Being closed for almost 2 years during the pandemic has given us a chance to think about how we want to move forward with our program. Let’s start with a short re-introduction, with a rough draft outline of what we are offering right now.
This is a COMMUNITY art project, so please share any thoughts about how we could be useful for you. if you know anyone that could benefit from the studio or help with our mission, please leave a message and/or forward to help us spread the word.
Some new porcelain pottery from my most recent kiln opening.
Come to one of my upcoming events to see them in person, or click/swipe the photos above for a better look at all the pots from the firing. Sorry, I don’t sell pots online-in person only.
I have been experimenting with ways to print on porcelain. After firing, I sent my VERY FIRST porcelain test tile to the Kentucky artist, Greta Gundersen. She assembled a beautiful necklace with a black cord, silver beads, jump ring, clasp and few of my other handmade porcelain beads.
I LOVE it! It’s beautiful and unique. Neither of us wear jewelry. It’s a fun and experimental work, and we don’t want to sell it. Greta and I thought we could give the necklace away as a way to help raise money and awareness for Maysville’s annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser.
Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement by artists and crafts people in cities and towns around the world to raise money for food related charities to care for and feed the hungry in their communities. Last year, Maysville’s Empty Bowls raised $7200 for the Mason County Food Bank.
If you would like a chance to win the necklace and/or support Maysville Empty Bowls, You can use the ‘add to cart’ button to make a contribution. For every $5 contribution, we will put your name in the 14 April 2022 drawing for the Ken/Greta’s jewelry collaboration. (If you contribute $20, we will enter your name 4 times, etc.)
This is just for fun. Neither of us are going to profit in any way from this. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to Maysville Empty Bowls.
Thanks for supporting Maysville Empty Bowls, and good luck!
UPDATE: we raised a total of $115 for Maysville Empty Bowls, and the winner of the jewelry was:
Congratulations Sara! Thank you EVERYONE for supporting Empty Bowls!
I’m sorry if I upset any of you when I shared yesterday’s video of me wiping the painting from the canvas. I fail at paintings ALL THE TIME, and I’m used to it. I know a lot of people never give themselves a chance to take a risk and develop as artists, because they think everything they do has to be perfect–or don’t make anything at all. sure, it feels great when a painting succeeds, but the failures are where I learn and grow as an artist.
On a more cheery note, here are more pictures from the same day. Honestly, I could have painted the Sistine chapel, but nothing is more valuable to me than a sunny spring day outside visiting with long time artist friends. Thanks Elizabeth Kordis Laskey and Sue Ellen Gorman for sharing the day with me!
This is one of my go to locations for when I’m in the mood for a wide city view from a distance. I have my sketch, let’s set the easel up and start painting!
Spring is right around the corner, and that means it’s time to dust my rusty trusty paint box off and paint outdoors (like Monet and the other french impressionists)! I had a rough start (spilled my solvent and had to go home for more) but in the end, I got a finished painting that I’m happy with. I painted different views of this corner (Warner Lane) in Old Washington last year. This year, I wanted to paint the view from the highway. it’s only possible when the trees are sleeping and don’t have any leaves.
I had so much fun, I’m going to go out and try to get another painting today. Can you guess where I’ll go? Stay tuned to find out!
I believe that art is for everyone. I love to see my art being shared and part of everyday life. Stickers are fun because it’s a way to put art on all sorts of things: notebook, thermos, car, guitar cover, skateboard, etc.
These stickers are all printed on vinyl with an outdoor durable ink. They should not fade in rain, snow and sunlight.
You can see the latest stickers in the STICKER section of the PRINTMAKING menu, or scroll below.
Yesterday was a carving and printing day in the studio. Found time to make a little video too–so you can be here with me while my squirrel drinking tea notecard goes through the press for the very first time!
Want one? Available below:
TODAYS PROJECT – Assemble a Provisional Press
I believe Art Is For Everyone-especially printmaking. A challenge for artists just getting started in printing is that a press usually takes a lot of room, and can be REALLY expensive.
A couple of teachers from Indiana have designed a press, called The Provisional Press. It’s designed to be easy and affordable to make. You can downlod the files to cut the parts with a laser cutter-They also sell kits with all the parts cut-all I have to do is assemble it.
Here’s a link to their website if you want to learn more: www.provisionalpress.com
I think the project is awesome, and, you never know when a small, suitcase sized press could be handy (printmaking road trip?)–so I ordered one of their kits!!!
I’ve had mixed results when assembling things like this, so stay tuned to see how it goes!
I need to do some tinkering, but my first imPRESSion is that this is a great educational tool when you don’t have a press. You’ll be able to do things that you cant when hand printing. Is this going to replace a press? I don’t think so. (I need to do more tinkering..maybe I’m wrong) it was fun to put together, I learned a lot about the mechanics of what a press does. This could be fun for a road trip print activity, but I’m spoiled, would never use it as a “daily driver”
