Work In Progress

This is a work in progress that I thought I would share with you all. You can see the sketch on the blackboard in the background, but it is something that will go at the end of the driveway with our house address on it. I'm not really sure what to call it - number column, address totem, what?? If you have any ideas on what this should be called, please let me know!! It will be 6' tall when its done and it will have 5 or 6 sections to it. Here, I am building up the 3rd part.... These are detail shots of the carvings on the main portion of the "pot".

Planters

This is the first time in a very long time that I get to make pottery and sculpture just for me. I am currently working on more planters for the house, since my first really big one was a bit unsuccessful. I made it in two sections, and the top section didn't survive the firing so well. I suspect the problem was that I fired it before it was thoroughly dry! Oops!!! But here is a picture of the first big coil-built planter with a fern in it. It is missing the top section, but I feel it is still very acceptable, as is. So, I still haven't gotten this planter thing out of my system, so I have been working on another one. Not quite as tall, but I think my technique is getting better. I have also been working on some new decoration for the surface. Since losing my mother this year, I have so much pent up inside of me, and now I think it is time to start the process of getting it out. I am going for personal narrative and iconography in my surface design. I've always enjoyed drawing and carving in the clay, so this is what I am doing. I'm layering colors and designs and materials and so far, I will show you what I have. Now, this planter is still wet, and is not finished, but it is far enough along that I can show you. Here are some photos... That second photo is a detail shot from the other side of the pot. I'm not sure how tall the planter is, but you can see a coffee cup in the first photo to get a sense of scale. If you zoom in, the surface design is all about what has been happening in my life in the past year or so. I shall keep you posted on how the planter finishes up. Please feel free to comment!