Category Archives: Uncategorized

“WAITING FOR CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE”

Sometimes it’s best to wait, for a thunderstorm to pass, for traffic, for a baby, for inspiration or for just the right moment. This sculpture has been on and off my work table because it never quite felt finished. It is still in limbo, waiting for conditions to improve …

but I did not lose heart I continued on … and I was rewarded when this piece was accepted into the Parkersburg Art Centers juried show “The River”. I can’t wait to see what’s in the egg …

a nest high above the fray

an elevated nest with a single egg with the nesting material covering all .. as if time has passed .. amber resin holds the nest in a moment of time?? or protects until conditions improve.

The opening is Sunday July 31, 2022 at the Parkersburg Art Center from 1-3pm. See you there!

HAS IT REALLY BEEN A WHOLE YEAR?

Has it really been a whole year since I posted about my sculpture “Destroy Create Repeat” ? It sometimes feels like a dream, a very bad dream that has distorted my sense of time.
I haven’t had it so bad, my work is here at home and my etsy shop was doing enough business to keep me busy. Even so, I occasionally thought “I think I’ll go …” next thought “No you won’t” frustrating.
THE GOOD NEWS
I delivered “Destroy Create Repeat” to the Ohio Craft Museum in Columbus OH! The show will go on!! The dates are May 10 – July 11, 2021 at 1665 W Fifth Ave Columbus 43212.

There will be a closing reception Sunday July 11 from 1-4pm. Then the show will go on the road to the Mansfield Art Center in Mansfield, Ohio from August 15- September 12, 2021.

A custom made box with lots of instructions and photos help the gallery get the work from one place to another safely.

Ohio Cooperative Living

The November 2019 issue of Ohio Cooperative Living Magazine featured C McDonough Designs in their annual Holiday Gift Guide. A photo with a bird feeder, woodsprite and leaf baby represents the leafy line of pottery offered. Please click on store above left to see all of the pottery for sale from C McDonough Designs

bird feeder
Woodsprites
this one sold, more on the way

Open Studio Event

C McDonough Designs Studio will be holding an Open Studio event as part of National Clay Week. Saturday October 12 from 11 am to 5 pm. The studio will be open for people to walk through, all pottery is for sale and a Raku firing demonstration will be going on outside. We’ll be firing pieces made by several local students plus some of Carol’s Raku ware.

Raku fired vase

Take a ride in the country during peak leaf peeping time and checkout some of the amazing art being made in your area. Shop local and get a jump on your holiday gift list. Click on store in the upper left corner to see what’s available.

Raku kiln firing at night

The open studio was a great success!

we had beautiful weather for the firing
my students were happy with their creations, so was I!

I got a prize!!

As a member of the Parkersburg Art Center I entered their annual member show “BowWowMeow”.   I took in one of my cat food dishes and surprise surprise! I got a prize!!

The Stakeout, who will get the drop?

it’s porcelain and perfectly fine for people too

This dish is a little larger than my usual 4-5″ diameter.  It was made as part of a special order from a cat owner who’s cat Stewie’s whiskers were bothered by the rim of a regular dish.  I made three larger, shallower dishes for Stewie (I always make extras) and he got two.  A portrait dish and a “Hittin the Sushi Bar”.

Stewie’s special order

I have a line of cat dishes with 14 hilarious drawings of cats.  I have been hosting cats for most of my life and find them very aMUSEing .  Click on store at the top of this page to see more…

Women of Appalachia Project 2018-19

It’s time again for the Women of Appalachia Project, a special show that is run by and for women in the Appalachian region.  It brings together visual artists and poets in a traveling art show and poetry readings.  Here are pictures of my entries.

Flower/Vase
slumped glass

Untitled
glass and clay

BROKEN WATER
clay,glass,stone,shell

Go to womenofappalachia.com for a full listing of events.

 

Riverside Artists Gallery “Poetry in Art 2018”

The Riverside Artists Gallery is putting on a show!  The opening is August 25 from 6-9pm.  Poets will read their poems and then a visual artist will talk about the artwork created to bring that poem alive.

The poem that inspired me is “Myself” by Debby Mullins

“I hear a noise in the distant night of a hound that seems to cry.  ‘What’s wrong ole dog?’  I asked myself, but myself didn’t say why.

Myself is far in the future and always has somewhere to go.  But as for me, I know nothing, my mind is just ‘to and fro’.

So like the ole dog I hear howling in the dark and distant night.  My mind is not at ease and myself just isn’t right.”

Here are pictures of the sculpture I made, the scary trees represent the dark and distant night or the past.  The white piece in front with tiny barefoot footprints the future and new hope/ideas. As myself and ole dog make their way down the path.

Can you find what’s just not right?

 

The River Exhibition

Here are some pictures of two sculptures that were juried into “The River” exhibition at the Parkersburg Art Center PAC. The opening will be on Sunday July 22, 2018 from 1:30-3:30pm.

BROKEN WATER view 1 note the falling water

BROKEN WATER view 2

BROKEN WATER detail

IN THE CURRENT

IN THE CURRENT

IN THE CURRENT detail

 

These are mixed media, slumped glass  and ceramic with added shells and stones.  And glue.

more Raku with a little bird watching

After a wicked hot May, we’ve had a few perfect days this June.  I took the opportunity to fire up the Raku kiln and finish off some pottery that’s been waiting far too long!

the Raku kiln is sitting on top of some soft brick to protect the grass

Assisted by my faithful puppy Kato we settled in for an afternoon in the shade.

Since it’s early June there is lots of birdie action to watch.  I got pics of a Redbelly woodpecker and a Downy Woodpecker hitting the suet cake.  Judging by the wad of suet they were carrying away I’d say they were feeding babies.

Downy Woodpecker

 

 

 

Redbelly Woodpecker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a pair of Bluebirds checking out one of my ceramic houses.

Bluebirds

And this little ceramic owl seems a bit nervous about jumping into the fire!

some finished Raku ware

Raku Class

I taught a Raku class recently and as usual I learned a lot.  But first I had to refurbish my Raku kiln.  I’ve had this kiln since the mid 80’s? and the last time I used it I burned too much gas.  So I ordered a new kiln blanket, and relined the original kiln right on top of the old liner.  The blanket is made of spun kaolin fibers and create a fabulous heat barrier in a tiny space.  

 

the blanket can be cut to size with scissors

 

 

 

 

After piecing together some scraps on the bottom of the kiln and using high temperature wire to secure the seam it was time to apply heat!

 

 

 

 

It was a beautiful morning when I set up the kiln.  I used some soft brick stacked two high to hold the kiln shelf.  In Raku firing the pieces are usually fired one at a time so the shelf is pretty small.  A round shaped kiln is also a plus as it directs the flame around the piece keeping the temperature more even.  A small gas tank is attached and we are ready to fire!

 

 

 

 

As students arrive and glaze their pieces we get a rhythm going, preheating the next pot on top of the kiln helps to move things along as the piece is already hot when I restart the kiln.  Each firing takes 15- 30 min.

 

 

 

 

Some of the finished ware.

 

Some of my finished ware available in my store.