Illustration Friday: muddy

Living in Topanga I know a lot about mud because here we live in the dirt. I am sad to report that more people are moving in and pouring a fair amount of concrete to make it less dirty! It always makes me wonder why a person would want to live in a rustic State Park when they could easily live in Calabasas which is much more paved and upscale. Have you noticed that I talk a bit more when I really don't have anything for the word and I don't have time to make anything either :(

This image has a little to do with mud, muddy and Topanga because this doggy plate that I made for my mom about 15 years ago is made with Topanga mud in a little garage clay studio belonging to Jan Mitchell right down the lane. Good clean mud! We taught children, we had girl's Monday Night Clay where we played, talked and laughed. My submission for Illustration Friday's " muddy" theme is a painted clay plate "Happy Day" I made for my mom Babs who has not been feeling well. I love you Mom!

"happy day" plate 1995 valerie walsh photo of babs 2007

Illustration Friday: hollow

My submission for Illustration Friday's "hollow" is not an illustration but rather a clay pot that is comprised of 4 clay slabs that make 4 separate buildings and a hollow interior. It really isn't hollow but filled with the sky and stars. This vase is owned by a longtime collector of my art and I only made a few of them as they are large and can break and indeed one broke during an earthquake and one got broken that was in transit. Considering all the time and work it left me with a hollow feeling :(

copyright 1995 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: clique

I used to belong to a clique of women that would get together every Monday night for years, we would make and glaze pottery. It was way more of a social gathering than anything and I could even walk to the clay studio, but we did create a lot of wonderful things too. For me, making and painting pottery is one more way I can satisfy my love of houses and buildings but it can be a frustrating creative pursuit. The firing process doesn't always provide the desired outcome. You can spend as much time painting clay as a real painting and end up with nothing. I don't appreciate that aspect of clay but when it does come out beautifully you know why people love it. I really enjoyed these get togethers with all the women, some from Topanga and some from other parts of LA. We even had a few celebrity guests such as Lisa Bonet and Patty Smyth. Most of the ladies were long time friends and we would laugh, tell stories, listen to music, eat food and candy and paint our pots and plates.

My submission for Illustration Friday's " clique" theme. There are cliques going on in these buildings :)

Illustration Friday: theory

Thank you to everyone that watched the "Home" video and to all the wonderful people that left such nice comments, it means so much to me and David Tobocman! I really love the song a lot because it is so hearfelt. If you missed it you can catch it at the bottom of this post. Today for Illustration Friday's "theory" my submission reflects that according to the theory of Chinese Feng Shui, there are 8 types of auspicious houses that can give people solid financial status, harmonious family relationships, good public relationships and happy marriage status. Tea house and cup made from clay and glazes.