANNIVERSARY, no less...SO whatever I am told, I realize I can handle it... as all opinions and critiques are subjective, I presume! 

Tonight and tomorrow!!!

Not the best photos BUT....
You can see my work in the Gilbert's house and the Verma's house
on the Rumson Kitchen Tour tomorrow(see margin) and/or...


TONIGHT and tomorrow at Salt Creek Grill at my "vendor table!
4-8 pm tonight, 9:30am-3pm tomorrow.
Tonight there is 1/2 price wine!!!



PLUS...I am debuting my new jewelry!!!

A Little Taste of What Has Been Going On in the Studio

My Purple Hair...

Candy Dishes?

GO BIG or GO HOME!

Big Bowl Form