Spirit of Night Shadows, 3-2016

During the full moon in February, i happened to go outside and notice the unusual cloud formations.  While trying to get some photos of the beautiful night sky (unsuccessfully!), I was walking around our yard.  The street light at the corner of our lot is an unusual color of light and as I was walking around I realized that in one spot in the yard, the light turned the winter grass ORANGE!  I was stunned and could not take my eyes off of it. The more I looked the incredible orange grass and burnt sienna shadows grew all around me.  It was a beautiful sight.  This is a much more simple painting, but is still one of my favorites as it reproduces the unusual night shadows of that February moonlit night.

24"x36", mixed media--hand rubbed acrylic background, acrylic and pastel.

Spirit of My Sweet Girl (on Turning 16), 3-2016

My great niece, Kathryn Reilly Colburn, just turned 16.  Her grandmother sent me a photo of her in the Yosemite mountains where they celebrated her birthday. This photo torn at my heart as she seemed so grown up, so much the young woman she is growing into, and yet, there was the sled, as if she was still hanging on to a bit of her childhood.  I used my sister's photo for a reference for this painting of my sweet girl........this is what I have called her since she was little.  She will always and forever, be my sweet girl, no matter how grown up she is.  

24"x36", mixed media, hand rubbed acrylic background, acrylic and pastel.

Spirit of Lazy Days, 3-2016

My favorite bird is the pelican and especially the pelican's on our rivers and creeks that feed into Waconda Lake in north central Kansas.  They seem so peaceful and calm as I float by on my kayak.  They do not seem nervous or scared and seem to be willing to share the peacefulness of the water, the day, while we enjoy our lazy days on the water. 

Spirit of Lazy Days, 15"x30", mixed media--hand rubbed acrylic background, acrylic and pastel.

Spirit of the Raven's Call, 3-2016

I've finished the companion to the 'Spirit of the Raven's Watch'.  This piece is 9"x12"  mixed media--white ink on black paper, black ink, rice paper and colored paper collage.

Spirit of the Raven's Call

Spirit of Serenity, 2-29-16

Today I completed the painting I started last week, 'Spirit of Serenity', 24"x24", mixed media--acrylic background rubbed on by hand which makes a VERY soft blended background, ink for text and pastel.  The text is my favorite prayer by Mother Theresa:

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

(It is there for each and every one of us.  Mother Theresa)

The last line is not in the painting.  May this painting bring you the peace and possibilities, freedom and serenity that is born of faith.

'Spirit of Serenity' 24"x24" mixed media

American Ceramic Society Recognition, Jan 6th, 2016

I found out that the American Ceramic Society has chosen one of my articles published in the Ceramic Monthly Magazine last year to be included in the Ceramic Arts Handbook, an actual BOOK featuring articles by the best ceramic artists of our time and their tips and techniques!  I am SO honored!!!!  I received my complimentary copy of the book on January 6th, 2016 and would like to share the photos of the book and article.  It is just too exciting for this little rural country girl!  THANK YOU, American Ceramic Society!!!

This is the cover of the book.

This is the index page that has MY name and article listed.....page 105!

Page 105, first page of my article featuring MY low relief carved brick relief sculpture in the easel on the top HALF of the page!  4'x6' fired ebony brick, newly installed (November, 2015) in front of my studio in Downs, KS.

Middle two pages with illustrations on building an easel for carving brick, design by Carol Urban, one of my CCCC ceramic students.

4th and last page of the article with photos of the completed easels.

Alcohol Ink, Feb., 2016

I was so fortunate to take an alcohol ink workshop from one of my old students, Theresa Gram.  She gave us a great price for the workshop and then sent all the supplies HOME with us!  It was a tremendous offer, workshop and so much fun to boot!  We worked on black and white ceramic tiles using many techniques.  I LOVED the MAGIC of this medium.  I truly felt 5 years old when the wonder of art IS pure magic!

These are the beginning tiles I made at the workshop.  The various techniques were  (top left, down and then up to the right):  1. using water with the ink to give a more transparent background. 2.  blowing/running wash.  3.  (square) applied ink then spritzed with alcohol leaving a wonderful texture.  4. black tile using WHITE ink then dropping color into the white and blowing with a straw. 5. (larger rectangular tile)  used finger tip to 'draw' the petals of the flower and then outlined detail with small brush.

These were all the supplies that Theresa gave us to take home!  Left is samples of different papers that could be used with the alcohol inks; top center is the spray can of air and the blue, red, yellow inks and a blending solution, the sample tiles I made and the white tiles that I didn't get to (4); right is the storage box and 2 brushes !  JACKPOT!  Thank you Theresa!