I am going MUGSY! The process of learning ceramics by Kolene Spicher

My first Mug and Platter 

The Birds Find Their Home by the Sea 

Mermaid Holding a Sweet Bird by the Sea 

Ceramics by Kolene Spicher 

I have been learning how to do ceramics in my free time, lol.  I have no free time.  My days are always planned with good things.  Each day I try to do something the VERY BEST THAT I CAN.  It doesn't have to be perfect, but it needs to be my best.  

Ceramics have been a type of healing for me.  It is too deep to explain and I'd bore you.  So lets look at some pictures.  

This is not really what I thought this would look like.  The green burned brown and sort of looks like my grass in the summer after 6 weeks of no rain.  I didn't use enough paint...sigh.  The black lines are inconsistent.  I did not realize that when they say three coats, they really mean three.  Who would have thought.  So make a note, next mug, three coats of color.  Oh and don't use that green.  Or that blue...What, you don't know what blue you used, do you?  Know your colors.  Make a note.  So you are starting to see, this isn't an easy process.  But I love this mug and I think what makes it endearing are the imperfections that this new potter is learning to overcome.  I like the hand made look, but there needs to be a line that I don't cross.  I don't know the line. :( 

I like the way the leaf turned out and also the drippy blue.  The handle on the left says, "The Birds!"  The other side says, "Find their home!" Finally, barely there, is the writing By the Sea in the muddy grass. 

Let's talk about the lady in the picture.  She's sort of bumpy...literally and in all the wrong places, but you know what?  I love her.  I love this mug, and imperfect as it is, I have found that it is very fun to drink out of.  

I'd say that this was me, but it isn't.  But I do love it and want to keep it! 

See the handle?  This says, "Find their Home."  This is referring to birds.  Nevermind that my finger doesn't even fit in that hole.  LOL. 

You can't see it in the picture, but there is a bump to the right of this poor woman's breast.  I don't mind it, but I am pointing it out because it's there, and when you drink out of it, you are reminded that a woman made this mug.  LOL. 

This is very Bohemian!
#Bohemian

Oh how I love that blue inside the cup and also on the water.  If only I had put more brush strokes.  

This might actually be my favorite part.  This sweet Robin truly found a home by the sea and in this cup.  I am going to do a painting around this mug.  I am working on another cup that has this theme painted on it to go with the  new painting.  Whoever gets the painting, gets the mug!  I will plan on taking this stuff to #wiltonhistoricalsociety show that takes place in November.  

I am going to make a hand built stand for this. 

Finally, let's talk about the platter.  I love so much of it.  I don't love the shine.  I am going to make another one out of Porcelain.  Yesterday, I made two hand-built porcelain mugs.  I worked on them some this morning and I love how they are getting.  One of them will be  for my Birds find their Home by the Sea mug.  

Now you know why I am going "Mugsy." #Mugsy is about pottery (for me).  It's about all the steps and lessons and about loving what you are, whatever that might be.  :) 

www.spicherandco.com 

Enjoy. 

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Bird Mermaid Platter by Kolene Spicher

Showing off her bird-catching skills 

A Kolene Spicher Mermaid Pottery Piece 

Hand Building Pottery 

I have made some progress with my platter since I last posted.  The colors on this piece are beginning to POP as the clay is drying out in preparation to Bisque Firing.  

The edge of this piece was designed to look like coral.  I think it has this look, too, but I don't know for certain what this will look like once it is Bisque Fired. 

I decided to add the curtain because it gives it a good pop of color.  The water is textured and many shades of BLUE will stick out once fired. 

I am really loving this whole process.  I am going to be making many more of this sort of thing.  As I learn more about the clay, I am leaning more toward the hand-building process.  I am also learning to throw on the wheel, too.  

ENJOY! 

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What goes into a custom piece like a mermaid

The Black Pearl 

I am working on a custom piece for a couple.  This is the painting that they referenced.  I thought today's post could be about what is involved in making a "Custom" painting.  

The first step is to find a frame.  In this situation, the couple is looking for a 'beachy' frame.  What is a beachy frame?  It's a frame that would go well with beach decor!  They are usually white, black, or natural.  

We immediately thought of black.  We have  at  (Spicher and Co.) a simple black moulding that we often will frame nautical pieces in. I have framed original art in this moulding and it looks fab.    In the photo below, it is featuring a folk landscape but imagine a mermaid... 

We also could go white.  In this next picture, you will see a beautiful chipped up white frame that screams beach. 

The scale is wrong on this, but we could have it cut to fit. 

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This leads me to my next step, choosing a size.  

My suggestion  for mermaids would be to go with something that is 18x24, and this would be painted on paper.  The frame would add even more size to this piece.  The frame is a big part of the art! 

Here are the colors! 

Correct color pallet

The actual black pearl painting is below.  The room is dark that this was photographed in so the colors are sort of muted and dull in the reference piece.  

Colors not accurate

I love this ocean.  Oceans can really reflect many different colors.  We can go dark sea or light.  Check this out! 

Beginning stages of seascape with whales (top)

This is what we start with!  I go bright and each layer subdues and enriches the next.  Till I am done with this, the colors will be wonderfully muted like this mermaid! 

Really, that is the process.  Frame first, which determines the size, and then subject matter, and finally color.  

All you have to do is message me!  

Enjoy. 

Thanks for looking. 

Kolene E. Spicher 

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Mermaid with Seaglass in Repurposed Antique Frame

Looking for Seaglass

After the shells and 'pickling' of the frame
AFTER  

I had a friend give me one of those Antique Criss Cross frames.  At the time, both of us were unsure what we would do with it.  I forgot to take a BEFORE picture so I had a base for comparison.  This is the best that I could come up with as far as showing to you the color of the frame at the beginning of my project.  

BEFORE 

This is the closest thing that I could find.  The first thing that I did was remove the gold liner.  I will save that for another painting for now.  Then I regaled the leaves on because they needed to be absolutely secure before adding the seashells.  

AFTER 

This is what the frame finish looked like after it was treated with my special pickling sauce, lol.  

Before the pickling, this is what I came up with as far as composition for the painting.  

One of my new hobbies is seaglass.  Why do I like seaglass.  I am sure that I don't know.  I just as fascinated with the idea of something tragic like a wreck or littering (in the bay) could somehow produce something as beautiful as seaglass.  

You can very subtly see the glass at the bottom of the painting.  I have painted it to blend into the sand because that is exactly like what it is like trying to find it.  Often times you will walk over a piece and not ever see it.  There seems to be an abundance of white glass...sigh.  I like the colored glass.  

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This is one of the many paintings that I will bring to the American Artisan's show in the fall at Wilton Historical society, 2017.  I am sorry but it is not for sale at this time.  

There will be over 50 artists present at this show.  It is in November.  Here is the link! 

http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/american-artisan-show/

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Kolene Spicher Custom portrait of a young girl Mermaid

My Lil Daffodil 

A mermaid from Cape Cod. 

 

Silver Leafed Italian hand made frame 

This little angel is my latest custom portrait.  The painting is designed to sit on a shelf or a coffee table.  I call these my #littletreasures.  

I am unsure of her age.  I was told it, but I can't recall.  I think she is around 4. This is a portrait of a combination between these two photographs. 

When painting these smaller pieces, it is hard to maintain the folkiness of the mermaid without going too realistic.  I want this to be fun.  Everyone loves mermaids and Nantucket so that is why she is carrying a daffodil.  There is something about that particular flower.  I call it a flower in a flower...  I happen to know that this little girl is loved and treasured.  That is what she is, A flower in a flower. 

I paint the original on a big sheet of paper and then use the paper as a palette so that I can be sure that the colors are just right! 

The frames I custom order.  They are hand made and have a wonderful hand applied printed paper on the backs.  This will make a fine piece to add to this wonderful Grandma's collection of Folk ART.  Let's keep this wonderful unique style alive.  

Enjoy. 

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Holiday Mermaid "Facebook Early American Folk Arts and Trades Marketplace" Painting, Post 2

The Pencil Drawing Details of my Musical Mermaid

along with some watercolor.  

Before detail 

After the composition drawn into the painting 

I decided that I was NOT going to use the Folk Festival in the title.  SO the mermaid below is sort of obsolete.  The composition otherwise is fine.  I am going to change her hat, too.   

Before the details.  Take a look at this white frame, though, so beautiful.  I think
it is perfect for a snow scene 

Don't forget that this painting will be entered into the Facebook Early American Folk Arts and Trades Marketplace online exhibit.  If you copy and paste this link, you can be part of this event.  You will not want to delay, however, because you must be included in this GROUP in order to look at and purchase the work that will be exhibiting.   Here is the link: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1213533635380525/

I have started to watercolor 

As you can see, there were some steps left out of this.  For the sake of time, I needed to just skip the unnecessary details.  There are too many photos to cram into this entry, so stay tuned for Blog Entry No. 3.  

Enjoy! 

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Atlantic Ocean Mermaid

Miss Atlantic 

She was queen for a day! 

Featured in her new Gold frame 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/474363435/kolene-spicher-original-mermaid-painting?ref=pr_shop

I briefly talked about this mermaid before.  It's been one of those things where the mermaid and the frame just didn't jive.  I have enjoyed her on my wall for a while now and finally found a frame that I believe to work.

The finish on this frame is reproduction in nature, meaning that it was newly painted to look old.  It's all crackled and bubbled and will look great with seashells and beauty decor. 

One of the funnest things about my job is creating things that make people feel something.  This mermaid has the sweetest expression.  Her expression is innocent.  Her little hands are naively painted.  She is just fun.

This is the newest frame, Sorry I keep reframing this piece.  I FINALLY am happy! 

OLD FRAME, this frame is too dark.  

In the water to the left and right of her arm is the saying "She was Queen for a day."  I want to be queen for a day!!!  ha 

Just for fun, I am adding what this painting looks like from the back side!  Look at my GIRL sitting on that chair.  She's pretty innocent, too! 

Enjoy. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/474363435/kolene-spicher-original-mermaid-painting?ref=pr_shop

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Snow Taxi Mermaid Painting photographed in its new home

Snow Taxi is installed in a beautiful New England Home! 

Snow Taxi 

It is not often that I receive beautiful photographs of pieces that I have painted installed in their new home.  I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to see this painting hanging in such a beautiful home.  It evokes feelings of thankfulness in me.  

I love this mantle and the color it is painted.  

Can you imagine what the rest of this house must look like?  This green is so soothing and I love her simple decorations that she has on the mantle.

The elegance of the chandelier really compliments this room 

You can tell that this lovely room is probably decorated for the change of each season.  I admire such forethought and careful planning.  

WOW, love the highboy, too.  The platters look so pretty and stand out against the warm brown tones of the piece.  Everything is simply beautiful.  Love it all! 

I am sure that Thanksgiving will be a wonderful event in this home.  Thanks so much for sharing these pictures with me and the lucky audience that happens upon them!  

Enjoy! 

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Kolene Spicher Mermaid Winter Scene Fish Fly

It was a real Fish Fly 

Part 1 - Developing a mermaid winter landscape 

Fish Fly will have this feel but different  story 

I am one of those people that sometimes works when I sleep.  I really get a lot of ideas at night when I should be sleeping ~ OVER ACTIVE MIND SYNDROME.  I am KIDDING. Well, not about not sleeping but about the silly syndrome.   Don't message me either that this  SYNDROME exists and that I have it, please.  I have enough on my plate~LOL. 

Last night, I had a great idea.  I am going to paint a mermaid scene about the Seattle Fish Market.  Although, this is not really a new thought to me, the composition for this painting began to unfold.  

At times, I just have to get a marker out and start scribbling.  Here is what I came up with.  Keep in mind, there is a reason why we call these things "Rough Drafts."  

I liked the sled so I had to put that idea back to good use.  

While at the High Point Furniture Market Antique show, I came across some FABULOUS water guilded gold-leafed frames.

Lemon water leafed frame 

They were a bit pricey, but having this frame on my Fishmonger/fish fly painting will really be worth it.  Wait to you see this finished.  I have a customer in mind for it already, who lives in the Seattle area.  

This will be added somewhere, too.
He was a real FISH MONGER!  

In case you don't know what a fishmonger is by internet definition, Wikipedia defines it as someone throwing a fish that has been purchased but has NOT yet been wrapped.  At the Seattle Pike Place Fish Market (founded in 1930), this is a habit that accidently made this market world famous.  IF you have not been there, it is well worth a visit.  The first STARBUCKs started there, too.  

Back in the 30s, it started its humble beginnings as an open air market at the corners of Pike Street and Pike Place.  I think that would be a neat painting, too.  This shall be painting No. 2 (maybe).  I will see how this one is received.  Keeping things flexible, here!

When I was there, I did not actually see anyone throw a fish, rumor has it that they sometimes throw plastic ones into the crowd to 'shake things up.'  That would give me a heart attack, probably. Anyone who knows me would agree~very high strung.  

Here is where I stopped with this painting.  I will post some additional shots next week when it is FINISHED! 

Sort of similar in coloration to the opening photo.  The little black spot in the ice is the fishing hole!  

Thanks for looking!  Have a wonderful rest of the week and Enjoy your holiday preparations.  We are blessed to live in this great country! 

ENJOY

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