I'm on a High...

What a wonderful day at the studio yesterday! 

There was a lot of fresh snow on my driveway as I left the house. I wondered, if people would come out in such conditions.

I’d forgotten, these are Winnipegers!

At 11:00 AM sharp friends and strangers began to appear in our upstairs studio, pausing in the gallery viewing area, slowly moving from one display to the next. There were quiet comments, pauses to bend over and take a second look, smiles. Wispered conversations. Possible gifts being considered...Christmas of course is just around the corner.

I was putting the finishing touches on the display of my works I’d arranged in my studio when the first guests wondered by...the rest is a wonderful blur.

“Hi, remember us...we lived across the street from your kids...”

“... it's an under-glaze with a clear glaze overtop of it...

“... must have been very therapeutic...

“... oh my, you came, fantastic...”

“finally I see the real thing, been following your blogs...”

“let’s tour the other artist studios...

“...so why do the scales have that cloth over them?”

“Sorry, I’m rattling on, am I boring you?...are you sure?

“OK, time for a coffee...

People walking out with carefully lovingly packed purchases by artists saying “good-by” to their pieces...

Fellow artists smiling at one another with quiet joy at the crowds milling about...

It is so fantastic being part of a community of artists who are willing to assist potential customers find what they are looking for, directing them on to another artist’s studio if necessary...

Lunch was a quick cinnamon bun and another cup of coffee...while chatting with another new friend...

I am on a high, and cannot wait for this day to begin.

The next stage in the saga of "the ball",

though it might not look to good now,

will have to continue on Monday!

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

Genesis 1:31

A Nylon on a Stick!

There it is, a nylon on a stick!

Working in my studio I’d run into a conundrum. Not unusual, but I’d wondered into another area of mystery and needed some advice.

I took a break from my cubical and sat down in the coffee area for a mental break. Another artist joined me and we began to talk. I shared with her how I had inadvertently ended up with a spaceship instead of the form of a round ball.

She agreed that the first idea I'd had, had been the right one. It would have been the artists way. But now that I’d gone with the joining of two bowel shapes, there was a solution. My heart leaped in anticipation of success.

She disappeared into her cubical, musing around her drawers and shelves, “Here is what you need”, she said, “Slap it into shape with this wooden spoon.” handing me a piece of wood stuck into what looked like a sock pulled on over the top wide part.  

I held it carefully before me. I looked at the “sock”, “Is this what I think it is?” I murmured.

“It’s a nylon” she explained brightly, “you need it otherwise the clay sticks to the wood and that would be a problem!” she explained matter of factly.

I checked to see if anyone was nearby. Of course this made complete sense to her but, you see I’m a guy! Slapping a spaceship silly with a piece of wood was one thing, but now I’d be slapping that thing (loudly, very loudly) drawing everyone’s attention from miles around and they’d be coming, artists from all their cubicles everywhere in the city, to see where that noise was coming from, curious about what I was doing, and there would be that nylon flapping and waving around, back and forth, announcing it’s presence like a flag. Me and this nylon sock! It seemed very unmanly to me...but what could I use instead? I had no idea. My own socks would leave fuzz. All other solutions seemed to melt away as useless. I was doomed.

I thanked her profusely. I made no reference to my conflict of masculine identity and kept saying to myself “I am comfortable in my own skin...”

I set up the spaceship on a foamy and began slapping, as quietly as possible. ”I am comfortable in my own skin ...” It became a mantra I mentally repeated in time to the slapping. Finally, it was done...It worked, I had a round ball.

The nylon is back with it’s female owner.

I will go about getting a wooden paddle, but about the nylon part...there has to be another option...mmmm.

^“ So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away”.

2 Samuel 10:4



Clifton Studios Winter Sale

What will I be doing in my studio next weekend?

I will be in the studio, eating from the snack table and enjoying the many guests who will be coming by.

As you come in you will enter a small gallery, showing the many clay wares of the over 20 members of the co-operative we are all a part of.

Also, you may walk through the whole floor to observe (and meet if you wish) the artists in their areas of work. It is very inspiring to see all the creativity that is happening in each studio. 

I would like to invite you personally come and see me in my studio, I’ll wash the clay off my hands, we’ll have a snack and a great chat about art.

"...Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed."

John 5:20

Cliff on Clifton

See you then,

What Have I Made?

These two halves are in the flirting stage!

Here the two have become one!

Fantastic! I am happy for them.

What have I done in my studio this week?

Once again, it is experiment time. A new challenge has arisen. I have a problem to solve. I have a piece in mind that has a large round element to it. Literally a ball about the size of a basketball! Simple right?

I know, you are wondering what I’m intending to do. No, it is not a piece about sports. But for the time being, considering the challenge, I am keeping this a secret.

I must first solve the problem of making this ball. There are probably two main ways to do this. One way would be to make a ball out of solid clay. Then, let it dry to the point where the outside is leather hard. Do the dimple test, and then cut it in half or thirds, depending on its size and scoop out the innards. The outside shell pieces left are then sealed together and there you have it. A round ball. So simple!

I have chosen, in this case to go another route. I purchased a $6.00 bowel from a discount store, near the size of the ball I needed and as you can see, used it as a form for the two halves of the ball.

What I began to realize as I was making up these halves, how “un-ball-like” these two shapes really were. The bowel I had chosen had been very deceptive. It is actually not as “round” as a ball should be! Now, I was aware that the very bottom of the bowel had a flat section so it could stand. That I would simply fill in with clay to make it round. Which I did with the first half, after it was dry enough to remove from the bowel form. No problem.

Then I levelled the edge of each half and sealed them together. Making not a ball but the vague form of a flying saucer! Even after filling in the flat part of the second half, still I was seeing a flying saucer!

While I was in the store I should have taken a second bowel, placed them together and would have seen immediately how un-round the overall shape would really have been!

So, is this now it? Can one do anything with this to make it round?

Maybe I continue with another line of pieces, having to do with “space ships”! Maybe something from Star Trek...that enemy “Warbird” was awesome...

ummmmm!

To be continued.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?...”

Isaiah 43:19

“Heat” Makes Us Strong!

Will "Lady Justice" and "The Hand of God"

be able to withstand the heat?

What am I doing in my studio today?

I am going to “fire” two of my pieces.

Our co-operative of artists are planning an “open house” next weekend, Nov. 27 and 28. You can come in, see the art displayed in the front showroom and then wonder around and connect with artists in their personal working areas.

Because of this upcoming event everyone is finishing up their pieces and the kilns are fully booked for firing pieces. About a week and a half ago I noticed someone dropped out and a kiln became available. I must have been the first to see it as no one had taken it yet. I grabbed a pen and claimed it.

The pieces, “Lady Justice” and “The Hand of God” are at this point completely dry clay. That means they are very fragile and must be handled with great care. It is called “green-ware”.

Above you see them standing in the kiln. Will they be able to withstand the heat?

This is a situation so ripe with meaning. It is because of the extreme heat they will experience that will change them forever. They will never be the same. They will become beautiful, strong functional pieces to be able to accomplish that for which they were made.

It’s the “heat” of suffering that makes us strong!

For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his (or her) cry for help.

Psalm 22:24



Venturing into the DNA World.

A DNA project in process...

The "under-glaze" has been applied.

“Complicated”, “challenging” and “patience”, are the words that keep bouncing around in my head as I’ve been working on this representation of DNA in sculpture.

The “helix” I’m realizing is practically impossible to make in it’s actual likeness in clay.

But who needs actual likeness? This is art, and a representation is something that will also work.

So I’m experimenting, entering the wierd and crazy "nano-world" of the inside of a single human cell. First, I created a central hollow tube of clay curving around here and there. I wanted it to look like it is floating in liquid, like inside a human cell. This core is the “structure” on which to build the swirling helix strips and the core structure of other “balls” (very scientific in my terms eh?) of the DNA circling along with the swirls. I hope that the photo above will help makes sense of this crazy sentence.

Now, to make the strip swirls and those balls you see showing on the central black tube, the tube had to dry enough to support itself. It is only then that I could actually build all the swirls completely around the central tube. So I had to make things in sections. Doing what I could with all the braces in place, (the swirls and the balls) then when it became dry enough to take the supports away, I could continue in those rather difficult locations.

I could not lift the piece and set it upside down for example so it became quite a job dealing with the “underside” parts, making the strips smooth and continuous.  

The rest of the inner DNA matter is represented by the balls protruding from the centre core. See the first two pictures where You can see I made a lot of balls, cut them in half when they are a little dried, and painted them with under-glaze before I “set” them on that tube. Doing it that way helped give them a better edge between their color and the black of the tube. If some of the bonding clay squished out I could wipe it away quickly with a dry brush. That usually left somewhat of a smudge on the black tube, but usually away from the edge of the ball I’d just placed. I also got finger marks on the black tube in the process of setting the balls so after that was all done I had to go over the black tube and touch it up.

Then I painted the strips in under-glaze also. Everything needed three coats so that also took a while. Most of the balls also needed further coats.

The plan now is for the piece to dry and be bisque fired. Then I will paint clear glaze on the swirling stripes and on the balls. Not on the black inside tube. That way the DNA aspect will stick out with strong bright color while the inner core tube will remain a dull un-interesting black. This I hope will then be a backdrop (support) that kind of disappears while the rest stands out as the DNA proper.

And I used to think God knowing the number of hairs on our heads was impressive...

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

Psalm 139:13

"David at Rest" is Done!

"Resting David"

12 5/8" H, x 9 1/3"W, x 15 1/2" deep.

Clay bisque, patina and varnish finish.

Warning! This blog is different. I am not going to talk about technical stuff today. Today, I wish to answer a question that forms the bases of my inspiration of the art that I do. Especially the pieces I’ve done on David. I have the “Foxy David’, the “Dancing David” and now the “Resting David.” I’d like to explain, why all the David’s!

Let me begin with my birthday. Recently some very special friends came over to our house to celebrate my birthday. One of them asked me point blank, “Why do you like the Old Testament David so much?”

I found myself a little at a loss for words. I mentioned some things I admired but it did not seem complete. I felt I Had not really nailed it down. I have thought about that and I’d like to share it here, if you don’t mind.

The real reason I like David so much hangs on three things. First David was a “Real Man.” Anyone who knows his story would not argue with this. And I love the fact that nowhere is there any record of David ever losing a military battle, either with his 600 men or as a king with the army of Israel. And he fought a lot of battles! This guy was no sissy.

The second reason I like David is the fact that he is an “artist”. He wrote the Psalms. A “real man” who writes poetry and music yet. Amazing! It all began with his skills as a musician, playing and singing worship songs to his sheep in the beauty of nature. Then, later, playing to calm down King Saul who could not control his emotions of rage, anger or depression.

Reading the Psalms you find he was in touch with his feelings and emotions. He expressed them freely and sometimes used some surprising language, as a man, in expressing his feelings towards his God. It’s fantastic.

The third reason I like David is his unabashed love and worship of his God. No Shame and hesitation. To the point where when the Ark was brought into Jerusalem for the first time he danced “with all his might” practically nude in the streets at the head of the parade. His wife was not impressed but God loved it!

Let me also say this. David was not perfect! He made mistakes and as a public figure these have become well known. What I admire so much about that is how when he realized his mistake he would feel it deeply, make it right with his God, feel the forgiveness and bounce right back. He’d put it into the past and move forward with the business of life, knowing God loved him still.

In my past I have often desired to have a “mentor” in my life. Now I have one...

A further warning, I know down the line, there will be more David pieces in the making!

 “...they help each other and say to their companions, “Be strong!”

Isaiah 41:6




Right Brain Driver

Jonah driving, using his Right brain, a total disaster...

I mentioned in my last blog about coming out of my “right brain” mode. How I came rushing back to reality because my stomach was growling in hunger.

Allow me to tell you a story that will illustrate the fact that we as humans are literally “of two minds”.  A right brain and a left brain.  And that these two halves are both equally capable and complex and valuable but very different, and necessary. This is a true story.

My wife (Wilma) and I took a little holiday this past summer. We were on our return journey home from BC, driving through the northern states, when we stopped in a small village designed to look like a western frontier town. Taking a break from driving we walked up and down the boardwalk and noticed a library. Intrigued we stepped inside. We each found and purchased a book we liked. Mine was called “The New, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” by Betty Edwards. Later when it was Wilma’s turn to drive I grabbed this book and began reading. Before long, since Wilma is also an artist (writer and author) I began reading aloud as she drove. It was fascinating.

For over an hour I would read, we would discuss the subject matter, back to reading and so on. We were engrossed and lost in the subject.

Suddenly, I’m in mid-sentence and Wilma exclaims, “Hey, there are lights flashing behind me!” I glance backwards and sure enough, an SUV type patrol vehicle is on our tail with all his lights flashing!

“Wow, how long has he been there?” I exclaimed.                                                                        

“I don’t know”, she says, her voice going a few notes higher and up in volume. “This can’t be about us, I’ll turn off and see if he follows me, then we’ll know,” she moans.

Since we are in a small town she turns right at the very next street. Yup, her worst nightmare has come true, he’s still right on our tail. “Oh no, I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m just staying with traffic, why is he after me?” All this while she’s pulling into a strip mall parking lot. He follows us like glue, parking behind us in a classic cop-movie pincer move. She waits moaning with her hands over her face as I’m scrambling in the glove compartment for our “Canadian” vehicle registration card.

He is tall, blond and handsome. He seems like a very nice guy. He explains how he’s been following Wilma for the last 7 or 8 miles. He explains how he noticed us because she was speeding at the time but slowing down to the speed limit. But in following, noticed that all speed signs were apparently being  ignored. Her driving did not correspond to the speed limit signs at all. So, he put on his lights so as to stop her and see what exactly the problem was. But, she did not stop. He explained how that was a problem and so had called on his backup “friends” who were planning to converge on her vehicle and force her to stop. He explained how lucky it was she’d stopped when she did as they were about to execute the maneuver to bring her to a standstill.  

Then as he’s detailing again her going under and over the speed limit randomly, he suddenly stops in mid sentence, pauses with this sudden new idea, and asks, “Do you actually know what the speed limit is?”

Wilma turns to me, horror written all over her face, in a kind of urgent whisper, “Cliff, what’s the speed limit?”

My warm and cuddly husbandly response, “He’s asking you wifeee, you have to tell him!” (Oh that hurt!)

She turns to him, “I’m so sorry, I have no idea, I haven’t done calculations from Canadian metric to American miles, and my husband was reading to me, so I wasn’t really paying attention to the speed limit signs, I’m so sorry…”

“Yes,” he smiled, “my wife also reads to me sometimes when I’m driving and it can be a bit of a distraction at times.”

Here I feel I need to chime in. Maybe a little levity will make this a warning instead of a ticket so I interject with, “And, you know what we are reading?” I show him the cover, “Right brain, Left Brain!”

He laughed and explained he was going to his vehicle and would be right back!

This incident, illustrates exactly the differences between the Left brain and the Right brain. Two ways of knowing, two ways of working out the same information. Look at the list of words below, the first word is the Left brain’s work and the second is the Right brains work: “lineal/holistic,”  “rational (or logical)/intuitive (or non-rational),”  “analytic/synthetic (meaning to put things together to form wholes),”  “objective/subjective,”  “verbal/non-verbal,”  etc.

To do the charcoal drawing of feet for the Holy Ground series I was talking about in the last blog, I had to go into my Right brain.  I had to move from a “verbal” mode into a “visual” mode of thinking.  My left brain often will resist this by arguing with me about why not do it this way, like you could measure this, name every part and aspect of what you do…and so on. Or even, resist the whole project and tell me this is a waste of time. It is the same with dancing, acting, singing, playing hockey or even a doctor doing surgery. You have to move past the instructions and into a world of intuition and natural reactions that cannot really be explained in each situation accurately enough or fast enough to make it work. Betty Edwards in her book says it this way, “…accessing the visual mode of the brain – the appropriate mode for drawing- causes you to see in the special way an artist sees. The artist’s way of seeing is different from ordinary seeing …” (pg. 55)

One learns to consciously move into this “visual” mode. Time disappears, you move your 6B pencil this way and that way intuitively to match with the whole image in a way that makes sense only to you subjectively and intuitively. Also, often it is only in this way you can move your creative work beyond the normal to a new level of originality, or level of expression in feeling or emotion or even technique. When it is all over you may not even know how that happened or where it came from. It is a wonderful place to be.

The right brain is great to go to when creating, not so good when driving a vehicle!

I had to use my left brain in calling the sheriff’s office and paying the fine with my visa card. (verbal, numbers, logic etc.)

“They fashioned the breastpiece—the work of a skilled craftsman. They made it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.”Exodus 39:8

The Humble 6B Pencil.

  The 6B pencil has been busy...

It was time. I had been occupied with many other things but it was finally time to begin working on the “Holy Ground” series of charcoal and graphite drawings again.

I had not done this for a while so it took some time to find and gather the materials needed. My pad of Bristol vellum, 100 lb. 11” X 14” in size sheets. Perfect for working with charcoal and pencil. I had to look a little harder for my special bag of tools to do the job. I remember going to the university bookstore nearby our place, just relaxing there and eyeing with envy all the art materials for sale. It was fun to purchase the items I needed for the task at hand. To represent something so very special to our family. And not only that but representing every family member in an individual drawing. It was a sacred moment. Each item was chosen with careful consideration.

I gathered everything at the living room table and spread it out. Checked the condition of each item, as three drawings had already been done several months ago. (there are three more to go in this series) I also gathered the resources I needed for the elements of this piece, sketches, pictures, and so on. Finally, the last item was to place a fresh piece of 100lb., 11: X 14” piece of paper before me. I turned to my pencil case, picked out the 6B pencil and began. In a few minutes I was into my right brain and gone…

Four and a half hours later I came rushing out of my right brain with a start, realizing my stomach was growling. Glancing at my watch I saw that I’d missed lunch. But since I was now out of my right brain mode, I sat back, held up the work and assessed the damage. Except for a few things, I was pretty happy and amazed. I will need to let it sit for a while to see more that needs to be adjusted.

Then, I suddenly realized that I’d used only that first pencil I’d picked up, the 6B pencil! I was so engrossed I’d forgotten about changing to harder leaded pencils.

I have to say, I just love the softness of the 6B. I can do everything at once. Molding the forms with shading, rubbing with the stub spreads the lead so nicely and very subtle shades and references can made without hesitation, or breaking the momentum of the creative process.

My 6B pencil is getting much shorter than all my other dozen or so pencils…

“…But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.”            John 8:6b.