Odd photo

This photo is posted for no other reason than it is a quirky accident. It reminds me that beauty can be found in the unexpected. I was taking photos on the farm of reflections. I took this one looking into the trough with the slime at the bottom. But it wasn't till I looked at the photos later on the computer, that I saw the ballcock that looked like a sun. Although it must have been obvious at the time I took the photo. Just shows...you often only see what you expect to see.

Recycled deck-chairs@twist

There has been a lack of blogging lately due to 'dodgy' Internet connections. Rural living has its pitfalls. Although I would have to say I have been pushed to the limit waiting for things to load ...it has reminded me how much of an instant gratification world we have become and how patience, the ability to observe and empathise are becoming a lost art. ANYWAY... I have been buying old deckchairs from the hospice and other junk shops and using test pots to vent my feelings on things. This chair is very comfy and is called the 'I AM so over you chair'. (Inspired by 'discussions' with my teenage daughter). All the chairs start with the 'I AM' statement. If you are not from New Zealand you may not get the reference to Colin McCahon's 'I AM' paintings. Do google his work. It is very cool. I have a series of these chairs on the go...for no other purpose than a bit of fun! (and to send 'snaky' messages.)

Very blessed

I feel very blessed to live up in the ranges on the edge of the national park. It is peaceful and the bird life is amazing. Something interesting is always happening in nature. Down the road is a great beach that the dog loves walking on, the kids can have adventures and make constructions, skim rocks....and when I get the courage I will take my horse down for a ride! I am so blessed to live in such a beautiful place.

Creatures

This is one of a series of creatures I have been experimenting with..fish,dogs, rats, cats. They are appearing on posts all around the farm...hiding in gardens. Silently watching the farm comings and goings. Like little guardians. The heads are like a bowl so a small tea light candle can go inside at night. I have started experimenting more with combining glazes and wiping glazes back and layering.

A blast from the past!

I was having a tidy up in the studio and found this painting I did about eight years ago. I used to be into painting groups of people 'out and about'....like riding London buses, walking in the park, at cafes, walking the foreshore etc. It was fun doing the people...each time I was out I would watch one person closely and then bring them home (in my head) to put in the painting that night.  

Proximate Accessit!

I am so proud of Millie. She so deserves it! And it is nice to see recognition for a student doing all 'art' subjects.  She had her last exam today. She has been doing scholarship.  I am filled with sadness too. It is the end of an era.  My first born baby is about to leave home. I will miss her but am excited to hear about her adventures on the next stage of her life.  

More considering spaces

Here is another shot considering spaces. This time it is the hall way before we moved in and now. And over time I am sure it will 'morph' and change again. It is fascinating how we as humans use the space we live in...and how function is often not the most over riding factor.

Jess and the hose.

Wa hoo!  Millie got into Elam!  I don't care if she changes her mind and doesn't want to go... it is the getting in that counts!  I love this photo she took of our dog Jess.  Millie is very clever with her photography. I love how she can capture the essence of the subject.

The 'project' and thinking about spaces.

Lately I have been considering the spaces we live in and how we use them.  Here are four photos.  Each are part of a pair. (Before and after). Before we moved in and now we are here in this place.  I tried to take them from the same angle as the first photo. Both these are of the dining room.  It is interesting to consider how we as humans use the space we live in. Also how spaces change over time and with fashion.  These photos of the same room are taken 18 months apart. There are many changes to make still.  The initial changes on the house have been cosmetic... recycling and upcycling where possible.

New Rats or are they 'Foxies'?

This rat is in 'Kina'. (A craft and design store in town).  It hasn't sold yet.  Sonja who works there rang and said people don't like the idea of rats....and suggested I change the name to 'foxies'.  I resisted because these rats came about in memory to the rat that died in our ceiling. (See an older post). When I have more work to drop in I will pick him up and bring him home. He can keep me company in the studio.

Aunty's row boat.

My Aunty has always had a thing for row boats. I have done chalk drawings for her of them and a few years ago made this row boat.  It was one of the first things I made in clay.  The wood tech teacher where I worked helped me fashion the oars.  I like it now. I like it's imperfections.

Caravans for fun!

As my dilemmas continue about the caravan 'do-up'.....I found another couple of pictures that tickled my fancy.  Have you ever heard of the saying 'Trailer Trash'? It is a saying that has always made me giggle!   ANYWAY....I have decided to leave the Elk baby pretty original.  Easy to change my mind later but not so easy to go back if I have painted etc.  We are going away in the new year for a week in her.  That should help us resolve what to do. I have sewn new curtains out of some 1970's tea towels.

Moving stuff on!

Sometimes it is good to clear out stuff and move it on !? Make room for the new. Due to way too little time to create lately and the need to put work in a local exhibition I have had to look again at work I have up around the house that could be used. I have got so used to some of the work that I don't really notice them anymore. I have had to step back and try to see them in a more critical light.  Up to now I have tried to keep one work from each stage I have gone through.  The exhibition is timed to be on during world cup games and is called 'The Blue Line'. I like this title.  It is called this due the the blue line our local council has painted along the footpath to led visitors for the world cup from the centre of town to the stadium. A distance of about three kilometres. Quirky little idea!

More snow Photos!

Worth putting here for the family record! A once in a life time event. SOOOO 'cool' and wet and cold...

The Big snow.

A few weeks back we had the once in 50 years snow fall. AMAZING. It suddenly started about 6.30 a.m and we were guttered to have to head off to work around 7.30 a.m. We all desperately hoped it would still be snowing when we got home late afternoon.....but it wasn't. In the morning it just covered the fields for miles and miles around.  The bit I liked the most was the eiree silence that accompanied it. And it was so pretty.
A few weeks on, I am cursing how it has killed all my plants that had just started getting their spring growth. The Taro, Canna lillies and Puka trees have been especially hard hit.
On, what shall now be forever called the 'snow morning', I did curse and hiss alot. It was bitterly cold in the early morning trying to get covers on the horses with the snow being driven in horizontally in the dark...trying to do the cattle etc, get to school/work and get my class of new entrants on a trip to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery by 9.00 a.m AND then discovering me and my daughter had head lice as we left home (for the 20 minute drive into town)! Oh the perils of teaching!

Caravans

I am about to get the caravan out and spruce it up.  Do I leave it as it is... or do I fancy it up?  Such a dilemma. Last year I took these photos of caravans.  The top image I took in Arrow town and the bottom one in Wellington. Our Caravan is a 1976 Elk/Sprite.  It has yellow upholstery and cream vinyl.  The exterior is baby blue.  I love the caravan. 

Knowing where they have gone.

It is always really cool to know where your work ends up.  This chap sold at 'Kina' last week. He was brought by a fashion designer who was visiting here. He went back on the plane as hand luggage to Sydney. He was going back as a 21 st present for the son of the person who brought him. Chuffed!

Posters

Recently I painted this poster for the New Plymouth Potters annual exhibition. 

Vessels

Lately I have been making cylinders to hold pencils, toothbrushes, paintbrushes, flowers etc etc...in fact just about everything. Much like the candlesticks, the decoration involves drawing onto the surface. With the candlesticks the design is painted on. With the vessels the design is scratched into the surface with an old dentists tool. It makes for fantastic texture but is unforgiving if you are not sure of hand! It is tricky to photograph a round object.  The words say 'Koru' and 'Aroha'.  I like the idea of the history of primitive vessels and the part they have played in social interaction throughout human existence. Deep.

Postscript-These two have sold at Kina. 

Candlesticks

Going one step further with the idea of using 'doodles' from old diaries and sketchbooks to decorate a surface. I have also made some brightly coloured ones but do not know if the idea works so well with the use of colour. I have been using one of these at home and it throws out a lovely light at night.

Puppy dog.

A puppy dog. I really enjoyed working with the big ears! The Keanes Raku is still causing issues with the clear glaze over top during firing. Will resolve next firing.  But I am feeling much happier with how the puppy feet are going during construction and firing. Small things amuse small minds!

Post script- Sold at Kina.

Virtual Tarts @home

Dale Copeland (who I admire SO much) has just made a book about the artists who feature on her virtual tart web site.  There are about 50 Taranaki artists on the site and the book is a visual delight.   I am so proud to be a part of it. Recently she had a party at her place at Puniho.  Great fun.  This photo came from the party and has one of my favourite artists in the front left.  Alby Carter...you rock!

Tonight we have just got back from driving to Elam art school in Auckland. We drove up yesterday and back tonight.  Knackered. 5 to 6 hours each way.  Then a whole day at the varsity today before driving back.  My eldest daughter wants to go to art school next year.  We drove up for the open day. Long drive....Have I mentioned how knackered we are tonight? She so much wants to go to Elam and I know how talented she is.  She so deserves it. BUT there are 400 applicants and 120 places. Hmm. AND they seem to only look at the 12 portfolio photos of their work not their academic stuff as well. It is doing my head in tonight as I so want her to be able to do what she wants. Best go to bed now...tiredness makes for crazy thoughts!

Doggy bookends.

What a learning curve this little chappy was! The big discovery was that slabs 'warp' during firing and that next time I would have the front feet separate from the slab part...more stand alone from the body....to provide more support. Despite this, I am still using the 'doggy ends' to support my sketchbooks in the studio and they are working well. I am looking forward to making more soon.

French bull dog

I am really happy with the last lot of dogs that came out of the kiln. I am not so happy about how the underglaze and clear glaze went over the Keane Raku clay.  A bit gritty and some serious explosions in the kiln! All part of the learning curve?

                  

Prints

The kiln 'blast' has made me revisit other loves!  Printmaking...such fun...here are some woodcuts and etchings drying. Maybe I should go back to printmaking!

I wish!

If I had my time again...as a woman in my twenties (rather than late 40's) this would be the look I would go for.   Recently we had an 80's fashion day at the school I work for.  I went punk and so loved it!  Such fun.  Like the previous 'Ruby' entry...I have no idea where I got the picture but I keep it in my dressing table and it gives me inspiration. She reminds me of the daughter in the 'Californication' programme on T.V.    

Scratch!

More work around the theme of doodles.

Flax flowers and winter rain.

A simple picture from the farm last summer.  It is giving me hope that the rain, cold and wind will stop! We are away visiting one of our favourite places (Raglan)...and we have discovered it is not just us who are having lots of rain and mud at the moment.  On the beach at the headland today I was shocked at the 'drifts' of dead sea birds. I have read about it in the paper (all along the west coast) but nothing prepared me for the sheer number of dead seabirds who have died from the storms (exhaustion etc) over the last few months. So sad. I was very disturbed by it.  

Road trip!

A few weeks ago Millie and I went on a road trip.  We took all right turns on the road and stopped randomly where and when we felt like it! One of our stops was at a farm 22 kilometres off the main road up by Tauranga. They breed miniature ponies.  'Windsong' farm I think it was called. We had a great time looking around the ponies and the crystal garden. I was so impressed by their friendliness. We spent ages looking at the crystal garden and the discussing the various properties of the crystals with the owners. It was one of those pivotal moments in life when you realize that life events have taken you over and you have become a person who is a long way from who you thought you were.  Millie and I stopped at the beach at Awakino on the way home and took lots of photos of shadows.  I really like this photo Millie took of me. The photography she is doing is amazing. One day I hope she will let me share some here.

A couple of strange ones that didn't work.

Don't really like either of these.  But still fun to make and they now live in the outer reaches of the garden on the farmlet.  Aspects of them I will use in future works. 

Pretty blue bowls.

I really like the low fire alkaline glazes.  These are over a range of white clay bodies. The firing temp was pushed to cone 3 (should have been 03). Interesting  pulling effects occurred.

Mouse man

Is it a mouse? Is it a dog?  I really am not sure.  But he is friendly, affectionate and loving.  He is also very loyal and non-judgemental.