I am blessed with a niece who is artistic and thinks outside the box. I had the great good fortune of receiving one of her creations for Christmas. I've taken pictures of it so that I can share it with you.
I'm absolutely fascinated with the shape of the lip. I wouldn't have it in me to play with a piece like this, but she's fearless! I can't wait to talk with her and get her thoughts on how she decided just what she wanted to do.
Neither of these pictures are true to the colors on the pitcher. The lighter shade is much greener than this shows. If I had to put names to the glaze colors, I'd say she used chartreuse and burgundy, which are complementary colors on the color wheel. Again, I'd have chosen "safe" colors. My niece has a lot to teach me about taking risks with your art. Cop Car has had that influence on my quilting stash, and it looks my niece will carry me a few steps further.
I love the "tail" on the handle. I've been trying to decide whether it looks like a woman with her hand on her hip, or whether it looks more like a cat's tail, wrapped around the bottom. Whatever you think it is, it adds to the quirky sense of humor the piece embodies.
I'll have to see if my niece would like to blog about her work. Perhaps we could set up a "Guest Blogger" status for her. Btw....this piece was done by Nan's youngest daughter.
Thanks, sweetie! It's a wonderful work of art, and a gift I'll treasure!
Comments (10)
Kids do think outside the box until we beat them to death with conformation. Nice work.
Hey you are posting pictures!!!
Posted by janet | February 3, 2007 11:35 AM
Posted on February 3, 2007 11:35
Wonderful work by your niece! The "tail" of the handle reminds me of the old "Cat's Paw" (or was it "Tiger's Paw"?) tire ads.
Posted by Cop Car | February 3, 2007 8:06 PM
Posted on February 3, 2007 20:06
now that is something special.
Posted by bod | February 4, 2007 9:44 AM
Posted on February 4, 2007 09:44
I think this young lady will always express herself in ways that are unusual artistically. I plan to treat this pitcher with great care because it will be an early work of a famous artist! *G*
CC...I think it was a Tiger's Paw...and yes, it does look like that!
Posted by buffy | February 4, 2007 3:26 PM
Posted on February 4, 2007 15:26
I love them!
Does she sell them?
Posted by Susan | February 6, 2007 9:12 PM
Posted on February 6, 2007 21:12
Susan, I don't know. I'll have to ask, and get back to you. What a cool thing for you to ask!
Posted by buffy | February 7, 2007 10:07 AM
Posted on February 7, 2007 10:07
I love this kind of 'rustic' stuff. May I label it that? I particularly like the way the top is fluted in such an interesting way -- like a flower and the base design with a grass appeal. Very unique. Very, very special. This is the kind of art that always catches my eye and that I find so intriging. There'd probably be much more in this world if there weren't so many people leaning over kid's shoulders telling them how a tree should look, or a flower, or a bird, etc.
Posted by Roberta S | February 8, 2007 3:03 AM
Posted on February 8, 2007 03:03
Roberta, I'll let you call it what you like, and I'll ask the artist what SHE calls it. In part, it's the unique-ness of the gift that draws me, but I love the color and the shape.
I did my masters degree in music education at the University of Illinois, and their graduate music department had one of the foremost authorities on the subject of aesthetics in music education. We learned that rather than telling a student what he was hearing as he listened to "A Night on Bald Mountain," we were to ASK the student what they heard. We were never to force our opinions upon our students. It can be very difficult to hold back your input, but when you do, you let kids, like my niece, explore their own response to their medium. And you get interesting results. *G*
Thanks for visiting!
Posted by buffy | February 8, 2007 2:00 PM
Posted on February 8, 2007 14:00
Buffy, your last comment about not forcing your ideas on others is so important to me. My students are always asking "What's the answer?". They get a little frustrated with me, because I tell them that even when they base their opinions on the "tangibles" in a poem or a text that their answer will most likely be different than their peers. Each person arrives at their interpretions of literary work within the context of their life experiences; therefore, you must expect different perspectives and opinions. Art and music probably aren't different in that respect.
Susan: With regard to the artist's pitcher . . . I have inquired as to whether she'll make others. She was flabbergasted anyone would be interested. (She's quite modest and probably assumed the only person besides her mother that would value it is her aunt.) She didn't say that she wouldn't - so I guess it's up for negotiation! We'll get back with you. (Now I sound like her manager!)
Posted by Nan | February 8, 2007 4:18 PM
Posted on February 8, 2007 16:18
Thank you, Nan, for your comments on aesthetics in education. You're right, interpretation of literature, fine arts and music are approached in a similar manner.
I'm delighted that Miss Modest didn't say no. I hope, as your manager, that you'll encourage her to do a piece for Susan. Don't forget to factor in the cost of shipping. *S*
Posted by buffy | February 8, 2007 5:40 PM
Posted on February 8, 2007 17:40