18 February 2019
Five years ago this month, a figurative ceramic sculpture of mine made its debut at an art show at The Cre8ery in Winnipeg. It was titled ‘No Regrets‘ and featured an elderly gentleman with two wise Latin maxims, “tempus fugit” (“time flies”) and “carpe diem” (“seize the day”), spelled out in repurposed Scrabble™ tiles (mounted on up-cycled steel bicycle spokes) rising like carefully composed thoughts above his head.
To be honest, I was never completely happy with the original stain/finish on this piece… it somehow seemed just a bit too dark and somber and morose for the title ‘No Regrets.’ A gal’s allowed to change her mind, eh? After now living with this wise-yet-solemn figure for five years, it was now time for a facelift (along with a suitable re-name) — I’m pleasantly chuffed about both the updated persona and the overall result — “Put on a happy face…“
15 February 2019
Youth & Crawe Hand-built figurative ceramic sculpture with cold finishes, metal findings; on turned and polished wooden base.
535mm high x 240mm diameter
Serendipity, or key moments in life (such as the doorsill to adulthood) may reveal what the future holds in store…
10 February 2019
Fiskimenn (Have you met the locals?) Hand-built figurative ceramic sculpture with cold finishes and findings, on a stained/waxed wooden base (old-growth fir).
434mm high x 290mm x 225mm
Living on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg, we frequently encounter the iconic Bombardier snowcats (first built in the 1940s) used by local, mostly Icelandic, fishermen. This piece is a sort of tribute to the hardy souls who brave the vast Lake — at all times of the year.
19 January 2019
Prince Apparent Hand-built figurative ceramic sculpture with cold finishes; on turned and stained rain tree wooden base.
360mm high x 245mm diameter
I was intrigued by the weathered villages we visited in Portugal last winter… and the images in my head no doubt expressed themselves here in clay. You sometimes wonder about the official history that is told of a place…
5 January 2019
Hope Springs Eternal Hand-built figurative ceramic sculpture with glazes and cold finishes; on turned and stained rain tree wooden base.
455mm high x 285mm diameter
Winters are long and cold,
but I’ve learned to anticipate
the annual explosion of daisies
that spring brings…
5 January 2019
Moving on… Hand-built figurative ceramic sculpture with cold finishes; assemblage with mahogany sewing machine drawer and antique brass Griffen feet (found at the Thieves Market, Lisbon), findings. This piece may be wall-hung (a centered hanger is on the back) or free-standing, as shown here.
435mm high x 145mm x 130mm
26 October 2018
Even though I recently took a year’s sabbatical from making sculpture, it’s gratifying to know that there’s still “an appetite” for my work. Four of my figurative pieces have sold in the past few months — some through the Pulse Gallery (at The Forks, Winnipeg), and some directly to collectors who contacted me here, through my studio. I’m now back in the atelier sculpting away… timely, as the autumn seems to be turning less favourable for “playing outside.”
Sculptures recently sold: ‘Deep Within‘ (which went to Paris); ‘Carrot & Ginger‘; ‘Believe,’ my homage to aviator Amelia Earhart; and ‘Third Time Lucky,’ the metaphoric piece depicting a stressed, myopic lifeguard.
23 September 2018
Well, it’s been a while, but I am back in the studio (after a year of Sabbatical). It feels good!
My studio is sporting a new roof, and I am putting up the storm windows in preparation for what they say will be a cold winter. Wood has been stacked for the stove, and my mind is a clutter of ideas… waiting to be “realized” as figurative sculptures. I am feeling the need for some new “studio buddies,” so let the work begin!
I’m getting back into the feel of clay by shaping a new batch of “Readers,” as most of the previous iterations were adopted by WAVE tour visitors during the summer, and there are folks who want some prior to Christmas.
2 September 2016
Rejoice, rejoice — you have no choice… Hand-built figurative ceramic sculpture with cold finishes; assemblage with ornate antique bird cage, silver-plated dish, and hexagonal hardwood base.
410mm high x 300mm diameter
