I love the vertical nature of this time of year, where the subtlety of tone and shadow are quietly present. There are no leaves to soften the vertical lines of winter’s trees; they punctuate the blanket of white that cloaks the earth.
I would be remiss if I did not talk about this winter of 2010-2011, the winter that has seemed as if it will never end. We just had more snow—12″ or so, wet heavy stuff that coated the dogs, rendering them snowballs. It’s not that snow is unusual in my neck of the woods; rather, it’s the relentless cold and gray that has accompanied it this season.
We’re told to expect heavy rain in the next day or so, and that flooding is possible. Typical for this time of year, the temperature is supposed to plummet, followed by more snow.
The quality of the light has changed, and birds are singing their spring songs. Buds are swelling on the trees; people are out and about in the Valley called Cuyahoga, hungry for a patch of blue sky and a bit of sunshine. Me, too.
Take a look at what other folks have to say about the places they call home, over at My Town Monday.
Someone asked how long it takes to complete a piece. It’s not about the time in the studio at all; it’s about the experiences in one’s life. Each piece is a result of the culmination of a lifetime of experiences. You just show up and get to work.
The process is like that—showing up and putting energy in the process. One thing at a time. Just. Like. That. It’s not often dramatic. You just show up, sit down, and begin.
By fromskilledhands (
February 8, 2011 at 9:10 am)
· Filed under Musings, Musings, Winter
It’s mid-winter in my world. And right now it means cold, gray, and snowy. As I sit at my kitchen table, tappity tapping my thoughts, I watch the snowflakes and the temperature fall. A chance of flurries covers the ground. I understand the term, “the dead of winter.”
I reach for my cup of hot morning brew, thankful for it’s warmth. A bird, then two, then 6 come to the feeders. In the woods, I hear spring songs.
It’s been quite a winter in my town, the Village of Peninsula, Ohio, population 602. We’ve had our share of cold, ice and snow, with high winds thrown in for good measure. Gray skies are the norm this time of year, and the few blue ones that we’ve had have been greeted joyfully. It’s hard not to talk about the weather!
Things are changing, though. The quality of the light has shifted, and the birds are beginning to sing their Spring songs. Soon American Goldfinches will be sporting their yellow feathered coats, rather than their gray ones. The snow—and there is a lot of it—insulates the ground, and underneath it all, all kinds of life are waiting to emerge.
It’s like that in the studio, too. We’re working on new pieces, and our daughter is working with us to develop new glazes. None of this happens without thought, study and intuition. The tools of our trade include passion, heart, intuition and our hands. Take a look at some of the other things we use.
As always, please feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by. Wander on over to My Town Monday, to see what other folks have to say about their towns.
We’ve survived thestorm, and the sun has been shining today. This means clear skies, which also means cold temperatures. Here’s a look outside my window this morning.
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