OCTOBER ROSES

October roses bloom rare and welcome-
rain-soaked and leaning
they droop top-heavy-
a pale pink reminder
of a fragrant offering given
as autumn unfolds
in cool wetness and colors warm.
And then they sleep in dormant bliss,
breathing out and breathing in
icy northern winds,
siphoning up nutrients through
a path of hungry roots-
the petal's blush
just a season and sunray away.

Claudia Lowery
Ocotber 11, 2009

RAIN HAIKU

Rain falls gently now.

Verdant green earth sighs deeply,

Gratefully renewed.

Claudia Lowery
July 2009

SUMMER RAKU FIRING

My friends visiting the sculpture garden in Longview.

~ Erin's Aura ~
My clay teacher.

My newest Christ head sculpture fresh from the kiln.
More photos will follow in the weeks ahead.

Photos by Claudia Lowery

Jun3 2009

GINGKO LEAF STUDIO

Welcome to my pottery shed...Gingko Leaf Studio.


A work in progress.


My creative corner.


Wedging table covered in canvas donated by DENOART.

The brightly painted flowers were by
a couple of my sixth graders.

Storage shelves also hold treasures...a tile by Dennis O'Bryant
won at the ArtPort fundraiser in Shreveport, broken pottery,

one of my gingko leaf bowls, and a variety of Jesus pictures

which serve as inspiration for the Christ head series I am

working on.

I have been feeling frustrated for a long time at not having a proper place at home to work on my clay. I go to class one day/week, but when I tried to work at home it was a mess. I basically did a little at school in my art room, but home was where I needed to spread out. Rick finally said I could have a whole building to myself. After cleaning out the space, a friend who is a licensed electrician is wiring it with a plug on every wall plus one for the A/C so desperately needed in East Texas. I threw a piece of clay last night just to initiate the space. I really look forward to having this zone just for creating and escaping. Next project...saving for an electric kiln.

SERPENT

Photo by Claudia Lowery, June 1, 2009

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals that the Lord God had made." Genesis 3:1 NIV

SHIFTS and SHEDS

Old storage building soon to be pottery shed.


Good area underneath table for storing clay. Table will be
covered in canvas for wedging clay.


Rick places nails in a random arrangement on a weathered
old board that will be used to hang tools.


Old metal shelf for all my supplies.

Charlotte Munoz came to help paint and also added her

artistic touch.

Charlotte loves trees and so having her add

one of her famous trees was a good idea.

I will add a few golden gingko leaves and

the words "Ginko Leaf Studio" to the outside.

It's all for fun and mostly for my eyes since

we live on a road with no outlet.

Once I got the word that one of our storage buildings could be all mine, the wheels (mental and pottery) began to turn. Here are a few prelimenary shots of my newest project...a pottery shed. More photos as it progresses. Thank you, Charlotte, for painting me a tree. I could have done it, but I really wanted her spirit to be included in this project as will be so many other artists' before it is all finished. I have a special connection to the gingko leaf, therefore the name of my little shed will be Gingko Leaf Studio. Inside will be a pottery wheel, shelves, a wedging table, room for storage and artwork all over the walls to remind me of friends and students. The electrician will be out in about a week and then a small A/C unit and I should be able to withstand anything Texas heat can deal out. I think it will be a haven.

SHIFTS

There was a shift in her-

breaking, discarding, renovating.

She began to dream

and ponder with renewed

sense of wonder her world

ajar and raw.

Claudia Lowery

MAY 2009

WONDER EVERYWHERE I TURN

gingko leaf in my yard



outside the visual arts center



iris close-up



back door gardenia, digitally enhanced



back door gardenia soaked by rain, translucent



dogwood blossoms under the eave

look closely everywhere...don't miss a thing...

RAKU WITH COPPER

I experimented with wrapping copper wire around a bowl glazed in clear and then had my clay class friends raku it for me. Very pleased with the results.

KEEP THE DREAM

Keep the dream alive—
It has a moving life
toward birth and realization
toward breathing and waking
to a sunlit path we’re walking
not certain where it leads.

Keep the dream alive—
It fulfills a deeper need
a creative spirit calling
a creature who is falling
for the art of living
for the fact of dying.

She keeps the dream alive
to remind her that she is
and shapes and molds the images
the walls and ceilings limitless
doors and windows flung wide
to welcome all inside.


Claudia Lowery
January 19, 2009

RED SKY

Just a note to say that the above photo was taken early one morning last week. It has not been enhanced in any way. This is exactly how God painted the sky. Incredible!