Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Oaxaca Holiday; Christmas and the radish festival at the zocalo and el centro.


Mision de los angeles hotel, Oaxaca. High desert river valley. Perfect weather.




Me in Mexico city. Sick, tired, and determined to have the worst travel day ever. Air is brown, keep a close eye on the currency.  Don't step out of line.


Zocalo and el Centro packed with thousands upon thousands of people. Vendors everywhere. The festival grows by the hour.  City and state of Oaxaca exist as a continuum.   Bought pink kitty at the radish festival, but lost her to a little kid in an art gallery on the walk back to the hotel. 


Carnival set up in the park next to one of the many state owned churches and cathedrals.  



Diners and crowd at the radish festival. So many architectural concepts turned inside out because of the climate.  Waiting rooms are public; literally open to the street.



Pan American hwy rte 190 Oaxaca.  The traffic patterns do figure eights on straight highways.  I had to look both ways all the time after my first close call crossing the streets.  Highways were one of the few places you could find a smooth surface.  Outside mexico city, I can remember only two brief expanses of poured concrete walking surfaces.  


Pedestrians crossing.


Innumerable police at festival. Crowd well behaved. No drunks yet at 9 pm.






Friday, December 9, 2016

Fall Recap; studio sale

Tube Sculpture. J. Staskal
for the second year in a row, one of John's sculptures sold at open studio.  Thanks to Mark and Erin who make good friends at the market. and at home. Power to the Pokes.


Stoneware. Supplicant Finial.
Jordan pounced on this one. He has good taste in all things.


Studio packed with drying ware.

Cold weather is a determinant in my business. Space heaters don't always stay ahead of the cold.

One or two final kiln loads before holiday.  taking last second orders.  wheel sounds like it is on its last legs. I'll enjoy a change to something new, but the simple elegance of the Randall wheel is marvelous in operation.


Thursday, November 3, 2016

Night time companions; fall cleaning

Work table with painted vase.
I noticed this composition while watching the middle innings of the baseball World Series game 7.
I slept through the last three innings, but waked soon after the game ended.
Cubs win.

Painted vase.

I make a few of these each year, usually in the fall.
I'm now started considering white space, which turns  pattern into design.




Tube man sculpture.
The light colored areas show dust, so no wonder - fall cleaning.

Lidded Jar, Stoneware. Shino Glaze. circa 2000.

This piece lives outside on some shelves.
No water damage from freezing since it has a convenient crack on the bottom.
It got a quick swipe during fall cleaning.

Steaming cup.  Mid range stoneware.
Lives in the studio. 


Wednesday, October 19, 2016

lake keystone, oklahoma

We drove twenty miles to lake keystone.

Lake Keystone Panorama looking SW from sand beach point.


Sand Beach Point.
Life. Glorious life.

A new leaf  unfolding from a runner popping up in the middle of an oil sands layer.

Most shoreline looks like this..

The campgrounds/access points are moderately populated by RVs.
Aging facilities.







Thursday, October 13, 2016

A Tale of Two Brooms

Once Upon A Time

(in Tulsa) (OK) USA

 there was the need
for a decorated halloween 

with pumpkins and candles, 
with candy and lights.

The children would come.

With dark and with cloud,
the signs were favorable
for a spectacular fright.


"Shall I tell you a tale
of gore beyond truth?
Or
will you dance for your treat?"



If you only have candy,
I'll take not a step.
I hunger for seal, 
which makes me feel like dancing.




Well all be delighted
if you dance with a broom. . .



You'll be notorious.
Like RBG.

Mugs now available.





Friday, October 7, 2016

"Trust? My ass."

Hard rain tonight.  Its our turn to soak

Spoke with an attorney today about estate planning.  Its not enough to put me off my food, but it sure ruined my sleep.  Its an awkward type of punishment, to be sure: knowing that the vultures are always there, circling; and it makes life as a complete and coherent statement unlikely.

 Here are the paintings in progress today.


"Far North"
Oil on Board
30" x 24"
wip


412 East of Enid
Oil on board
wip


Three buffalo
oil on board
16" x 20"
wip


Friday, September 16, 2016

KC, MO - show review

Postscript and prelude.  

Friday was the day before
the day before
the first day
of fall.

Warm air covered like a casserole
by bright sun in a blue sky.
Every promise possible.

KC at sundown.
Falafel on 50th Street, then 
walk to the big Plaza Show.
Country music on the main stage and 
 art and craft on display.
Fight the crowds.
Open society at its' finest.

Up the hill, past the fountain in the park.
Beer, whiskey, champagne.
Lemon bisque.
Pre show sleep.

Show day one.was hot and busy.
Pop art ceramic sold out by mid afternoon.
After - Straight to the BBQ.

Arthur Bryant's!
Had to detour around the Jazz hall area,
the street blocked for a celebration.
And the line at Bryant's - as always -
made me wonder why I go.
Tried the pork ribs for the first time.  
Got the slaw, two slices white bread.
Cold beer in a pitcher - Budweiser.
Great food.

Day two rain out.
Brought all my paintings home.
Out of town like a shot.
Saw the same incredible Kansas sunset.
Followed traffic on the dark two lane.
Home early.

Next day.
Refire some work.

Adjust.



Stoneware platter
14" d.

A potter's mystery of calcium, copper and iron.



BELOW

Big Shoes came to her end.
Too much heat ache - and break.
Too much yearning.
So she's gone -
a ceremonial breaking
and purification.
Reincarnation in paint and board.



"Big Shoes Moves On"
Ceramic sketch






Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Labor Day - Work and Dream


Frog Hanging out on GardenDeva sculpture in Julie's Garden.


"Andy Near Amarillo"
(if you see my mom tell her I love her)
16" x 20". Oil on board.



"Three Buffalo"
20" x 16" Oil on Board.

It was a night for dreaming.


Saw Hannah.
She didn't speak.


Saw Nathan's play.
Rockefeller Center, NYC.
Very Bad.

People threw cooked potatoes.


Drank.

Bounced off the walls.


Glaze kiln loaded


Sunday, August 14, 2016

Listening to the universe

  Sometimes the universe tells you that it is time to go home.


Western Oklahoma is made for chasing storms; and it seems we always race a front from the Panhandle into Woodward.  This time there was a 25 degree F gradient as we passed through the storm.


East of Enid.


Farm.


Riverfront - Cimarron River western Ks.


Picture Canyon. Extreme SE Colorado.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Sale Pieces

Some favorites; blue complements.

A few paintings that I can put aside.  August is here. Time to see some new things.


 

"Above the Sonoran Desert" 8" x 10".              " County Hwy M" 8" x 10"



"Pole Shed.Hickory Grove Township"
Oil on Board.
16" x 20".


"Keystone Rocks"
Oil on board.
12" x 9".



"Pole Barn on Ridge"
16" x 20" Oil on board.



Lake city view

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Studio - Summer 2016


New Designs





It seems that Mother Nature does abhor a vacuum.
Sarah has spent time in the studio the past few weeks polishing her throwing skills.
Here, she prepares to glaze mugs for market this weekend.  



Stoneware Bowls.
Thank you Debbie.




Cleaning day.   



Monday, June 13, 2016

Humpty Dumpty

This Humpty Dumpty climbed up a ladder
As part of cleaning the roof.
I made a great clatter -
Indeed a large splatter
as my spine and ankle went poof.

So now I do cut outs
quite like Matisse.
Counting the days
compiling my griefs.

Here then, recent work.