I know, I know...

...I am a total slacker (not really though.)  I haven't posted since leaving Hambidge on May 9th.  My re-entry into the real world has been tougher than I thought it would be. I really found happiness at Hambidge, and now know what I need and want to do with my life, having had this experience makes it tough to come back to oil changes, bills, email, returning phone calls, etc. I was spoiled with the Fischer Studio, so upon my return I needed to overhaul my studio space at home (again) to make is a bit more suitable for painting.  Having used the space for charcoal and pastel for the past two years, everything (everything, really) was covered in dust, and that dust was getting in my paint. I had to do a lot of sweeping and vacuuming to get things in to better shape.  I have been painting and drawing since my return, but have found it tough to get back on a regular blogging schedule.  I will get a post up about the unloading of the Anagama kiln and then get back to posting regularly about studio work.  I promise...just give me a few more days. Rest assured my friends, all is well and good and things are happening! Oh, things are happening! 

A Fond Farewell.

Well friends, the time has come for me to bid adieu to the Hambidge Center.  My time here has been meaningful and fruitful. I created a number of works that I can say I am happy with (and sold a few too!) but I also made an amazing move forward as I made the jump back into painting after years of working with pastel.  I also formed strong friendships here,  people from all over the country with a strong passion for their art, I hope to stay in touch with all of them.  I must say I am a bit sad leaving my beautiful studio and this wonderful environment but I am ready to bring the momentum and energy I gained here back North (where I'm not the one with the accent) and I am excited to see what comes next.  Of course it is a beautiful, sunny day here making my departure that much harder. A few images:

Mr. Big the Hambidge Kitty, helped to see me off, and an image of the Fischer Studio returned (almost) to it's original state, with one addition.  I'm proud to join the hundreds of other Fellows that have passed through the Hambidge Center, it's signing the stairs that makes me an official Hambidge Fellow for life!

My trip home includes stops in D.C and Rhode Island and I will be posting along the way. I will also do another few posts once I am back North to update you on my last week at Hambidge (including the unloading of the Anagama kiln...) So stay tuned friends, and thanks for listening! 

Up next: Bea goes to DC! ETA: 6:00pm

Well I Did Something Really Cool This Weekend...

...I got to help fire an Anagama Kiln! An Anagama Kiln is a beast.  It is a wood firing kiln that originates from Korea and China and takes 48 hours to fire and a week to cool down.  This is not one of those electric kilns that you press a few buttons and come back the next day to your finished wares. The beautiful thing about an Anagama kiln is that unexpected things happen. The temperature is controlled by the amount of wood loaded and the amount of air allowed in to the kiln. Since most people can't stay up for forty-eight hours, four hour shifts are assigned to couples that may or may not have vessels in the kiln. I was lucky enough to assist Chase with his 1:00AM to 4:00AM shift...it was great! We sat around talking with other people watching the kiln.  The heat was immense, but the glow the kiln had was beautiful.  Below are a few photos taken of the firing, the kiln is cooling off until Saturday so I will update you with images from the unloading and the treasures that result from this amazing process!

That last photo is the team that came before Chase and I. The woman on the right is opening up the door to the kiln and the man on the right is loading the wood in.  It's a dance, and it takes rhythm and synchronization since the temperature can change drastically if the door is open for more than a second or two. 

I will update you all with studio images tomorrow.  I am very excited about the painting I just finished!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!