Ceramics works in progress

Bisqueware with painted black slip and sgraffito. One plate with several brown and black oxide brush strokes added. Can't wait to see these when they come out of the gas kiln this week!!!

figure painting, oil, work in progress

 

 

 

 

 

painting from my figure painting class. more work at http://sararesnickkaplan.blogspot.com

Glass blowing class in East Falls

Here are some photos from the glass blowing class we took last week at East Falls Glassworks. we had a lot of fun! Having seen glass blowing on tv, it seemed very intimidating, i'm so glad to have finally given this a try.
our teacher (in purple below) was great, and walked us through every step of the way to help each of us make a glass paper weight and an ornament. the whole process took several hours, and we had to let our pieces cool slowly (in a kiln) overnight.

me spinning the hot glass

shaping the glass

torching glass to soften enough to stamp my initials, and flattening the bottom

ryan also had a great time! i know he thinks of me as the artist in the family, but he has that spark in him too, and its fun to see it come out!

ry heating the glass in the oven!

dipping the hot glass into colored glass pieces, and shaping

shaping the glass.

 

 

The final products! we were really pleased with how these turned out! ryan's paper weight (the green one) has more bubbles, something we were both trying to achieve by poking the hot glass with the metal tools.

ry's paper weight, and mine

my ornament and ry's

This is something we would both try again. it is fun to do with a friend or group. ryan wants to go back to make holiday gifts! so don't be surprised if you get a paper weight from us next year!

"snacks" still life from last night 30"x40"

set up for still life

laying in the objects

a little more detail...

further along (same as first photo)

Inspiration... Paintings on Pottery

I've started taking ceramics classes again... and I'm having so much fun! I've thrown a few (very) basic cups, and vessels and have been thinking about how I want to glaze my pieces.

Picasso did beautiful sweeping figurative paintings on his vessels and pottery... how gorgeous!!

Pablo Picasso Picasso *Ewer

Source: stevensfineart.com via Sara on Pinterest

Source: sylviapowell.com via Sara on Pinterest

Pablo Picasso Yan petite tetes

Source: artbrokerage.com via Sara on Pinterest

Pablo Picasso "Trois Personnages Sur Tremplin Sculpture"1956

Source: davidsongalleries.com via Sara on Pinterest

Pablo Picasso. Hibou (Owl)

Source: picassomio.com via Sara on Pinterest

Picasso holding a large ceramic plate by Pablo Picasso

Source: seveflore.com via Sara on Pinterest

Pablo Picasso Women's Face Edition Madoura

*A ewer is a vase-shaped pitcher, often decorated, with a base and a flaring spout. - source, Wikipedia

working on a portrait

Back to work on this portrait of my cousin Cydney..<3 i was scared to work on this for a little while. Sometimes when I like something, i'm afraid to ruin it.. I do like where it's going now. i warmed up the face and slimmed it out a little bit.

 i'm planning on spending some more time on it..

experimenting

lemons and blue pitcher

 It's been an experimental month for oil painting around here. the painting above was started on a red-painted canvas, which i think inspired the bold and loud colors and feeling of the painting. it was fun to paint, i like the size and roundness of the pitcher in front of the lemons.

I spent some time using a palette knife to apply paint, which is extremely fun. it seems that once i start applying paint with a knife, i have to continue with a knife. i have not been successful using a brush on top of the knife applied paint (yet). the three paintings below were started with a brush for laying out the forms and then continued and finished using various palette knives.

pink flowers

 

kettle with red background

kettle with blue background

 

 

potted succulent

 i'm not sure how i feel about the painting of the cactus/succulent plant above. I do like that i'm experimenting. here, after initially laying out colors and form, I scrubbed on and off paint to create interesting color areas.. hmm...

flower bouquet -work in progress

the flower bouquet above is just starting out.. not sure where i want to go with this. i started by painting the whole canvas red-orange which i think helps the painting progress quickly, because there is already color and inspiration waiting for you on the canvas!

we shall see... :)

American artist Viginia Lee Burton

illustration from The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton, 1942

I just finished watching an interesting documentary on late artist and illustrator Virginia Lee Burton on WHYY Philadelphia, "A Sense of Place" (here is the site for the movie). The program, with commentary from her sons, family friends and other artists talks about the life and work of Virginia from childhood in New England, to CA to Gloucester, MA where she lived most of her life. She is best known for her children's books and also worked in decorative and textile arts.

The Little House, 1942

Choo Choo, 1937

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, 1939

Calico the Wonder Horse, or the Saga of Stewy Stinker, 1941

Life Story, 1962

As the founder of the Folly Cove Designers (founded in 1940), she taught lessons in printmaking and design to neighbors. The collective grew and its work was sold in retail locations, and featured in magazines. Today work from the Folly Cove Designers can be found in museums including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

"Fish Story", 1957

"Reducing"

Here is a link to a cute and informative pdf of a pamphlet for children including some of Virginia's design philosophies from Cape Ann Musuem.
I would love to buy some of her beautiful children's books and prints some day!

(images from landofnod.com, amazon.com, capeannhistoricalmusueum.org)

some inspiration..

camilla engman

camilla engman

camilla engman

 http://www.camillaengman.com/

christine lafuente

christine lafuente

christine lafuente

christine lafuente

http://christinelafuente.com/

alex kanevsky

alex kanevsky

http://www.somepaintings.net/Alex.html
<3

Painting at the Main Line Art Center Members' Exhibition

in front of my painting at the Exhibition

I've been taking painting classes at the Main Line Art Center, and have really been enjoying them!  I decided to participate in the members' show which is running from December 17 until January 15th.  Ryan and I had a great time at the opening night reception.

me and Ryan in front of my painting

"apples" (NFS :)

other interesting paintings

more paintings

more paintings and prints

<3