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    Art Hearts for your Loves

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | feeling the loveYou really don’t need to wait for Valentine’s Day to give an Art Heart to the ones that you love! But February 14th is just around the corner and ceramic art hearts are the perfect gift for the loves in your life.

    Each one is hand-made and uniquely designed by sculptor Jenni Ward and available as an ornament or on a stick. As each heart is individually designed, we will select a style or a bouquet of styles for you when you order. Special requests or color preferences are always welcome but they may take longer to ship depending on our stock.

    A portion of all art hearts sales benefit philanthropic arts projects, click the link to learn more and thank you for your support!

    Do you feel the love?

    Featured Work: Specimen Series

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | featured work: specimen seriesRemember collecting shells on the beach as a kid?

    You would collect hundreds but have to whittle down your collection to a few special ones because your parents wouldn’t let you bring the whole beach home with you. So you’d get home with your prized finds and keep them in some kind of box or container that would showcase them but also keep them safe.

    They would always be a reminder of the day, the quiet focus, the search and the excitement of finding something special.

    The Specimen Series is inspired by the memory of those finds, unique pieces organized and boxed for display. The online shop has 15 pieces from the Specimen Series that are looking for a new home and these bento box style works are small enough to fit in nearly any space.

    Work in Progress: Bone Series

    It’s been a while since I’ve committed to building some larger forms but this week I’ve been back in the studio working on new forms from my bone series. These pieces started as a mock up in miniature (pictured here), the largest piece is smaller than an egg. I’ve been contemplating this form over the past few months as it sat on the shelf, wondering what I might do with it or how it would look if it was much, much larger, I finally decided to go for it.

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Work in Progress: Bone Series

    I started with some large cylinders and flared them out at the top and bottom to reference the shapes of the lower vertebrae or tail sections in many aquatic creatures. I’ve been collecting bones from seabirds and marine animals as they wash up on the beach and I love the structures and the fibrous textures of them, so I tried to emulate them in the center of each cylinder. I placed round discs of clay into the cylinders on either side, then cut and carved holes in them. Here are a few pictures of the process.

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Work in Progress: Bone Series Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Work in Progress: Bone Series Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Work in Progress: Bone Series

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I plan on continuing to build these pieces in graduating sizes so that they resemble the tapering of a vertebral column. Eventually the final pieces will make their way to the ocean for an In The Field photo shoot, but I’ll have to scout out some locations first.

    Conceptually, I’m thinking about the way that everything is connected- in our bodies, in nature and our relationships with others. These fibrous textures are reaching, blending and connecting to each other but on the other hand are fragile and easily severed. This balance is the intriguing part for me.

    I’d love to hear what you think and I look forward to sharing more as these pieces progress.

    Take Aways Exhibit Opens

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Take Aways Exhibit OpensJoin me at the Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery for one of their most popular exhibits of the year, Take Aways: Art to Go! 65 local artists will be showcasing work priced under $250. See you at the opening!

    January 13 – February 14, 2016
    Artists Reception January 17th 2-4 pm

    Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery 37 Sudden St Watsonville

    Gallery Hours: Wed – Sun 11- 4
    Free Admission & ADA Accessible

    Being in the World

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | being in the worldAlyson Stanfield is a coach for artists who are treating their creative endeavors as a career through Art Biz Blog, and not only have I learned a ton from just following her blog and newsletter but she also posts gems of inspiration that help keep me going. This post Art is About Being in the World is one of those gems. She quotes artist Robert Irwin with [Art] isn’t about being in the studio, it’s about being in the world.

    Sometimes I feel guilty for spending to much time out in nature rather than building in the studio, but I have to remind myself that being out in nature is what fuels my entire inspiration for being in the studio in the first place. Spending time among the redwood trees is nothing to feel guilty about. As we launch into 2016 filled with aspirations and creative energy I hope to spend more time out in the world and I hope to see you there!

     

    The Dirt Makes the Honorable Mention List

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Honorable Mention List

    So excited to announce that in less that a year since I started blogging here on The Dirt, we were included on the honorable mention list by Pottery Making Info.com for Top Pottery Blogs of 2015! How cool is that?

    On top of organizing the best reads from creative blogs each month, this site is also a great resource for learning about the world of clay. Check out this list to find other really great and inspiring posts from creatives in the field of ceramics. B CR8IV!

    Oh! And did you know that you can get The Dirt right in your inbox once a week? Never miss a post, JOIN TODAY!

    New Book Launch!

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | shop | books, prints and gifts

     

    What a way to start the new year! I’m thrilled to share with you my latest book, where art & nature meet, which catalogs my in the field and indoor ceramic sculpture installations from 2012 – 2015. This hardcover, 10′ x 8″ book is filled with over 50 pages of full color images of my work. You can preview the book and order your copy direct from the publisher by clicking the link below. Enjoy!

    Place Your Order Here

     

     

    Studio is Closed for the Holidays

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Studio is Closed for the Holidays

    Thank you all for making this an amazing and creative year at the studio! The studio is now closed for the season and we will reopen January 5, 2016.

     

    The online shop is open if you’d like to sign up for classes or find a unique gift for yourself! Looking forward to seeing you all back at the studio next year!

     

    Wishing you all a fantastic holiday and new year!