Art Play Date

I enjoyed getting together with friends who are also artists this summer for an artists' play date. Among other things, we experimented with photo transfers onto wood block. I took this photo at the Art Institute of Chicago in the cafeteria, looking out the window at the courtyard. If you pay close attention to details, you may notice I did not reverse the image for this transfer.

 

Raku Firing

Earlier this summer Rich joined a Raku workshop at The Center. Artists first made their clay pieces, bisque fired and glazed with crackle or metallic glazes, then put them in the outdoor kiln to 1800 degrees, glowing hot. They took the pieces out with tongs, put them in cans with sawdust and straw to burn, then covered to cut off the oxygen. Next into water to cool and clean. Unglazed clay turns black. The results are not food safe and don't hold water, but they are beautiful to look at.

Alive and Kicking

OK, so I kind of was back, but now I really am back. Alive and kicking. Enough with health crises already.
The title of this work is "Thy Dross to Consume, Thy Gold to Refine." Words from a song referring to coming through difficult times. And Lord knows, yes, I have. The piece is framed to 31" h x 23" w.
All hand made papers: black is 100% cotton, tan in hand beaten Japanese fibers, and the small piece is recycled with embedded botanicals and gold leaf attached with brass brads.