CONNECTIONS - SELF + ANIMALS WITH DEBRA FRITTS AND FRANK SHELTON
What a fabulous week we had with Frank Shelton and Debra Fritts in Gig Harbor last week. These two very talented artists traveled from very dry (other than the occasional monsoon!) Abiquiu, New Mexico, to what Deb called the very damp Pacific Northwest. Hey, we had sun, what more do you want?!
We had a wonderful group of talented and very productive artists join us. What was very special, was the moment that quieted and focused us each morning as Frank read us a poem by Mary Oliver.
The first two days were spent creating a head that fused with the animal that we chose. For some, it was what the animal represented, for others, it was a favorite animal that held a special connection. Then Frank took over and introduced his method of making Secret Keepers. It was amazing to see what everyone came up with and then they kept creating - it really ignited their creativity. Who knew what you could do with a little Quikcrete. (Now that I have used it, I can only laugh at what the Home Depot guys in Oaxaca last year must have thought of us as Frank was describing it to them. No way would they have understood this product. )
Pictured below is Deb demonstrating how to add facial features, her class sample in clay and her sculpture
Local clay artist, Wanda Garrity of Fireblaze Pottery safely baked our masterpieces.
Pictured above is Stella Ley with her creations, as well as a gift from Debra (next to Stella’s owl face). Below are the rest of the artists with their bounty of creations.
We are talking about going to Puebla next spring. Message me if you would be interested in hearing the details.
