Venezuelan Ceramic Sculptor in Connecticut. Sikiu Perez

The Bird is done

2012-04-14T09:26:00.000-04:00

I really liked how it came out the kiln. This bird will be part of my sculptural birds, the challenge of making it standing was really rewarding. I submitted it for a show, so for now I'll only show you a little part of him.

Meanwhile I'll keep loading the kiln with more tiles and jewelry pieces. Even though switching from big to small can drive you crazy I realized both are as much as productive costwise.

If you know of any art show where my birds could be a good fit, let me know! I'm opt for show him to the world.

Sculpting a Standing Bird Demo

2012-03-08T08:03:00.000-05:00

This is a work in progress for the first stage of making a standing bird on terracotta.

1. Prepared the base and holding support. Clay wouldn't hold itself on this case so a little help is needed. I used a styrofoam ball and wrapped it up with a wet rag. My support has 2 prongs, that's an idea I got from a book, it works so much better that way.

2. Wrapped the ball with clay and made the legs. Oh, Oh!, they are too long, unless I'm making a flamingo which is not the case this time.

3. I modified the structure and shortened the legs, way better now. The head takes place.

4. The fun part starts, making feathers, swirls and details that will give character to the bird. I'm working so fast here to keep the same clay humidity.

5. Waiting for leather hard stage so I can cut open the piece to take his insides out and glue it back. Sorry no pictures from that stage, It was nerve racking and both hand were needed all the time.

6. The legs weren't dry enough to hold he weight so I decided to put it back to the structure and wait a little longer. I covered the parts that could dry up quicker to prevent uneven drying.

7. Finally standing alone, now I'll wait for the perfect time to start carving the other details.

I hope you enjoyed this part of the process. I'll posting the rest soon.

Abandoning a piece of art

2012-03-05T21:09:00.000-05:00

What a though decision, I think one of the most difficult I had ever made for an art piece. Just think, it's a piece of me left on who knows what hands...
Please don't let me feel bad about it, and for whatever reasons I'm taking this decision, at least in going to be on a gallery, maybe will be in their basement for decades or maybe will be donated for a good cause, who knows.

I had to publish this so you guys share my pain. This is the only picture I took of it. I love you and I'll miss you...

Not my usual artwork

2011-11-28T18:19:00.001-05:00

Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone or do something different to entertain your mind. I decided to make my first terrariums. They might still look funky but I loved making them.

This was a challenging project because of the small opening of couple of the bottles. It turned out good, it's already raining inside! My little ecosystem is almost maintenance free, just what a busy artist-mom needs.

Blogging from my phone

2011-11-08T13:31:00.001-05:00

Is it that what is going to take to keep updating my blog? I hope so. Now being always on the go and having very little time to sit in front of the computer this app might help.

I'm so rusty about talking here that I find myself frozen, not knowing what to say and in the same time with a lot of good news. I was telling my friends fellow artists who are stuck on unproductive days to get going by either taking small steps or taking a class so you are socially forced to do more and finish projects. Now this is my social commitment, my art is still going.

See you soon!

To Do List

2011-03-22T17:10:00.000-04:00

Nothing better than make public your to do list to feel the pressure to get it done or just visualize your goals.
This is what I need to do:

Change my ugly banner using Photoshop this time
Finish framing my pastel paintings
Go 100% papeless office, now I'm 70% not bad
Pick up old work an replace it with new stuff
Sikiu, you should teach a class again!
Update my website
Keep up with good work and not let anybody to bother you :)

This is good for now.

Love to com back,

Sikiu

Gone shopping

2010-08-28T09:43:00.000-04:00

I do all my shopping online, even my groceries, now I'm trying to find some supplies but the page is not opening, maybe it's a sign saying Don't do it! but I really want those kiln bead racks, new glazes and professional brushes. Do you see? I'm not talking about shoes and make up.
By the way, I wonder why my updates here aren't going to my Facebook fan page hmmm I need to fix this issue soon.

The ugliest plaster molds

2010-08-24T15:42:00.000-04:00

I'm not ashamed or frustrated, let's say I found it funny. I can't recall how many years of experience I have making plaster molds for my work, this time I just made the ugliest ever. Tomorrow they should be dry enough for their first run and I hope the bad corners won't give too much of trouble. Why I made them like this? because of the lack of time between feedings. Motherhood is not easy, I'm lucky enough to have few minutes of peace to work. When you are rushing you tend to forget important steps of what your are making, like protecting the original piece from humidity and remembering to seal the corners well.

mini tile mold for my Etsy

Another little job finished this weekend is my husband's website, take a look here the logo was my biggest challenge because I wasn't familiar with Adobe Illustrator but loved learning while making it.

Dear Blog I haven't forgotten you

2010-08-06T16:33:00.000-04:00

It seems I'll posting every other month when used to be every other day! I definitely have a lot to share but my hands are always busy with something. I wish my words just type direct from my thoughts. We are still in 2010, maybe Apple will make an application someday LOL.

Art-wise I'm making some beads in glazed terra-cotta, maybe a big production will make me rich, or maybe not but at least my fingers are waking up from the carpal tunnel and my brain from a dormant stage.

2010 © Sikiu Clay Designs

This is my logo, finally decently made in Photoshop. I made it during class and now I'm working on my husband's for his web site and prints. You see? I haven't been totally inactive, just busy of being a mom.

Still creating art

2010-06-10T10:46:00.000-04:00

Because I haven't post here in a while, doesn't mean I had stopped working. I have actually being busier than ever. To enumerate few of my most recent activities:

For a two months exhibition May-June in Indigenous Gallery in Cincinnati Ohio.
The stations of the cross, commissioned work for a church in Clinton, CT.
Two miniature sculptures at the Alexey Von Schlippe Gallery in the beautiful coast of Groton Long Point. Exhibiting until July.

And my most precious piece of art is a my baby boy Brandon. I love being a mother again, he is just perfect and my biggest inspiration.

I'm waiting for my carpal tunel due to pregnancy to go away, then to start modeling again; I need my fingertips to feel textures again, please!

Loving my bird tiles

2010-04-09T08:30:00.001-04:00

Before I use new glazes, I have to make the test tiles because whatever you do it is almost impossible to fix. It took me about a month between firing the bisque, documenting the color, applying, firing for the second time and finally having them available as a reference for painting.
I used a combination of different textures, opacity and colors, the only thing they have in common is the firing temperature. Maybe in the future I'll play with an additional firing with metallic glazes. For now I'm very happy with my birdie tiles, and as always showing the beautiful color and texture of the terracotta.

And mini tiles for my Etsy store

Trying to go back

2010-03-26T16:15:00.000-04:00

Hello again, I've been testing my live video chat and I think it is all set. In the beginning the audio wasn't working now works fine. I can't promise being online everyday for long hours but at least will record every time my show broadcast. You can take a look of what I'm doing, if you are lucky enough we can connect at the same time.
This coming week the show will be about glaze finishing tiles that are going for an exhibition, testing new colors and working on some mini birds.
This is the last video, made today.

My set of lights

2010-03-10T09:21:00.000-05:00

Photographing art is not as easy as artists usually think. I discovered it many years ago, then I decided to learn how to use the available tools to create my digital portfolio. I bought a cheap camera with manual and automatic settings - it broke few months ago. Later I got another one I dislike, so what to bother to keep a set of lights that could never plug in? The answer is, set them up in an useable way without the hassle of putting them away. That's is what I did, placing them on the sides of the sofa in the studio they aren't in my way anymore and better of all, I can use the sofa as a support for some shots. The power pack is hiding on the side. I definitely use my creativity to arrange things in a small place.

Fresh from my table- New Bird tiles

2010-03-01T15:51:00.000-05:00

It feels good when your day goes smooth and productive. I tackled my To Do List, prioritizing what I had to finish on paper and leaving the dirty job with mud to the end; that's what I did. The results, a big pile of papers gone and three birdie tiles. They are still too humid to clean out and carve; I'll show them to you anyway.

It really helps to have some sketches on hand and making the base tile the day before, now let's wait for the leather hard stage to accentuate more details. Later I'll keep an eye on then while drying for warping prevention. Until they are ready to fire and they might even go for a second firing.

Changing a title

2010-02-16T14:28:00.000-05:00

If you have Google Reader as me you might had noticed the old title for this blog: handmade tiles in Connecticut. After a year of trying those keywords for search engines, I now decided to make it less commercial and go by Venezuelan Ceramic Sculptor. Sikiu Perez. Blogs are personal anyway so why not to make more intimate?. I also changed the background color and someday will do the banner. Hey getting my hand full of clay is not friendly enough for a Mac's keyboard.
Today it is snowing, it is so quite and white outside that makes me think about turning on my portable heater, grab a comfy sweater and start making something new, why not?

New Mini Sculpture

2010-02-08T11:27:00.000-05:00

It has been a long time I don't work with miniature. I'm looking forward to make a series of Mayan Goddesses, all inspired on actual male figures. I wonder what they would think if they now see what I am doing with their women. I'm not a feminist, but I think our female ancestors could have more fun and empowered if their were allowed to participate on activities that were exclusively for men.

Gone Shopping

2010-02-05T16:13:00.000-05:00

This is better than opening presents, I'm testing new glazes, underglazes, bodies (clay bodies just in case), tools, music and even a new look. All this without planning it, the matter that my studio is totally organized and comfortable is giving me more room to create, experiment and incorporate new materials.

Tomorrow I'll pick up the next batch of glazes but it will take so long to finally see the results of my test tiles. I wish I had done it sooner but the baby's room was on the top of the list. Can you see the subtle change in tones? There are low fire glazes but they have an high fire quality, sweet!

I don't know how to sew

2010-01-27T08:42:00.000-05:00

Can you believe that?. When I was a kid, I learned embroidery, needling, macrame, etc but I was never able to sew correctly. I've been thinking about this big roll of metallic grey fabric I have, and many little ceramic pieces that needed something extra for presentation, so I thought about a bag for them. I think my customers will appreciate a little bag with my logo and their order inside. But the problem is that I didn't know how to sew them. The solution was: Hot glue! it worked perfect, it looks good, sturdy and it's cost effective.

I finished my Website Hurray!

2010-01-26T12:20:00.000-05:00

Let me introduce you my totally new Artist Website www.sikiuperez.com like anything just made it needs some little changes that I will be doing this week. For now I'll teach this new baby to walk and talk until it can work for me. I hope the same technique would work for my teenager daughter but it is not the case.
Please let me know what you think and what you will like to see in or out.

Packing Jewelry

2010-01-18T10:51:00.000-05:00

When available, I use recycled materials to package my Etsy sales. This time is for a necklace I made with clay and leather. I take presentation seriously and to honor the customers supporting the environment I always thank them with a handwritten note.
It is nice to wake up in the morning and my little artsy creations are sold. Now let's go to the post office on the way of the ceramic shop.

My Website is almost ready

2010-01-15T19:19:00.000-05:00

I have been working on this for months. I finally had the time-and patience to tackle all those little details that could make the big difference. I am still working on some thecnical details but nothing major. I'll be sharing with you my piece of art pretty soon!

I picked this picture because it was one of my first in this blog. It is the wall of my studio in Venezuela.

Celebrating my Art Accomplishments

2009-12-24T11:04:00.000-05:00

I didn't count how many things I have done this year to improve my art career until Alyson Stanfield asked us 24 Art Marketing Questions for the end of the year. It was a snowing day with back pain, so I decided to write by hand all the answers to feel I did something productive for my art routine. Let me tell you, It made my day.
There are the question with y answers:

How did you promote your art?: I did online and offline networking, organized studio visits and make more prints of my portfolio.
What did you do to enhance your online presence?: I created a Facebook Fanpage. I got a domain name, and started a webpage.
What technological skills did you learn or improve?: Many, specially Photoshop, digital photography, Web Development, and I got a Microsoft Certification.
How many people did you add to your mailing list?: About 100, do I have contacted them after? that is a question I wish she won't ask.
Who were the top ten cool or influential people you met? I met pretty cool people this year, a group of artists and new friends of all ages.
Whom did you mentor or help out? The count is about 75 so far, a group of artist around de world looking for advice on art career in Spanish, they found me, and I'm glad to help.
Did you create a new business card, portfolio, or other marketing piece? Oh yeah, I created a full stationary package, with my logo and professionally designed format.
What medium or skill did you attempt or master? marketing in my native language, I really like the experience. For Art itself I tried mixed media (still finding myself there) and dry pastels ( I loved it)
What did you try that was completely new?: Web Coding, that is a pain in the neck but very handy for many online things I do. I can't say I'm good on it but at least nobody is going to foul me :)
What did you try that was uncomfortable, but helped you grow?: I don't like talking on the phone, specially for business but I finally feel more comfortable with my English and it is good enough to hold a professional conversation. That was tough!
What worthy cause did you support in some way?: I donated some of my pieces to a foundation that support latino art students and latin art in general.
What new art events, galleries, and museums did you visit? I visited MoMA in summer and many local galleries.
What resources did you discover?: I'm not sure but I think Twitter is my newest discovery, I now have it connected to my blog and fanpage in Facebook. Pretty handy tool.
How did you improve your studio habits?: I purged many papers, and scanning many I wanted to keep. I really like the digital storage rather than keeping papers all over the place. I also have a "to file soon" spot that I tackle every week.
What books did you read to help your career?: New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott, Mayan and Aztec Culture encyclopedia, I'd rather be in the Studio by Alyson Stanfield, and Art Forms.
What videos or films were useful? Handmade tiles by Frank Giorgini that one is the best!
What seminars/workshops/lectures did you attend or teach? I taught Blogging 101 at Expressiones Cultural Center
How did you enhance your office or studio environment?: I have a totally renovated studio Yay!
What organizations were you involved with?: Expressiones Cultural Center and CT Sculptors Society
What grants/honors/awards did you receive? I didn't expected it but I got one money reward at TRCC
What articles were written about your work? in Registro news paper of New Haven and a magazine in Barquisimeto-Venezuela
What exhibits, grants, contest, etc. did you submit your art to? I didn't submit much this year but I'm happy with the few I have been showing this year: The Barnum Museum, Slater Museum, Expresiones, Arte Inc, Lyme Art Gallery and Atlanta's Airport.
Where did you save a wad of money? I can't tell you that LOL
What was the single best thing that happened to your art career in 2009? The best thing ever is that I actually can be a full time artist, I'm healthy and have a supportive husband.

Thank you 2009 for all the wonderful things you let me have. I believe we can make things happen as long as we work on it.

It is OK to neglect your blog

2009-11-18T14:25:00.002-05:00

I used to feel bad, even stressed if i couldn't update my blog. I felt that somebody needed my attention on the other side; I mean, you!

I truly believe, a well written blog, with relevant content can help a business marketing. There are many blog out there, and many I regularly read for ideas, inspiration, encouragement and information. But I never thought about the big commitment of the writer to keep it alive. Then one day I had to put in a balance: Family or Business. Of course my decision is obvious; there is not business that can substitute the memories, the joy, the experience you get everyday with your beloved.

I'm not saying goodbye, this is just a reflexion of my disappearance on the virtual world. I had prioritized my time here. All without creating art and marketing in other ways, taking care of customers. Most important of all, my family is growing, everyone is getting their well deserved attention and I'm living the best moment of my life. I can't ask for more.

I'll hope to see you soon.

Dearly,

Sikiu

My Birthday in many languages

2009-09-22T07:48:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we celebrated my birthday in a very special way. It was a coincidence my friends had one of their usual get together party, on the end we were about 35 people from different countries, what a wonderful mix of cultures and languages. We all had so much fun, eating, drinking, dancing. Oh dear, we were loud, good thing the hosting couple don't have neighbors.

Have you ever heard the birthday song in: Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Polish, Japanese, Russian, Korean, Thai?, and the best of all, the one from a little girl in a solo, I loved it! Thank you all.

Picture Taking Day!

2009-09-16T10:38:00.003-04:00

Some people have no idea, how time consuming is to take pictures of your artwork. I have to watch out for good light, contrasting background, composition, and in the technical part, correct the white balance, adjust colors, resize the file, make some modifications if necessary. There are many steps before you can enjoy-or not, the picture of an artist's work.

Today is a little cloudy, perfect for natural light shots. Please be patience before I can show you results, some of those are going to my Etsy store right aw

ay, it is less stressful creating compositions for them because it is better to have a busy background! sometimes all depends who is your audience .