Hand Building Pottery - Some finished pieces and my feedback

My feedback on my Hand Building Pottery Pieces 

My favorite piece because I love the scalloped edge

Well, my first 8 weeks of Hand Building Pottery has flown by, and I just gave my instructor, Lin, another check for another 8 weeks.  I made 5 pieces, two of them were so-so and one of them was sent to that little trash can in the sky.  Surprisingly enough, the painting part of it was as challenging as anything.  Too much paint or not enough or blotchy~these are the problems that I encountered.  I am still going to use these pieces that I am getting ready to show you, but they are NOT without flaws.

Flour, Sugar, and Lemon tray 

You probably can see the issues.  The Lid on the left piece didn't stay true and flat.  That was because I constructed it incorrectly.  I didn't have enough support on the underside and it sagged (that was what the instructor said).  The tolerances on the right canister are not consistent.  It is necessary to have the lid lined up just perfectly for it to fit :(  I still like them, though, because I made them and I learned something.

This was my very VERY small brownie dish-LOL~it held 1/2 the recipe
(I guess I better learn to measure better!) 

As I said in an earlier post, clay is really like people.  You just don't know what you will get until it is fired by the adversity of LIFE.  The firing process brings the beauty out and makes the clay less fragile.  One day, I picked one of the lids up by the handle.  This was before it was fired but after the clay was dry.  The instructor noticed me do this and quickly cautioned me not to do that again until it is fired at least once.  "It will weaken it or worse break off!"

I love the color.  I don't Love the way it sagged outwardly.  But you know, it still is sort of neat.  It is unique, and well, I do like UNIQUE!

Next week, I am going to show you my twine holders.  Yes, a twine holder holds twine.  I think they are neat.  I made 6 of them and hope that they survive the 1st firing. HAHA. 

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Springtime

SPRINGTIME COMES TO THE WOODS

Springtime comes to the woods

Good day to you!  Thanks for visiting my blog site.  Today, I wish to talk about a little painting I did a good while ago.  I am happy to say I found 10 very nice sized paintings in a crate in our warehouse.  This one dates to probably 1995 ~ maybe.  How did it end up in a crate, you might be thinking?

Well, many of you that know me realize that I have had a very long battle with Ovarian Cancer.  I have been in and out of the hospital a lot of the last 23 years.  Each time I go 'in' everything sort of comes to a screeching halt in my studio.  Things get put away and I rest.  I rest for a long time.  Each time I have been sick, it has been for the same thing, Cancer.  I hate it cancer and what it does to people's lives but God promises to be with us, and I have with God's help beat it every time.  I am so thankful, too.  

As I said in an earlier post, we have been cleaning house.  Along with dozens of packs of cards found, there were also some early paintings of mine.  This one is one of them.  I am going to list it on my KOLENESPICHER Etsy acct. if you wish to purchase it.  People that have bought paintings with this hand grain frame may be interested.  I can't get these frames any longer very easily.  

The title is on the right (sorry about the shadow) "Springtime comes to the woods"

What is really sweet about this painting is that it is about NEW BEGINNINGS.   Just like spring is in the beginning of life each year and signifies life,  Nature sheds its garment of death and in turn sprouts new life.  The little house that is attached to the log cabin has a newborn baby in the window with a caption written in the grass Baby in the Picture Window!

How about the little Peeps!! 

The man carrying the water has a caption that reads Bringing water to Bathe my Babies! 

Celebrating the new Baby 

The whole painting is really about the new baby but it is also about New Beginnings.  I know because that was what I was thinking about and hoping for when I painted it!! 

This frame was hand-grained

I have sold many, many landscape paintings with this very frame on them.  The warm glows of the 'faux' wood just blend and compliment my work.  I was really thrilled to find this!!  I should get cards made out of it.  They wouldn't be like the other cards because I would need to do very limited quantities.  Wouldn't this be a darling baby thank you card?? 

Resting before the rain

This cow is doing what we all like to do…REST.  Let's all rest a  just little today!

Don't forget to check out my ETSY store.  I am listed under KOLENESPICHER.  I will be listing this painting!  Check it out! For a week, I am offering 10 percent off for orders over $100. 

Finally, here's a closeup very large! 

Enjoy the beautiful Springtime in the Northeast (if you are here!)  It is so wonderful outside today! 

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House Note Cards

A Blast from the Past 

Die Cut

Many years ago back in 1995, my husband and I had thousands of greeting cards printed.  It was an exciting time for me, to say the least.  I had about 15 designs (I think), and I would take them to shows.  I had them placed in Qty of 5 in a little cellophane bag.  We would sell them in little sets.  I had all sorts of cards--house cards, tea cups, a winter scene (yesterday's post), and even little bras and girdles.

As I said, I found a box of these little goodies and am selling them on Etsy.  I have a very limited supply.  My Etsy store is KOLENESPICHER so take a look.  They are $20 for a package of them, which is a little more than the one winter scene due to the expense of the die-cut. 

Look how primitive!!!! 

So you can have a sense of the die-cut shape, I have also included a picture of the card standing!

Same shape as the Red one!

They are printed on glossy premium card stock.  I think the die-cut feature makes them look high-end.  They were really expensive to produce, which is why we only did it one time.  As I said in yesterday's blog, I thought they were all gone…I am happy to find some.

We published it under Markol Greetings, which was just Mark and Kolene blended.  Isn't that special. 

Enjoy! 

Kolene 

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Winter Scene

A Very Festive Snow Scene

** Update! These cards are available on KOLENESPICHER ETSY page.  I have very limited quantities left.   https://www.etsy.com/listing/165393819/ship-painting-tabletop-beautiful-vintage

Fifteen years ago, back in 1995, my husband and I decided that we would print some cards.  I had about 21 different styles.  It was a very exciting time for me because I was just getting started in the whole art world and was really new to the idea of printing anything. We opened our doors in 1992.   I started with paintings, of course, that were one-of-a-kind and then branched out from there.  This was one of the first that I decided to print.  I remember TO THIS DAY the show that I sold the painting at in Valley Forge.  It feels like so long ago, but as fast as time flies, I guess it's only 15 years.

We found a box in our warehouse with about 30-35 packs of various card designs, and I thought I'd keep a few packs of 5 and sell the rest on my Etsy. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/165393819/ship-painting-tabletop-beautiful-vintage

You can check it out if you are interested in buying some of what remains.  There are 15 packs as of today, and I am selling them for $15 a 5 pack.  

They are bundled in 5s with one envelope per card. 

Thanks for looking.  I have some die cut teacup cards and a few die cut house cards, too.  I will post them later-smile :)

I paint in many styles, as some of you have come to know, on February 10, 2014, I posted a different type of winter scene.  It is sort of fun to compare the different styles.  One is much more whimsical then the other.  I still like the older style, it's just fun to mix things up a bit!

Enjoy!

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A Mermaid's Adventure!

Free rides to Coatue ~ A mermaid's adventure aboard a sailor's boat on Nantucket! 

**Update-original available thru Nantucket Country ~ an upscale design source on Nantucket, MA

There are few places that hold the specialness in my heart that Nantucket does.  I was married 26 years ago and spent my honeymoon there.  Since then, I have had the privilege to paint for a gallery that is located in its heart, Centre Street, right down from Jared Coffin.  I have painted for Nantucket Country for nearly 20 years.  It's been a great ride, too!

Look at her little hand playing in the sand

When I paint, I try to think about the person I am illustrating.  What are they doing and thinking?  What would I be doing and thinking?  You guessed it, my hand would instinctively go down to run my fingers in the sand.  I might even have a little smirk while doing it, too!  I am one of 6 girls and was the baby (almost).  I had a lot of spankings.  haha.

Look at this guy, he looks nervous. 

 think the real problem is that he is the only one doing any of the work, "Geesh, these gals are heavier than they look!" 

Free Rides to Coatue

In case you didn't guess it, Coatue is located in Nantucket. It is an area that is made of sand and is long and thin.  It is right at the Nantucket Harbor and runs along the length of the island stopping at Wauwinet, where it becomes attached to the great island of Nantucket.   

This painting had the best patina on it.  It was full of cracks that don't always look this great.  I JUST LOVED THIS :0)  It's sold and long gone.  I just wanted to write about it today because I found some pictures. 

Have a blessed day! 

Kolene 

Ps, the print may be available thru Spicher and Co., if you are interested drop me a note.  It comes in various sizes and price ranges.  

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Young child Silhouette in Miniature format

Young Girl Silhouette with hand rubbed finish 

Painted in that 18th and 19th Century Style 

I love her pretty red dress. (Just shy of 5 inches) 

I love to paint little pictures.  The only downside to painting smalls is that it really takes a good amount of time...  I make a mess and spill things and typically spend as much time on something small as I do a larger piece.  Why do I do it then??  Well, it is because there are many collectors of artwork that hesitate to spend a lot of money on someone they do not know.  I wish to expand my market; therefore, I am willing to do a few smaller pieces to get the customer.  It's all fun!  

This little piece was really a newer frame that I picked up somewhere and isn't all that old.  I like it sitting on a bookshelf, but I also think it would be sweet to hang. It just blends in nicely with my furnishings.  

There's a slight glare on this picture, but you get the idea! 

The overall dimensions are 3 1/2 x 4 1/2"

To give you a good idea of the scale of this picture, it easily fits into the palm of my hand!

In case it's not clear, she is holding a bird! 

Check out the Hand-rubbed finish

The color in the above example is not entirely accurate, the original is more like an almond color that is gently toasted! 

I have an Etsy page.  I have been very lazy about posting to it.  I have only one picture on it.  Today, I decided to post another~WOW.  This little portrait.  If you are interested in her, I have made it affordable.  Remember, she is all hand painted and finished, ready to go, immediately! Think birthday or belated mother's day or even father's day.

*Today, I am doing something a little different!  If you like my page on FB and 'share' this link to your Facebook, I am going to have a giveaway.  The silhouette print below is the prize! (NOT the small round one).  The size of the square giveaway print is square 7"x9".  This is a $50 value.  One person will be selected at the end of the week!  

**The winner was Katie G.  Yay, Katie! May 16, 2014 

Also don't forget to check out my etsy page!!  I have the round one up right now! 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/189468523/18th-century-reproduction-young-child

Enjoy! 

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ROSES in an Urn - Primitive 19th Century Reproductiion

FLOWERS IN AN URN 

Pen and Ink Style Reproduction Flower Painting

Today, I decided to talk about this little painting.  I just love primitive folk art and I really like to 'invent' my own thing.  If someone else is doing it, I shy away.  This particular piece was painted on paper and is behind ANTIQUE glass.  Each step of this piece was important to achieving the 'overall' look of the painting.  

Antique Lemon Gold Frame

Even the little pinstripe that I painted along the edge just adds to this picture.  I am typically not a plumb sort of girl--things are usually out of level.  Having married a carpenter and having a dad as a carpenter, makes me at the least TRY to paint straight.  Because they make fun of me if it's crooked.   I spent some time on this edge (in other words).  I love the lemon gold frame.  I usually buy them when I see them.  If there is antique glass in it, all the better! 

LOVE THE HOLE

I folded this paper and did my thing that I always like to do--distress the H E double toothpicks out of it.  I sometimes don't know when to stop--downside. 

In this shot you sort of get an idea of the scale of the piece.  Take a look at that banana.  You can see that this is about 2 1/2 bananas high and 2 bananas wide.  Now I am sounding like a monkey. 

This painting is sold! 

Another Urn painting 

In this style, I chose to do mostly black and white ink.  It still has that primitive feel but is really not as 'serious' of a painting.  It is fun and stylistic and even contemporary.  This is also sold.  I included it so that you can see some of the various styles that I like to experiment within.  I actually blogged about this painting on February 8, 2014 if you want to look it up! 

Closeup!

I hope you have enjoyed today's post.  It takes a lot of my morning each day doing it, but I really enjoy it and it makes me happy--that's the goal. 

Enjoy! 

 

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