NON-STOP VISITORS!

BAMBI, BANDIDO and CHOOK

WE HAVE BEEN HAVING LOTS OF VISITORS, BOTH HUMAN AND NON-HUMAN THAT 
HAVE KEPT ME WELL AWAY FROM THIS BLOG. ALL GOOD INTENTIONS ON THE NEXT POSTINGS HAVE BEEN NULLIFIED AS A RESULT - SO I WILL TRY AGAIN! THIS COMING WEEKEND!

THE HUMAN VISITORS HAVE BEEN A MIX OF FAMILY, FRIENDS AND MANY CUSTOMERS TO OUR GALLERY.

THE NON-HUMANS HAVE BEEN A STRANGE MIX INDEED. CHOOK IS A STRAY CHICKEN THAT SUDDENLY WALKED IN AND TOOK OVER THE SPACE VACATED BY BANDIDO, THE BABY RACCOON, A FEW WEEKS AGO. BANDIDO IS STILL AROUND BUT HIDES MOST OF THE TIME.

BARRED STOWAWAY CHOOK - SHE MOVED JUST AS I SNAPPED THE IMAGE!

EL BANDIDO

THESE TWO CHEEKY LITTLE CRITTERS WERE RIGHT OUTSIDE MY OFFICE WINDOW, PERCHED ON THE SAME BRANCH, CHECKING TO SEE IF I WAS AT MY DESK. GOOD JOB IT WAS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OR I DOUBT THERE WOULD BE A CHOOK. LIVE CHOOK IS ONE OF THE FAVOURITE FOODS OF 'COONS! CHOOK, IF YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE TERM, IS THE COLLOQUIAL AUSTRALIAN NAME FOR CHICKEN. I GUESS IT COMES FROM THE NOISE THEY MAKE!

THE LAST OF THE LARGE NON-HUMAN VISITORS THAT HAVE MOVED IN ARE A LOT OF FALLOW DEER, ONE FAWN IS IN THE ABOVE IMAGE CHEWING ON SOME PRECIOUS PLANTS IN FRONT OF MY STUDIO.  I NEVER SAW DEER ON THIS PROPERTY FOR THE FIRST 25 YEARS THAT I LIVED HERE. THEY ARE NOW HERE ALMOST ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF LOSS OF THEIR HABITAT TO NEW HOUSING. IT WOULD BE LOVELY IF THEY CAME IN TO JUST LOOK NICE AND MODEL FOR MY CERAMIC SUBSTRATE DRAWINGS AND GLAZE PAINTINGS.  WHAT'S MORE, THEY WANT TO BE PAID WITH THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND RAREST PLANTS IN MY GARDEN!

WE HAVE A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS ARRAY OF BIRDS INCLUDING THREE VARIETIES OF HUMMINGBIRDS. THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT THEY EAT BETWEEN THEM KEEPS US IN THE LOW-INCOME BRACKET. THE PONDS ATTRACT HERONS, KINGFISHERS AND WILD DUCKS. THE ACTION IS NON-STOP AND A CONTINUUM OF IMAGES AND IDEAS FOR ME TO INTERPRET.

APOLOGIES

I PROMISED THAT MY NEXT POSTING  WOULD BE ABOUT BRUSHES AND BRUSHWORK. IT IS PARTLY DONE, BUT IS PROVING MORE COMPLEX THAN I EXPECTED.  SO THE NEXT POSTING WILL LOOK AT MORE OF THE GARDEN AND PLANTS IN MID - TO LATE SUMMER BLOOM.  BRUSHES AND BRUSHWORK WILL FOLLOW THAT.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

FERNS'NFINGS!

IDEAS FROM THE GARDEN

ONE OF MY MAIN REASONS FOR MAKING A GARDEN WAS TO HAVE AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF MATERIAL TO GIVE IDEAS FOR FORM, SURFACE DECORATION AND COLOUR TO MY WORK IN HIGH-FIRED PORCELAIN. 

AUTUMN FERN - DRYOPTERIS ERYTHROSORA

I HAVE BEEN AN AVID GARDENER SINCE I WAS SEVENTEEN. LEARNING ABOUT PLANTS HAS BEEN THE PERFECT COMPLEMENT TO LEARNING ABOUT CLAY AND CERAMIC MATERIALS. 

BLECHNUM SPICANT - 

SORRY, I ONLY KNOW THE BOTANICAL NAME FOR THIS ONE!

THE MORE ONE KNOWS ABOUT THINGS, THE EASIER IT BECOMES TO INTERPRET THEIR FORMS AND COLOURS. I HAPPEN TO BE SOMEWHAT MYOPIC AND INTENSE WHEN I TAKE ON AN INTEREST, LEARNING EVERYTHING  I CAN ABOUT WHATEVER SUBJECT CURRENTLY EXCITES ME.  

LADY FERN - FELIX FEMINA

I USUALLY DECIDE QUICKLY WHICH TOOLS ARE THE MOST APPROPRIATE TO INTERPRET THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS AND QUALITIES OF THE PLANT. MY FAVOURITES ARE A VARIETY OF BRUSHES, PENCILS, PENS AND TRAILERS FOR LIQUID GLAZE LINE DRAWINGS.

HART'S TONGUE FERN - SCOLOPENDRIUM

DECIDING ON GLAZE TYPE AND COLOUR PALETTE COMES NEXT. THE BULK OF VEGETATION COLOURS IS MAINLY ACHIEVED USING MIXED CHROMIUM DIOXIDE AND YELLOW STAINS USING PRASEODYMIUM.

MAIDENHAIR FERN - ADIANTUM ALEUTICUM         


IN MY NEXT POSTING, I WILL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT                                                                                   TYPES OF BRUSHES AND WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THEM.

 

OAK FERN

THE SHAPES OF FERN LEAVES ARE MOST OFTEN LIKE A BLADE OR TRIANGULAR FORM MADE UP FROM REPEATING, SIMILAR BUT SMALLER  UNITS.  SOME MAY BE LIKE STRAPS OR HAVE TINY, SEPARATED LEAVES. THE MAJORITY ARE VARIOUS SHADES OF GREEN.

JAPANESE PAINTED FERN - ATHYRIUM ITALICUM PICTUM

FERNS COME IN A RANGE OF SIZES FROM TINY TO LARGE. A FEW HAVE VIVID COLOURS AND PATTERNS. MOST CAN EASILY BE INTERPRETED WITH SIMPLE BRUSHSTROKES.

ROYAL FERN - OSMUNDA REGALIS

OTHER THAN THE DICKSONIA TREE FERNS THAT ARE NATIVE TO NEW ZEALAND AND NOT HARDY IN OUR GARDEN, THE BIGGEST FERN WE CAN GROW IS THE ROYAL FERN IT GROWS TO ABOUT TWO METERS IN FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS. 

WALLICH'S FERN - DRYOPTERIS WALLICHIANA 

WALLICH'S FERN IS NATIVE TO THAILAND AND BHUTAN. THE MAIN STEM IS HAIRY OR SCALY DARK CHOCOLATE BROWN. AS IT MATURES THE LEAVES BECOME MORE AND MORE YELLOW-GREEN. IT GROWS TO A LITTLE OVER A METER IN HEIGHT. IT IS MY FAVOURITE FERN FROM THE TEMPERATE ZONES OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. 

I ALSO LOVE THE FERN FAMILY FROM THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN'T GROW THEM HERE EXCEPT IN A GREENHOUSE OR CONSERVATORY.

I GET IDEAS FROM A GREAT NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLANTS IN OUR GARDEN. OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS I WILL INCLUDE IMAGES OF LATE SUMMER AND EARLY FALL SEASON PLANTS. THERE IS AN ALMOST ENDLESS ARRAY OF POTENTIAL MATERIAL. IMAGINE HOW YOU WOULD INTERPRET THESE WONDERFUL PLANTS INTO YOUR ARTWORK.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

I'VE BEEN BUGGED!

I MAY BE PARANOID, 

BUT I THINK THEY ARE OUT TO GET ME!!

A TROPICAL BACTERIA PICKED UP IN FLORIDA LAST YEAR BASICALLY WIPED ME OUT FOR OVER SIX MONTHS AND ENDED MUCH OF A 50 YEAR CAREER - AND I DIDN'T EVEN SEE IT COMING!! I SEEM TO BE OVER THAT ONE AND AM AT LEAST BACK TO WORKING AT QUARTER VOLUME AND HALF-SPEED!

YESTERDAY MORNING I WAS WALKING IN THE GARDEN CLOSE TO SOME FRUIT TREES, WHEN, OUT OF THE BLUE, A BUNCH OF ANGRY WASPS DECIDED THAT MY HEAD, EYES AND NECK LOOKED LIKE A FAIR TARGET AND TOOK AIM. I RAN AS FAST AS I COULD WITH A WALKING CANE BUT THEY WON AND HIT THEIR TARGET MULTIPLE TIMES.  THIS IS WHAT I LOOKED LIKE IN A MATTER OF MINUTES!

I COULDN'T SEE ENOUGH THROUGH THE REMAINING EYE SLITS ENOUGH TO GET ON WITH MY PLANNED BLOGGING SESSION AND ALTHOUGH IT IS MUCH BETTER, HAS SLOWED ME DOWN BY ANOTHER DAY OR SO.

THE NEXT BLOG POSTING(S) WILL BE MORE ABOUT
PLANTS, OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION GENERALLY USING BRUSHWORK AS THE DRAWING METHOD OF CHOICE

CYRTOMIUM - JAPANESE HOLLY FERN

NON-SPECIFIC BRUSHWORK

BARRING ANY OTHER UNFORESEEN PROBLEMS, I SHOULD BE BACK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS!!!

PS - I ZAPPED THE WASP NEST IN THE MIDDLE OF LAST NIGHT AND THINK THAT ROUND IS OVER!

SEE YOU SOON.

"NEWSFLASH!"

"STINKIN' FISH STUDIO TOUR -  2012"

The Annual Summer "STINKING FISH STUDIO TOUR" is now on in Metchosin and East Sooke, just outside VICTORIA on the South End of Vancouver Island. Visit artists in a variety of media in a self-drive tour in the gorgeous environment of the Pacific Northwest. 

IT RUNS DAILY 10am - 5pm UNTIL SUNDAY, AUGUST 12TH

If you can't make it in person visit the website at:

www.stinkingfishstudiotour.com 

or find out more by visiting the website of myself and my wife, Judi Dyelle at:

www.chosinpottery.ca

APOLOGIES TO MY REGULAR READERS FOR KEEPING YOU WAITING FOR THE NEXT BIG BLOG POSTING, BUT

I HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY WITH THE TOUR.  I AM A LOT SLOWER AT EVERYTHING THAN I USED TO BE AND HAVEN'T YET ACCLIMATIZED! I AM ALSO TRYING TO GET SOME NEW "GLAZE PAINTING" WORK DONE IN THE STUDIO. THIS IS ALSO QUITE A SLOW PROCESS.

I SHOULD HAVE THE NEXT POSTING, TITLED "FERNS'NFINGS" BY WEDNESDAY OF THIS COMING WEEK. IT IS A COMBINATION OF GARDEN STUFF, IDEAS OR THINKING STUFF, OBSERVATION AND DRAWING STUFF.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU LATER.  RH

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!

THE GUY ON THE LEFT IS 21 AND WORKING ON HIS FIRST GIG AS A PROFESSIONAL ACTOR  IN LONDON'S WEST END, THE EQUIVALENT OF NEW YORK'S BROADWAY. THE PLAY WAS THE BRITISH PREMIERE OF WELL-KNOWN AMERICAN PLAY "INHERIT THE WIND". THE DATE WAS 1961. (Photo Credit: Robert Pitt) THE GUY ON THE RIGHT IS 52 YEARS OLDER AND SHOWING THE RAVAGES OF TIME, EXPERIENCE AND DECAY. (Photo Credit: Michael Schoenholtz)

Promises! Promises! Promises!


FIRST THE BAD NEWS! 
I'M RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND BECAUSE OF MANY INTERRUPTIONS THAT SEEM TO HAVE BEEN CONSTANT THIS WEEK. I WILL ATTEMPT TO GET SOMETHING MORE TOGETHER IN THE "IDEAS" COLUMN IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, AS LONG AS "THE STINKING FISH STUDIO TOUR" DOESN'T WIPE ME OUT OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. CUTTING DOWN THE GIANT HOGWEED MIGHT ALSO BE SOMETHING OF A CHALLENGE. THAT IS ALSO ON TOMORROW'S AGENDA!

GIANT HOGWEED ( HERACLEUM mantegazzianum) BEFORE IT BITES THE DUST!
EACH HEAD HAS HUNDREDS OF SEEDS AND MY SOIL IS VERY FERTILE. BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT
BUT UNDESIRABLE IN MOST OTHER WAYS.  THE WIFE SAYS IT HAS GOT TO GO!
IT WILL BE GONE TOMORROW.

THE GOOD NEWS!


 I SPENT SOME TIME TODAY PHOTOGRAPHING MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF FERN AND OTHER PLANTS. THEY WILL BE THE SUBJECT IN THE NEXT "IDEAS" POSTINGS, "LOOKING, SEEING AND INTERPRETING!"


SEE YOU LATER!

THUGS IN THE GARDEN! IDEAS AT WORK!

TUESDAY, 23 JULY 2012

IDEAS

I KEEP MENTIONING THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IDEAS, BUT SOMETHING OR OTHER KEEPS GETTING IN THE WAY AND IT GETS POSTPONED. MY INTENT IS TO HAVE IDEAS AS A REGULAR COLUMN. A LARGE AMOUNT OF SURFACE DECORATION IN MY OWN WORK NORMALLY COMES DIRECTLY FROM NATURE OR OUR LARGE GARDEN THAT I DESIGNED TO GIVE ME A CONSTANT SOURCE OF IDEAS. 

IT ALWAYS AMAZES ME HOW MANY PEOPLE TREK THROUGH OUR EXTENSIVE GARDEN, THEN COME INTO OUR GALLERY AND ASK "WHERE DO I GET MY IDEAS FROM".  I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS OBVIOUS! SOME OF THE PLANTS GROW SO TALL THAT I WOULDN'T THINK YOU COULD POSSIBLY MISS THEM. SIMPLIFIED OR ABSTRACTED BRUSH DRAWINGS DIRECT FROM THE GARDEN PAINTED ON NEWLY AVAILABLE PORCELAIN CANVAS SUBSTRATES ARE MY FAVORITE.  I THEN DECIDE WHAT AND HOW TO INTERPRET AND WHAT PROCESS, GLAZE, KILN TYPE AND FIRING TEMPERATURE IS GOING TO GIVE ME THE MOST SATISFACTION. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO A RECENT LOSING BATTLE WITH A TROPICAL BACTERIA AND SUBSEQUENT TREMORS, I HAVE LOST MUCH HAND CONTROL FOR DOING FINE BRUSHWORK. I AM HOPEFUL THAT THIS CAN BE RECTIFIED.
___________________________________________________

HERACLEUM  mantegazzianum 

INTERESTING HOW TIMES CHANGE IN THE WORLD OF HORTICULTURE. FIFTY YEARS AGO, THIS MAGNIFICENT PLANT WAS BEING TOUTED AS ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE STATUESQUE PLANTS FOR LARGER GARDENS THAT NEEDED SOME "OOMPH" IN THE LANDSCAPE. THIS ONE TOPS OUT AT BETWEEN TWELVE AND FOURTEEN FEET IN HEIGHT.  BEAUTIFUL THOUGH IT IS, IT IS NOW REGARDED AS A PARIAH, AND IS BEING RIPPED OUT AND BURNED WHEREVER IT SHOWS ITS GORGEOUS FACE. ITS PRIMARY SIN IS HAVING A TOXIC SAP THAT CAN BURN SENSITIVE SKIN LEAVING RASHES AND BLISTERS. ITS SECONDARY SIN IS THAT IT PRODUCES THOUSANDS OF FERTILE SEEDS, ENOUGH TO COVER THE PLANET EARTH IN A FAIRLY SHORT TIME. ITS COMMON NAMES ARE GIANT HOGWEED, GIANT QUEEN ANNE'S LACE, WILD PARSNIP, CARTWHEEL FLOWER, WILD RHUBARB OR GIANT COW PARSLEY. WE ALWAYS CUT IT BACK TO GROUND LEVEL AND BURN IT  BEFORE IT CAN GO TO SEED.

SOME PLANTS ARE JUST MADE WITH DESIGNERS IN MIND

Brush Drawing

Simple Brush Drawing abstracted from photographic image

Giant Hogweed Leaf

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TEAZLE

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL THUG IS THE THISTLE TYPE PLANT CALLED THE TEAZLE.

TEAZLE

SIMPLIFIED BRUSH DRAWING OF TEAZLE

TEAZLES, AND MANY OTHER PLANTS OF THE THISTLE FAMILY, OFFER BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRUSHWORK DESIGNS. THE MORE YOU LOOK INTO NATURE, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO FINDA WEALTH OF GREAT IDEAS FOR POTTERY DECORATION. 

THE RACCOON OUTSIDE MY OFFICE WINDOW DIDN'T STAY AROUND LONG ENOUGH FOR A DRAWN PORTRAIT BUT I DID MANAGE A SLIGHTLY BLURRED PHOTO. 
CUTE LITTLE THUG, EH!
____________________________________________________

ANOTHER THUG IN THE GARDEN CHECKING ME OUT THROUGH MY OFFICE WINDOW!

____________________________________________________

IN MY OPINION, DEVELOPING DRAWING SKILLS IS THE  VERY BEST FOUNDATION TO ENCOURAGE IDEA DEVELOPMENT. ALWAYS CARRY A SKETCHBOOK TO JOT DOWN DRAWINGS AND FORMATIVE IDEAS FOR FUTURE EXPLORATION. IF YOU ARE PRONE TO INSOMNIA, KEEP A SKETCHBOOK ON YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE.  IDEAS OFTEN PRESENT THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND ARE GONE IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU WAKE UP, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN! DON'T ATTEMPT FRAMEABLE DRAWINGS, YOU ARE JUST CATCHING WORKING CONCEPTS FOR INTERPRETATION LATER. THERE IS A VAST RANGE OF DECORATION METHODS.  TEST SOME OF THEM OUT TO EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS. REMEMBER, YOU CAN ONLY CREATE TRULY ORIGINAL WORK THROUGH FOLLOWING YOUR 
OWN DIRECTION.

___________________________________________________

I'M PLANNING TO TRY AND KEEP TO ONE BLOG POSTING PER WEEK AS LONG AS I CAN MANAGE IT WITH MY CURRENT HEALTH ISSUES AND HAVE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS TO SHARE.

 REST AND RELAXATION DON'T SEEM TO HAVE HAD MUCH EFFECT AS YET. MEDITATION SEEMS TO BE IMPROVING THE SITUATION SLIGHTLY. I HAVE MANY OTHER MEDICAL TESTS LINED UP OVER THE NEXT MONTH. I'M HOPEFUL THAT SOMETHING WILL WORK SOON. 

POSTINGS WILL MOST LIKELY BE MADE ON TUESDAY MORNINGS. COMMENTS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.  RH

MISSA 2012 FINAL IMAGES

MORE MAGICAL

MISSA MUGSHOTS, 

ACTUAL ART ACTIVITIES, 

SILENT AUCTION, AND 

SALSA DANCE PARTY SENDOFF!

DAVE DA BOSS

 HEAD CHEF LUKE - 2ND FROM RIGHT - AND SOME OF THE GREAT AND GASTRONOMIC
KITCHEN STAFF ON BODACIOUS GUMBO NIGHT

LOGAN,  MEIRA AND SHANA ON BODACIOUS GUMBO NIGHT

SOCIALIZING BOOKBINDERS DON AND PAUL ON GUMBO NIGHT

BILLY RAY MANGHAM'S BIRTHDAY

BATTLING BUNNYKING AND TRAINER - CERAMIC SCULPTURE COURSE

3D COLLAGE

BRUSH EXPLORATIONS

BRUSHES

GREGARIOUS GNOME AND CREATOR

BITS'NPIECES 3D COLLAGE

THE SILENT AUCTION 

FINAL DINNER AND DANCE 

 THE END

THIS IS THE LAST OF FIVE POSTINGS ABOUT MISSA 2012. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE TO BRING THIS MAGICAL PLACE TO A WIDE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE. SOME REFER TO IT AS THE ART WORLD'S BEST KEPT SECRET, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT MISSA AND THE DIVERSE PROGRAMS WE OFFER MAY BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE:   missa.ca    AND ON FACEBOOK.

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I NOW HAVE TO FOLLOW DOCTOR'S ORDERS AND KEEP AWAY FROM MY COMPUTER KEYBOARD FOR A FEW WEEKS - UNLESS THERE IS SOME BURNING ISSUE THAT I CAN'T KEEP AWAY FROM! TUNE IN OCCASIONALLY TO CHECK WHAT MIGHT HAVE TURNED UP.

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.  IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS.