The year in review

Well, it's that time again when everyone looks back at what they have accomplished over the past 12 months, and looks forward to what they hope they will achieve. I didn't feel like I had accomplished very much until I looked through my blog posts for the past year. Was it really less than a year ago that I completed Swanee and Polo? I suppose that is an achievement, only marred by the pressure I have put on myself to produce more. (I don't know where I got this idea from that I have to produce something new every month, and that every piece has to be bigger and better than the one before) So let's look back over the year in a positive light, and remind myself just how productive I have been...

January As mentioned above, in January I finished making Swanee, my first animal sculpture. I made slip for the first time (although I still haven't tried any slip trailing) and I made my first mixed media piece, using loo roll! I also bought and used some water colours for the first time, which wasn't as awful as I thought it would be!

mixed media piece, inspired by Kathy LaRocco

February In February I started making Polo and also started my portrait of Scott when he was a little boy (which I still haven't finished!!)

March was a fantastic month, because I met Leanne!! As well as the chocolate exchange, I also managed to accumulate 3 pieces of Leanne's sgraffito pieces, as well as a bunny which she left for me to glaze, and her wonderful carving on one of my vases! I suppose that's my first collaboration! I also finished Polo that month, and then went on to make my Tree Fairy Vase (named by Kathy) which seemed easy in comparison!

April After Leanne's inspiring visit I bought myself some coloured slips to try out some sgraffito myself, as well as some slip inlaying. My pieces were obviously not as detailed or amazing as Leanne's, but I had fun!

sgraffito and slip inlaying

I also started my second Tree Fairy Vase that month, which is another project that is still unfinished!

By this time I was starting to accumulate quite a few bisque fired pieces in need of glazing, but so far my glazing had been a disaster!

But then, in May I had a very pleasant surprise with my ivy vase! My first glazing success!!



I then glazed Swanee and Polo, and left their fate in the hands of the kiln gods...

Success!! With June came the revealing of Swanee and Polo, and I was very happy with the results!! And just in time, because then I had my first exhibition with the FPAA, although I only had 3 pieces on display. Unfortunately, the ivy vase got damaged, and I really considered the whole event to be a disaster for me personally, although one artist admired my Polar bear, and he had just come back from being in the arctic for 3 months, so he should know what they look like!




I made a few other more functional pieces during June as well.


Well, I don't know about you, but I'm worn out already! I think I shall continue with the review later, when I shall also write my goals for this year.