As I’ve been preparing for the Christmas season – not just making pottery to sell but also looking what I’ll give as gifts, I’ve been surfing Etsy for the fun and unique.  Please take a look at my favorites. There are some really talented artists on Etsy!

I’ve just listed a pair of personalized mugs for grown ups.  I’ve made some as wedding gifts and they have been a huge hit! Who wouldn’t want something with their last name on it?

Giving a gift that has been made by human hands I think holds a special significance. There is something mystical, organic and beyond the ordinary in things made one at a time.  When I make pottery to sell, its not a series of motions I go through mechanically.  I take care in each piece I form thinking of not only its aesthetic value but about the person who might ultimately use this piece.  I know many artists who feel the same way about what they make.  Giving gifts that are made by an individual also gives the recipient a comfort in knowing how this was made, where it was made and what materials are used.  The Reno Artists Co-Op has as their slogan “Be Original – Buy Orignal” that I think sums it all up.

So as you are contemplating what you will give this year, because you know you will, think about supporting the artists in your local area or try one on Etsy.  You will not only be helping a small business owner, but more importantly you’ll be giving something that was fashioned by hand, not mass produced with unknown materials and processes.

I’ve started teaching kindergarteners art. Talk about an enthusiastic bunch of artists that know how to jump in and just create! These little guys have such abandon and free spirit when it comes to painting. I’ve taught them about primary and secondary colors. They get it! This week they painted their first still life. I had two sunflowers in a vase for them to paint. Van Gogh would be proud. I saw everything from yellow to purple sunflowers. Papers nearly covered in blue. Pink clouds. It was as if they let their little imaginations go wild. As an artist, I need to tap into the process of creating without restrictions or fear of judgment as these children do. They could care less about what others think — they just go for it! Did I tell you how cute these kids are?