Sculpting the figure...

         Every artist is taught that we need to keep growing and challenging ourselves, otherwise our art will become stagnant. And like a stagnant pool, it will start to reek, figuratively anyway. So with that in mind I'm trying to stretch a little. This is a pic of some small figurative pieces I've been working on. I'll keep you all posted with pics of the final products once they're done. Wish me luck!

Upcoming Show!

So in case any of you didn't know, I have a show coming up very soon at The Carnegie in Covington. The Parade show opening April 5th. Its a pretty big deal for me, because there should be a lot of press associated with it. The Carnegie also gets a lot more traffic and submissions than any other gallery I've shown at thus far. And most importantly, I will be in the main gallery with only two other artists, both of which are photographers. Which means that I will be the only 3-D artist in the space. It is both very exciting, and very terrifying. I'm starting to feel the crunch of the looming deadline quite a bit, but I have been working hard getting everything ready and I'm sure the heart-stopping terror will go away eventually. *Nervous laughter* Its all part of being an artist right? Usually how I deal with this feeling is by asking myself "What's the worst that could happen?" The answer to that is usually "Well... I could burn the building down." So then I ask "What's the worst that could happen that is actually in any way probable?" And usually the answer is not that bad. So I take precautions against the probable worst and just try not to worry about the rest of it. 

I'd love to hear from readers about how you deal with the pressure of an event like this? Do you stress out, over-prepare, maybe have a drink or two? Lets hear your comments people!

Another great day in the studio.

            Hey there. So I know I said the next post was about firing, but I had another great day in the studio yesterday so I decided to share the in-progress pics instead. Along with another video! I just finished the pre-firing stage, which means its all built and ready to go in the kiln. I'm just waiting for it to dry. I love this stage. The building stage is where I take the most losses because of the size of most of my pieces compared to the thinness of the walls.  Once they've been bisqued I can practically knock them into each other and they'll be fine. This stage is also great because now I can make final decisions on the surface decoration and really see the final product. I'm really excited about this piece because its a little different than my others. I like to play with the viewer by making the footprint of the piece as small as possible, hoping to invoke that queasy, on the edge of a cliff feeling. This one is much more bulbous near the bottom than my other work but the contact point with the table is still very small. I hope you guys like it and I would love to hear your comments! Thanks!

Scraping, ALL the live long day....

            Hello again! Now that you've seen my senior show, I'll show you some of the in-progress pictures I have of my new work! It's very much along the same lines. I've also included a short video explaining one of the steps in my process. So without further ado...

   

And then a few days later...

         

       

And then a few days later when completely dry! Next post, firing...

Senior Exhibition and Artist Statement

Hey everyone! Welcome to my world. This is my very first blog post, so I thought I'd start out with pictures from my Senior Thesis Exhibition in 2010, along with my Artist Statement. I hope you enjoy, and I'd love your feedback.

As a species, we have had about eight hundred thousand years to build an immense heritage of art and culture. Since early humans learned to harness fire, we have created some amazing things. From cave paintings and pyramids, and an entire island littered with massive stone heads, to enormous temples hand-carved into the mountain-sides of India and more. I strive to become part of that. We are the sum of all that has ever happened to us and all the thoughts we’ve ever had, but through art I can decipher what is important and what is relevant. I use natural materials like clay and rock for the visceral connection to the earth and the history we’ve experienced on it. It’s important to me to mimic the human form and the earth simultaneously: the mountains and the body. I feel as if I have to find the shape, rather than build it. It’s there; I just have to seek it out. Each piece has its’ own presence, a manifestation of the beauty of age and the roles human beings have played over time.

I create Guardians. My quest is for the ancient, the totemic, and the feeling of wisdom earned by a long existence.