My pottery challenges

Navigating thru the clay and glaze choices 

Black clay vs a soft brown earthenware with manganese 

There are so many choices when it comes to clay.  I sort of gravitate toward the darker clays.  I just love the rich tones that come thru and the warms and browns that pop up randomly.  But this clay comes with problems.  It has to be fired to a lower cone.  People often push it to cone 6 and hope for the best, but I so heavily decorate my pieces that the likelihood of there being issues with the surface are very probable.  Still I try...sigh.

Many times I get one or two pieces back that I love, most of it is not acceptable and chalked up to "learning"and receive the hammer.  

This one turned out and I am going to keep it.  It's pleasant to look at but it didn't fully pass the Kolene test.  Are there blisters?  No,  Is the glaze smooth? yes. Does it hold water? UHHHH,  NO.  I had to put something inside it to place the flowers in.  Alas, this will be used (probably) for Christmas cards.  It really is pretty and someone would probably even buy it, but it didn't pass the test.  I am picky for a reason, folks. 

The bowls I will keep but only till I come up with ones that are more perfect, they have some blisters.   I will gift them to some friend who will appreciate them for what they are.  I should have fired them to Cone 5 instead of 6.    However, The vase is a keeper.  I like this vase and it passed all the above tests.  

These vases are pretty, very.  They hold water.  They look great, but I don't care for what they feel like on the inside.  They didn't pass.  It's really okay with me, finally, that I am not getting much back that I like.   At first I was so discouraged.  I would push and push myself, staying up to all hours, not sleeping, trying desperately to figure out what the Heck I was doing.  Now I just accept, there are rules to clay.  Until I figure them out, there will be learning curve of what not to do.  

I did not go to school for this, after all. 

This has a few issues and didn't fully pass all the tests, but it is very pretty and I am going to sell it.  It will be a table lamp when it is done and I bought a great shade off of Restoration Hardware for it!  It really looks nice next to my wall art.  

This is just plain white on the inside.  You can't see it but there was something
that fell into the glaze at the bottom, which turned it right away into a second. 

I am leaning toward letting the insides of the cups being plain without glaze, just maybe a wash.   Why try to hide that beautiful brown?  I am not going to anymore (for now).  It is just another step. 

This was a collaborative piece that I did with my friend Wanda.  She's a very seasoned potter.  Everything comes out shining colors with her.  I am so happy to know someone like her.  She's friendly and helpful and full of knowledge that she is willing to share.  Can you see the manganese in the clay?  That's the spots.  Some people love them, others not so much.  I do love this clay but think that it might be better without so much decoration.  

Thanks for looking.  When I finally have a website for the pottery, I will be ready to start selling some.  Once it makes it to that website, you can buy with confidence.  I will accept returns, but I don't have the website ready yet.  It doesn't much matter, I am not quite ready to start selling.  

Warm regards to you on this fall day. 

Kolene 

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Sailboat portrait by Pennsylvania Artist Kolene Spicher

My Happy Place 

A portrait of a 19th century Schooner

Inspired by my antique Diorama  

Water that is full of color and light 

Anyone who knows me knows that I love the water.  It makes me happy EVERY TIME.  I love to paint water and sky and boats--anything nautical!! Ahoy!

The Antique Diorama 

About 5 years ago, I purchased this very cool Diorama.  It was actually made by an elderly gentleman from the Baltimore, MD area back in the late 19th century, early 20th.  I loved it.  Everyday, I look at this and think, "Wouldn't that be a smart looking ship painting!"  So here we are, fast forward five years, and it is finished.  Hey, it could've taken 10 years.

On my beautiful mantle and look at that Spicher Vintage Vinyl on the floor! 

The schooner is painted smaller than the frame could accept but I actually liked it the way it was and decided to frame it in a way that accented the beautiful sky and fluffy clouds.  The frame compliments the period in that it is grained.  The finish on the frame is smooth and the gold liner is still intact.  I love it.  

Before the American Flag 

I was going to leave it without the American flag (pictured above)  but like the other nautical pieces that I have painted, I just couldn't stand to not identify what country this came from.  The flag tells the viewer the origin and that is important.

The sky and the water were brightened up some in this picture 

It's hard to know when to stop and so like many of my pieces, I will wait to actually frame it and place it behind glass.  I am forever changing 'finished' stuff.  The number of paintings I paid to have put together only to later tear apart is more than I care to share.

I love the light in the water 

My Happy Place 

Thanks for looking at this and other pieces that I have completed.  I only do one show a year anymore, the rest of my work is wholesale and painted specifically for Spicher and Co.

This and others will be taken to the Wilton Historical Society Show in New England on
November 3-5, 2017.

Check the show out here!

artisans/http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/american-artisan-show/american-artisan-show-2016-artisans/http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/american-artisan-show/american-artisan-show-2016-artisans/

Enjoy! 

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Folky Black Lab portrait

Watching over me! 

Everyone loves a sweet dog portrait.  While this is just a non-specific dog, it was actually stylized after a dog named Patriot.  Years ago, I saw an antique painting at a friend's house 

of a  big dog with a house in the background and a tiny little fence 

going around the pup (as if it could ever hold the dog in!). 

Upper left side in Green letters is the title
WATCHING OVER ME

This painting is reminiscent of some of my landscapes.  If you know my work, you'll recognize the technique and coloration.

On the right side, above his left leg reads
A DOG NAMED PATRIOT, and above that
TRUE LOVE

ANYONE who owns a dog will tell you that you just LOVE them so much.  They truly are extensions of our families.

LOOK at that face.  

Here's a shot from a distance.  Being from PA, I happen to love primitive.  The graining on this is just fun.  It is sort of crazy looking, and I love it.

Vintage VINYL on the floor by Spicher and Co! 

I placed the painting around the house at different lighting so that I could get the very best pictures!

The little dog on the left was an antique that was restored.  This poor puppy is missing some feet! 

I love the colors of this painting.  I love the brightness of the grass contrasted with the blackness of the dog.  In real life, this dog is getting up there in years.  The owner of Patriot wants to preserve its memory, so maybe they'll be another dog portrait coming!  Stay tuned.

The flag was sort of tongue in cheek because the Dog's name is PATRIOT!  I am a true patriot!  

Thanks for looking.  I am going to be mailing out some cards (see below) for my customers as a form of SAVE THE DATE.  I have a show that I have begun to paint for that is located in Wilton, CT.  It's a long way off but not for someone who does one-of-a-kind work.  Each painting is truly unique and different from the next, down to the framing!  If you want to be added to my mailing list, please message me!  You can find me on FB, why not LIKE my page??  That way you'll see all the new stuff that I post!  

My Mailer!  

Here's some more info on the show coming up in November 2-3, 2017.
http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/american-artisan-show/

Sorry this is a little blurry!!  

Thanks for taking time out of your day to look at my blog!  

ENJOY!  

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Building a Shadow-Box frame for Seashell Captain

Shadow-Box Frame for Seashell Captain 

Getting ready for the http://wiltonhistorical.org/events/american-artisan-show/ Show!  But before I do that, I miss finish this lovely... 

Here you can sort of see the shadow box effect in the photograph above.  It is about 1 1/4" deep to accommodate the shells comfortably.  

I made a duplicate frame and attached it.  The top frame is the original 1820 lemon gold frame.  The sides are not finished because some Joe tore it apart and this was originally a liner inside of another larger frame.  

While my solid black frame is not a perfect match for the top, it is very close and your eye is really fooled into thinking

that you are looking at a "double" old antique frame in all its glorious imperfections.  

As you can see, these old frames are not perfect.  Even in its imperfection, it was considerably expensive.  Add on all the modifications, and it gets laborious, too. 

I do love these shells!  

There is a self lining extender that also has to be custom fitted and then careful slipped inside the "double."  

When finished, this is what you see.  It turned out quite lovely, if I do say so myself.  This will be the last painting I sell for a while as I am going to paint for a show in the fall up in New England.  It is the Wilton Historical Society's original show now being held at the Society.  This building is amazing and chock full of antiques and wonderful reproductions.  It will be held the weekend of Nov. 4, 2017.  Here is the link: 

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

Thanks for looking

Like me on Facebook! 

KoleneSpicher@Spicher.Company

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Wilton, Connecticut Show

My Paintings 

I had a fabulous time at the Wilton, CT show.  It was so much fun, and I have already committed to next year, Lord Willing!!!  

These photographed a little dark, but they turned out beautifully
The one on the left is on HOLD

I love my primitives and always will.  

If you see something that you like, message me, I still have some of these left.  

SOLD

This one might have been my favorite.  Mark was sad to see it sell :)  

I really loved this one.  They were painted on antique books and the bottom one is 3-D.  The tail and the water sort of project forward.  I love, love, love this one :)

These are both gone. 

The attendance was really steady.  Each day had a good bit of traffic.  The 'Society' is already talking about what they will do differently next year to improve the show.  If you think you might like to go to 2016 show, it will be the same weekend (first weekend in November).  I can send you info if you message me your address.  You might get a Christmas card, too! 

Sold 

Mermaids are always fun to paint and seem to bring the buyers joy.  Folks, that is what it's all about for me.  This one was painted on an antique canvas, too!  It has a real vintage look and feel.  

I am keeping this one for a while. 

SOLD

On Hold. 

The next show that I will paint for won't be until next summer.  I know that seems like a long way off, but time does fly.  

SOLD

SOLD 

HOLD or probably SOLD 

Just remember that nothing is ever impossible to repaint.  I love doing something that is similar.    If you have an idea, message me.  If you like something that I have posted, I might still have it!  Just drop me a note.  Thanks for looking.  

ENJOY! 

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The Process of Creating new Mermaid Paintings

Mermaids, Mermaids, Mermaids

These two paintings will be taken to my show in Wilton Connecticut at the Wilton Historical Society November 6-8, 2015  

Americanartisanshow.com

Love the Fall Apples  - HER HANDS ARE NOT DONE! 

I have always been a big fan of the fall.  I had this wonderful old frame which was pine.  It had knots and patina and warmth.  Using antique frames is a wonderful way to repurpose old frames that nobody is buying.  

I am not finished with it yet because I want to add more details to the painting itself, like a ship and possibly a sailor or maybe a seashell.  Or maybe just a ship.  NOT sure yet! 

I think it's so wonderful and warm (the frame) and the basket is very 'Nantucket like.'  I miss painting for Nantucket Country.  Now that this store ihas closed, it feels sort of sad for me when I think of Nantucket.  Cam Dutton, you made it all wonderful.   

I would put the ship in the left side, I think.  It's going to be called, The apple of His eye.  

So many of you have seen this  next one.  I had it in a new and different frame, but I couldn't see it right in that frame.  I never have been able to find an antique frame to match it in size.  Recently, I found this one. It is very old, but someone painted it white--Ouch. 

Color has to go - :( Sorry Shabby Chic people, while I love this style, not for this mermaid. 

I picked up some milk paint and started to paint and paint and paint.  I wanted it to match the frame that is above with the apples.  Here is what I came up with! It's close but not exactly. I would give it a blue ribbon, though.  

The right frame is painted to look like
wood. 

I have to say that I LOVE this.  I really am pleased with how it turned out.  It's very picture realistic to wood and has a good look to it.  As you can see, the frame is slightly too big, so I will have to do a  modification on the frame, Alas, more time.  

Thanks for looking!  I will post another picture when I have finished up with these!  The one on the right is not finished! 

  

Closeup of frame technique

Enjoy! 

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