A painting from the past

 I was most taken by this picture inside the Hilliard home in Michigan, which just gives such a great glimpse into the lives of the occupants.  I may not know what the two tubes are leaning next to the piano, but my eye was caught by the painting above them.

The photo I'm working from is a photo of a page of a photo album, taken several decades ago. The one I'm interested in is the lower middle photo.

I don't think any of those people are related to my sons' father.

This painting is probably still in the family of my ex-husband.  It was hanging in the guest bedroom the first time I visited and met his parents.  I don't remember the story behind it.  Perhaps his mother painted it, or was the model, or one of her relatives.  It's done in lovely pastel colors, mainly blues and a bit of pink, if I remember correctly.  It reminded me of Whistler's work.  Probably because of a long gowned young woman holding a fan!



Sepia Saturday suggestion for this week is...HERE
I see some printing happening.



I wondered if I have any photos the prints I made in Art School? Not likely.
I do have a few in a box somewhere at the back of a closet...waiting till I get famous.  Right.

What I've been making while moving

Painting the glaze of butterflies again...

Some nice big mugs with butterflies came out of the kiln today.  This one is a male too.  (look at blog a couple of days ago if you missed learning the tailtell signs.)

Bigger mugs for those who like to drink a big hot cup of anything!

A dear friend gifted me with a recycled love seat...which fits in beautifully with my new decor.

Yesterday was a red-letter day since I finally opened all the boxes (those which I hadn't labelled) and shifted some to appropriate rooms/spaces to be organized.  The real plus was finding the box which held my spices which was labelled but pushed to the back of the shelves.  Ah.  I'd missed them, and will be spending some time putting them in nice neat rows on turntables in the cabinet next to the stove.

Quote for today:

Be humble for you are made of Earth. Be noble for you are made of stars.

Serbian Proverb

painted monarch results

In case you wanted to see the next chapter in the life of the little monarch ripple-edged discs...

The techniques of painting them were detailed on a previous post, HERE.

They will be at the Tailgate Market today in Black Mountain.  But since I'm not on duty this week, I probably won't be in the Mudbuddies booth till 10 am.  Market is from 9-12.

Plate designs in gallery

My two tree decorated entries on the wall in the Black Mountain Center for the Arts gallery.  To the left is Greenman Live-oak Tree Plate...and on the right is Willow Goddess Platter.  Both were drawn entirely on the bisqued ware with "designer liners" then the glaze colors (Mayco Stroke 'n Coat) were applied, then a thin coat of clear glaze was applied before they were fired to cone 6.  Mayco came out with Designer Liners in about 5-6 colors last year, and I've enjoyed playing with the design possibilities on plates.  The work of drawing then painting glazes on a plate does take time, but they feel like a good drawing or painting should, when the finishing touch is applied, I know I've done my best.

Plate painting

I've run out of blank plates...this week I went back to throwing more, trimming more, taking to the BMCA studio, then waiting for bisque firing...and sometime this next week I can start painting some more designs.  No two alike, as you may have noticed.  I love doing trees and Celtic type designs of my own.  (No copying other designs out there!)