Glaze Tests

Looking North East ouside studio window.

Last night I started making a bunch of glaze tests.  These containers which you can see lined up on the board are holding the beginnings of what may be new glazes for me to work with.  The studio is kept warm using a wood stove and I figured I might as well use the ashes from the wood stove and explore wood ash glazes.  So far I have tested a couple of wood ash glazes and the results are very nice especially over another glaze.  It is amazing how much wood needs to burn to get enough ash to make a glaze.  It is even more amazing the beautiful surface that ash creates on the surface of clay.  The process of exploring new glazes is very exciting and time consuming.  I started going through all my notes from various workshops and graduate school and reorganizing them.  I started separating some by color and some by theme such as wood ash. 

Theresa Yondo

Concept to Creation

Opening at Geode Gallery

Thanks to Elaine Battles for taking images at the opening last Friday night and gallery owner Gillian Barnes of Geode Gallery for hosting such a wonderful night. Seeing painter Lucette Johnson after all these years was a delight and meeting metal artist Kathryn Patton was a delight.

The opening was very well attended and old and new friends came together.

Theresa Yondo

Concept to Creation

Happy Valentine's Day

This Friday, stop by Geode Gallery for an opening of:

The Heart: Icon of Love

Paintings by Lucette Johnson and Ceramics by Theresa Yondo
Join us for hors d'oeuvres and spirits the evening of February 12, 2010 for a show dedicated to the heart! This months Cleveland artists are ceramic artist, Theresa Yondo and multimedia artist, Lucette Johnson. So bring your sweetheart and come soak up the love! WHEN: 2/12/10 6pm - 10pm*WHERE: Geode Gallery 755 Starkweather Ave. Cleveland, OH 44113 directions:
http://www.geodegallery-tremont.com/
*Show runs through 3/7/10.

I created some very special sculptural hearts, clay tiles and petite plates to celebrate the heart image.

Theresa Yondo
Concept to Creation

Heart image as element in design

As an artist, it took many years for me to become comfortable using the heart image in my work. The often overused image can be overlooked and not taken very seriously.
When I finally overcame the emotion and feeling connected with the heart shape, I was able to use the shape as an element in design and approach the shape as I would a circle or a line. Thus I was able to make an object and using shape, pattern and glaze, design these small heart sculptures.

These small clay heart sculptures can be purchased at;
JUMA Gallery in Little Italy
http://www.jumagallery.com/ Juma Gallery, 2026 Murray Hill Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106, 216.721.3773,

Chagrin Falls Public Library for the month of February
http://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/ 100 East Orange Street, Chagrin Falls - (440) 247-355 and

GEODE Gallery in Tremont
http://www.geodegallery-tremont.com/ 755 Starkweather Avenue Cleveland, OH 44113(440) 667-1651
This Friday evening their will be an opening at Geode Gallery featuring the hearts. More information to follow tomorrow about the opening at Geode. You can also check out the sidebar under events for more information.

Theresa Yondo
Concept to Creation

Sabbatical

January passed by way to fast. Usually, I do not get much work started let alone completed in the studio but this January was different. I have entered a self induced sabbatical. I have never had the opportunity to teach full time at any art center or university so I have never received the gift of a sabbatical which every teacher needs. Most people who have never taught have no idea how much time a "good" teacher spends on preparing assignments to stimulate and nurture a students mind. In addition to teaching the proposed subject, teachers are therapists, mediators, coaches and a slue of other things all wrapped up in the title of teacher. Although my sabbatical will be full of work that I have wanted to explore in my studio, I still will be getting a rest from the often unrealistic demands of world.

So, I have decided to practice confidence this year. Every one has there own New Years resolutions they try to set into motion. My resolutions have often had a psychological bent. Confidence that the bills will get paid while I take my sabbatical.

My hopes will be to push my clay work in a new direction, explore ash glazes and rearrange the rhythm of my life.

Theresa Yondo
Concept to Creation