thus having prepared their buds

against a sure winter

the wise trees

stand sleeping in the cold

William Carlos Williams

 Indeed it is still winter and Journey Clay studio is cold.  Even with the heaters going, the walls and floor hold the cold.  On my walk from the house and looking out the window--indeed, looking out in every direction-- I see the winter trees.  Their graceful skeletons inspired me to begin a series of Winter Trees in clay; quite a departure from my usual functional work.  So far, they are tall, slender and subtly gestural; and they are bare. 

I am making my winter trees from textured slabs of red stoneware.  Fired to ^6, I have been experimenting with a number of surface treatments including underglaze, layering glazes, and a lichen glaze.  I am not sure what will become of them, but they are a record of my first winter in my studio.

Winter Tree, unglazed, 16" tall

Winter Tree, 15" tall