Saturday, October 31, 2015

Falling Into Fall

We are enjoying a run of warm fall days.  Temps have been in the sixties, seventies in the sun.  It's so much more pleasant to work outside in the sun, than cold blowing rain and mist, which is what we had last week.  Petunias, snap dragons, calibrochia and passion flowers are happily blooming away.  I'll probably bring them in next weekend.

Aloysius is always yawning to show how bored he is with the whole notion of fall and winter.  Now is the time to snuggle in down quilts and warm windowsills.  When we start the wood stove all will be under it. 


I have started practicing with the brushes I bought at NCECA.  I did this one with the brush on the left. It's an entirely new feeling, but I am very happy with the variety of marks I can make.

Somewhere, probably on Ceramic Arts Daily, I read about practicing making marks on paper plates.  Chinet plates provide something very close to the glaze surfaces I work on.  The problem with paper is that its surface is so different from a glaze surface.

I may do some black and white plates, once I become more confident.  There's no room for mistakes with this kind of brush work.


These are the trees in the yard just before the wind and rain began last week.  Most of the maples have lost their leaves.  The oaks and beech are really changing quickly now.  The oaks are particularly lovely  this year.  Their colors are ranging from pale golds to deep garnet reds.  Some years they just turn brown and drop.  There don't seem to be as many acorns this year.  That may have something to do with our fairly dry summer.


And last, because today is Halloween my little witches have come out once again to wish everyone a BOOtiful day!

Enjoy the fall, or spring.

As always, thanks for stopping by.............*s*

14 comments:

  1. those witches are wonderful, good luck with the black and white plates, I see a face in that plate by the way. ha.

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    1. Hi Linda.....Thanks; they were demo pieces. I should make more.
      The plate design started out as a then morphed into a marking orgy!

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  2. Dearest Suzi,
    What a true fact that felines hate the change of season. They love to lounge on the down duvets almost all day. But frankly, we too love our bed far more during this season; it feels so good to be under the down duvet and cozy warm.
    Love your fall leaves and we have the opposite; lots of acorns. It is even dangerous to walk in the back of the home, you roll over the acorns! We had plenty of rain all summer long so it pays off. Good for the squirrels to forage.
    Those pointed brushes are really different and I can imagine that you have to have a steady hand and know what you're doing.
    Happy Halloween to you, we had a very quiet one with only two sets of trick or treaters... We don't decorate at all.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Hi Mariette....I think Winterpup gets more confused by the change than the cats, and that is going some!
      I'm finding even the thought of winter difficult. I think it's because last winter went on forever.
      I am what one potter friend called a brush junkie! I can't resist them. But it's always exciting to find a new way of making marks.
      We live way back off the road so we never get any trick or treaters. Decorating consists of getting out my little clay witches!
      Enjoy the fall.

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  3. Your yard is so beautiful :) NOW we are expecting record warmth, bring it on!

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    1. Hi Gary..Thanks. The coming week is supposed to be like spring, YES!!!

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  4. I practice on newspaper but, you're right, it's a very different surface than a pot.

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    1. Hi Lori.....The heavy paper plates are new for me. Until I find a really cheap source for heavy Chinet (style)plates, I'm using them as a transition between paper and clay.

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  5. What fun with new brushes...they look truly inspiring! Great color to look at in your area. Now that I'm in a senior complex, no trick or treaters either.

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  6. Hi Barb....Now it's all oaks and beech. One of the joys of living in the woods is the way the light changes from season to season.
    How do you like your new place? I don't know if I could handle that many people around me.

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  7. The chinette plates is a great idea, but you are right about not being cheap. I have a "Buddha Board" that I can practice brush strokes on, but the surface can't compare to clay. It's just good for practicing fluid stroke.
    Love your witches!

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  8. Hi Michele....I'm looking for generic Chinet plates. When I was doing a workshop with Linda Arbuckle, I was unhappy with the way I couldn't get the same marks on clay or glaze that I go on paper. She gave me glycerin to put in my stains. I don't know if it would work for you, but it's a thought.

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  9. I love my Japanese and Chines brushes. Now I finally know why we had to practice calligraphy at schools! I have never seen curved handle or the one looks like a witch's broom. :D New tools, new world. Enjoy! :)

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  10. Hi Midori....You are so fortunate to have been taught calligraphy at an early age!
    The curved handle is surprisingly comfortable to hold. I'm still experimenting with the witch's broom. These brushes are why I don't usually buy brushes unless I can hold and try them!

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