Recent Works at the Beatrice Woods Center for the Art

 

As a budding ceramic artist in college, meeting Beatrice Wood was such a great honor and inspiration. Not only her whimsical designs and contributions to the ceramic art movement, but her perspective on life and the world.  

Nearly thirty years later, my own "whimsy works" would be showcased along side hers, in her home gallery that is now the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts.

Here are my pieces that were accepted into the show.

Mystical Maiden Sculpture

Flaming Heart Milagro Sculpture

 

You can read about my time with Beatrice Wood in my book:  "Touched" on Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Touched-V-P-Andersen/dp/1981147837

 And if you'd like to Listen to my Podcast about Beatrice Wood as my mentor:

https://www.leapintoyourstory.com/victoria-andersen-meeting-mentors-that-change-your-life/

My Ceramic History

After a long hiatus, I have returned to updating my blog. Not with any new ceramic works but with some history of how I got started in ceramics. 

During my absence, I was able to finally publish my first book!

"Touched" is the first in my memoir series. In it I share my ceramic journey of how, who, and what sparked an internal desire to create from a wet, lumpy, ball of dirt to a unique piece of art and function.

You can check it out at Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Touched-V-P-Andersen/dp/1981147837

 

 

~~~ Book Excerpt from "Touched", Chapter 24 "The Art Council"

 

"When one opportunity leaves, another one arrives. On the same day I received the bad news from Rachael, I went to Coco’s Restaurant on Reseda Boulevard for lunch. As I was heading back to my truck, I saw a new gift store that displayed a large GRAND OPENING banner. I went to check it out.

Inside were rows of ceramic beads in all shapes and sizes. Beaded jewelry hung on the walls.

When I made my way toward the back of the store, a short dark-haired Peruvian woman behind the counter approached me.

“Your necklace, it is very interesting,” she said with a thick accent. “Where you get it?”

“I made it from clay.”

“You have earrings to match?”

“Not at the moment. But I do have more beads. I can make some. Why?”

“I like very much. I put here in store. You match earrings, put together, I sell.”

“I can do that. How many sets do you want?”

“Three. I do ninety-day. I call you when it sells. You decide if you want bring more stuff.”

“Great. I do have more things. I have a new line of candle-stick and incense holders, too.”

“Good. Bring what you have. I look at all of it.” 

 

 

 

 

Fragments of Eve-Series II-The Next Regeneration

This new body of works reflects the multi-layers of rebirth, following brokenness, and the discovery of self through the journey.  Each piece has a different aspect at every angle to allow the viewer to explore, finding hidden story in various parts of the sculpture.

Minimal color and glaze are used. Edges are rough and slight imperfections are left to convey a "work in progress" feeling.

Fragments of Eve-"Rebirth"- 9"high.

If you're interested in purchasing this sculpture, please visit to my Etsy Store:

 http://vyktoryas.etsy.com/

  

Milagros in Wonderland Series- "Flaming Rose Vine" Ex Voto Flaming Heart Sculpture

Another sculpture from the Wonderland Series, "Milagros in Wonderland" with this featured abstract Ex Voto Flaming Heart.

Titled "Flaming Rose Vine", 6" high.

The Rose represents Mary with the vine being ultimate sacrifice for love. The flames are the continuous, burning passion.

NOTE: This item is SOLD.




 


This piece can be purchased at my Etsy Store:


http://vyktoryas.etsy.com/

Wonderland Series: An Exploration in Minimalism & Symbology

The Wonderland Series is an exploration in minimalism and symbology. Bare clay is used with subtle colored glazing.

There are two sub-series within it. The first is the “Wonderland Eve” female torsos.  The other is the “Milagros in Wonderland” which reflects the mystical aspects of Catholic ideology.

“Milagros in Wonderland”, a collection of an abstract version of  “The Flaming Heart Ex Voto”. 

This pieced is titled, “Flaming Rose". The Rose at the center represents Mary. The flames are the continuous, burning passion of eternal love.

 

Inspired by the rich religious traditions and folklore of Mexico and the Southwest.

“Flaming Rose” (Limited Edition), 5 ¾” H. $45.00

Available for purchase at: 

Vyktoryas.etsy.com

Wonderland Eve Teapot at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts-2017 ACS-DC President's Show

 

In every artist's career comes a time when the artist needs to experiment and deviate from their successful body of work. It's a risk worth taking. Although it tends to turn the heads of followers and patrons at times, it stimulating for the artist's inner self.

My ceramics professor in college, during one of my class critiques, asked me, "Are you going to ever leave beginner stage?"

He was an arrogant type. His question was not to inspire me to progress my work. It was intended to be a put-down.  I didn't want to feed his quest. I paused and looked around at my peers who were all waiting for my answer too. They had sympathetic looks on their faces and glad they were not in my situation.

"Never! In the beginner stage, everything is new. I don't want to loose the "newness" that fuels my creativity."

My defiant reply caused a gasp from around the room and silence from my professor. He moved on to the next student's work, without saying a word to me.

Not too long after that encounter, I noticed some unusual activity coming from the kiln area. To my surprise, my professor had set up a secret throwing area, complete with a wheel and wedging table, hidden behind thousands of pounds of clay. On his wheel,  was a bigger version of my vase he had critiqued. This beginner had struck a nerve of truth within him.  He had taught ceramics for nearly 30 years, but had stopped creating any body of works of his own in the last 10 years of his career.

The Wonderland Eve series is about experimenting with parts of other successful series and merging all them all together to see what the synergy is. With it, an incorporation of the Eve sculpture, the spirals of the Harmony Vases, and colored slips and Mason Stains of the Prehistoric series, all arranged in a traditional teapot form.

This piece is currently on display for sale at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts in Ojai, CA until August 19th 2017.

Low fired ceramic with mason stain
7" h x 8.5" w x 5" d
$275.


http://www.beatricewood.com/acs_2017/andersen.html

http://www.beatricewood.com/acs_2017.html

Re-New Years Resolution

Today is the start of the New Year for 2016. Many will make "New Years Resolutions", myself included.  However, nothing "new" will be on my list. It will be more like "renew".  I plan to reclaim all the things that excite me and put them back into my foreground instead of the background. 

In addition to reclaiming things that excite me, I'm also ridding things that don't give enough return on my self-investment that produce too much aggravation that outweigh benefit of it of keeping it. One of those things is my "Corporate America" job with a "steady paycheck".  After living with "feast or famine" finances as a self-employed person, it was nice to have a steady cash flow for awhile so I didn't have to live on a "money roller coaster" every month. 

But the world has changed so much in the last few years, I don't even recognize it anymore. There's such pressure to be "homogenized" with no regards or respect for being authentic and unique.  Opinions and people's perspectives are the "new norms" regardless if they are fact or truth based, without checking what the motives might be for expressing them or bashing someone, unjustly. Corporate America is one of the major places that forces you into an "unnatural conformity" that goes against anything individual. 

I feel like I need to "hold the line" as there are so few who can sustain from being crushed by a culture that says they want "heros", and cheer for them in the movies, but really don't. Because with real life heros, they force people to evaluate themselves to change to help support the "hero's cause". But when they realize it's a lot of work, they'll try to force the hero into "conformity" since it's easier to convince someone else to a status quo, then change themselves. As one person quoted, "I'm fat, happy, and content".  That clearly is the "mantra of the masses" these days.

This year, I'm reclaiming all that I had to sacrifice for steady money: individualism, creative thinking, doing things on my own timeline, self-respect, unrelenting boldness to speak without fear. Whether people realize it or not- we now live in a society of fear and it has nothing to do with terrorism.  That fear is "other people's opinion". 

My mother had always stressed to take "people's opinions with a grain of salt". In the sea of vast wastelands of feedback, they still hold true for me forty years later.

As a beginning artist in college, there was always a level of insecurity around those where more experienced in the medium. But thankfully, my mother's words were echoing as I got a taste of my first experience that made them ring "loud and clear".  During one winter break, I was experimenting with free-form shapes and glazing in a ceramics class through the Student Union. I called these free-form candlesticks, "Clogs". I was thrilled with my results and couldn't wait to do another batch when normal classes resumed through the university again. I made them at home and when they were dried I brought them into to be fired. My enthusiasm was met with resistance from the lab assistant, who was also a student that taught for her master's degree and ran the lab. According to her, "they're not even worthy of wasting gas."  Needless to say, she wouldn't fire them. So I brought them back to the Student Union that fired the original ones with no problem. 

Her opinion was considered "gospel" to most in the ceramics class. But not me. Her nasty comments  hinted an "undercurrent" that I couldn't prove. Had I listened to her and BELIEVED her feedback which everyone else did- I would have missed the opportunity to make lots of money. These "Clogs" were a hot seller not only at the university sales at the Student Union, home sales, but also in upscale retail boutiques that had my work on consignment.

One day in the ceramics class, one of the other students approached me to inquire about my Clogs she saw drying on a rack in one of the interior rooms. It was a surprise to me since I hadn't been allowed to fire them in the class kilns. Even though I told her my story and why they couldn't be mine,  she insisted on showing them to me. When I pulled back the drying plastic to look at them, it revealed the name of the maker of my "imitation clogs".  It was the lab assistant's! She had produced similar ones even though she bashed mine. 

My "Clog Candlestick Holders" are a great reminder to have faith in yourself, even though the world tells you something different.

I hope my story has inspired you to take more risks in your creative journey...and listen to people less. 

You can purchase these Clogs at my Etsy Store:   vyktoryas - Etsy

Balloon Fiesta-Limited Editions

Occasionally, I'll venture out and try something new. My latest is Hot Air Balloons.  After a "off site venture" with my "9 to 5" job, I developed a new interest in Hot Air Balloons painting. Hot Air Balloons are  a big part of Albuquerque history that never really interested me, until recently.

A few years ago, I did enjoy photographing them as they flew over our house.

The hot air shape allows for great exploration. More to follow.

The limited edition series can be purchased at The Antique Connection, Albuquerque.

The 12" x 12" acrylic on canvas painting, " Midnight Moon & Balloons" featured in this post is $45.

"Celestial Eve"-ACS-DC President's Show at the Beatrice Wood Center of the Arts Entry

We are a collective of what we have experienced. Art is the best example of that. After having marginal success with my "naked clay" series, I decided to explore some new techniques and forms. I had attended a few workshops  but nothing really felt like it was something I could work with comfortably. Slab and coil had never worked well for my impatience and vision. 

In my frustration one day I went on a wild whirlwind of making my traditional closed form orbs in all shapes in sizes to see if something would manifest. It did. I had some sketches for my "Genesis Series". I dug them out and studied them to see if I could line up concepts. A few weeks before I had taken a Scott Young workshop. His female torsos had some similarity to my Genesis Eve sketches. Although he constructed his female forms with cylinders, I wanted to construct mine with my closed forms. With a few unsuccessful tries, I finally achieved a winning design that merged vision and form exactly where I wanted it.

"Celestial Eve" was part of the earlier sculptures in the series. It was made with Soldner Clay from a workshop by legendary ceramic artist Paul Soldner.

It recently was accepted into the American Ceramic Society's Design Chapter President's Show at the Beatrice Wood Center of the Arts.

It has been sold.

For more information on purchasing others, please contact me at either one of my Etsy Stores:

vyktoryas - Etsy

 TheNudeNook-Etsy

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First Firing

First firing is always magical. That means your creations have made it through the conception, development, and shaping process and it's ready to be put through the trial by fire to see how well it all holds.

This is the initial step to convert the wet piece of silica, brittle and fragile when dried, to a more permanent vessel. Silica converts to glass, also known as "quartz conversion" happens around 1100 degrees Celsius.

Once this phase is completed, the creation can be glazed and fired to higher temperatures, depending on the Cone value of the clay used.

After I prepare the bisque-ware, I will share the next step of the process. Some will be glazed. Some will be pit-fired. Some may have them all done.

Stay tuned...

Teapots

Early on in my ceramics journey, someone once said me-"If you want to be successful in ceramics, you better sell teapots."

Thankfully, I take most well-meaning advice "with a grain of salt."

After the first year of doing my "Naked Clay" series,  I began to feel a little stagnant. I wanted to work on something along the lines to maintain the series, but to challenge it and see what other designs might complement it, as well.

 The teapot advice came to mind.

I had never attempted a teapot before.

I wanted to construct one by staying with shapes I was currently working with: orb, vase, and twig forms, along with my traditional spirals and Blue Engobe.

After several unsuccessful marriages of those components, I finally was able to merge them and created  two teapots:

"Exponential Teapot I & Exponential Teapot II"

The following year, they were exhibited in a group show at the Brand Library in Glendale, CA.

Exponential Teapot II sold at opening night. Later I found out, the buyer was a well-known teapot collector, with over 2000 teapots in the collection.

The sale was bitter-sweet for me. On one hand, in addition to catching the attention of a prominent collector, it was the fastest I've ever sold an item and the most money for one. But on the other hand, I missed my teapot. To me, it wasn't just a ceramic piece-- it was unison journey of function and vision--synergized  perfectly together.

I've kept my Exponential Teapot I with me, out of any further exhibitions, until now-17 years later.

I'm hoping the new owner will enjoy it and appreciate the journey of its creation, as much as I did.

You can find it at my Etsy site:

vyktoryas - Etsy

Early Work: Genesis Metamorphasis

Hand building ceramics was not my first choice of technique for constructing my pieces. It required varying levels of "stopping and waiting" so the next working staging could take place. If you tried to work it when it was too wet still, it would collapse. If you waited too long, it would dry out and you wouldn't be able to  do anything further with it.

I was experimenting with wheel thrown and altered shaping and I really like that "cracked open" design. I wanted to do bigger versions of "pods", but back then, I wasn't skilled enough to get my wheel thrown pieces to a larger size that I was hoping for; The 12"-14" range. I was stuck at the 4"-6' ones that couldn't provide the presence I wanted.

I reluctantly hand built it. When completed, it was the size I had envisioned it to be. This piece took over a month to construct and another month to dry completely. I was planning to glaze it with the copper-based, patina green ones that I had done with the other smaller pieces. But when I was approached by one of the intermediate ceramic teachers from the class who was planning on doing a Raku firing, I decided to give that a try. Up until then, I had only heard of Raku but had never tried it.

On Raku day, when he saw me show up with my "big piece", he was a little reluctant.  He was expecting my "little pieces" he knew I normally made.  He had never done a Raku on a completely round, big piece before.

Firing big items by Raku is not only challenging but dangerous too. It requires pulling a glowing hot piece with temperatures around 2000 degrees, out of a kiln, held with a pair of long tongs and plunging it into combustable materials (leaves, newspaper)  and then dunked into water to cool. Special goggles have to be worn to protect the corneas of your eyes and fire proof gloves to protect hands and forearms from getting burnt.

He advised me that it could break from where the tongs needed to be placed, in the cracked open area. My response: "I've come too far to quit now. Fire up that BBQ!"

It safely made it through the "process of extremes" and was selected into a juried show the following year.

Although I've never made any more of these big-size creations, the found memories of the process and the desire to keep "pushing my boundaries" have been a guiding path with other things.

Wishing Woman

Shortly after moving from Los Angeles to New Mexico,  I was feeling very artistically stagnant. My ceramic equipment was still packed nearly two years after the move. This was the first time in 14 years where I couldn't seem to draw on any inspiration.

Then, one day, I was flipping through the local paper and two things caught my attention. The first was a fifty percent off Michael's Art Store coupon. The second was a call for artists to submit a post-card size painting to the New Mexico Women's Foundation Fund Raiser.

It had been ten years since I did any painting and it was not my best medium. I was hesitant about entering since the gallery sponsoring the show was in Santa Fe.  I wanted to introduce myself and get my foot in the door to galleries in New Mexico, but I wanted it to be with my stronger medium.

With the deadline fast approaching and no imminent inspiration, I almost decided not to enter.  Even the theme :"Wishing you were here" felt so intimidating to me at that point.

I tried various sketches but nothing was panning out to the quality I wanted to enter. In my frustration, in the middle of ripping up the sketches, I saw a flash of image of a colorful painted woman. I quickly began to sketch the image of what I had seen.

It was a simple image with a certain purity and power emanating from it. I quickly kept sketching until my sketches matched exactly what I had seen in my vision.

Painting the sketches was a little more challenging. I had used acrylic paint, instead of oil, my preferred paint, for fast drying since I only had a few days to submit.

When the deadline came, I had a finished one that I felt good enough to submit.

A new series had emerged: "Wishing Woman"

As my caption reads on my website:  "Wishing Woman" captures the "Magical Spirit" of the realm of wishing, the time between "believing" and "receiving" what your heart desires.

Although this series will be a limited edition, it certainly had unlimited possibilities. I'm currently working on a ceramic series of it, too.

If you like more information or would like to see other paintings, please visit my Etsy site: Vyktoryas.etsy.com

When You Don't First Succeed....Try, Try, Again...

Out of all the mediums, I believe clay is the most challenging one of them all. In it's infancy, is an easy, moldable medium that submits to the hands of the creator. But even after it's formed, there's always this "clay consciousness" undercurrent where it seems to try to go back to the undefined, original state. Each step is a trial to keep it's progress in the direction you'd like to take it. Sometimes, even the slightest external factor will undermine the progress and interfer with the final outcome of it.

Each piece shown in the above picture has had it's set-backs. The Eve Teapot-- I'm on the fifth attempt to have a nicely securing lid. The Eve Closed Form-- cracked, even before I had done much with it and had to work a different design. The Wishing Woman Tile--- succumbed a sleeping cat, while drying it on a window seal.

But with each obstacle, comes a new inspiration. 

Soon, it's "onward and upward" for these creations---and into the fire for the next level of completion.

EVE-O-LUTION: The Next Level

The New Eve Series: "Eve-o-lution" is the combination of  some of the design elements from the prior Eve and the Naked Clay designs all merged into a synergistic story telling sculpture. This piece is constructed from both wheel-thrown and hand-built components.

This is first of many of the hybrid designs-  currently in the works.

More photos to come as the steps and stages are finalized and become a finished creation.

The Progression of Creation

The creative process is an on-going one. It starts with an inspiration. Inspiration ignites thought. Thought to action. Where it ends, it is unknown sometimes. Each step keeps building until the thought stops. A few days, weeks, months, years, and possibly decades later.

From one ball of clay, comes a many inspirations. A new creation manifested in various forms of expression.

Fortune Cookies--- Not Just a Novelty Dessert Anymore.....

The fortune cookie is a phenomenia that still entertains, centuries after its inception. Although the origin of its birth is unclear, and a few countries are still in debate, all can agree, the fortune cookie concept is highly desired, no matter what form it's in.

The former life it had as a sweet, thin, hard-shell pancake dessert, exhibited after a fine meal, with prophetic message to ponder afterward, is long gone. From dessert  plate to sky-scraper high, the Fortune Cookie has proved to be unlimited.

Featured here are my two Fortune Cookie lines:

 The Lime Green in Polymer Clay Dangle Earrings and The Pit-fired Ornaments in Ceramic.

The Pit-fired Ornaments in Ceramic have SOLD.

For more information or if you are interested in purchasing any of these items, please visit my Etsy Store:  vyktoryas.etsy.com

Fashion Meets Function-The Red Zen Series

I've always considered myself more of a ceramic artist than functional potter. Pottery is challenging and very temperamental. It commands absolute precision at times, especially in functional ware-unless, of course,  you prefer a wobbly bowl or have one edge thicker than the other.

 The summer break following my college graduation, I was able to work a deal on a part-time arrangement with a local ceramics instructor. She needed a lab assistant, but couldn't afford one.  I needed to have access to a lab at a reasonable rate. It was perfect for the both of us.

 The instructor specialized in functional, production speed pottery making. She would make volumes and volumes of matching sets. I was lucky if a cup actually functioned as a cup. The edge couldn't be too thick or else it would cause the liquid to dribble all over the person trying to drink from it. The handle couldn't too wide or too small and had to allow for at least two fingers to comfortably hold it.

Lots of ergonomic engineering had to take place, in each piece, for it to be a working, usable item of functional pottery. The discipline was brutal for a free-form person like myself. After a few years of dabbling with pairs,  I decided to try my hand at doing an entire collection. The Red Zen was created.

If you like to find out more information or are interested in purchasing any of these pieces, you can find them at my website:   vyktoryas.etsy.com

NOTE: The Pitcher & Rice Bowl have SOLD.

Compass Comeback

The Compass-one of my favorite items to incorporate into my Vintage Assembly Jewelry Designs.

Right now, it's one of the most popular trends in the stylish accessory, must-have items.

The compass has been a long trusted tool for guidance along one's path. If you know at least one direction (North)-- you can pretty much figure out where you're headed. I sense the current trend is fueled by a need for an "inner compass" to aid the journey of life of the possesor and the external one is actually a symbolic representation of that desire.

Fashion or function-- it's always a great conversation piece no matter what your purpose for it may be.

This featured piece has SOLD. For more information on other one-of-a-kind creations, please visit: vyktoryas.etsy.com.

Madonna & Child-The Most Beloved Icon

Of all the subject matter throughout art history, the Madonna and Child has been the most recognized-- from Pre-Renaissance and beyond.

The viewer does not have to be of Christian faith to feel the connection and powerful presence of the relationship.  It has an intriguing draw that is identifiable on the personal level.

In this particular miniature painting brooch, set in filigree European silver (800)- the expression is finely detailed-right down to the intricacy of the blue eyes and dark pupils. Her pose is unusual with the extended neck upwards, draws you deep into the focus of the subject matter.

For more information on this piece or other vintage religious jewelry, please visit my Etsy Shop: vyktoryas.etsy.com