Not quite forgotten

Some time ago I asked for suggestions of what colours to use on the barnacle/sea things pendants and one suggestion took me a little by surprise. Lynn suggested sand, greens, and salmon colours. I did in fact follow up on that a bit later. I couldn't quite figure out how it might work. And then when I had done a piece, I wasn't quite sure. I had to live with it a little bit. But now I've looked it over again and I love the subtle colours. It reminds me of the colouring of a conch shell. Maybe it is that summer is now here. Maybe it is just memories. Thanks, Lynn, I'm seeing new things here.

And this seemingly unrelated prop is something that the colours Lynn suggested made me remember. This is a piece of drift wood I picked up in Costa Rica so many years ago that we didn't think much about 'pillage' of the natural environment. It's a root of some sort that has grown around all of these now sea tumbled stones. But rest assured this was actually picked up in the aftermath of a major earthquake and a gulf hurricane. We were there before the debris could be cleared. Not an exotic holiday, just research in my former academic life. I have not had the opportunity to visit this beautiful country since. More's the loss. Costa Rica is one of the finest places I've ever had the great fortune to spend time in.

Barnacle Vase

Parts of it I like and parts I don't. One of the problems with working with the larger stoneware work is that I am used to the bright clarity of my glazes over porcelain. The barnacle section of this vase has been covered with a thin layer of porecelain slip but it is not enough to keep some of the rust colours coming through from the iron in the clay. So it is back to testing to getting the glaze effects I want. Oh well, that is in fact part of what keeps me moving forward. I like the challenge.


I like the form of it though. And it has given some ideas where to go with this work. It's not headed for the scrap pile.

This pendant has been glazed in one of 3 new tests I had put into my last firing. I feel a small obsession coming on. I love how the raised portions of the pattern are greenish and the deeper parts are a mottled blue. It would be perfect for the barnacle pot. Unfortunatly it doesn't do the same thing on that clay.

I've been feeling prop challenged lately. Or maybe just bored with photographing my work in a consistent way. The pile of shells in the last photo were gathered on many beach walking expeditions. I found them back on another of my rumaging expeditions in what should have been a clean up exercise.

The little bit of shell in the first photo is from my Gramma. It was part of my inheritance when she died many years ago. She did not have much but she did have this wonderful memento of her only visit to California to spend time with my Auntie. I don't quite know how I ended up with it. We are more than two dozen grandchildren and I feel like I got the best thing of all. Some day I'll show you a photo of the whole shell. It is very beautiful.

Warm regards, LeAnn

And the winner is....

No amount of coaxing, cajoling, or down right bribery would convince Bob and Alice to cooperate in selecting a winner. They are very stubborn dogs. So off to random.org and the winner of 18 commentors on the Sea Things Giveaway is number 18, Lynn! Congrats Lynn! Send me your address on my email, SummersStudioPottery@yahoo.com and Monday morning I'll have a little surprise assortment out to you, fresh from Saturdays firing.



I really appreciate the thought all of you put into naming and colours for this line. Because I am a visual person, words don't come easily when it comes to describing my own work. It's hard to step away and I do get quite fixated on particular colours. It is interesting that the tidal theme came up so often. Part of the inspiration for this work comes from fossils that lived in shallow waters. This work is a bridge between my coastal life and my new life here on top of a prehistoric inland sea. Although, my interpretation pretty liberal.



Lynn, it is interesting that you would mention desert landscapes now that I've moved to a semi-arid landscape. One of my favourite things here is the desert, especially around Big Bend and the Guadelupe Mountains. I am fascinated by how this so so dry climate can be home to the largest exposed fossil coral reef in the world. Perhaps my new home has more influence on my design than I can see.



I have a lot to think about here and many colours to explore. So I'm off to my studio which I think may now be warm enough to go out to. Here's a photo of how my perfect yesterday ended. ...the biggest hail storm in a decade. They say everything is bigger in Texas. Well that is certainly true of the weather out here in West Texas. Nothing by halves here. No gentle rain, no mist, just huge heavy down pours. That is the hail piled on my deck about 15 minutes into an hour's worth of storm and intermitent hail.

Thanks everyone!

LeAnn