These pieces were created specifically for the spring art show, Camille Leone

I have been super busy in my studio creating new work for the upcoming Camille Leone show presented by Square One taking place on Saturday, April 17th at the Ritz in Ybor.

Let me tell you, Square One puts on more than just an mixed media art show, it’s an EVENT…yes in capitals. With over 80 local artist showing their work, a fashion show by Disco Dolls and Lauren Kroeger along with another dance performance by Bella Danza this will be a party for sure! Oh and the other best part is that is it free to the public (2$ donations accepted).

Notice the texture on the pot.

Each show put on by Square One is themed, which makes it even more fun to be envolved with. I plan on creating a mask since this theme is based on CAMILLE LEONE, the name of an imaginary woman who will come to life through the artistic expressions of participating artists and performers.  It is a play on the word “chameleon” since this woman will have various identities. And to add to the theme the colors are red, gold & green, a nod to the Culture Club song “Karma Chameleon.” (I’m a BIG fan of Culture Club)

I hope to see everyone there. I will be staying all night from 7 – midnight, close to my space in hopes to meet new people and answer any questions about my new work.

These photos are a sneak peak at my work created just for this show..before they are glazed. You like?

Laura Irmis at Cakewalk

March Reception at Cakewalk Artists’ Co-op

Don’t you ever want to be part of something? To feel pride in your life? To give back , help or support something bigger than you? I do.

Time is my biggest obstacle these days. With my baby boy walking and requiring most of my attention it is a challenge to continue to create my work as much as I would like to, but I’m getting use to it. Located in downtown St. Pete are several beautiful galleries but Cakewalk is more than a art gallery. They are managed by Creative Clay a wonderful art center with a wonderful mission: Creative Clay’s mission is to make the arts accessible for every interested member of the Tampa Bay community regardless of age, gender, ability and/or race. Since 1995, Creative Clay has been providing local artists with developmental, physical and/or emotional disabilities an opportunity to pursue their passion for art making. Our arts programs consist of studio and community based activities for exploring unique personal realities in an inventive, professional environment.

I was already familiar with Creative Clay since I spend time volunteering there in 2005, so I was delighted to join Calkwalk Artists’ Co-op and be part of something great.

Saturday was the first gallery walk I was involved with and it was packed!

Enjoy the St Pete downtown gallery walk this weekend (it’s the second saturday of every month) and see my new work. I just joined Calkwalk Artists’ Co-op on March 1st and am proud to be with such a group of talented artists! Cakewalk Artists’ Co-op is a cooperative studio and artist gallery featuring the work of over 20 local artists. Cakewalk is managed by Creative Clay Cultural Arts Center, another organization I am very proud to be part of.

Cakewalk is part of the Downtown Arts Association. The DAA sponsors a monthly event called the Second Saturday Gallery Walk. Participating Galleries open their doors for extended hours on the second Saturday evening of every month. Oftentimes, there is a special theme to the Walk or galleries may have a special opening of new work featuring the artists on-site to meet and greet the public and answer questions about their work. The Walks are always open to the public and free of charge.

Our doors open early for a graduation party and then on to celebrate even more! Stop by and say HI!

(Cakewalk is on the map for the trolley stops too! More to come…)

Whenever I explain to people that I “hand throw” my work they get this paricular look on their face..so to help explain the origin I found this article in one of my favorite magazines, The Studio Potter:

http://www.studiopotter.org/articles/?art=art0001

To throw. Potters at Marshall Pottery in Texas describe their work at the potters wheel as turning. They understand only the modern meaning of to throw and do not use it to describe their work. However, the Old English word thrawan from which to throw comes, means to twist or turn. Going back even farther, the Indo-European root *ter- means to rub, rub by twisting, twist, turn. The German word drehen, a direct relative of to throw, means turn and is used in German for throwing.

Because the activity of forming pots on the wheel has not changed since Old English times, the word throw has retained its original meaning in the language of pottery but has developed a completely different meaning in everyday usage. Those who say they throw pots are using the historically correct term. Those who say they turn pots are using more current language. Both are saying the same thing.

….is decided. After a gigantic bonfire in our backyard I decided this year I will finally build my first atmosphere kiln. I’m not sure how big yet and of course gas prices will determine alot of my decisions. I am still debating which type to build I found some great information on the website mudslinger in England. I would LOVE to have a brick kiln like this but may start with something smaller and easier like raku….I promise to keep you posted and explain everything in detail for others to learn from.

Here is the soda kiln at St Pete Clay Company where Charlie Parker and myself fired all day long. Everything came out good, no cracks, but some of the pieces were heavier on the soda which came out amazing!

…and fast! As usual, I have been thinking about my work for 2010 and for once I have function on my brain. I want my work to be fun, comfortable and functional. Typically function is secondary with my expression always coming in first but I realized how important function was when I gave mugs to my family as gifts. I wanted them to enjoy their coffee in a different light…to sip and drink with comfort of a handmade mug. I watched to see how they held them or if they set them down. As we watched my baby boy open his Christmas gifts, each person held their mugs and enjoyed their coffee until they were finished. I felt good about that! I hope they realized how handmade items can really make everyday a bit more special.

I love posting photos of people using my mugs so here is a good friend of mine talking (discussing politics I’m sure) and holding one of my mugs from this years OctoberFest. Do you own a Saltwater Ceramics item? If so, please send me your photo using it.

What a great idea! I mean most of us potters don’t even know infamous potters ourselves. We work alone in our studio and reference CM or the very cool magazine Studio Potter, which has been a resource for ideas and deeper discussion among us potters for years.   It is a beautifully crafted magazine with wonderful rich writing and each issue is a work of art in and of itself.

These baseball style cards are for the Studio Potter fundraiser. This is done in a totally toungue-in-cheek way as who ever heard of a famous potter anyway.

The lesser unknown potters included in the cards are, Josh DeWeese, Silvie Granatelli, Pete Pinnell, Linda Christianson, Linda Arbuckle and others.   They have all agreed to help put the fun back in fund-raising.

On the left is an example of just such a card, of Kentucky potter Davie Reneau.  Below are her “Stats”

These were sold at NCECA where all proceeds go to Studio Potter Magazine.

To help fund the printing costs they are pre-selling a limited amount of cards on Simon Levin’s website store.woodfire.com.Click here for your own set now….They are printed on good cardstock so folded they make an excellent shim to level that rocky bar table.

I tweet, ichat, messenger, email, facebook, myspace and of course email. It gets overwhelming sometimes. Being a graphic designer as well as a ceramic artist I research a TON of articles about passionate things in my life; babies, The Bradley Method, marriage, design in general and lately my fascination about Tiki mugs and how they are making their way back.

Needless to say, I wish I had more time to write. I came across this article this morning and thought it would be a great way to explain to art lovers, whom are not necessarily artists themselves, the value of art.  Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris wrote this article that shows a perspective I completely agree with. I thought it would translate better coming from her rather than me:

This post was written by Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris. Follow her blog here.

..the largest subsidy of cultural life, ’comes not from governments, corporations, or other patrons, but from the artists themselves, through their unpaid or underpaid labour’.

Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists.

(The above was quoted in a unpublished English translation of the book, Confrontaties by Joost Smiers).

1. If you visit an artist’s studio during a gallery walk or art fair, and you spend more than 5 minutes talking with the artist, BUY something. It can be a card, a print, a catalogue, but return some of the energy that has been freely given to you.

2. Learn what your taste in art is. Collect cards, prints, small drawings from different artists, and after a year or so, review your choices and pick your favorites.

3. Buy directly from the artist or from artist co-op galleries. Galleries add as much as 100% to the cost of the piece. This percentage often goes into fancy gallery space and expensive catalogues. Most often buying directly from the artist will be considerably less expensive, but even when prices are comparable to gallery prices, the money you pay to the artist will go into supporting them and not the gallery.

4. Learn what goes into pricing a piece of art. An artist pays all her expenses herself, materials, studio rental, living expenses, promotional material,social security, health insurance, etc. These will be reflected in the prices.

5. You obviously pay more than the price of the canvas and a layer of paint. Understand the ‘added value’ in art prices: An artist may work in series, but every original work of art is unique and unrepeatable. For every work that soars, there have perhaps been 10 or more made that didn’t take off. The artist’s BEST work will be higher priced. Take into account, too, that a work that has specific value for the artist will also have a higher price-tag. Less important to this discussion but a factor all the same is that some artists will have more recognition, which also drives the price up. But ….. If you want to get the most out of your art purchase, buy from the heart. If you are looking for an investment, go buy a house or a boat instead.

6. Support local artists. Check out what studios are in your neighborhood and go visit. Get to know the artist and their work, it will gain in value and significance for you if you are familiar with the conditions in which it was made. You are actually buying a little moment in the artist’s life.

7. The next time you want to donate to a charity, think instead of ways you could help a local artist. It may not be tax deductible, but it is an act of giving and will bring you fulfilment just the same. Here are some suggestions for how you or your business could help out an artist:

• donate studio space, either in exchange for art lessons for you or your kids, or just for free sponsor printing/publicity for the artist
• hang their work in your restaurant or school or other building, encourage people to buy donate used furniture or other goods to the artist for his workshop
• give money for a specific goal, ie for an easel or more materials or part of the studio rent or an upcoming show
• become a patron, buy work from this artist regularly
• lend a car or help in other ways to transport art to a show or elsewhere
• show regular interest, especially if the artist is having a difficult time. Invite them over for a cup of tea

8. When you next consider buying a business gift, birthday or birth gift etc, think of artists. In artist co-ops you can often find totally unique gifts such as handmade books, small scultpures, mini-paintings, prints, painted furtniture, light fixtures, clocks, mirrors, you name it. These are generally not more expensive than good brand name objects and they can sometimes be personalized.

9. Bring friends to meet the artist, buy or borrow one piece by the artist and hang it in your home or office. Help spread their name around.

10. Try your own hand at painting or drawing, at best it will give you a rewarding hobby, at least it will give you insight into what skills are needed to create art.

Wishing you inspiration!

Sarah is an American living in Holland. She works as artist, writer, calligrapher, graphic designer, and creativity trainer; exploring art in social and healthcare contexts. She has recently opened a new web-shop.

I have been firing a lot lately at least once a week. Recently, I have been inspired to move my work into a new direction. After testing, testing and retesting I found a palette that really fits my style and mimics ocean colors. I also incorporated some mason stains and black under glaze to give the darker feeling I want my work to show, considering it is to initiate thought of extinction.

I look forward to my monthly issue of Ceramics Monthly as most potters do. I love to see other work, glazes and the letters from artists that give tips on their personal experience. I often look at old issues for inspiration and the comment section of October 2008 caught my eye. This was titled What do we seek? What are we offered? by Jack Troy (page 176). It was about another artists’ presentation. The article went on about how absent his details were when he spoke of his art. How they were disappointed and wondered more than ever about his emotions and why he did what he did. So they suggested some questions they wish he would have answered. That made me realize a majority of viewers may wonder the same about my work.

So here are some of the questions asked with my personal reply:

“As you reflect on your career, could you mention how your process-choices various clay, firing methods and other media seemed especially appropriate for expressing the ideas you had?”

Originally I worked in the high fire clay Phoenix. Then I would salt fire it a St. Pete Clay Company. I loved the hues of salt fire plus it matched my Saltwater Ceramics theme. But I lost control of my palette choices and how quickly I could fire. So I bought a kiln and work with low fire white earthenware. I have complete control over my color and when I fire; therefore, my work and technique has grown tremendously.

“How important is it for you to put into words what you articulate in clay and the other media you use?

For marketing it is crucial to entice people about my work. But words can only explain my art; I really want my work to connect to the viewer on it’s own. I don’t want to steer them away from their personal aspect.

Since the holidays are right around the corner and my baby boy will be 14 months old, I am really excited for Christmas this year. I have gotten in touch with my kids side that’s for sure. With that in mind, I created some fun plates for Christmas eve, “Santa’s Cookies”. They have a diameter of about 10″ and are glazed in a bright red and white. They are made from white earthenware, thrown on my wheel and fired in my electric kiln to cone 04.

I signed Merry Christmas on the back and hope they will bring a smile to each child on Christmas Eve, I know it would’ve for me!