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Friday, September 1, 2017

playing around with clay again...

Today is Friday, Sept. 1 , 2017 (Yes, white rabbit!! or rabbit rabbit!).  North Dallas as well as surrounding areas are having a gasoline crises. Apparently the news on Wednesday announced that several oil refineries that were flooded due to Hurricane Harvey will be closed until things were back under control. They announced that this "may" cause a shortage of gasoline as well as price increases throughout the areas. 

Well, of course everyone panics and runs to the gas stations for gas to fill up everything they own. Lines were ridiculously long with stations running out of gas (probably more due to the ridiculous numbers of customers than any gas shortage). The gas shortage is most likely real... but was made worse by the panic. Anyway, supposedly whatever shortage there is should be taken care of in a few days.  For the moment, the weekend is here... so we can just stay home and conserve what gas we do have.

Now... what I'm doing while home today is playing with clay. It's the Labor Day weekend, so no class tomorrow. But I've hand-built a few more 'chickens' and created a new silly looking rooster - not entirely happy with him, but he'll do until another idea pops up. 

And I also tried my hand at a small figure sculpture... nothing too detailed. At first it was going to be in a yoga position, then as it developed, it looked more like one of those victims from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Anyway, it's a first attempt... so definitely not without fault. Please feel free to critique... 

 
new clay chickens and silly rooster

 
first attempt at figure sculpting


These (rooster and figure) are also first attempts at sculpting without a picture to give me an idea of what I want. Usually I do best when looking at something similar to what I'm trying to achieve and then making it my own.

I hope everyone has a good Labor Day weekend. Remember to keep those in harm's way in your thoughts and prayers. There's going to be so much to do in the next weeks and months. And now there's reports on Hurricane Irma somewhere in the Atlantic... can't even think about that now. 

Closing with a picture of Tux, Julie, and Ghost as they spend their days napping and not worrying about gas shortages, etc.


From top clockwise: Ghost, Tux, and Julie
 





14 comments:

  1. love your animals and sculpture. I have to look at photos to get an idea myself, Our fuel has gone up 6 times in three days and I am sure the fuel in the ground wasn't new but previously delivered.

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    1. It's strange how panic sets in before the event actually happens.

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  2. I hope that things get better in Texas.

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  3. We aren't suffering too much, yet. There are so many refineries in the chain that are affected by Harvey's flooding and resulting damage. It will be a long time getting fixed.

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    1. They say the fuel problem shouldn't take long to fix... but who knows. I can see the prices going up, but if we have access to other fuel, we shouldn't be running out once everyone gets their act together.

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  4. I love your sculpts, and am quite impressed with your first attempt at figure sculpting. I never look at anything when I sculpt a doll's face, but that's a bit different from doing an entire figure. I recently saw some of our grandson's work from a class he took this summer. My favorites were his "hand-built" teapots.

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    1. I think you're supposed to put the body together in parts... at least that's what the video shows. But I just started sculpting a piece of clay and carved out the shape. Will try it the other way this weekend.
      As for your grandson's teapots, some of the potters make beautiful teapots. Is your grandson enjoying the class?

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  5. Not good news about the fuel. Problem is that once it goes up it may not come down.
    I love the chickens. This and area I have never tried.
    Briony
    x

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    1. Well, it's never too late, Briony. I only started working with clay a few years ago... wanted to see if I could throw on a pottery wheel. And I only started quilting about a year ago (never sewed before). So you might want to give it a try.

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  6. awww your family looks very comfy there on the blanket, keeping each other company
    your chickens look good, pottery is something i never had a go at but admire people who do make things
    thanx for sharing

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    1. Our cats have always slept together... think they are used to us taking in strays over the years and accept others pretty well.

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  7. I simply adore your chickens, all of them! And the body? I agree with you that it looks a little like one that has been dug up. I smiled at it, though, realizing you did it all without working from a figure. I hope you have a safe and delightful Labor Day weekend! :-)

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    1. My new silly rooster... reminded me of something... but I couldn't think of what until I painted him. He reminds me of an old cartoon... Foghorn Leghorn, an ornery rooster that had a little chicken hawk friend.

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