Tonight!

The Wagner is one of my favorite places in Philadelphia, and also one of its best kept secrets. A Victorian Science museum in North Philadelphia, the Wagner is a beautiful space full of amazing specimens. Their lecture hall is lovely and it has been a dream of mine to give a talk there. I’m very much looking forward to this Sip & Sketch tonight!

Motivate Me Monday?

Oh man. I am not actually as far behind as I feel like I am but wow am I feeling the pressure.

“Of what Darla?”

I don’t even really know at the moment. It just feels like I am on a slippery slope of trying to finish everything and catch up and schedule this and get ready for that. And like I said, I’m more prepared than I normally am for the things I’m feeling stressed about, but nonetheless I am feeling the stress.

In times like this I make a list.

What to do?

When is it due?

What do I need to get to do the thing?

How long do I need to do each thing?

That usually helps. I’ll give it a shot and we’ll see.

This whole year has felt like trying to get up an icy hill. Last year my footing felt more certain in all the ways… I’m not sure what changed this year.

Whoops, a break. And now we’re back.

So I accidentally took two weeks off. First I was tired from Paul’s birthday weekend adventures in NYC. Then I was busy. Then I was not motivated to write anything. Then I was sick. Whew.

Since I’ve been “away”, I started a new piece. A self portrait, which has me all “a way” about it. I love sculpting figures, despite rarely getting a chance to do so anymore. Portraits are not my thing though. Usually it ends up looking like a second cousin of the person I’m sculpting. I am not generally interested in sculpture for the sake of translating direct observation only, so I get bored, impatient, annoyed, etc.

I personally tend to work more intuitively and would rather get the “feel” of the person (it sounds bit woo woo when I put it like that but bear with me). In my animal work I’m most often going for “emotional portraiture” which often captures more clearly what I’m after. However what happens when we turn the lens on ourselves? Can I get observation and emotion? Ahhh it’s a bit of a winding path here. I started off enjoying the process, but very quickly I’m up against a wall of what I think I look like and what’s true (measured literally by calipers or more loosely by the looks on the faces of my loved ones). I see myself as this wide jawed stoic figure with better eyebrows and hair than I know I have. I have a hard time finding softness and beauty in myself, which is interesting to observe. So it’s become this inner battle, made real, between my actual self and my perceived self and I am fighting on all fronts. It’s truly wild when thinking about it like that. I just posted a quick video of the piece and immediately afterward cut back into the nose and structure of the face. We’ll see how far we get but that’s when I’m at for now.

Small Wonders 11 opens today!

SMALL WONDERS is back for its 11th year and features 50+ artists with over 100 pieces of new original and affordable works!

Everything measures 12" (or smaller), and has a price tag of $250 or less!

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SMALL WONDERS 11 includes new work from:   3rd Version, Alex Eckman-lawn, Alex Garant, Alexander Reisfar, Alexis Hilliard, Alexis Trice, Anais Lera, Anthony Solano, Ben Howard, Bill Ross, Brian Hoffman, Brian Serway, Bruce Parker, Caitlin Hackett, Catriona Secker, Colete Martin, Colin Frangicetto, Czr Prz, Danielle Schlunegger, Darla Jackson, David Seidman, Emma Black, Erich Moffitt, Eva Redimonti, Frank Gonzales, Gerlanda di Francia, Grelin Machin, Haley Manchon, Hanna Jaeun, Horrible Adorables, Jesse Jacobi, Jessi Hardesty, Jessica Dalva, Jesus Aguado, Jordan Kressley, Juliet Schreckinger, Katie Gamb, kEda Gomes, Kelly Vivanco, Kimera Wachna, Lana Crooks, Lihao Lu, Maria Teicher, Maryann Held, Meredith Jackson, Michael Koehler, Michael Reedy, Michelle Avery Konczyk, MK Komins, Nikoo Bafti, Paige Greeley, Paul Romano, Rachael Bridge, Robert Kraiza, Shailinn Messer, Shannon Taylor, Tyler Mitchell, Vavara Fern, and VR Rivera 

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SMALL WONDERS 10 will be physically on view from November 5th - November 24th, 2021

at Arch Enemy Arts, 109-111 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 .
Sold works will begin to ship the week of November 29th unless other rush shipping arrangements have been made.

I’m always excited for this exhibition each year. Small works are near and dear to my heart and its always so fun to see what everyone comes up with. Paul and I each have two pieces in the show this year, so please do pop over and take a look, digitally HERE or in person tonight at the opening!

A penny for your thoughts, 2022. Plaster, 1”x 1”x 2”, $100.

A Piece of Me, 2021. Polyurethane resin, acrylic, graphite, 4”x 2.5”x .5”, $100.

Paul Romano, Untitled (Saint I), 2022. Oil on Paper, 5”x 7” framed to 12”x 14”, $250.

Paul Romano, Untitled (Saint II), 2022. Oil on Paper, 5”x 7” framed to 12”x 14”, SOLD.

25% Off Available Artwork

Today’s the day! Head over to my online SHOP for 25% off of all available work. I like to offer works in advance of the holiday season but shipping gets less and less reliable as the month goes on so here we are, starting on November 1. If you see something you’d like for yourself or a loved one, please let me know if you have any questions. I’m also happy to do payment plans, shipping the piece once the payment plan is complete, so don’t hesitate to ask.

First Batch

The first batch of party bird cups are in the kiln as we speak (as I write I guess?). Fingers crossed for a safe passage to the other side.

Weekly Update

I feel like I’m moving through water lately, and some days more like jello. Everything seems to be moving slower than usually except for time. It’s a very odd feeling and I’m not sure how to move at full speed again. I’ve been working to finish up projects and clean my table and my brain of excess “stuff”, but it feels like its always there… At the Medusa photo shoot the other day we talked about sorting things into boxes either mentally or, if needed, physically and I’m working on compartmentalizing but life feels like a fire hose to the face most days. Here’s the update for now. More to come once I pick some stuff up from the ceramic supply shop this week.

Upcoming Exhibitions

Small Wonders 11 opens at Arch Enemy Arts next Friday, November 4th. This exhibition features small works priced at $250 or under so they tend to go quickly! For early access to the show before the opening, you can email info@archenemyarts.com with SMALL WONDERS 11 in the subject line and they'll add your email to the collectors list, which goes out on Thursday, Nov 3rd at 2pm EST.

Exploring the Vessel will open at Antler Gallery in Portland, OR on Friday, November 25th. This show features both functional and non functional vessels. My party bird cups are in process so stay tuned. If you would like to receive an online preview of the show please write Antler to request one by email: gallerist@antlerpdx.com

I am still doing research for my September 2023 show at The Delaplaine in Frederick, MD. Sketches are started but too rough to show anyone, let alone the internet.

Paul and I are continuing to gather ideas for our show in November 2023.

Upcoming Workshops

Workshops in Kalamazoo at KIA // March 2nd-5th, 2023

Workshop at Pocosin Arts // June 12-16, 2023

Registration for my 2023 workshop at Pocosin Arts will open on January 18th so stay tuned!

Work in Progress

I am headed to pick up some slip today so I can start casting these cups. I am excited and nervous but mostly excited. My job today is to not spend $1,000,000 on all the glazes.

Upcoming Miscellany

Sale of available work // November 1st, 2022 - 25% off all available pieces in my catalog. See the previous post for a sneak preview. Possibly more work to come depending on what I find hiding around the house.

Sip & Sketch at the Wagner Free Institute of Science // December 8th, 2022 I’ll be discussing “Birds in Art” and then leading a drawing session. I’m so excited.

Workshops in Kalamazoo at KIA // March 2nd-5th, 2023

Workshop at Pocosin Arts // June 12-16, 2023

Medusssssssa

After a crazy weekend and Olivia turning 13 (!!!) today I spent the day in someone else’s studio, Celeste Giuliano, for an exciting Medusa themed photoshoot!

I spent most of the time just trying to make my face do all the right things, but Celeste made it super fun and easy. My makeup was done by Jessica Saint Beauty

Here’s a sneak peek, with more images to come in a few weeks:

More molds

This week has been molds molds molds. I’m casting multiples of my slip mold so I can cast more than one cup at once. I’ll start with 5 molds and make more if needed.

Speeding up production to 5 a day rather than 1 a day is already a big step in the right direction. Typically I’m casting in plaster, not clay so it usually easy for me to get multiple pieces cast in a day. Slip casting relies on the plaster soaking moisture out of the clay and the plaster mold needs a bit of time to dry between castings, especially because this one is so small.

I’m hoping to get into the process next week, but it all depends on when I can make it out to the ceramic supply store to get some slip, something I don’t typically have on hand.

Molds of molds

Ok, so in order to make more than one at a time, I need to make a mold of my mold so I can make more molds… so I can cast multiple small bird cups in a day. A lot of molds right? Well they are small so really it’s relatively easy. Below you see the silicone molds into which I will cast No. 1 Pottery plaster to create multiple slip molds for casting into. It will all make sense soon, I promise.