My very first at home Raku firing, and it was a success! This is such an addictive process. To see the colors and the crackle effect emerge while the pieces are cooling, and then scrub off the soot to see the full effect – it’s such unadulterated fun. I’m very grateful that nothing cracked and nothing baked to a kiln brick. Let’s hope this is a trend 😊😀❤️ Thanks so much to Mark J Lusardi for setting me up with this perfect for me sized Raku kiln and equipment!!!

I received the most beautiful professional photographs today, taken @eaganarthouse where two of my pieces are installed and on view outside surrounded by a beautiful wildflower meadow on the grounds of the art center. Thank you to @rickgravesphotography for sharing these shots that captivate the magic of this art in nature situation so well. The bust is titled ‘Rebirth ‘ and the standing figure’Letting go of Blue’, and the plants surrounding really amplify these messages for me. This truly is the most beautiful way these pieces have ever been displayed. Thanks also to @eaganarthouse for including me in this beautiful show titled ‘Momentary Certainties’.

I made it! I am soooo exhausted today, but also very happy, after working for 12 hours at Studio Here‘s artist in residence at the Minnesota State Fair yesterday. Thanks to @nbaxterpottery ‘s ability to help me out with an emergency firing, I had plenty of interesting studio projects to demonstrate, such as glazing bisqued pieces, sgraffito, and showing the whole process of building a small bust from rolling out a slab to finishing the facial features. Being there has definitely been worth the effort and the building nervousness I’ve experienced ever since agreeing to do it 😊 the chance to share my process and motivation to make art with such a wide range of people and the genuine and heartfelt conversations I had throughout the day were so inspiring and heartening. Thank you to the Minnesota State Fair and to Minnesotan Fair goers for being such art enthusiasts. A State Fair with a strong art component is a unique and wonderful thing.

I made it! I am soooo exhausted today, but also very happy, after working for 12 hours at Studio Here‘s artist in residence at the Minnesota State Fair yesterday. Thanks to @nbaxterpottery ‘s ability to help me out with an emergency firing, I had plenty of interesting studio projects to demonstrate, such as glazing bisqued pieces, sgraffito, and showing the whole process of building a small bust from rolling out a slab to finishing the facial features. Being there has definitely been worth the effort and the building nervousness I’ve experienced ever since agreeing to do it 😊 the chance to share my process and motivation to make art with such a wide range of people and the genuine and heartfelt conversations I had throughout the day were so inspiring and heartening. Thank you to the Minnesota State Fair and to Minnesotan Fair goers for being such art enthusiasts. A State Fair with a strong art component is a unique and wonderful thing.

My sculpture residence at the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts building is drawing close! I will be working in a designated studio area from 9 am to 9 pm on Labor Day, Sept 6, and show how I make my slabs and how I sculpt. I will also demonstrate the sgraffito technique, and glaze some of my busts. There will be two artists talks throughout the day, but I will be available for questions about my process in between those as well. Come and stop by if you can! I am fully vaccinated and will be wearing a mask the entire time I’m there; and I hope so will most other people present inside the building.