New Friends

I have found some new friends who are creating art and crafts. They are also blind!

I was told about a group of artisans who are members of the National Foundation of the Blind organization. I have recently made contact with them. I registerd to be on their list of artists and I am now getting personal e-mails from some of the members.

It is amazing the things that these blind artisans are doing! I am so inspired by their notes on the site list and their notes to me personally. I hav found other people who do bead embroidery. I have not even tried to do it again since my sight loss. But, it has been on my mind all the time. That has been my desire, to once again be able to pick up a very slim needle, get out my gemstone cabachons, and tiny seed beads, and work on a project. I was doing "Encrusted Beadwork" at the time I lost my vision and have longed to be able to create some pieces once again. Now I know it is possible, because others are already doing it and have contacted me.

I am beginning to make pottery, and that has kept me occupied as I work my way through the process learning how to feel the clay and turn it from a piece of mud into something lovely. There are potters on this website and list, too.

And, knitting has been my passion for years. Yes, I have found other knitters, too.

What is so amazing is that these people do "classes" using the telephone call conferencing option. By doing this, people from all over the country can be in the same "place" at the same time, and be "in a class" together through the phone conference call. Amazing, isn't it!

Now you can understand why I am so excited. Daily, I am getting contact emeails from artisans who introduce themselves to me, the new member. And, I am having a blast meeting these talented and lively people. They make me realize that there is next to nothing that I cannot do again.

But, don't expect to see my driving by in my car. That won't be happening!

New Works from River Road Studio

I have been having so much fun since I started making pottery!

You just never knew what new things you will do in your life. I find that being an artist is the most wonderful life a person could ever ask for. No matter what the challenges, art always comes through to bring us new surprises and new beginnings.

I was formerly a painter and print maker and did some tapestry weaving as well. When I lost my vision in 2007 that all changed overnight. At first I thought I would never be able to make "art" again. But I was still an "artist" inside so what would I ever do?

Over the Sight Loss journey I have been on for the past 2 1/2 years, I have started to do pottery. At first, a friend called me and told me she thought I could do pottery. She took me to classes and very slowly, I began to work in 3-D. My efforts at first were tentative and nervous. I struggled with the clay and with the idea of making pottery. But, it was not long until the artist took over and I began to learn to feel the clay, and to be one with the clay. Being one with your medium is essential to making art. You and the medium have to work together and once that begins to happen, it is exciting.

One of the projects I wanted to work on was to make three vessels in a series, using a template. I love to hand build with coils and I love the way you can work so large and powerful by using them. I made a template for the profile I wanted the vessels to have and then I began the process of working that shape into the outside of a 3-D surface.

My vision for the vessels was to reflect an ancient way of working and the image I was thinking about was the Venue of Willendorf. She is an ancient statue, tiny, and was found in Austria in an archaeological dig. I first saw photos of this little statue when I was an art student, in my Art History 101 class.

Let me introduce you to the Willendorf Sisters, a series of three large vessels. They were made with red clay bodies, and have a clear glaze applied. When the glaze is fired on the pot, it turns this soft pinkish/brown color. I was surprised and very pleased.

When I look at these vessels I am reminded of organs and delicate inner tissues inside the body. The color of them is feminine and delicate and they seem to ppulsate with life forces. I am very pleased with how they have turned out.