Recent Sculptures

My friend Vay prompted me to post- thanks Vay.

I just finished this fellow "he has always been such a cad." I'm doing a demo on sculpting clay faces Feb. 12th at The Art Studios at Mission Mill 5:00pm till 7:00. The Cad was created for the demo....I did fall in love with him.

 "Competitive Ocean Swimmer"

She is the best for her age group, partially because of her ability to concentrate.

This gal is about to embark on a class 5 rapid she has never seen. She was talked out of scouting the river and now her nerves may get the better of her...shake it off.

 Since Christmas and a new camera lens my mind has been with the birds. These two fiber pieces were posted because of that flight of fancy.

Almost fire with a remaining spark

Imperfection

It didn't start out with the thought of imperfections and our view of how we feel about ourselves but when I was looking at the disfigured thigh and legs, the bumps on the abdomen I heard my studio mate Dayna's words "please don't throw her away" and thought that's what we do to ourselves mentally when we look at our own imperfections. 

 I wanted to make a series of sculptures I could experiment different finishes on.

 As well as tryout an assortment of armatures.

 It took several days and a few techniques before the clay was on and ready to bake. And then.

 It almost started on fire...crap it was smoking so much we were afraid it would set off the smoke alarms. Not my idea of how to get to know others in the building. I hung out the window for about 5 minutes.

 Two days down the tubes...not happy! I took it home and gave it a coat of paint.

 She looked brave standing in the brush jar, I kept looking and my thoughts stared to drift.
I was only 5 years old when I fell off the chair and into the wall nearly knocking out my front teeth. The dentist pushed them back into place not knowing he was twisting the buds of new adult teeth at ridiculous angles. For the next 40 some years I was teased by my family and attempted different ways to straighten them none of it worked. Finally a dentist took action and ground them down and capped them. I could smile without self criticism. You that know me know I was not permanently damaged by this, but rather a small spark of a thought as I worked. The thoughts moved on to all the others that don't like parts of themselves, oh the brain of a human.

I think my series will also include imperfections and who knows maybe a little bit more.

Recent work and random photos

Day of the Dead at Guardino Gallery

Death on the Railroad Tracks

DOTD 2014 

This lamp is in "Anatomy A Body of Work" at the Stone Buddha.

It is 6'5" a swing arm lamp with a Edison bulb for fun.

 

Salem Art Group camps at Katy's cabin in Camp Sherman.

Salem Art Group at Dayna's prayer flag project.

Ring from a hand made bead bought at the coast.

 

 I bought this bike in Idaho and was happy when came into full bloom this summer.

New garden gate built this spring.

Star Book Tutorial

 

 

 

Try a Star Book for your next journal - it has less pages and is a real show piece when finished. 

I have been making these Star Books for many years I never get tired of creating new ones. I have mounted them on old platters, tall pedestals and upturned bowls, finding the perfect finial is like going on a treasure hunt. Also the pages are removable for easy painting and journaling.

Enjoy

 

Recently off the bench

 

 I have been building inventory for the "Celebration of Creativity" art show March 6-9 in Beaverton OR.

"Up a Creek"

 This group is titled "Sail Away" I will also be teaching them at Small Studio in May and Art Unraveled in Aug.

"Fishing for Stars"

 

For some reason I used a magnifier the other day and really saw what I was doing...that was good and bad. I started to obsess on every little flaw. It's funny how you need to train yourself for a new tool even a magnifier. I will find the balance and know when to just let it be.

 I will have large Santos in the show as well and will be teaching them at all the retreats including Art and Soul  April in OR and Oct in VA.

 

"Dreams of Wings"

I have been so random on the blog I would like to invite you to follow me on Facebook it's under my name Tory Brokenshire. I post daily and enjoy the interaction with everyone - hope to see you there.

Whats up and images I like

I took a small blog hiatus but now I think it is time to get back with it on a regular basis. I would like to share some photos that highlight my recent activities and some photos I just liked.

I have been working on this Santos for a while now and  I don't want to rush it but I have such an urge to see it done. I'm holding off painting it until I have the clothes a little further along.

These are the very early stages of just one layer of her clothing.

 This piece was so to fun work on. She gently rocks on the old bed spring. She holds her arms out bravely going higher than she has ever dared.

Another project on my workbench. I get ideas and try to at least start the idea so I don't lose the thought of creation.

An image I liked. It's part of a assemblage but as I was cutting the thread away it had to be photographed.

Another image I liked. This was the first thing I saw the other day as I stepped outside. It had just thawed enough to release the dew drops and the sun made each little drop shine. When this happens and I grab my camera I don't get anything done for hours....I need blinders sometimes!

 And last but not least by any measure.....My friend Dayna Collins and I are going to share a studio space in downtown Salem. It is 5 or 6 weeks from move in and my brain is going full tilt thinking of it.....as it gets closer the photos will fly.

SO HAPPY TO PART OF THIS SHOW

 

DOOR SHOW:

the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.

It all started with a phone call from Mary Lou Zeek about 4 months ago with an invitation to join 15 other artists in her door show.  Mary Lou has been doing a door show for several years but this year she has built a twist into it with a request of making the door into a table and the permission to be creative and celebrate your own style. I was assigned the coffee table.

 I found a 100 year old farm house pocket door with about 8 layers of different colored paint. The paint was chipped and was so worn that all the different colors showed in patches. I loved the aged look and thought I would use it that way but after a good hot wash it still looked dirty. So I decided to strip off all the paint. It took about a gallon of stripper and three days of sanding before it was returned to the beautiful old wood it once was.

 I had in mind a plan and went about collecting all the parts. I also made a phone call to my son Nick and ask if he could help with carpentry skills I do not possess. We began a very enjoyable collaboration.

 Some of the pieces were hard to part with, I have been hanging on to this old cash register drawer for a few years and love it but knew it would be perfect for this project.

 Nick welded anchor screws into the shoes to create a very sturdy leg.

 Old door knobs got a similar treatment. My granddaughter Bean thought the glass knobs were very beautiful and requested some for her bedroom door.

 It was all coming together but still required hours of sanding. And the hanging of the cash register drawer proved to be stinker but in the end came out wonderful. It opens like a dream and glides on keyboard slides.

 I'm so happy with the way it turned out. The top of the table has an old post office box door with working key and a built in box below so you can actually lock up a little treasure. I love the way the different types of wood show their own unique character and a very little bit of the old paint peeks out in spots. I hope someone falls in love with it and wants to take it home but it would be fun to have it in my living room.

 

 This happy little table looks like it could just take off dancing through your living room.

Save the date below and come see everyones tables/doors I would love to see you. It will be the only night all the doors/tables will be together. Or take the down town tour to see them during the month in local businesses. Pick up your Door Show Art Walk brochure at Mary Lou Zeek Gallery.

PREVIEW PARTY: an advantageous or pleasurable or combination of circumstances of some duration and often of questionable character.
Location: 365 Ferry Street (below the Liberty Street Parkade)
Saturday Evening, April 27th, 7-9ish
call the gallery to add your name to our list 503-581-3229

 

Time Flies

What have I been doing for almost two months?

Thank goodness for photos it's easier to tell the story.

 I had two great Story Teller classes at the Art Department in down town Salem, one in Feb and one in March. I so enjoyed these classes with the nicest women.

I had two colds but not when I had to teach thank goodness. They were horrid it's been such a bad year almost everyone I know has been sick.

 Hanging out in the house did give me time to play with clay. The photo above was funny because I was feeling a bit lonely then looked up....yikes.

 The heads make thier way to finished pieces just in time to go to a gallery.

I became a new member at Lunaria Gallery in Silverton, OR. And right away had to gallery sit for an 8 hr shift. It was busy for a Monday with all sorts of sales...trial by fire. 

A few weeks ago I bought a new van YAHOO!!!! It is so nice I can haul tools and dogs and stuff. All the stuff I want and even a little more stuff! I missed having a van can ya tell.

 Then.....One night I was taking apart dolls for a workshop and ended up with a bag of wigs when poor trusting Radish came into the room. Gads I got the giggles and still laugh everytime I look at these pictures.

Funny aren't they.

I had to get down to business and make some new class samples.

 Above is Bun she likes fiber and is collecting it for a big project coming up.

 Here she is with Roca who can only think of getting some new shoes.

I may need to rework Roca but for now I hope it will give my students some ideas on how to put together a fun assemblage.

This last pic is for my friend Vay who has a board on Pinterest it will fit into.
Actually I was working very late in the studio trying not to wake the chicken farmer and had not but one light on when I noticed the very strong shadow on the plain door.
April 1st I'm driving to Kansas City, MO see you then.....