Slab and Hand-built clay torso, Mother, Mother Ocean by Tammy Vitale, of Tam’s Originals (left)

She isn’t quite finished yet – in this picture she still needs her bellybutton decoration and hasn’t had her coat of polyurethan sprayed on.  But I think she may be my favorite torso yet.  I have no idea why she speaks to me but she does – at profound levels.  I want to make more like her and I have never wanted to repeat a torso before.  Not exactly like her, but with the turtle.  I’m in love with this turtle.  Which is a design from one of my designer tiles that I took from a design for a turtle tattoo.  Which is the name of the designer tile:  Turtle Tattoo.  and I’d show you a picture but I see in my files that I’ve never taken one.

You first met Mother, Mother Ocean along with Sister of the Sea (here on the right almost finished.  I think I am going to give her a necklace of 3 olive shells to balance out all the shells in her mermaid’s tail) here on September 16 while they were drying.

Sister of the Sea is an effort to see if I can make finny tails for big mermaids.  This isn’t quite what I had in mind but I’m thinking of other ways to get to what I want.  So will be making more mermaids who can’t be duplicated because the tails are different and the shells are what I have which, since I found them and didn’t buy them, are always different.

Had a great time in the studio yesterday with Dianne who came to work with me on making faces.  We made a mask.  After watching her I have a better idea about eyes, which I find very hard.  She has an amazing tool which she purchased at a Philippe Faraut workshop. I had to run right up to the internet and order two.  He makes them and they are perfect for working on faces, especially eyes.  The tool is contoured just right for excellent eyes.  We made a mask together (each working on one side) for practice which I will also keep for reference.  Faraut also has wonderful castings of eyes, ears, noses, mouths, faces, expressions for sale.  Great website! Am very grateful to Dianne for sharing – she makes the most amazing dolls and fairies.  Here’s Maxine by Dianne.  I love Maxine.  She sits on my desk and keeps me company.

Am in a great mood.  Am finally to the point where all the bread and butter work I need is made and can concentrate on making what I want to make in the studio.  Today I get to spend the whole day experimenting, making masks (I have 4 drying counting the one I made with Dianne), maybe making sculptures….today all day, mudpie mania.  Have I mentioned I love working in clay?  How it returns me to myself and to the earth.  How it grounds me (get it?  earth/grounds…).  How when I have my hands in clay I always know where home is.

Thought for the day:  Have you found your home yet?  And if you have, how much time do you allow yourself there?