The Farmers Market

Saturdays I have been going down to the farmers market on High street here in Jackson. It does require getting up early but I love talking to the interesting people that come. I am also being introduced to better food choices and I want to do some more cooking in the future and hope to use some of these great ingredients. I also get to throw some pots, it has been a lot of fun, I'm gonna try to make this a regular deal.

little red dragon

I just got this guy out of the kiln the other day. He was fired up to cone 5. firing up to higher temp. I was hoping the colors would hold and they did, very happy about that. And this means this would be a great piece to go outside in a garden or flower pot the elements would not be a problem.

Small stuff

I had a great show at Chemneyville this year and have started on new work in the studio. I have been working on small dragons lately and am having fun with them. It is a challenge to get the details in on the small scale but there are advantages to working small also. Like no heavy lifting!!!

i will sing to her

I added a new character to the line of stuff coming out of the studio. A lady frog. All the guy frogs are trying to get her attention. Jim here wrote her a song.

turtle ride

I've been playing around with watercolors here is one from my sketchbook.

More work coming out soon

Being a artist is like being a farmer sort of.

I have been thinking about the cycle of life for producing art. The big time of the year is always the fall markets leading up to Christmas, that seems to be the time to sell just about anything. Then Jan Feb and March set in and things cool off. This is when the cycle of recovery, reflection, and recharging happen. Then it's back to work. But what I've found is there is a similarity to farming. It's like this, you spend five to seven months making and getting ready for the Fall Harvest so to speak. This is the time to make the work, to burrow down in the studio, and produce. The funny thing is our fast pace world wants everything now now now all the time. I'm glad to live a slower paced life I think waiting can be a great thing. Well not to go on to long but I hope people who keep up with there favorite artist know their different work schedule and look forward to the time of year when new work is ready to be displayed and all the hard work shines through. Just to prove I have been busy here are some commissioned works that have been the focus of my studio hours lately. cheers...

To purchase any of my work here is where to find it.

If anyone finds this blog and wants to purchase something, here are the locations I sell my work. I started a ETSY account, you can search for my store under searches select sellers and type in... samclarkart. I sell frogs, coffee mugs and dragons there as well. you can always reach me through email contactsamhere@yahoo.com if you want to talk about any particular project or piece you may be interested in. And if you are in Jackson, Ms I sell my work at the Mississippi Craftsmens Guild Gallery on rice rd. Also if you are in Vicksburg , Ms you can stop by The Attic Gallery. I hope that was helpful. And here are a few pics of some new animal coffee mugs I've been working on. I'm very excited with this technique of drawing the images directly into the clay. The line quality is just what I have been looking for. I get to combine my love of drawing with throwing on the wheel, enjoy. And Cheers!!!

new works in progress for 2011

Trying to keep posting a regular monthly thing. Well we shall see how long that last hopefully through the year. I think I will be putting sketches and work in progress on the blog and more thoughts on art. One thought was on the value of art. I think in todays fast pace world where time is money the idea of spending hours of time on a project for no monetary gain is considered foolish. But think of building a sand castle. You may spend several hours creating this work of art that you cannot take with you, and will not last more than a day, and you can't sell it. So why spend time doing this? Because the experience of doing this is a reward, just creating for the sake of creating. There is a different value system most never think of the value of the experience.

new work nov. 2010

Hey everyone Christmas is around the corner and I'm doing my part to help the economy just kidding well here is what Ive been up to last few months in the clay some new work yea check it out

Finally posting

Well it is time again for the Peter Anderson show and Im looking forward to a good show. This up coming year I plan to post once a month and bring new work to the site. There is so much that gets done and just sits on a shelf waiting for the next show down the road. Well I'm going to have more to see in the next few months here, and there is work going to a Etsy store also it will be up and running in the new year. Got to get back to the studio and finish out 2010 stuff ...go play with some clay !!!!!!

Thanks for support at Peter Anderson Show!

I want to thank everyone who helped me continue to live the artist life with your purchase of a original clay critter. It is such a blessing and gift to be able to play in the clay, I hope the enjoyment comes through in each piece. The Peter Anderson Show was great! There were lots of people and lots of cool artist and art. The next show on the docket is Chimneyville Crafts show dec. 4-6. at the trademart building in Jackson,Ms. I'm really burning the mid-night oil to be ready, but it's a lot of fun I must confess. Once again after reading several blogs of other artist I see how it is a love of the craft that keeps them going after a full day of other task. The small hours that come when they do must be taken advantage of. And really knowone has the perfect schedual everyone is busy and we just find the time to fit in the things that are most important to us. Life is a balancing act that requires a lifetime of practice. Well I wanted to share a few pics of some frogs that will be leaping out of the studio soon hopefull to new warm homes to have someone to share a cup of coffee with every morning. Because they love that coffee!!!!

Well it's almost Nov.The Peter Anderson show is around the corner. I think I'm ready for it. This is a great time of year all the hard work pays off, well I hope it does. I have been thinking a lot about the people who are full time artist and reading their blog sites it really encourages me to just stay busy. Finding time to be creative is a challenge for every artist, most of the time it is when we are tired and uninspired that we must get to work. Sometimes it's after the third cup of coffee kicks in that really good work comes bubbling out dispite haveing a slow start. I have a few of those nights ahead of me I hope good work does come bubbling out. anyway here are some pic of new work

I have some friends who play music and they got me on stage to play some of my songs, it was a fun night out and I thought I should put these on the blog page or know one would believe me. Well I have so much more respect for real musicians, It's a lot more difficult to perform with a room full of people watching you, I'm sooo much better on my couch at home when it's just me.

dragons for The Great Dragon Race

I was commissioned to create trophies for an event put on by the Madison Chamber of Commerce. The winner will receive their very own dragon. Here are some pics.

Jan 2009 new pottery

Off to a good start in jan. Here are a few new mugs and bowls

The Red Dragon

The red dragon has found a home he has been employed to keep the fire place lit.

making a dragon

Here is the process of building a dragon out of clay . In total a weeks worth of work. Soon I'll have the finished dragon in color, enjoy

sketching dragons

This is a new design for a dragon sculpture, thought I would post the sketches. I was inspired again by watching The Dark Crystal. A great movie with fantastic creatures, realized by the late great Jim Henson. Who was actually born in Mississippi.