A clay studio isn't always pretty, especially during that more intense making period before a show, but a blog is a good thing to do as a distraction when the making gets to be a bit much.
I'm currently preparing for Pumpkinfest, a craft fair in Franklin, TN, on the 30th of this month, and am pleased that this time I seem to have given myself more time to prepare. I've learned the hard way not to try making a number of pieces right before a show, and am now able to enjoy the process, piece by piece, waiting for this one to dry, that one to get out of the kiln, another to rehydrate, and am still challenging myself to attend an Open Studio where I can draw or sculpt from a live model. [Shout-out to Jeanie Smith's Studio 521 and the Nashville Figure Drawing Group]. It's a constant balancing act, to be an artist and a therapist, but I'm learning not to stretch myself too thin. I only applied to the craft show, Pumpkinfest this month, in spite of there being four to five show opportunities during October and probably more opportunities that I don't know of, but pacing myself is allowing me to focus, and I like that.
Yesterday I ordered a tent, so now it's really getting real. My first show had the tent provided and set-up and my second show was indoors, so this will be the first time that I'll literally be doing a higher level of heavy lifting, as part of the storm in preparing for a show is the physical labor. Carrying heavy storage boxes of ceramic sculptures takes strength and energy even with a dolly, so aside from setting up a tent, there's also the transport of the pieces, shelving (that I still have to buy), and tables. We'll see how THAT goes for this older artist. Of course I forgot to mention that in craft fairs, there is also the financial investment of paying a hefty sum in order to have the space. The more that I do this, the more that I understand why art is so expensive, so don't be surprised if my pieces aren't cheap.
But more onto a fun part of the process. Here is a preview of a few finished products that will be at the show.
The clay bas relief was sculpted from a live model and is made from white stoneware. It has a cold faux bronze finish created from acrylic paint and colored wax. The porcelain clay portrait bust is hand-cast and was then given a bit of re-sculpting. It is from a larger figurative piece I did in the Spring and is the first piece of the first edition.
For those who don't want to spend so much on sculptures, I've created a few things that might be a little more affordable--some fun magnets cut from cookie cutters, that are hand-painted and are currently waiting to be glazed and fired. I don't think my particular gifts are in painting, but I'm not calling these fine art, by any means.
I'll also be bringing functional pieces like the jewelry holders listed in my website shop that have sculpture attached. Many of my busts, figurative pieces, and animals will be there as well.
For those of you who may be artists, I wanted to mention the craft fair, Firefly, that will be next weekend, October 23rd, at the Clay Lady Campus. I'll be there helping make S'mores between 7:00 - 9:00 P.M., so feel free to come by and say hello! It's a fun gathering of creative people and all types of arts and crafts. Feel free to browse the gallery there where you can see my bust of Pandemic Sadness. Hope to see you there and hope we have a great day for it!
