Tile:  Spirit, hand-pulled from casting of artist's original. Bas relief, each tile finished a bit differently.  7"t x 5"w.  $32  Tammy Vitale

Today begins Art Every Day Month hosted by the lovely Leah at Creative Every Day.  I cannot believe that this is my 3rd one!  When I have 5 minutes to breathe, I will go back and link to some of my previous years' work.  Meanwhile, today I offer Spirit as a proper beginning to the month.  Originally my intent in participating was to do painting and work other than clay since I was already doing clay every day.  That is no longer the case, the economy having taken a toll on my income enough so that I need to supplement my art, which cuts down on the art.   Spirit is a part of a kiln load I did last week that I am delighted with.  I have made this tile before, but this is a new color scheme and I am delighted with the "feel" of it.  Previously I used a dark mahoney stain – I like the movement and feel of this lighter, more "buckskin" color.  So this is my offering for the first day of 30 days of creativity!  Thanks, Leah!

BTW, Leah did a great interview over at Abbey of the Arts – go look, you'll enjoy it!

thought for the day: Your body is, in essence, a crowd of different members who work in harmony to make your belonging in the world possible.  We should avoid the false dualism that separates the soul from the body.  The soul is not simply within the body, hidden somewhere within its recesses.  The truth is rather the converse.  your body is in the soul, and the soul suffuses you completely.  Therefore, all around you there is a secret and beautiful soul-light.  John O'Donohue, Anam Cara:  A Book of Celtic Wisdom