April 3, 2009

A Modest Pear from Bent Objects

Have you seen this clever – dare I say, brilliant – site?  It's called Bent Objects and I've never seen anything like it.

Carrots from Bent Objects

I have so much admiration for the kind of creativity it takes to look at a common household object or a piece of produce, and imagine what it could be.  I guess the thing that impresses me so much is that these pieces have SO much personality, and you can almost imagine what they're thinking or saying.

I found out that a book is coming out soon from the creative mind behind this work, Terry Border.  It's called Bent Objects: The Secret Life of Everyday Things and you can preorder it Amazon.  I think this would make an excellent gift for the person who has everything, and as a coffee table book for yourself.  Get one, and be inspired to see things in a fresh new way!

~BigSis

October 7, 2008

With all that has happened in the last 18 months, I had to take a temporary “hiatus” from my ceramics/sculpting class. It has not been good for me, either. If I go too long without making time for doing something that allows me to be creative, I become really unsettled, irritable and physically in knots. I really think that everyone needs some outlet to release that “creative energy”.

I'm consciously working on trying not to let worry, anxiety or negative thoughts adversely effect my everyday happiness. It still seems like the only time that I am truly free from worry and thoughts are when I'm doing something that allows me to be creative. When I painted HayHays room this summer, it was actually one of the first creative outlets that I've had in months. Even though I was under a lot of pressure to get it done quickly, I still got into that “zone” and it felt good to do something creative again.

So, I decided that when HayHay went back to school; I was starting my weekly sculpting classes again. And I did! I've actually been back for five weeks and I already feel better. This box is just a little project that I'm working on today in class. This hasn't been fired or glazed yet, so maybe next week, I'll take some photos of the next stage. I'm just playing around trying to “get my juices flowing”

Ceramic Box

Detail on Lid

This is a box that I made a few years ago, similar to the one I'm working on now. I made it to use as an urn for our Chocolate lab, Brownie.

Brownie's Urn

Closeup of Lid

For a long time now, I've wanted to start on a series of garden art. I'm interested in an entire “fantasy-like, mystical” theme. I love the artist, Josephine Wall.  She has inspired several of my pieces. Since the holiday season will be approaching soon and things will just get busier than they are already, I'm going to play around with some smaller projects and get my creative juices flowing for now, and then after the first of the year, I want to really focus on a series of outdoor garden sculptures.

~LilSis