artandlife

New Booth

2012-02-14T07:31:00.001-05:00

framed blown up linoleum cuts

Framed Alice in Wonderland Prints

Come on down to the Handmade Emporium at Design Archives on Elm Street in Greensboro to see the booth! Recently, Paige from LuLu Groove had to give a fond farewell to the Handmade Emporium because she is rocking her new job at Anthropologie. We miss her terribly but hope to have her back in the summer for a show or two.....in the mean time the booth is rockin a makeover. Come see it's new coat of paint and shop local!

ps....I am still working on the prints.....they are coming soon!

Skull painting.........

2012-01-26T08:13:00.002-05:00

Took an old painting and sketched/painted this little skull out. I am enamored of her hair do and crown.....she has a mate wearing a top hat but he isn't done yet....
Still working on the linoleum cuts.........posting them late today or tomorrow. Happy thursday everyone!

Balloon Skull Girl. Oil on Canvas

New Rooster Painting.....

2012-01-23T07:53:00.001-05:00

Here is the latest rooster painting. I haven't worked the kinks out of the surprise I promised for last week...but it is coming.....soon! Until then......have a great Monday people!

finished rooster......i think........oil on canvas

new prints and a surprise coming next week......

2012-01-13T10:02:00.001-05:00

I have been working on a new technique with my linoleum cuts. They aren't good enough to share yet but I am hoping next week I will have one or two that I like. Here is the artist poof of the latest cut.

Roosters......the beginning of a painted year......

2012-01-10T07:40:00.000-05:00

blue wyandotte rooster. acrylic 0n w00d

rooster fellow. acrylic on wood

stressed out little bird. oil on canvas.

stressed out little bird's mean cousin.oil on canvas


top/ 2 rooster tiles. painted clay. bottom/ 3 roosters. acrylic on wood. the two bird cousins together. oil on canvas

More skulls........

2011-12-27T18:17:00.002-05:00

Obsessiveness is a feature of my personality that I treasure and a feature that I some times hate. In my work, it can be a great benefit to be so focused on one idea. I haven't figured out yet if my skull fascination is a benefit, so to say, but I am obsessively having a great time.......

turquoise skull plaque

cross skull plaque

love skull plaque

Happiest of days everyone......

2011-12-20T08:01:00.000-05:00

Here it is. The time has come around again for family and friends to get together and celebrate. Celebrate love.....to wish for peace on Earth........to pray for those who are suffering......to dream of the future......to live with great gusto for a few precious days. This year Captain Will, Frieda and I send so much love to you and ask that you send love back out to those in the world who are in need. Let us make the world shine this year.
Happy New Year Everyone!
May you be blessed this year and for always......

The Big Crafty

2011-12-01T12:36:00.001-05:00

This weekend I am excited to say that I will be a part of The Big Crafty in Asheville, NC. Sunday the 4th of December from 12-6 we will be at Pack Place in the downtown area. Come on out and see us!

a little glimpse of my Big Crafty Booth......more to come!

New Pieces On Etsy

2011-11-22T10:17:00.001-05:00

So.......I am reopening my etsy store this month. YAY! ETSY!
I love to go on there and shop and look and ogle and covet and ogle .....sigh.....I can get lost in all the fabulous art work and pottery. If you want to stop by and see my store please do! Leanne Pizio's Clay Creations
Here is a little taste of what you will see:

Skulls came a creepin...

2011-11-13T07:26:00.001-05:00

the skulls came a creepin for Halloween but once I started....I couldn't stop. Here are the most recent ones.....

day of the dead inspired skull


wall of skulls

I have many ideas for these pieces. Recently, I have made up many different colors of slip to use. One slip in particular came out to be a nice peachy pink. The next skull I make will have the pink slip combined with the black......the design?.......roses and crosses of course.

The Keep It Local Show

2011-10-31T13:26:00.002-04:00

Even with the change in plans due to rain, we had a wonderful show this year. Sunday was sunny and bright here at The Stealing Crow Farm and we had a wonderful turn out. I am sending a big Thank You out to all of you who came to support our Keep It Local Show!

Leanne Pizio and Paige Cox

Leanne Pizio and Paige cox

Leanne Pizio

Kim McEntee's Wonderfully Whimsical Dolls

Melissa Blackburn's Fused glass Jewelry

Debbie McDaniel's beautiful Pottery

Dens Goldman's Funky and Super Fun Jewelry

Kim McEntee's Dolls

Dani Keith's Colorful Cool Jewelry

Keep It LoCal Show has been moved to Sunday

2011-10-29T07:21:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, we have been bombarded with rain over the last couple of days. So we have chosen the rain date of Sunday the 30th from 10-4 to have our show. Please come out and see us on a hopefully much sunnier and dry day!

Keep iT LocAL PeOpLe

2011-10-22T06:55:00.000-04:00

It is that time again......
Come on out to the 11th annual Keep It Local Art and Pottery Show! October 29th from 10-4. We would love to see you there.

LuLu and Bird Bird at the Handmade Emporium

2011-10-11T12:21:00.000-04:00

Me and Paige Cox of LuLu Groove have come together and rented a booth at the Handmade Emporium in downtown Greensboro, NC. We are booth # 6, located at the back of the store. We have named our booth LuLu and Birdbird. LuLu, of course, after LuLu Groove. And Birdbird after an old nickname of mine and after one of my hens whose name is Birdbird.
Every month or so the LuLu and Birdbird booth will host a theme. The goal is to change it up a bit while giving us a new challenge. For these first two months, the booth is a fun, colorful collection of pieces we both had in our studios. For December, we are working on a new theme....hope you'll stop by to see it.

What's on the shelf?......

2011-10-01T14:33:00.000-04:00

What's on the shelf today?.......cut out vases, cut out cups, wyandotte bottles, shino cups, dotty bottles and what?........who is that?.......
Here is Grommet!
Grommet is my new little monster who arrived at the house a couple of weeks ago. Created by my great friend Denise of Haphazard Knitter, Grommet graciously adopted me as his new monster mom. Isn't he a love?

Art in other places....

2011-09-27T07:12:00.001-04:00

A couple of years ago a friend and I were talking about another art blogger. What we loved about her blog was that she had her customers send in pictures of her art work in their homes or personal spaces. I loved seeing how creatively her customers displayed her work. Recently, some of my customers have let me peek into their spaces to show me how they displayed my work. Thanks Susan and Rebekah!
Here are some pictures:

anybody else?
want to send pictures?
bring it on!

Trying to keep my head above water.......

2011-09-23T08:40:00.000-04:00

as the rain keeps coming down.
It has rained here this week impossibly long. We had a brief reprieve yesterday. And then, I woke up to pouring rain this morning and my mood is matching this wet weather.
I have been working furiously on pieces for fall shows, the furniture market and orders......and this weekend I have my first show of the season. Hosted by Beth and Steve Feeback, this show is a fun, festive, colorful, whimsical show full of artists that truly step out of the box of traditional art. I am so happy to be included. (I will post pictures Sunday) If you are in the Concord, NC Saturday, please stop by and say hello.
In the mean time, here are some pictures of recent works:

Alien pieces....

2011-09-11T12:32:00.004-04:00

Next week me and Paige Cox of LuLu Groove are taking the Alien Show down to South Carolina for it's debut at Southern Pottery. We are so excited to be in such a wonderful gallery full of amazing artists. I will post all the details of the opening soon, so for those of you who live in the Columbia, South Carolina area, keep an eye out.

Here are a couple of pieces I have been working on:
(please excuse the mess)

what I am working on today.

2011-09-05T14:09:00.000-04:00

Here is the finished piece drying before going in the kiln this weekend. I think I need to make another one with a slightly bigger head.

Can''t wait to put this one together..........
Yea! for old rusted sprinklers found in the woods.........

Finished!

2011-09-03T08:39:00.001-04:00

Just a small update to show the finished teapot and bottle. This bottle will be auctioned off for a wonderful cause....the Hirsch Wellness Network annual Silent Auction and party titled Art Lives Here! Located at Gallery 115, September 17th from 5 pm—8 pm me and the Hubby will be there volunteering so come on out and see the wonderful work and us:)

Wyandotte Chickens and their beautiful feathers......

2011-08-22T13:19:00.010-04:00

Wyandotte chickens are beautiful birds. We got 8 new biddy hens this spring to help keep the roosters happy.....and also because we love having the chickens as pets. They are truly wonderful companions and a source of true joy in our lives.
And for me they are also so very inspirational.....

Here are some pictures of new Wyandotte pieces.

Hope you have a good week!
Leanne

Oh Balls!

2011-07-01T16:27:00.019-04:00

When we started thinking about the Alien Show (see this post) I tried to imagine what an alien would look like, what an alien would sound like, how they procreate. There is a lot of alien imagery out in cyberspace and it is hard not to be influenced by it. I wanted to bring my own ideas to the table. But in the end, I think the seduction was too strong and many of my aliens take after the Greys. (more explanation here) (picture here)

The theory about their reproduction, generally, is that they clone to reproduce.....but that sounds so boring. No romance, no sex.....boring. Right?
Anyhooo, in my mind, they are hatched from eggs.....spiky bright turquoise eggs, spiky mottled green eggs....

But now that the aliens show is over, I began to think of these balls as decorative pieces. I can see them running down a big glass coffee table. Put in flower planters. Nestled in a big wooden bowl.....the list goes on.

This week I have taken the spikes off the balls and carved them instead. My next move is making the pieces as big as will fit the kiln and use them as floor pieces. Here are some of the balls running across the grass. They are unglazed as of yet.....

Glaze testing with Andy Martin's Show Saver

2011-06-27T07:02:00.016-04:00

As a potter, admitting that you despise anything about the ceramic process, is often met with shocked looks and disdain. But here I am confessing, not for the first time I might add, that I HATE MAKING GLAZES. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! Wheeeeeee! that felt good......
But as much as I don't like doing it.......it still has to get done.
This week I maned up.....womaned up......and made some glaze tests.
Here are the results:

Andy Martin's Show Saver Base Glaze:
nepheline syenite 21.4
frit 3110 4.2
strontium carbonate 12.8
whiting 2.4
barium carbonate 22.8
grolleg (EPK) 2.4
silica (flint) 31.o
bentonite 3%

For Water Turquoise:
add: 4% copper carbonate

For Purple:
add: cobalt carbonate .25%
manganese carbonate 3%

For Grass Green:
add: chrome .5%
copper carbonate 3%
red iron oxide 1%

For Ultramarine Blue:
add: cobalt carbonate .5%
copper carbonate 3%

For Chartreuse:
add: .5% chrome
(be careful here. it calls for .5% not 5%. too much chrome is never a good idea)

I am going to remake the purple and the grass green with less of each metal for a little less intense color. Next week I'll post test tiles.
Have a great creative week!!!!
Leanne P

finished bottles and chicken heads

2011-06-22T12:28:00.015-04:00

Here is the finished group of bottles from the last post.
Like I mentioned previously they are glazed with:

Andy Martin's Show Saver Glaze:
nepheline syenite 21.4
frit 3110 4.2
strontium carbonate 12.8
whiting 2.4
barium carbonate 22.8
grolleg (EPK) 2.4
silica (flint) 31.o
bentonite 3%
add:
copper carbonate 4%

This glaze is AMAZING! I love it! Very stable, wide firing range- cone 3 up to cone 10, does well in oxidation or reduction, does awesome in a salt kiln, buttery surface.
I can't get enough of this glaze. Every time it comes out of the kiln I always think of candy, specifically Jolly Ranchers:)

Side note: I do not use this glaze on pieces meant for food because of the Barium content.

On another page.....or wall..... chicken heads. Everywhere!
When I am sitting in the studio carving, this is often what I see. Chicken heads peeking around the door, looking for treats from mama. So I just had to make one or two or 10......so you can have chickens peeking at you from a wall, or around a corner.

Later in honor of one of my bestest friends birthday........Giraffe Heads!
You know when you have a good friend and you can't think of one more thing to buy her/him? That is where I was this year. So I decided to make something just for her. She loves giraffes. So in your honor Lisa........

what's on the shelf......

2011-06-18T08:09:00.015-04:00

what's on the shelf this week?
Lots of orders......
Commissions can be a great support system behind an artist during the slow months in the beginning of the year. I try to manage small orders throughout the year and save the big ones for January and February when I am really slow and don't have much to do. This year I taught Winter Term at a local college and didn't have quite as much time as usual. So these past couple of weeks I have been trying to finish many orders that have stacked up on my list. This group of bottles is due next week. They will be glazed a shiny turquoise called Andy Martin's Show Saver glaze.

Also on the shelf this week are many pieces coming out of the Lotus Series.
I have an order for 2 large loti, 3 medium and 7 small. So far I have made all but 4 small loti which I hope to finish today.

Off the shelf this week is a big order that I did for the Greensboro Children's Museum. The request was to make tiles and plates that thank the museum donors by having their name carved on the pieces. I had a wonderful time working with Betsy Grant and the staff at the museum.
In the following picture are the tiles that they have hung on the barn in the Edible School Yard.
Here is some information I have quoted from their website:

"The Edible Schoolyard History

The Edible Schoolyard is a teaching garden and kitchen where children and their families can learn how to grow healthy food and create delicious snacks and meals using fresh, local, organic ingredients. The Edible Schoolyard offers children a chance to build practical gardening and cooking skills, to connect with the natural world and to enjoy nourishing food.

The Greensboro Children's Museum has been selected to be the first children's museum in the country to have an licensed Edible Schoolyard, a program created by Alice Waters and the Chez Panisse Foundation!

The Edible Schoolyard at GCM is expected to serve as a national model for other museums and children’s institutions nationwide promoting health and wellness in young children and families. "

The garden is exceptional and beautiful. They have chickens and rabbits.....and every vegetable, fruit tree, herb that one can possibly think of. What an amazing place to have in ones home town. I am proud to be a small part of such a wonderful museum.

what's on the shelf......

2011-06-05T13:03:00.008-04:00

Hello out there!!!
It has been so long since I last posted. And if there are still people out there that follow this blog thank you for being patient.......thank you bunches.
Life has been simply put-crazy.
We have had some family emergencies, but thankfully things are looking better each day that passes. We have been very blessed.
On a lighter note, we have also had some really crazy fun shows this spring. The collaborative Alien show with my great artist friend Paige Cox, traveled to Winston Salem and Greensboro. In September, the show will travel to Columbia, SC to Southern Pottery Gallery.
We also had the best "Keep It Local" home show so far. A big thank you to all of you who came out and helped make the show such a success!
With all of that said, I am happy to say that I am recommitting myself to blogging. I have truly missed this connection that the blogisphere allows and the friends I have found out there. And on that note here is what is on my greenware shelf waiting to be bisque fired this week:

pottery lingo:
green ware: formed pottery that is air dried but unfired and, thus, still raw clay.
bisque or bisqueware-is clay that has been hardened through a firing to a lower temperature somewhere around 1600 to 1800 degrees F. Bisque Firing is the first firing to harden the clay for glazing.

Keep it LocAL pEOPLE!

2011-04-20T09:26:00.003-04:00

It is that time again! Spring has rolled around and we are gearing up for the 11th annual KEEP IT LOCAL show. Join us on Saturday the 23rd from 10-4 for a fantabulous day of fun!
Fellow artists include:

Melissa Blackburn- fused glass jewelry
Diane Mannino-fiber and fabric
Lisa Skeen- fiber and food
John Malpass-pottery
Kim McEntee-fabric dolls
Dani Keith- jewelry
Beth Feeback-painting
Adrienne Byrd- mixed media
Bonnie Hitchcock-pottery
Ann Lynch-pottery
Debbie McDaniel-pottery
Tammy Lamb-salsa
and of course me Leanne Pizio!-pottery and sculpture

We are also having our 2nd annual ART HUNT. To participate all you need to do is bring 6 cans of food to donate to the local food bank and you can hunt for a piece of art.
Can't wait to see you all there!

Alien Show

2011-03-08T08:12:00.017-05:00

We are Here!.......

This show was a collaboration of Leanne Pizio and Paige Cox, two artists trying to imagine and then express the idea of alien life and landscape.
When we started talking about this show we began thinking of other worldly landscapes, color and the circus. Which led to dolls, parades, funeral parades, outer space, crop circles and aliens.
I think we left little remnants of all these ideas in the show but in the end though we focused on an alien world.
Paige Cox is an amazing fiber artist and a whiz at felt. She works from her studio at home in Greensboro, NC and you can see more of her work at lulugrove

It is not what I had hoped for......

2011-02-24T08:59:00.000-05:00

Boo!

2011-02-20T17:14:00.003-05:00

Alien Show Coming Up in March

2011-02-17T08:34:00.002-05:00

WE ARE HERE: aliens, ufo's, and otherwise quirky visitors.

Come and see a fantastical, colorful Utopian about aliens and their landscape. Paige Cox and Leanne Pizio present to you their interpretation of our friends from outer space. Urban Artware. March 4 thru 31st.

More to come..........

Keep it LocAL pEOPLE!

2010-10-28T07:46:00.004-04:00

It's that time again! Come on out and see us this Saturday!

Gearing up for Fall

2010-10-13T14:56:00.003-04:00

Wow! It has been way too long since my last post. A big apology for my lapse.....it has been a crazy end of summer and early fall. At the beginning of summer I got a chance to make some artwork for a showroom at the Furniture Market. This has kept me really busy especially with my upcoming schedule. I would post some of the pieces but they went off separately as soon as they were finished so I don't have many images. Next week, when Furniture Market starts, I will have a chance to take pictures of the showroom with the pieces inside. I will definitely post them then.

Now on to the fall season. I promised a couple of customers that I would post my schedule for the fall. If you live far away please bear with me for continuing to post about shows and such.
Schedule:
1.Fall Pottery Festival. October 24th, 11:00-5:00pm, Greensboro Curb Market,301 Yanceyville St. Greensboro, NC
2. Fall "Keep It Local" art and pottery show. October 30th, 10:00-4:00pm, Leanne's House, Oak Ridge, NC
3. Hawk Spirit Show.....November 5,6,7.....Reidsville, NC.....address coming......
4. Diane Owens Home Show. November 12, 13th, San Diego, CA.......addresses and times coming.
5. Jessica Gaston's Home Show. November 19-20th, San Fransisco, Ca........addresses and times coming.
6. Collaborative Installation Show (so far unnamed) Leanne Pizio and Paige Cox. Opening Date December 9th. Show runs from December 9th until maybe February? Southern Pottery Work Center and Gallery. Columbia, SC. Show times coming.
7. I have applied for a show on December 12th. If I get in I will post the place and times.

Besides working really hard, I have been having a really fun fall. The chickens are super crazy and such good entertainment for an over worked artist.

I hope all of you have been having a super great, fun, productive fall.
can't wait to tell you more about the collaborative show I am doing with Super Artist ( I really mean that ) Paige Cox. Go see her here @ LuLuGroove. She rocks!(the picture above is a hint)

Leanne

Thinking about the gulf....

2010-08-17T05:24:00.003-04:00

Softly dreaming....

2010-08-13T08:17:00.003-04:00

heat

2010-07-27T12:29:00.008-04:00

The heat has been outrageous this summer! You would think that being a potter and one who works around kilns and flame that I would be a little more tolerant of heat........a no. I am grumpy and itchy and edgy and unable to sit still. So to ease away the waves of hot humidness that is life here in the south.....some pictures of fun stuff to make you smile....

Frieda out by the studio

KiKi in the yard

Blue and Chickweed asleep on the couch.

Bird Bird, Kimy and Frieda in the gallery

Meditation Hut

2010-07-09T05:37:00.009-04:00

Last year I started the New Year with a resolution to meditate each day. When I began, the process was strange, unfamiliar and hard to accomplish. As the days went by, I began to see the benefits of this old, amazing process. I was more centered, calmer, less anxious.....my mind was less unruly, and I felt more connected to everything. Alas, for many reasons, my practice of this magical art eventually declined as I got busy in my fall season.
Well, long story short, Will (sweetest husband ever) made me this beautiful and super cute meditation hut to inspire a new practice to begin.
As soon as it is ready I am going to paint it and begin decorating. I can't wait!

Organization versus Chaos

2010-07-02T09:18:00.006-04:00

Which one are you?

After visiting a good friend and fellow artist this month...Ms. Cynthia of The Fairies Nest, She took me see her studio. Not only was it a beautiful space, but compared to my studio we could all agree that it was immaculate. The floor was clean, the work space was organized, the fabrics were all labeled, books were on shelves.....and the most awesome part.....there was clean space to work. Hmmmmmmm.....imagine that.....a clean table to work on without having to clear a space.....this is an artists dream. I have written about this before. My need to work in chaos. I don't enjoy it. I crave order. But it is just not to be. I will say this though.....at least i haven't gone this far.....Francis Bacon's Studio.....yet.

In the book Encounters with Great Painters Bacon states, "My personality has several facets. For example, I like perfection. I even like perfection on a grand scale. In a sense, I'd like to live in a very grand house; but since one makes such a mess when one paints, I prefer to live in clutter, on a pile of broken objects and memories. I think all of us have these two sides. One side craves order, the other craves chaos. We have to fight to impose order."
Well said Mr. Bacon. If you substitute clay in there for painting you have my studio in a nutshell.
There is a part of me that wants to clean it all up and start over organized and clutter free. Then there is a part of me that wants to, like Bacon, surrender to the madness and let it all become a frenzy of clay.
So which one are you?

Finished Cut Outs and a new design...

2010-06-27T13:21:00.010-04:00

Here is the new design for the Cut Out cups. This design is inspired by these Silver Sebring hens. Wonderfully beautiful chickens that are fascinating in color and pattern.

And here are the finished Cut Out cups, pitcher and gravy boat. Me and Will have used these and both like the design.
We agree there needs to be a few minor adjustments such as a larger oval spaces for the fingers.

Clay Tip of the Day:
The best tool you have when you are building with clay is your own saliva. Whether you are fixing a tear, or attaching a wetter piece of clay to a dryer piece, your own saliva is the best adhesive. **Please note: I do recommend knowing the ingredients of your clay body so as not to toxify yourself.....

Introducing....the Cut Out Series

2010-06-13T17:50:00.010-04:00

After the show this spring, I wanted a new approach to form. Having used the same forms over and over for the past year or so and I was ready for some change. When we were in the airport on our way home from St. Paul last week I saw this woman with a intriguing handbag. It was very simple, just a rectangle really, with an oval cut out for the handle. Immediately out came the old sketchbook and I started drawing. These are the pieces that came from those sketches.

I Know I am Delinquent......

2010-06-08T22:01:00.005-04:00

I have been horrible about posting......
But! I have great intentions to do better!
This summer I am going to be working on a bunch of different projects but on the top of the list is reconnecting with my blogging friends and catching up with all the amazing work y'all have been doing.
In the mean time.......Here are some big bowls I have been making. They are about 36 inches tall. Inside the bowls, at the bottom, a secret is carved. The bowls are just tall enough that you can't read the secret unless you break the bowls.

Would you be tempted? By a secret? To break such a big bowl?
Would you get out the magnifying glass and try to read the mystery at the bottom of the pot?
And in the end, if the secret was unreachable, and you broke the pot, what if the secret was silly? What if the secret was earth shattering?
The conundrum of the Secret Bowls....

I know the pieces are hard to see because they are still green so I will post better pictures when they are fired.

2nd Annual "Keep It Local" Art Show

2010-05-17T08:39:00.003-04:00

It is spring again and time to come on out and support local art. Come by the house this Saturday, May 22nd from 11:00 to 4:00 where 17 local artists will be showing pottery, jewelry, paintings, fabric art, metal work and food stuffs.
We would love to see you!!!

Deer Girl finished

2010-04-16T10:50:00.006-04:00

Thanks to everyone for all your sweet comments on the Deer Girl. Your comments gave me much encouragement to keep building more girls....I will post them soon. In the mean time here is Deer Girl finished and out in the wild.

Deer Girl......dear girl

2010-04-02T08:12:00.004-04:00

In the Treemakers story that I am writing I have happened upon the heroine.
Presenting:
The Deer Girl!
Here is a version of her and the Treemakers blended together. They have roses carved on their belly.
I have also made a true sculpture of the Deer Girl as she is illustrated in the story but she has yet to be photographed...maybe she is a little shy?
I will post pics of the final glazed version of this blended piece later this weekend.

London, I miss you

2010-03-19T09:51:00.005-04:00

HELLO everyone! (Big wave)
We are home from our fascinating and lovely trip to London.
It was a total whirlwind of museums, food, long walks and sadly some sneezing and snuffling.
But we will talk only of the good part of being in one of the world's most wonderful cities.
Each time we go my heart feels at home. The history of the city is overwhelming. It amazes me how Londoners can walk the streets and not gasp at each building as I do. We found a couple of new places this year that truly were unusual and very exciting to visit.
Sir John Soane's Museum is a wonder of sculpture, paintings, and unusual artifacts. The whole house is stuffed to the rafters....literally.
Another interesting place was the Welcome Collection. The Medicine Man collection contains everything from Napoleon's toothbrush to chastity belts....Japanese sex aids to George the Third's hair. Amazing all.

Now for a couple of pictures of good ole London.....

The British Museum ceiling

A new exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in process.

The Westminister Cathedral facade with Will in his favorite hat.

Condom boxes

2010-02-17T09:44:00.007-05:00

Years ago, for AIDS awareness month, I made a series of condom boxes. I was surprised that they were a big hit. Who knew? Every now and then I will get an order for one or two. Here is a box that I made for a customer. What fun to carve sex on a box. Love it!

Drawing and the Dentist

2010-02-14T10:19:00.004-05:00

Like most people I know I hate the going to the dentist. I don't hate my dentist she is actually super sweet. It's the chair and holding my mouth open, people pulling at my lips and poking at my teeth. Basically the whole experience. Claustrophobia runs rampant over my body. I get the sweats, the shakes. It is awful.
I broke a tooth 6 years ago biting down on a cherry pit. It didn't hurt so my dentist agreed to let me wait on getting a crown until this year. She insisted that I get it fixed. So I made an appointment. Canceled that appointment twice. And finally I womaned up and decided to go. In preparation for the appointment, I was struggling to think of how to keep my mind occupied. It finally came to me...Drawing.
So I grabbed my ipod and sketch pad and went. It was tough to draw with my pad on my lap and me laying down but it really kept my panic in check. I won't lie, I still sweat. But it was better.
Here are the results. They make me laugh.

More people....

2010-02-12T09:25:00.005-05:00

My new work continues with the same theme.
I am fascinated with the idea of many people standing shoulder to shoulder, going round and round a pot. Mostly I imagine them on a taller skinner pot. A pot that doesn't allow for a continuous story to be seen and told.
There are many reasons that I like this image. The first is easy. When you have a skinny taller piece where you can't tell a cohesive story, taller thinner objects compliment the form. The second is that the stretched human form is fun to carve. Especially the feet and hands. So though I know I need to move on to a different image, I am still carving people. Round and round I go.

I did manage to convince myself to think about spring and the idea of swinging. I adore swinging and can't wait for it to be warm so I can go swing in the park.

Thank you again!

2010-02-10T09:28:00.004-05:00

One last thank you to all who bid on these bottles! Together we raised 260.00 for Doctors Without Borders. I am thrilled!
In other studio news....Apparently my obsession with bottles has not ended. Here is the latest series of bottles.
As you can see in the background the snow is sticking around from the last snow storm...brrrrr!
I am so ready for spring!
Bring on the flowers, the light, the flitting birds.

2 Bottles up for Auction

2010-02-02T10:20:00.003-05:00

Today I put these 2 accordion bottles up for auction on Ebay. All proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders to support this organization who is doing such great work to help Haiti.
We have all been horrified by the earthquake in Haiti.
I want to help.
Please help me raise money for Doctors without Borders by clicking this link and bidding away.

Thanks everyone.
The bottle featured in the post below is up to 113.00! Couldn't do it without all of y'all!
Leanne

Bottle up for auction

2010-01-28T16:12:00.003-05:00

We have all been horrified by the earthquake in Haiti.
It is amazing and terrifying and unbelievably sad.
I want to try to help.
This people bottle is up for auction on ebay.
Please help me raise money for Doctors without Borders by clicking this link and bidding away.
I will put more pieces up this weekend. All proceeds go to the cause and the shipping is Free!
Thanks everyone.
Leanne

Onward and Upward...

2010-01-23T11:38:00.006-05:00

Hey Everyone!!!
I have been a bit absent but have been lurking behind the scenes, visiting blogland every so often, keeping up. The reason I have been so quiet these past few months is because I got a little burnt out this fall season. well, A LOT burnt out. So I decided to take a wee break and travel some, read some, lay about some, regroup.
Now, I am ready to rumble. The fingers are itching and dancing to get back to work. Ideas are beginning to bubble in the old brain.
Some of you will remember that I started a bottle project last January. The idea was to make 100 bottles throughout the year, pushing the form of the bottle, pushing my own conception of the bottle. Well, I made more than 100....I don't know how many more......but I became somewhat obsessed. To get started this year, here are some images of the last bottles that I made last year.

Bless us all, everyone.

2009-12-24T14:02:00.004-05:00

Happy Holidays to all of you.
Many Blessings and Good Cheer from the Pizio's
Bark, Bark, Meow and Cock a Doodle Do!

More Treemakers

2009-11-01T09:49:00.005-05:00

Here is a bigger bottle form that I am making for a group of bottles that will go to the Greenhill Winter Show this December. This piece is 26 inches tall and around12-14 inches across. These new bottles are so much fun to make as I can build much higher than I could throw. Soon I want to make some forms that are life size and build kilns around them to fire them. (ps. got the idea from Mike Sandford, potter extraordinaire from Elon University) HMMMMM....can't wait till January, my vacation month....

Fall Fever

2009-10-27T08:05:00.003-04:00

During fall my focus is tuned to the trees, their rustle of leaves, the beauty in their colors.
The trees seem to beckon to us all with their whispering and waving limbs.
I thought it would be a great time to finish my Treemakers story. Here they are with the leaves falling down around them.
When I was explaining the story at the show last weekend, I realized the the story needed a traumatic event and resolution much like Snow White or Hansel and Gretel. So I am trying to decide what will happen to these two twins and how they will resolve it.

The baby chicks are growing up and Frieda is almost a full grown Chicken/ Rooster.....we don't know yet. I will post pictures soon and tell you a couple of funny chicken stories to boot.

hope you have a great week!
L

Bigger bottles and alien embyos

2009-09-22T07:48:00.009-04:00

The bottles are coming along at a fast rate. This new accordion form is fascinating me at the moment....it is not only the form but the challenge of making this shape. It is very fragile and tedious, lots of waiting for the piece to set up before continuing upwards. I won't even mention how delicate my touch has to be to carve this simple line design......I'm in love.

And then these little guys have come creeping back after watching a UFO Hunters marathon a couple of weeks ago. Love that show!
The embryo design started 14 years ago when Miss Haley was conceived. I wanted to watch how she was developing each week. Now and then they become aliens and after seeing about 6 UFO shows in a row, they seemed appropriate.

And finally some finished circle bottles....

Hope you have a great week!

Come and join us for a super fun afternoon

2009-09-18T09:58:00.005-04:00

Me and a great bunch of Greensboro artists are having a show this weekend.

Come and join us for a fun afternoon of art, cool funky people, and great food.

Artists:
Paige Cox of LULU Groove
Christian Brown of Just Be
Melissa Blackburn of Blackburn Arts
Me

308 East Lake Drive
Greensboro, NC
10-4:00 Saturday the 19th of September.

Come rock out with us!

ps: I tried to upload the actual invitation but blogger wouldn't do it. So I thought Blue and Frieda could represent for us.

Crazy Days

2009-09-15T15:19:00.008-04:00

Crazy days are here again as the fall season gets into gear and I so miss the blogisphere, everyone's blogs and their inspirational work. I must find more time in the day to get some computer time in.
Another reason for my delinquency on the blog is this little girl here. We incubated 4 eggs and Frieda is the only one who survived. She is a sweetie but is spoiled and she just wants to be near me or Will. It is very hard to work on clay with a baby chickie sitting on your shoulder...lap...hand...arm....

When she hatched she was a weak chick and we didn't think she would make it. But 3 weeks later she sure is giving us a run for our money. We have more babies coming next week so I'll post pics of them when they arrive.

More bottle forms as I can't get them out of my mind....and also I promised 20 to a designer for the furniture market next month.

And these are so rooting sconces meant to put plant cuttings in to root. They of course could be used for anything.

Hope everyone is doing well out their in the blogging land. Can't wait to stop by for a visit soon.
Have a great fall!
Leanne

Finishing the snake and what follows...

2009-08-23T09:21:00.005-04:00

Well, I finished the snake. Will had to get up on our tallest ladder to take this picture and you still can't really see the image that well. The new owner said she was going to put it up this weekend so I may be able to take a picture of the the snake installed in it's new home this week sometime. YAY!
I have been obsessed with circles and geometric designs as of late. I used to work with these patterns a lot in the late 90's and left them off for bigger surface space for imagery. Now they are creeping back and taking over. And boy are my hands tired!

SSSSSSSSSSS..........

2009-08-08T14:25:00.019-04:00

This is the project I have been obsessssssssing over the past couple of weeks. A friend of mine, who is also my delightful massage therapist, ordered this series of tiles to go along her wall at the ceiling. She is a great lover of wildlife and nature so we came up with this swamp theme featuring the main character Susie the snake. She is not one certain type of snake, all though I did use the copperhead as a sort of model. I had great fun creating each tile with all of it's hidden animals and plants. On the back of the tiles are fun facts about each animal and quotes about them that I found from famous people. I added a couple of little sayings of my own. There are 13 tiles in all, each measuring 14 x 12 inches a piece. Right now as I write, 5 tiles are in the kiln glazing away.....keep your fingers crossed that they don't warp or crack.......

Wow! It's been too long

2009-08-01T08:28:00.006-04:00

We've been on the road again. First to Cleveland, Ohio, then across and up to Lake Ontario in NY, and finally a straight shot back home to NC. Whew!...( all with the three dogs!) ...and though we had such a wonderful time.....
We are glad to be home.
I have missed everyone and can't wait to catch up on the blogisphere and all my blogging friends. I know y'all have been up to some great art and can't wait to see what magic you all have created. Until I get myself together enough to post a new looooooong project that I have been obsessing over, here are some pics of the vacation.

Hope all of you are having the best of summers!
Leanne

The eyes are watching, always watchinhg....

2009-07-09T13:06:00.005-04:00

Here are the eye bottles finished. I am liking the color, the crackles, the eyes.....but the shininess is a little too shiny? Is that possible? Too shiny......it seems almost like saying too much icing...As IF!
But I am saying it. Too Shiny.
Too much like candy. It makes the bottles look commercially made.
I would like to tone it down just a little.

Now the glaze on the eye box is one that I am in love with. I think it gives the eye design more depth and more creep...that is a creepy feel.

New Clay Work

2009-07-04T10:53:00.010-04:00

More Ophelia.....she is an obsession and she is everywhere. Drawings, paintings, clay....everywhere. I love her.

And the the eye bottles of which there are 3.

And finally another crazy monster bottle with lots of heads on the surface.

Recently, I have been making lots of clay work, finishing orders, and thinking. Thinking about what direction I would like the forms to take. Mostly I am thinking about pushing the boundaries of the forms I am used to making. So far I am only thinking in sketches. When I get some nailed down hopefully they will be good enough to share....

Happy 4th everyone!!!

Ophelia #2

2009-06-16T13:27:00.004-04:00

After the spring season I decided to rededicate myself to painting every week. Well, I think I went a little overboard. I haven't touched clay in almost 3 weeks....is that possible?
At first I missed it terribly. But it seems now I am obsessed with Ophelia and her blue tragic glances.
Planning to get back to clay tomorrow. Orders are amassing as the days go along and I am getting way behind.....
It will be good to get my hands in clay again.

Finished.

2009-06-13T10:32:00.002-04:00

Done.

Update

2009-06-12T08:58:00.005-04:00

The new painting with oil.
There is a problem somewhere in the left corner. I am thinking about turning the hair dark blue and taking out the stripes. Or taking out the flowers in her lower hand.
It is so wet now that I think I will have to stop for awhile..............
On to the next one.

Ophelia

2009-06-11T09:14:00.003-04:00

My newest painting of Ophelia. It is rather large for me....maybe 3 feet by 2 and 1/2. This is the under coat of acrylic using just Prussian Blue and White.
I have started the top coat of oils now using only blues. I am limiting my palette right now because I am scared to paint, timid in my choices. This limitation makes me bolder and the lack of color choices makes me concentrate on the strokes, the composition, the whole of the work. We will have to see if the limitation works....

Ophelia and the Bird

2009-05-31T09:02:00.006-04:00

I love this painting Ophelia by John Everett Millais.
I ashamedly first saw this painting in the teenage love story/movie named Fire with Fire (and a movie I watched numerous times as a teen with my best girlfriend). If you were a girl born in the 70's and were 16 when this gushy film came out you will understand the attraction.

Any hoo, I have since ( thankfully ) seen the painting in person and not from some old TV screen.
All I can say is It Is Amazing. I know that it is over used in adds, prints and the like.....but it is Amazing nonetheless. I am fascinated and dumb struck every time I see it.

So, when I came home from London this time (after standing in front of it drooling for a couple of hours) I wanted to take up the subject of Ophelia myself. Here is one result on a pot.
And the following sculpture/bottle is the Bird King, claiming attention again, resenting Ophelia for her beauty and seductive ways.

Back in the saddle....

2009-05-08T07:06:00.013-04:00

Sigh.
No rest for the weary.
Back in the studio working like a mad woman trying to get ready for the last show of spring all the while planning a trip to NY on Saturday.
Here's a peek at what I am working on.....
More bottles but now with faces. It wasn't until I made 2 that I realized they look like Gumby and therefore are not quite as appealing to me. Will thinks they look nothing like Gumby....what do you think?
I am surprised it matters to me. In the beginning I was completely in love with them.
Now I am thinking of not even firing the little fellows. It is always amazing to me how quickly my interest can fade if I feel like I've referenced a cartoon, another artist, another person's design too distinctly. I do feel though it is impossible not to be influenced by the visual stimuli around us.

On another note.....
I don't want to leave out some of the pictures from California.
I really had an amazing time. The people were sweet, welcoming and gorgeous.
The flowers divine.
The succulents were huge and some of them....truly.....were bigger than me. (I'm 5'2")
We went to the beach and looked in these amazing tide pools finding hermit crabs and bright blue-green sea anemone.
We were blessed to go to a Very Fancy fashion show. And though I felt like a redneck disguised in black velvet and heels....It Was Fabulous! So much fun!
And of course Diane and Jared, our wonderful hosts, were so much fun to be around.
Thanks to them for being the bestest!

ps. The show was a success and a lot of fun!

Extinct

2009-04-28T09:54:00.002-04:00

National Geographic is a favorite magazine of mine. A couple of months ago, they published an issue showing many animals that are extinct and some that are going to be extinct in the near future. I was disturbed by this more than I expected. Really disturbed. So much that the images followed me into my dreams.
I think when we are pursued by a thought, a lingering image that we are meant to pursue back. In an earlier post I opened up the old sketch book and showed an image of the Dusky Seaside Sparrow. A small bird that is now extinct. I felt for this little fellow.
Here is my painting of the Sparrow.
The start of the series.

Finished.

2009-04-27T17:40:00.002-04:00

Voila! I present the first painting I have started and finished in a month in a long, long time.
I am done. No question marks. No doubts. Done.
This is a statement that I can't usually make for years.

How do we know when pieces are finished? With the pots there is a definite ending. When the whole piece is carved it is done. But a painting is so ephemeral...so vague....so squishy. I always struggle to know when to let it be done. I have ruined many a painting not recognizing when the painting had had enough.
This one just said it. I'm done.

Some New Work and Random Acts of Art Around Here....

2009-04-27T08:31:00.014-04:00

A large brown Owl bowl.

A Murder of Crows

A Gift for the Fairy Tree.
( i secretly suspect that fairies live in this tree. don't tell anyone)

And the Crazy Rabbit Trade from Facebook. These guys hang on the wall and chatter obscenities at their owners.

Going Back to Cali...Cali....Cali, Going Back to Cali.....Hmmm I THINK So!

2009-04-20T08:49:00.007-04:00

Can you hear LL Cool J in the back ground?
So, I am going to be in San Diego California for a trunk show with my good friend and jewelry designer extraordinaire Diane Owens.
I am super excited to revisit this wonderful town. Last year I met the most fabulous people and had a wonderful time seeing the beautiful coastline of Cali.
If anyone out there in the blogisphere is in San Diego, or close by, and wants to come to the show the particulars are:

The Diane Owens and Friends Trunk Show
Saturday May 2nd.
11:00-6:00
4970 Mansfield St.
San Diego, California

Facebook Rabbits and Such....

2009-04-14T09:45:00.009-04:00

Lately I have fallen prey to the seduction of Facebook.
I refused the siren call of "Crackbook" (as it is often called) for a long while. I resisted the tales from facebook lovers of meeting up with old friends....reconnecting with family....
And then, my sweet friend Diane told me of all the business opportunities on Facebook so I joined.
My hubby would roll his eyes and say, "Yeah, right." But one can always pretend.

Anyway, I have had a great time on Facebook so far....too much fun because I spend way too much time online. One of the great things that has happened is I have met up with some amazing artists. There is a small group of NC artists that I have had the best time exchanging rabbit/evil bunny pictures. We all decided to exchange actual work and I received my first evil monster bunny yesterday. He arrived in a cool package decorated with a sweet pink bunny drawing. Then out he came wrapped in gauze. Will was taken aback by his appearance. So, we slowly unraveled the gauze and Mr. Crazy Bunny was there!He is super detailed carrying a bloody knife behind his back. And he has an incredible face when his bloody mask comes off.
He is AMAZING! and a little scary. I was almost afraid to sleep with him in the house but I think he likes me.

Although, the night before he arrived, I heard some strange screams out in the woods behind our house.....

Artist: Andrew Sedberry
felt, buttons, fimo, fabric, awesomeness....

Easter Chicks and Bottles

2009-04-08T10:26:00.007-04:00

So I found this cute pattern for crocheted Easter egg covers and couldn't resist.
Mine look a little bit crazed and are definitely not as cute as the original pattern but I still love them. This is a free pattern posted under Donna's Crochet Patterns. Go have a look at the originals! They are super sweet.

And.......even more bottles. Who knew one person could hang on to one shape for so long? I reached the sticky point in this 100 bottle project around the 45-50th bottles. (See post here about said sticky point.) I was just hating myself for even thinking up the challenge. But now, I can barely convince myself to make anything else but bottles. These new skinny ones are my favorites so far. The shape beckons to me and I just want to fill up a whole room with them.

Change....

2009-04-06T10:09:00.005-04:00

Well, this month I am approaching another birthday. Never have I been one to deny my age or wrinkles for that matter but this time ....... I have to admit I am dreading another year older. Hate to say it but I think with this birthday the blog and I need a makeover. A growin up so to speak. So I am here by relinquishing the name of Painter Girl and am changing to Leanne. I had the name painter girl for awhile now. And though it is fun and flippy, I think this year it is time to grow up. I thought about adopting another name but Leanne fits the way I feel right now. Paired down and simple.
So hear is to another year! Happy year older to me and to everyone...

Leanne

Translation

2009-03-19T07:44:00.011-04:00

I was still inspired yesterday when I was working in the studio by Bellini and his beautiful painting of Madonna and Child.
I wanted to see how the image from my sketch book would translate into clay.
Here is the final result.

This is a Bellini Painting that is as close as I could find to the one I sketched in London. I could not find the exact painting but this one is almost there.

Here is my drawing.

And finally the clay translation.

Update:
Out of the kiln this morning, the plate glazed.

Drawing from the sketch book.....

2009-03-15T06:28:00.009-04:00

Here are some drawings I did in London when I found myself without clay.....

These two are from the Picasso exhibit.
The left is Girl in a Chemise
The right is Ferndrid? in a Black Mantilla. ( sorry I can't read my writing about who this sweet lady is. I will look it up later.)

This was a portrait of Olga as a Giantess/ Roman Goddess.
Seated woman 1920

A painting by Bellini
Madonna and Child

On the airplane home I did my own version of Hans Holbein the Younger's
A Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling

And I also did a preliminary sketch for a series of paintings I am thinking of about animals that are going extinct or already are extinct.
This little fellow is the dusky seaside sparrow. The image came from my National Geographic via Florida Natural History Museum, Florida State University.
I see him in his natural colors with a red/ gold back ground.

We are back....

2009-03-14T07:45:00.015-04:00

with news and pictures from London.

I have so much to post I don't know where to start.
Maybe I should start with visiting with Ms. Linda in London and in her hometown Wellingborough.
We were so excited to meet Linda. I think we have been blog friends for at least a year probably a lot more. We have blogged, emailed, and skyped, having a great time sharing art and clay. So, you can imagine how thrilled we were to actually see her in person. (Check out her blog for another account of our visit.)

When we met in Trafalger Square we went in the National Gallery to see the Picasso exhibit. Linda brought her niece Mariah with her to London and she was the sweetest teenager( yes, I realize this is a conundrum usually). She was so polite and just super nice to have with us!

Well, needless to say the Picasso exhibit was amazing.
It was a great exhibition representing the differences and vastness of Picasso's work.
I especially loved the portraits of Olga and the images of what I call the Giantesses (here is one example though this one was not in the exhibition).....
The show displayed some images there (which is normal with Picasso, the most prolific artist in history) that I had never seen before. I was in love. If Linda had not been there I would have swooned....really....

After we pulled ourselves away from the glory of Mr. P, we met Will in the square next to the fountain. By this time the weather sprites had decided that we had been lucky enough with good weather and decided to rain down in sheets upon our heads. We quickly ducked into an Italian restaurant near the square and settled down for some pizza. After a filling lunch we were ready to explore.
Will had work to do so he took off back to S. Kensington.

The three of us decided to do some sightseeing starting with Big Ben, then the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and finally the Natural History museum....WHEW! We were tired after all that running around so Ms. Linda bought us some cappuccinos and we sat at a little cafe resting before the two of them took off for the day.

Here is Linda and Mariah in front of a sculpture across from Buckingham Palace.

The very next day I took the subway (the tube in English speak) to St. Pancras/ King's Cross Station and caught a train to Wellingborough.

Linda and her sister and nephew picked me up at the station. We all got in Linda's cute purplish blue car and drove to her sister's house where she made us toasties (grilled cheesy sandwiches) yum!

After lunch we went to feed the swans. Oh my! there we a bunch of them! They saw us coming and swarmed us or should I say swaned us....Okay, okay, I know that was a bad one...
Here are some pictures of the swarm of swans. You wouldn't believe how big these guys were. Loved IT!!!!

we visited the local park where there were many beautiful paths and woods. Linda asked me if there was a difference between our parks here in NC and there in Wellingborough. There really were mostly similarities though I noticed a green moss, a thin filmy moss that covered almost every surface of the bottom area of the trees and some branches. It lent the air this surreal quality reminding me of fairy tales and fairies, sprites and green men.

After the park we went to Linda's house to play with clay. First she showed me her polar bear that she has been working on. He is amazing and so well made. And he is quite big, very much a polar bear from top to bottom.... ( hey Linda, don't forget to measure the kiln for Mr. Bear...) I made a bunny and Linda's nephew made the cutest snowman.
Here is Linda and her sweet nephew.

After stopping to get real English chips (really potatoey french fries) and eating them greedily in the car, we went to Linda's class. We had the most fun! Everyone was so welcoming and nice and they were making some really wonderful work. I got to see Linda's swan named appropriately...Swany. He was beautiful and so light. Can't wait to see him glazed.

Her tutor (teacher) was incredibly generous with his class time and his supplies. He made me feel completely at ease and I did a short demonstration and talk on scraffito. I was nervous at first but everyone made me feel very welcome. I think it went well and I hope that I passed a little scraffito on to more clay artists.

At the end of the day we rushed back to the train station and said goodbyes. It was sad to go but I think I will be able to go back next year....hopefully with Miss Queeny and her mom.

Whew! more news from London tomorrow.

One sketch book drawing from the Picasso exhibit:
This was a drawing from a portrait of Olga from 1923.

London Calling

2009-03-04T14:16:00.007-05:00

We are off to London!
I can't wait to get there. It is my favorite city in the world.....but I haven't really seen that many so I am a little biased.
While I am there I am going to visit Un D at Rediscovering Arr and play with clay. That is going to be the highlight of the trip. Meeting a fellow blogger from a different country! Wow!

But before we leave, here are the mushies in the new home. They are housed on the window sill of Urban Artware, the most awesomest gallery in the area. And in front of the window is the famous Ms. Millicent herself posing in the noonday sun.
I can't wait to see how fast the mushrooms find new homes. They all have tags explaining that they are Guerilla Art and have the address for Grrl+dog's blog.
Go Guerilla's Go!
Have a great creative week......be back soon.

Geometric Bottles

2009-02-26T09:17:00.004-05:00

More bottles. These are hand built and larger than one might think. The tallest measures 18 inches. The form and the process are seducing me and I have now made 6 of these bottles. I need to move on to other things but apparently that is not going to happen. My desire for this form is still strong. Alas, you can't tell the muse what to do. She has her own mind.

Even more bottles and some pots....

2009-02-19T08:00:00.008-05:00

Still working on the bottles.
Still making bottles.
It's time to make the bottles......
Sigh, every time I start one of these assignments for myself, I forget how it feels in the middle.
I lose the initial inspiration.
Grouchiness claims me and I protest to myself that I am tired and that I will have these bottles sitting around for years. I struggle and procrastinate. I cuss a lot and find the littlest distraction an excuse to get out of the studio.

But then something amazing happens.
I have a break through.
This is the reason for doing these seemingly insane assignments.
There is always some movement from within, some new insight into form and design, some new sense of the material I work with everyday.
And finally, I get this surge of love and appreciation for clay and I realize how much dirt means to me.
YAY! CLAY!

Oh Spring! How we love thee!

2009-02-15T09:20:00.007-05:00

Look at this man lazing around in the spring sun....or winter sun? It is just February but this day it was close to 70 degrees in the afternoon. Will was sicky that day with a cold I gave him so I set him up a little nest on the hammock and caught him with the camera. I Love to see him relax because he so rarely slows down.

And what are these little colorful toad stools doing in the grass? They are my new guerilla crocheted mushrooms, the first 2 in a set of 6 to put under the park bench on Monday afternoon.
This time I intend people to take these little mushies home with them! I am going to put a card on each asking that each person only take one and leave the rest for others. Will post more on this later.

And then, the painted plastic owls that are residing in the studio. Me and Will found these in an abandoned home down the street. They are wonderfully tacky and used to be gold with those sparkly gold stuffed animal eyes.
Well, I wanted to bring them home to put in the yard but the color was so faded that they needed a touch up. I had just watched Marie Antoinette the night before and was inspired by the colors of the time. Look at the beauty of this movie here. Look at my friend Princess Poochie's blog to see some of the most inspiring shoes to date. They really are works of art. I was looking at her blog when I decided to watch the movie again. Love it!

These owls aren't quite finished yet. I am painting them with oils so I am waiting not so patiently for the paint to dry. I can't wait to finish these sweet birds. I plan to glue sparkly beads and crystals on them. They will glitter in the sun.

And then another bottle. So far I have made around 50.
Fifty more to go!
Can I make it?
And then, what the heck am I going to do with 100 bottles?
This is a perplexing question of which I have many ideas.
A show of bottles? A bottle tree? A fundraiser for the soup kitchen?
Any ideas that ya'll have would be more than welcome!

Ancient Grecian Pottery and my attempt at a sort of imitation

2009-02-11T08:43:00.009-05:00

Some of the earliest surviving decorated pottery comes from ancient Greece as early as 1000-900 bc. These pots have been a great inspiration for me throughout my potting life. Especially this first picture. This great amphora vase was meant as a grave marker. The vessel has holes in the bottom of the pot so that liquid gifts such as wine could be poured from the mourning to the dead below the earth. If you look closely at the breast of the pot between the handles you can see the funeral ceremony, the black figures carrying the dead to his grave. This vase was a blending of the geometric period and the middle geometric period in ancient Grecian pottery.

The geometric period was marked by the artisans decorating the pots with bands of geometric figures such as triangles, lines, concentric circles, waves....the list goes on.

When figures started showing up on the pots this was marked the middle geometric period.

To learn more on this amazing period of art you can go here for a brief uninspired summery. I am trying to find a simple but informative, inspiring web page about this great time.

With these pots as inspiration I decorated these bottles.

Definitely not the same feeling but I am enjoying the process and making these little characters. I am inspired to make more and can't wait to get back to work today!

Thanks Ancient Grecian Potters for all these beautiful creations.

More bottles and Memes

2009-02-07T08:10:00.006-05:00

Here are some more carved bottles with a simple shape. The shape reminds me of a bottle that my mom kept as a bud vase for sweet spring flowers. I chose this shape for carving some of the Gothic flowers I was dreaming about last month or so.

And then some more experimental bottles . These were hand built quickly with really wet clay so that they would slump under their own weight. I am enjoying the softness of these bottles and plan to make many of these in different sizes. As for glazing, I am open to more suggestions. I will be glazing this week. Whoo Hoo!

It seems like these memes are going around a lot right now. They are super fun and I really enjoy doing them. I was visiting Jacky's blog and decided to take part. Jacky is super inspiring and this sounded like sooooooooo much fun!

The first 5 people that respond to this post will get something made by me, it will be my choice, but made especially for you.

However...this offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

-What I create will be just for you.

-I will make no guarantees that you will like it (but I hope you do !)

-You will receive this item before the end of the year (or sooner).

-You will have no idea of what the item is going to be or when you will receive it.

The catch is that you have to repost this "MEME" and put together something to be sent out as 5 surprises of your own.

These could be anything...a piece of art, a photo, a poem or haiku, a quote...whatever you like, let your imagination run wild.

Have a great Saturday!
Hope everyone has a creative weekend!
Leanne

First bottles carved and uncarved

2009-02-04T13:03:00.010-05:00

Here are the first bottles carved and finished.
I am trying not to repeat any of the carvings on any of the bottles that are carved. Except, of course, the snakes in the first picture.

These new bottles I made yesterday and altered today.
I have the BIGGEST
urge to carve them but don't know if that would be too much. Somehow I think these may need just a solid glazing.

Tag, I'm it!

2009-02-04T08:17:00.004-05:00

I have been tagged for a great meme by MadSilence. Go and visit the dad and daughter team. There is always something wonderful going on over at their blog.

The statements in bold are the ones I have actually done.

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity ( i gave all my money away when I was studying in NY to the homeless. Mom and Dad were none to happy)
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ridden an elephant

And I tag Linda at Rediscovering Art.
Can't wait to see what she's done!

Saddness.....

2009-01-31T16:09:00.002-05:00

Someone took my guerilla crochet tree warmer down. I took my best friend Steph to see it today. We had a great walk in the park laughing and talking until....we passed the tree and it was empty. The only thing left was the green yarn that I had used to stitch the crochet on to the tree.
Tomorrow another one goes up.

Contemplating Bottle Forms and Handles

2009-01-29T09:19:00.004-05:00

I like to work in a series. It seems to be a productive way to approach working for me. Also, I have a hard time letting go of certain ideas and need to see many versions of the same thing before I am satisfied.
When I was in school and just learning to make pots on the wheel, I was fascinated by the bottle form. I loved the skinny neck, the way the neck met the breast of the pot, the fact that they were hard to make...everything about the form really.

Being back in the studio this year, and after the BIG FREEZE (see post below), I was reluctant to throw. SO....I pulled out my sketch book and made a plan to make 100 bottles. I want to try every possible shape and size. Pushing my throwing boundaries and my imagination.
The first round of bottles I made 15. They are relatively small.
I began to cut feet into some of the smallest bottles and put on sassy handles. It is amazing how much personality comes out of 2 small pieces of clay and a couple of slices off the bottom for feet.

First Guerilla Crochet Accomplished!

2009-01-24T08:36:00.008-05:00

Here I am walking down the wooded path in our new park in Oak Ridge. I have to tell you I was quite nervous. When we got out of the car I put the crochet piece under my jacket. Will thought this was hilarious! He got the biggest kick out of the fact that:
Number 1: There was no one at the park.
Number 2: I looked like a woman pregnant with a square baby.
Number 3: I was crazily looking around looking like a character in a crime movie.
Number 4: There was no one at the park.

I had decided that I wanted to put the crocheted piece some where on the wooded path. Me and Will looked for quite awhile for the perfect tree. Then there it was! We found a tree that just peeks out at you as you are walking down the path. I think it will be a nice surprise for walkers as they are getting some exercise.

Here is the last of the head lice series. I decided to make only five.
We had a really bad cold snap and everything in my studio froze.
I lost two days work and 2 heads. So, discouraged, I decided not to remake them but just to have five total.
We are working on getting a heater in the studio but until then I am hauling pieces and clay from the house to the studio.....can you hear the cussing from there?

Trial Run

2009-01-22T09:46:00.003-05:00

Grrl+Dog has issued a Global Guerilla Knitting and Crochet challenge.
The idea is that you make something knitted, crocheted, sewn, braided...you name it. Then you attach your (in my case crocheted) piece to something like a tree or telephone pole. Or you can leave your piece in the public arena on say a park bench for people to enjoy. Public art that is removable, hurts no thing and no one but is fun and makes one think..."why is that there?, what does that mean? Wow! I like that!"

Here is my trial run in the back yard. Tomorrow I am going out to do the first run of my participation in this great fun project. I wanted to time my performance so I can know how early I have to get up so as not to be spotted.

When I first saw these lovely knitted pieces it was on the blog of Jafabrit, who with others in her amazing Yellow Springs community, were making headlines. On the way home from London last spring I saw their trees in the news paper on the plane. My hubby showed me and I said, "I know those trees!." And from there I have followed the progression of this public art pouring. Not sure where it started, but I love it! Wanted to give a shout out to Jafabrit!

2009-01-19T10:53:00.002-05:00

I won an award!
The Lovely Heart Award from:
Leslie at Flowers of Life

And I am to nominate 8 other bloggers to give this sweet award to so here goes:
The Heart of Seed
cook.eat.think
blackburn arts
dirty footprints
Queen Crafty Girl
Rediscovering Art
Oh! I got tired! Everyone who comes to my blog are charming and sweet. I give the award to ya'll all! Please feel free to award yourself this award! and thanks so much to Leslie for the honor.

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Finished?

2009-01-18T11:39:00.003-05:00

I think I finished the painting with Tofu...the neighbor dog...What do ya'll think?
Finished? I can never decide. Sometimes it takes months for me to figure out whether or not a painting wants to be done. I used to be so much more decisive in my younger days of arrogance
( early 20's). I didn't have the self editing that seems to plague me now.
Here is my very organized( for me) painting spot.
Unfortunately, it won't stay that way for long.
I am the worlds biggest studio slob...of course not as big as Francis Bacon...not that I am comparing myself to the painting God himself....but he was a Slob! Take a look.

Back in the Studio

2009-01-15T09:57:00.006-05:00

I'm back to work, finally, shaking some of the blues from my head on onto the clay.
Here are some recent photos of the new Crazy Head Series.
The series will be meant to hang on the wall. There will be 5 or 7 of the heads, depending on how I feel about them after I make the fifth. So far I am loving making these sculptures. Seeing all these crazy little teethy mouths clamping at me makes me laugh. Something about visualizing what is going on in one's head and trying to recreate it in clay is exciting and exorcising at the same time.

And here is a new painting in its beginning stages. We have a neighbor dog named Tofu. She and her mate Sheefa are a Japanese breed called Shiba Inu.
They are just the sweetest dogs and make the strangest noises. I am fascinated with them. So Tofu has ended up in this painting. I keep thinking the name of the painting should be "To Dance with the White Dog" which is the title of a book that I adore written by Terry Kay.
Here is the amazon link for the book.
I don't know if the person will stay in the painting. I may take her out and fill that space with more birds.

Saving Crow

2009-01-13T12:26:00.008-05:00

New Year's Eve, my friend Jeff called and said he had found a crow in the road with some head trauma. The crow was physically in tact, wings and legs working, but his eyes were bloody and one was closed. Jeff took him home and asked if we could help him. So, he brought the crow to me and I then took the crow to one of my greatest friend's Janet and her husband Eric. Eric and Janet are amazing with animals and Eric is a great rehabilitator of birds and well, any animal. Amazing as they are, they fed the crow steak and egg yolks and nuts...anything he wanted actually. Day by day, they nursed him back to health and eventually were able to release him into the wild. Janet said when they opened the cage door, he stood for a few minutes looking out of his cage and then took off and flew over the trees. If that is not a sign of a good New Year to be than I don't know what is.
Thank you to Janet and Eric for their great love of animals and for saving the most beautiful bird in all the world...a crow.

***in picture Vance ( a friend ) feeds the crow***

May your Heart Soar into the New Year

2009-01-01T12:11:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone!
May you have great adventures and many many blessings in 2009.

In Honor of New Years...........

2008-12-31T15:02:00.009-05:00

I present the heaviest, most time consuming cake I have ever made. We are going over to a friends house for dinner tonight and I wanted to bring dessert. In these days of diets and carb watching, people who like to bake rarely get a chance to stretch their culinary wings. Anytime we are invited over I always raise my hand to bring the dessert.

Will loves carrot cake and I have a wonderful old recipe that makes a great cake every time. But this year a friend gave me a Martha Stewart Cookbook and I wanted to see how hers compared. Well, let me tell you it is definitely a more time consuming cake by about 3 hours. It is also a silly cake. It is so elaborate that I wonder if it will even taste good with all the extra sugar added by the layer of candied carrots on top. ( Though I love the color and the glistening sugary surface of the cake with the addition.) I will let you know what the verdict is after the dinner tonight.

***Update...this was The best cake I have ever made. Love, Love, Love, it! And worth the extra time spent. A huge success...Thanks Martha!****

One Day When the Sky Grew Black with Birds.....

2008-12-21T13:59:00.010-05:00

Three days ago, while I was finishing the Bird Girl painting, I heard a super loud explosion of someone shooting a shotgun. Scared for the dogs, I ran outside the studio to see the sky black with vultures. Here in North Carolina, we have 2 types of vultures, Turkey Buzzards ( with the unfeathered reddish head ) and Black Vultures.
These were the black vultures swarming in the sky, settling in the trees, big bodies heavy on the branches. I was so excited to see so many at once. There must have been 40 birds flying over the house and studio, quiet except the rustling of their feathers as they flapped against the wind.
Will and I stood watching in awe, the big birds leaving their shadows across our shoulders blocking the sun.
The next day we came home to them again roosting in the trees behind our house. I ran out to the woods and stood directly under the birds, them staring down at me not moving not scared. It was a mystical experience for me to be in the presence of such large birds. I felt very blessed to have had that moment in time, my only regret is that I didn't have the camera to share the sight.

Trees outside the studio

Finished Bird Girl painting

And the Winner is.....

2008-12-17T08:47:00.003-05:00

Sorry I took so long in getting this give-away finished but I had to convince Hubby to give up the hat for the drawing. Isn't he cute?

And the winner is Corrine!
Of Jafabrit!
Congratulations Corrine
And Merry Happy Holidays to everyone from me and Will!

A Gift!

2008-12-07T13:30:00.003-05:00

I have been inspired by all my favorite bloggers out there who have been hosting a give-a-way on there blogs. I want to join in!

Blogging has become such a happy part of my day. First thing in the morning I sit in the kitchen with a cup of coffee looking at your blogs, and being so delighted when someone leaves me a comment. I feel like ya'll are a special part of my day. And to thank all of you out there who leave sweet comments that make my day, I am offering this bowl.
Just leave a comment on this post in the next week and your name will be entered into a hat for a drawing. Whoever Hubby pulls out of the hat wins the bowl.