Building Our Garden Shed

 Clearing the space for the foundation.

 Forms for the footings are started.

 ...a little more to do.

 Forms are built...

 ...and all back-filled.

 Concrete is done!

 Now the 6" block are laid and cells filled.

 Sill plates are on and floor joists are started.

 Joists are done and subfloor is almost nailed on.

 Jasmin drives the last few nails.

 Finally, a wall goes up!

 Ahhh...good times, painting some primer.

 A second wall is added.

 Lonnie is cutting studs for the next wall.

 Lonnie is framing the end wall.

 The end wall is tipped up and waiting for more.

 Side view, waiting for a wall.

 All the walls are up and magically painted!

 Finishing off the rafters.

 Interior view of the rafters.

 The side door is on and a ramp is built but still needs a 

small roof extension to be added.

The footing for a front porch is complete.

 Half of the roof is metal but this part is clear plastic.

 The front door, windows and trim are done

and the brick/stone porch is finished!

 Yay!

A Very Thoughtful Bird...

FINALLY!!! A new post. It's been an incredibly busy summer and beginning to the new school year, so no posts for a LONG, LONG time. Here's a new painting (acrylic on canvas with a mosaic covered frame). The title is: "A Very Thoughtful Bird Waits For Traffic To Clear Before Crossing the Street To Mail In His Tax Return"

 

This painting can be seen at the Fairhaven Block Party event this coming Saturday, September 21st. Lucia Douglas Gallery and The Firehouse Performing Art Center will host a one evening event with poetry, dance and fine art. A group show of small canvases will be on display— "Postcards from Fairhaven"with more than 50 artists participating. Check it out!

Garden Barrel

We were given a large plastic barrel (a prototype) designed to grow plants from these "pockets" cut into the sides. It was all white so we painted the green and purple design on the sides. It's placed on a large base that easily spins so the barrel can be turned with a gentle tug. Jasmin planted a wonderful variety of lettuce and other salad goodies. Pretty cool!

New garden photos!

It's May and our garden is blooming!

Columbines....amazing!

A gorgeous red peony (Red Charm).

Dancing Dog...a garden sculpture I made a couple of years ago.

Vote for the Cow!!!

Everyone needs to vote for the cow! (www.artofdairy.com) One of my students at Sehome High School in Bellingham, Washington, Rachel Roberts, is a national finalist in the Art of Dairy contest sponsored by the Lucerne Dairy company. Online voting began April 17th and continues for one month (until May 17). If Rachel's cow finishes first in the voting, the Sehome High Art Department wins $20,000. AND...Rachel wins $5,000 AND... her art teacher (that would be me!) wins $5,000!!! You can vote as many times as you like (a LOT please!) for one month. To vote: www.artofdairy.com

It's a new plate...it's not a blind date.

A new plate dedicated to those "potato lovers".

Two Simple Cups

Tasty and Beautiful

Alligator Wrestler

"Alligator Wrestler" is my newest phone-conversation vessel. She's talking to her mother and trying to convince mom that her relationship is okay... the piece is slab built stoneware covered with black slip and decorated with the sgraffito technique. Underglazes and clear glaze finish the piece off. I submitted this piece for publication in the next 500 Figurative Sculptures book.  

Flowery Pot

A new pot! Wheel thrown and assembled. This pot looks good but isn't quite the look I was hoping for when I was applying the underglazes. The blue bands of slip and underglaze in the middle of the pot actually started to "pooch" and ruffle up, slightly peeling away from the porcelain vessel's surface. I'm not sure why that happened but it still looks okay.

A little bit like Carol Gouthro?

Here are two bonedry pots that I'm experimenting with. Wheel-thrown and assembled, these pots are reminiscent of some early work by Seattle ceramic artist, Carol Gouthro. Years ago, she came up and did a presentation/demonstration of her work in my classroom. She was great and I've always wanted to make some pots a little bit like hers. Her new stuff is really amazing and incredibly detailed, resembling exotic, almost other-worldly vegetation.

Bubble Pot

Here's a new pot I just pulled out of the kiln. Wheel thrown and assembled, it's a stoneware clay covered with colored slips and underglazes. It seems to be a little bit like an exotic flower?