The above named Fig-Leaf Bowls are named such, because I carved fig leaves which I got from a fig leaf tree that I planted in the garden, several years ago.  It is quite unusual for fig trees to survive the winters in this region, because I think they are basically tropical plants.  A friend, however, planted the trees in her garden and they grew to be large trees, producting bountiful crops of figs annually.  She gave me a plant several years ago, I would carefully nurse it to life each spring, and so it has survived.  A year ago, it actually produced a couple figs, which I ate and then carved one in the bottom of one of the bowls.  

​The bowls were wheel thrown using brown clay.  When leather hard, I carved the leaves on the inside and on some ,on the outside of the bowls and bisqued.  They were then glazed with Celadon in an electric kiln at Cone 6.

One of my very kind customers requested that I make her a garlic pot.  Needless to say, I had never made one before and had never seen a garlic pot.  She showed me a picture and I decided to make a garlic pot.  Alas! I could not find the picture when I was ready to make the pot, but I remembered the basic shape and design.  So the above picture is what eventually was produced.  I was pleasantly surprised at the effect of Floating Blue and Harspur, the glazes I used.  She was also very pleased which made me happy.  I hope you viewers agree.  

This was Sagar Firing with soluble salts in an electric kiln.  The vases were wheel-thrown using white #66 clay.  They were bisqued overnight, then soluble salts, such as copper, iron, cobalt, and nickel sulphates, as well as potassium dichromate rubbed on the pots, copper wire were wrapped around the pot to form a pleasing design.  The pots were then added to a metal container after adding sand, seaweed, fertilizer, and other organic materials.  The pots were then fired in an electric kiln at 1560 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 hours.  The exciting results are what you see presented below.
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I have used the above title because it has been so very long since I have added to my posts.  The reasons: We have all experienced three very difficult years. COVID came and we all suffered together, nothing was normal.  Like everyone, I had my own trials and tribulations, but I survived and have so much to be thankful to Jehovah for.  I hope you all are doing well, and picking up the pieces, so to speak, and trying to be joyful every day and be thankful for the privilege to be alive and able to praise our Creator.  

This year, 2023, I have been making pottery as much as I can.  I had the opportunity to go to Jamaica for the winter and returned in March.  I had to get back very quickly to train my brain and muscles to throw again.  I have enjoyed the process, and have observed progress in my work. 

​ I have had several shows at the Farmers Market locally and there is one more this Sunday October 22, at the Needham Farmers Market, located at Greene's Field in the Town of Needham.  This will be the last time for me there for this year.  I look forward to next year to be back there as often as I can do the shows.  I also have the annual craft fair on November 11, 2023 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. located at 90 Lincoln Street, Newton Highlands, MA 02461.   Please come if you can.  

This is a brief post, but I plan to post more often in the future.  I wish you all peace and a joyful life!

BELOW ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CANISTERS I HAVE MADE SINCE MY FIRST POST ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

I HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE JOURNEY OF PERFECTING THE DESIGN OF THESE CANISTERS, WITH THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT OF REPLACING PLASTICS FOR STORING FOOD IN THE FREEZER AND REFRIGERATOR.  SINCE THAT ORIGINAL IDEA, I HAVE USED THEM FOR FREEZING LEFT OVERS AND THEN TAKING THEM FROM THE FREEZER TO THE MICROWAVE AND OR OVEN.  THEY ARE PARTICULARLY USEFUL FOR STORING SOUPS AND STEWS.  I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN HEATED, THE CONTENTS REMAIN PIPING HOT LONG AFTER IT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SOURCE OF THE HEAT.

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY TO BECOMING MORE EFFICIENT AT MAKING THEM AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, AND YET EFFECTIVE FOR THE INTENDED USE.  
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO IMPROVE IN MAKING THE LIDS FIT SNUGLY.  IT IS QUITE CHALLENGING, TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT I HAVE NOTED PROGRESS IN THIS REGARD.  THE BOWL-SHAPED LIDS ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO FIT,  I HAVE DISCOVERED.  THE GALLERY HAS TO BE DEEP ENOUGH AND I ALSO NEED TO MAKE THEM AT THE SAME TIME FROM THE SAME CLAY BODY.  MEANING, I CANNOT RUN OUT OF CLAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THROWING THE POT AND THEN, STOP AND CONDITION ANOTHER BODY OF CLAY FOR THE SAME POT.  THE REDUCTION PROCESS WILL BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND THE LID WILL NOT FIT.  AT LEAST, I THINK THAT IS WHAT OCCURS.  

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I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO EXHIBITING MY ART WORK AT THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF NEWTON HIGHLANDS ON NOVEMBER 6, 2021 AFTER THE PAST TWO YEARS OF ISOLATION DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.  PLEASE COME AND SEE MY EXHIBITS ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER ARTISTS WHO WILL BE VENDORS AT THIS EVENT.  BELOW ARE SOME OF MY WORKS THAT I WILL BE  EXHIBITING.

JDCARTSTUDIO/GIFTS WILL BE A GUEST ARTIST AT THE NEEDHAM FARMERS MARKET ON JULY 11, FROM 12 NOON TO 4:00 PM.  PLEASE COME AND SEE AND ENJOY SOME OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS THAT WILL BE ON  DISPLAY, DESIGNED AND CREATED BY ARTIST, JOAN CAMERON.

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NOT AN UNEVENTFUL YEAR BY ANY MEANS



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It has been a very long time since i have added a post to my blog.  There have been many extenuating circumstances that have affected my ability to keep up with my audience, which would be exhaustive to explain, so I can only apologize.  I assure you I will try to be more consistent in the future.  

This has not been an uneventful year for JDCARTSTUDIO.  Due to COVID I have not been able to do any shows because I was directly impacted by the illness.  Unfortunately I was infected by the illness and it has been a long and strenuous struggle to recover.  I am aware, however that many have suffered so much more than I have experienced.  For any of my readers who have been impacted physically and otherwise, I wish each of you a speedy recovery and that soon this experience will be all behind us.  

Though I have not been able to do any marketing, I have been able to do some work for which I am thankful. Though I have had to curtail my activities, the creative drive has not suffered in any extreme way.  I have done some throwing on the wheel and I actually started painting again.   I also actually made some videos and downloaded them on my Youtube channel.  Please take a look and subscribe. I am not a photographer or a movie director so they are far from perfect, but I like them that way because I hope it will show progression and growth and the reality of making art in unusual circumstances.  



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