Friday, July 1, 2011

New direction

Somehow I went out to my studio today and everything just clicked. The new texture on my barns told me exactly where I wanted to go, I was seeing the grays and blues and whites of the shore, the colors of the shells and the textures of the driftwood I collected in Maine. Thoughts of my ancestors sailing off the coast of NC were in my head and a sort of peace was with me after spending two days in the hospital just sitting and listening to the hypnotic stories my uncle told. I have a whole collection of pieces I want to do with a new palette inspired by the ocean and my connection to it.
My barns are wanting to be blue and gray now instead of the rust and green. I'm not abandoning that palette because I still love it too, I'm just going to add to it and dress it up a bit.

This tray turned out really good although you can't put a nice seafood dish in it, If only I could get functional glazes to work for me.......
You can put some nice shells from your walks on the beach in it though......
I made this lantern the other day just to get started on something and to get this shell thing out of my system. It's kinda cool, I need to tweek it a bit, it isn't quite as sophisticated as I want it to be, but I may keep it as a reminder of the method to my madness, getting what was in my head out into the clay. It's been crazy trying to figure out what wanted to come out. Do all artists go through this? As soon as I got the color on that tray and the texture on the barn, I knew exactly where I was going, but building this lantern started me on this journey.

Thanks Maine for the inspiration, this is going to be fun!!

7 comments:

Anna M. Branner said...

I just love these new textures. And the greys and blues....Awesome.

Sister Creek Potter said...

Lovely. What fun to be on a 'roll'! I lke the new palette! And since I, too, love Maine I take special pleasure from there recent posts! Thanks.

Tracey Broome said...

I'm loving these colors too. I'll have a slideshow up as soon as I get it together and that will be the end of it!

Tracey Broome said...

Thanks Dennis!

Hollis Engley said...

Yes, Tracey, there are some reminiscences of lobster shacks coming through there ...

Unknown said...

Lookin' good Tracey~ keep going!!

Lori Buff said...

The colors and textures are perfect. I'm looking forward to the slide show.