I guess I better update this blog in case someone actually stumbles across it, ha! I’ve chosen a new template for my website so that the focus is now on my portfolio of work rather than the blog, and it now takes two clicks to find the blog.

I am still in non-create mode. This is not in any way a disaster; rather it is a reflection of the great life I’m leading lately. Paul and I have really discovered our retirement-vibe here in gorgeous Colorado Ski Country. We did what most of the locals here do and traveled away during April and May when the snow is melting but spring and summer aren’t here yet, aka Mud Season. We were 3 weeks in France and then another week driving down to Tucson and back via the Utah and Arizona Canyonlands.

“Artist” has always defined who I was, what I did, what was expected of me by others, and what my ego/self image was wrapped around. It feels so nice to simply be Karen… after being Karen, Artist my whole life.

I’m sure I’ll get an idea to do an oil painting, sculpture, or get back to ceramics glazing again soon. I got so many great photos in the last 2 months that would make wonderful painting subjects. But I just wanted to warn you I’m not taking on any commissions for the time being. If I do want to make anything, for now I need it to be what I want to make, not to someone else’s order.

By the way, I am teaching a workshop on painting ceramics with overglazes (emphasis on painting horse color), during Breyerfest in Lexington, KY in July. Here is the link to the info: http://www.breyerhorses.com/bf2015-overglaze

I used up a whole afternoon chasing down my entries for this kooky contest being held by Braymere Custom Saddlery. When I could have been doing something far more productive.

Here’s the link to the contest if you have no clue what this is all about. 🙂

1. Vintage
I’m calling this one Hot Tub Time Machine. I have no idea why I felt I had to
float the model in the hot tub. Creepy.

2. Nekkid
My “secret stash” of unglazed whiteware china. To be glazed… someday!

3. Scale Issues
My “Boreas” Percheron sculpture in all his sizes!

4. I See Spots
A test color Breyer “Lady Phase” model that I painted at the Breyer factory
    in 2008.

5. Unbridled Passion…
…Is sort of what I was going for with my Andalusian mare sculpture, “Danzante”

6. Rare Breed
 Tregoyd Journeyman, the real Cleveland Bay horse (a genuine rare breed) that the
Breyer model I sculpted was named after. We met at BreyerFest 2006.

7. Portrait
My TB filly sculpture, “Portrait”, of course!

8. Conga
“Heart of Darkness” resins when first delivered, in 1994. 

9. The Great Outdoors
A vintage performance photo of mine, from the 1980’s.
    I made the doll’s ski outfit, believe it or not.

10. Best in Show
A live show entry I put together, from the 1990’s I think.

Welcome to 2015! I’m deep in the middle of the fun winter season here in Colorado’s Ski Country. Which is why I am glad to find myself at a moment in the studio where I’ve got nothing promised and nothing planned! I will eventually be glazing some of the whiteware china horses I’ve got stashed away, and I do have an idea for a new sculpture I want to pursue. But for now, I’m resting on my laurels, ha!

Also on my (very small) to-do list this winter, is a rework of this website. I’m planning to convert it to a gallery/photo style site, and far less of a blog. In fact the blog entries will be found via menu or button, instead of featured on the main page like it is now. I just have to figure out how to change themes in WordPress! So if you try to get here and nothing happens, the site is under construction not gone forever!!

I noticed I haven’t updated this blog since October. Here are some photos of ceramics work finished in the last couple years or so, that I haven’t shown here before. (Most all of my “action” is over on my Facebook Page now, so I tend to neglect this site. Sorry!)

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Custom glazed “Lancelot”.
Warmblood sculpture by Brigitte Eberl, produced in fine bone china by Horsing Around of the UK.

I purchased four pieces from this sold-out edition in bisque, two more to come!!

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Art-glaze color “Juniper” Gypsy Cob, and “Heart of Darkness” Oldenburg, earthenware chinas sculpted and cast by me

I confess to doing far too many art glazes this year. But I love them and want to promote them!

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“Boreas” Percheron, customized earthenware china, satin finish black with resculpted mane and tail, and added braiding/decoration. Sculpted and cast by me.

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“Jamil” Arabian, custom glazed rosegrey, satin finish.
Sculpture by Brigitte Eberl, produced in fine bone china by Horsing Around of the UK.

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“Boreas” customized with new mane and tail and leg feathering, blue roan Belgian. Sculpted and cast by me.

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“Roundabout” British Cob, customized earthenware: loose mane/tail and resculpted head. Currently bisque. Sculpted and cast by me. What color will this one be??

Commission Season is now open!

I’m about to settle into winter here in Colorado Ski Country, and traveling season is just about over for us too. So I’m opening up the Ceramics Glazing Dept. for two commissions this winter. I’ve already got a couple things I’m doing for Oct-Nov, so these won’t start until December.

If you have a bisque you’d like custom glazed, let me know what you have and what color, and I’ll give you a quote.

The above photo is from last year, October 4th to be exact. I’m not ready for snow quite yet!

 

The aspen leaves are starting to turn, the hummingbirds have left on their winter migration, the nights are getting cooler, and snow has been spotted on the highest peaks. That means summer is about done here in the Colorado high country. Bring on fall! My favorite season. Time for change, new starts, and getting out of summer clothes. (I’ve always loved fall clothes; jeans and long sleeves and jackets are flattering to everyone! 🙂 )

Fall in the studio usually means getting back to work after a summer of play! I’ve already been busy pouring ceramics molds of my work. Here is what I’ve cast so far:

These pieces (2 Boreas Percherons, 2 Optime Arabians, 2 Roundabout cobs, and a Juniper, so far) are intended for a special project later this month. Stay tuned for news about that, especially via the Facebook page. I’ve run out of wet-box space so I can’t cast any more until I finish customizing the Roundabout and put one of those big Boreas together!

The only thing I accomplished in the Art Dept. this summer were these Bighorn Ram pins. These were sculpted by me and cast in porcelain, and then I glazed them into 5 different colors. There are 50 total. They are thank-you gifts for a local hiking group Paul and I are involved with here. I have a few left over, and I’m offering one of each color for sale. (There was also a cobalt blue color but there were only a few of those and they’re gone.) They measure 1 1/8″ and have a pin-tack back.

For sale are:

1. Dark Purple, $20 ppd
2. Custom glazed realistic color (on top of a cream colored glaze with brown flecks), 1 of only 2, $40 ppd
3. Violet, $20 ppd
4. Light teal, $20 ppd
5. Green, $20 ppd

These are available now, first-come, first-served, only one per person. Please specify the color that you want, and give 2nd choices. To buy, send an email to: Email Karen. Or if you are reading this on Facebook, you can contact me via Message. 

Have a lovely fall season!