Transforming nature

• DateAugust 17, 2012
• AuthorHelene Tremblay
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Summer is about transformation and connecting with nature!  For my projects in ceramic I use different types of clay and I enjoy particularly using red clay but I  also like the white one.  I use different ranges of temperatures in my kiln in order to get a variety of  effects and usually  I prefer the white clay like porcelain  for my jewelry and for specific sculptures like the pears in my tree as an inspiration.  Last year I planted a pear tree in our yard and it is producing very well this year.

Soon it will be harvest time and I will be able to turn them into a tasty crumble apple-pear dessert!In the mean time I enjoy observing them in the tree as they are growing pretty fast.   I like to take pictures for my own reference as it is part of my creative process to collect data for future work.

Pears in my tree in July

I like capturing a moment, the morning light moving through shapes and textures or observing  things half-hidden and overlooked.   Often  they will end up to be part of a story in my work.   I do some sketches and I am having fun also sculpting thoses pears  with some clay in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. They end up  sometimes in tones of blue, violet and bronze or in warmer colors of yellow and deep red.

Once the claywork is fired in my kiln and all completed I showcase a few pieces at the market with some  felted pears and cherries created with natural wool and silk and I use also the natural stem.  People seems to enjoy them as I can see on their faces a smile when they look at them!  Those little sculptures have their own characteristics and personalities!

A composition that I did during my time with Magrit Mondavi  as we were sharing a wonderful day in La Penita, Mexico. A day painting with Pears, hibiscus flowers and friends!

In Winter, we took off for a few months where it was warmer and I  had an immense pleasure to spend time with during a few days on the estate of designer .  I was invited to paint and draw his beautiful garden with a few other friends and artists. I also really enjoyed ….just sitting beside her while she was working on her watercolors and we would talked together in French  while getting to know each others a little more! …amazing life with her husband from Napa Valley Wine Estate! She seems very happy to share a few words about herself  while choosing her brushes and colors for her beautiful composition.  I will never forget my lovely time with her and all the colorful hybiscus flowers surrounding us in the garden!

In Winter, we took off for a few months where it was warmer and I  had an immense pleasure to spend time with Magrit Mondavi, known for bringing sophistication to the wineries in Napa Valley with her husband Robert Mondavi/Winery. During a few days, I was  invited with some friends and artists to paint and draw the beautiful vegetation found  on the estate of designer Thomas Bartlett.

Here is Magrit Mondavi painting with watercolors during a beautiful day with her.

I also really enjoyed ….just sitting beside her while she was working on her watercolors and we would talked together in French  while getting to know each others a little more! …amazing life with her husband Robert Mondavi from Napa Valley Wine Estate! She seems very happy to share a few words about herself and her painting while choosing her brushes and colors for her composition.  I will never forget my lovely time with her and all the colorful hybiscus flowers surrounding us in the garden of Thomas! She looks beautiful and very happy to spend her holiday painting in this inspiring environment while spending time with her friend Thomas Bartlett. I also had the opportunity to meet him and he took me around his property and his home to tell me a little about the history of the furniture and the design of his home.  Very interesting day!

About Helene Tremblay