From Skilled Hands » Porcelain tiles

Thoughts in the Middle of Winter

fromskilledhands — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:10:33 +0000

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to say. So instead of making up things, I’ve been silent. Silence can be a good thing, I think, and it is characteristic of the middle of winter.

I have been working on pieces and on my life. Also good. Take a look at one of the former as it is evolving.

The next step will be to bisque fire the piece. Then comes the glazing. I have an idea what I want to do. Now I wait until the time is right. A good thing to do.

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Friday Musings

fromskilledhands — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:45:44 +0000

This media has given me the opportunity to connect with people all over this fine planet. It’s become the backyard fence, as we tappity tap our wishes, lies and dreams. I am sipping my morning coffee (with steamed milk and foam), considering the day, and listening to the sounds of folks from the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad getting ready for the Polar Express.

I have a slab of porcelain ready to carve, this year’s ornament to design and gallery things to think about. We’ve had our first snow of the season, and the air is fresh and clear. The sun is shining on the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley. It’s all good.

What’s happening in your neck of the woods?

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Capturing a Moment in Porcelain

fromskilledhands — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 12:45:16 +0000

There is magic in working with porcelain clay. It takes patience to wait for all the steps to be done. The clay is prepared; the tile is carved. It’s fired for the first time, then colors are inlaid into the carved areas and the excess is removed. The glaze is then applied over the piece and it is fired a second time. Many pieces require additional firings to achieve the desired effect, and the maker doesn’t know whether the piece has “worked” until it is cool enough to be handled from the kiln.

People often ask how long it takes to make a piece. The true answer is that it has taken the artist’s entire life; all life’s experiences until that moment in time are captured in the finished piece. It’s taking a quiet leap of faith, in a way, trusting that the process will be exactly as it needs to be.

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New Work: Porcelain Tiles

fromskilledhands — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:50:51 +0000

I’ve been working on some new pieces. I find that the more I let go and relax, the more the work flows through me—from the heart through the hands.

I love working with porcelain clay. I love its purity of color and texture; I love the way it challenges me—they way it manifests my energy of the moment. Here are some small tiles that I’ve just completed, and a large piece in progress.

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Wordless Wednesday: Tiles

fromskilledhands — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:08:14 +0000

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Works in Process

fromskilledhands — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:45:10 +0000

Works in process, inside

And out

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Why Buy Art

fromskilledhands — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:31:27 +0000

I have mused about art, it’s creation and what it brings to my life. What is it’s purpose? Does form follow function? What makes a piece work—or not? And why should I buy it. Why buy art?

Cat Bennett answers the question clearly:

Why buy art?

-To lift your spirit

-To expand your spirit

-To meet your spirit

-To brighten your day

-To brighten your home

-To brighten your life

-To honor an artist

-To declare your value

-To have fun

-To know yourself

-To inspire yourself

-To inspire others

-To share your wealth

-To laugh

So many reasons.

Art feeds the spirit and soul; it brings light and life to being. Art can make your heart sing and your spirit soar. Something that comes from the heart through the hands. It is no accident that there is art in heART.

When you support an artist, you affirm the creative spirit. You have the opportunity to see the world in a different way, as the artist’s vision is manifested in the piece he or she has made.

When you buy art, you support your local economy, both the economy of your community and the economy of the spirit. You can know that you are buying something that was made with care, one at a time, by hand.

What does art bring to your life? As always, feel free to leave me a comment, or a stone (o), to let me know you’ve stopped by.

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