Starting My Junior Art Portfolio Pieces

In order to get my BFA, my college has us put on our own show, both as juniors and as seniors. The junior show is small, 5 to 7 pieces and we get a section of a large hallway in our library. We also have to show our pieces to the entire art department; talk about our work, the theme, form, content, etc..
Anyways, I have been thinking a lot about my theme lately an I have unknowingly been living my theme through my ceramics since I started. I am a psychology minor and I feel a strong connection between my art and the psychology behind it. One reoccurring theme in the psychology I have been studying is the Hero's Journey. It's all about being unhappy in the life you are living at the moment, and taking a "journey" to find your bliss/ passion/ religion/ etc.. Then, making the "journey" back to the 9 to 5 world and be able to live you live with your bliss. It's different for everyone and I feel like I have been experiencing my bliss every time I sit down at my wheel, every time I throw a pot, every time I mold the earth into a vessel that contains me, my life and my hero's journey. The vessel contains me. That is the one sentence I am thinking in my head every day.

My vessels are a physical  manifestation of my journey. Dancing is also a way for me to reach my bliss.
I have been dancing off and on, my whole life, whether it's ballet, jazz, blues, swing, west coast, salsa or tango. When I dance, I am feeling my bliss surge through my body like a lightning bolt.
Likewise, when I work on the wheel, I can feel the energy and my bliss pouring through my hands and to the rest of my body. So I had to join the two.
I have also been working with wire sculptures since high school and I love how it mimics the whirls of the clay in a thrown piece. So these are two wire sculptures, a couple tango dancing, I made for my show. These are just a trial run, the real ones are going to be copper wire with patina, to give them an aged look. This couple is an actual snapshot of two of my friends out on the dance floor, which makes it even more personal for me. Anyways, thats a long rant about my work. Hope you all enjoy. More to come.

Sons of Clay

When I was at the Sonoma galler opening, I was chatting with Doug Browe for a bit and mentioned another gallery opening the next day in Gualala, CA. He was also going to be in that one, called the Sons of Clay. I was sold, so I made the three hour trip the next day to see this amazing show.

Ryan Hurst, Craig Petey, Owen Nelson, Doug Lawrie, Robert Brady, Darren Cockrell, Doug Browe, Jason Dunn, Tom Coleman, Scott Parady, Nick Schwartz, and Rod Guyer.

Doceo Argilla- Ceramics Educators of California

I went to a gallery opening last weekend featuring my two ceramic professors, in Sonoma, CA. Doug Browe, one of my worksop artists, was also featured. It was a great show! Someday it will be my turn.

Sheri Leigh O'Conner's work. My other ceramics professor.

                                                             Doug Browe's piece. (Above)

                                  Rick Parsons, my advanced ceramics professor's work. (Above)

Summer of Workshops- Randy Brodnax and Don Ellis

My last workshop of the summer with Randy and Don was amazing. The most memorable experience over the course of the week was a compliment I was given by Randy. I was sitting at my wheel, working on a vessel form that Don had taught the class earlier that day. Randy comes up and sits next to me and gives me a tip or two for my piece and then he said, " If you don't become a great artist and keep going with your work, I am personally going to come back here and kick your butt." From an artist who's work I have seen across the US, I was quite flattered and moved. From that point on, I have been thinking about clay and art every minute of everyday, working towards my goals.

 One of my finished pieces. (Above)

These are both Randy and Don's pieces that they either brought or made during the workshop. Beautiful!

My take on Randy's fish sculpture.

Two of my finished pieces from the workshop, both heading to auction soon.