See Art in the Making in Forest Grove this Weekend. Free.

“Visitors will see me glazing or doing the raku process if they are there at the right moment. The raku process is really fun to watch, also I try to use different materials with my clay forms:  limbs from trees, nails, buttons, puzzle pieces, wire, ribbon, etc,” says Barb Hertel, Raku Artist.

Get a free tour map at www.washcoart.org and spend Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19 from 11 am to 5 pm visiting art studios during Washington County Open Studios.  Forty artists will be demonstrating their techniques for you and some are right in your own Aloha neighborhood. 

Painter Helvi Smith adds, “When people come to the studio - they will see my "gallery" first.   I LOVE the color orange and the walls are painted a deep vibrant orange and that is a big hint that there are few neutral colored paintings around here.”

You can see art in the making October 18 and 19 from 11 am to 5 pm in the suburbs and country during Washington County Open Studios.  Get a tour map and directions FREE at www.washcoart.org 

What Weird Techniques Do Artists Use in Forest Grove?

“I use house paint almost exclusively in my paintings.    People give me leftover paint all the time!   I love the recycling aspect that Susie's bedroom color is now a great color in one of my paintings.   I use squirt bottles with paint in them like some artists use brushes.   I love paint, says Helvi Smith, Painter.

Wonder what other weird technique or process you’ll get to see during Washington County Open Studios? October 18 and 19 from 11 am to 5 pm, 40 artists will be demonstrating their techniques for you. 

Ceramic Artist, Barb Hertel adds, “The raku process is really fun to watch, also I try to use different materials with my clay forms:  limbs from trees, nails, buttons, puzzle pieces, wire, ribbon, etc.”

You can see art in the making October 18 and 19 from 11 am to 5 pm in the suburbs and country during Washington County Open Studios.  Get a tour map and directions FREE at www.washcoart.org 

Ask an Artist: Barbara Hertel, Clay Sculptor.

Ever wonder how an artist becomes an artist?  Why they make art? Where they get their inspiration and what you’ll see when you visit their studio? 

Here’s your chance to get find out.

Why do you love what you do? 

"I love touching clay, I love letting it tell me what it wants to become.  I don’t use the wheel much, it gets in the way.  I love to hold the clay, feel its spirit, let it be born in my hands."

What weird and different material or technique do you use? 

"The raku process is really fun to watch, also I try to use different materials with my clay forms:  limbs from trees, nails, buttons, puzzle pieces, wire, ribbon, etc."

What got you interested in art?  Was it a class, teacher, family member or friend? 

"I have always been drawn to art but never had the chance to follow this passion until I was almost finished with one career.   Then after teaching for 18 years, I went to school in St. Louis and got a masters in art focusing on sculpture.  It was then that I was drawn to the ceramic studio.  My first class, my first piece, I was in heaven.  I knew I would always do pottery but in a sculptural way."

What’s your favorite part of your process?  

"I love making shapes and designs that are new for me.  I love the freedom to create whatever I want."

When people come to your studio, what will they see you doing …what part of your process? 

"They will see me glazing or doing the raku process if they are there at the right moment."

You can see more of Barbara’s work and visit her studio during Washington County Open Studios tour October 18-19^th from 11am to 5pm.  And on her website at barbarahertel.com

Two to Raku: Karen and Susan share a thunder, lightning, hail and horsehair.

Karen French is a potter living up on Bull Mountain in Tigard.  I work in clay, too and also live in Tigard.  Karen has a great studio behind her home complete with a raku kiln.  I love the raku process, especially horsehair, but I don’t have a raku kiln in my studio.  When Karen invited me to raku with her, I jumped at the chance. 

Raku is a Japanese process originally used for producing traditional tea bowls for the Japanese Tea Ceremony.  Hand-shaped vessels were removed from the kiln while still hot and allowed to cool in the open air resulting in black bowls.  The way I learned to raku is slightly different.  The thrown or hand built pieces were bisque fired in an electric kiln.  Raku glazes were applied and the pieces were reheated in a kiln.  When they reached the right temperature, they were removed and put in a metal trash can filled with shredded paper which caused oxidation turning the uncovered clay, black.

Horsehair raku involves some of the same steps.  But, I like it more than using glazes.  It has an element of surprise and whimsy.  It all happens so fast, I have no time to think.  It forces me to be in the moment, creating.  Luckily for me, Karen likes it, too.

We set a date on our calendars.  I made a bowl and small cup.  Karen had several small vases.  They were bisque fired, packed up and ready to go.  Just then, the rain started pouring down in sheets.  Karen and I were on the phone trying to figure out what to do, when all of a sudden, it stopped.  The sun came out and raku was a go, again. 

We loaded up the raku kiln and fired it up.  Waiting for the pots to get hot enough, raindrops started to fall again.  Karen and I just dragged the kiln under her studio eves and kept going.  Then, it poured.  Thundered.  Hailed.  We saw lightning in the distance but it didn’t stop us. 

Nope.  With hot pots ready for the horsehair, we were on a mission.  

Karen lifted the raku kiln top and I pulled out a pot with tongs.  We grabbed the horsehair, placed it carefully around the hot pot and watched the miracle happen.  Horsehair twists, twirls and curls with a beautiful abandon when it hits the hot pot.  The smoky areas and black scribbly lines surrounding the pieces were just amazing. 

When I signed up for my first open studios tour, I made many surprising and wonderful connections.  One of the best, so far, was playing with hot pots, horsehair and my new clay buddy, Karen French.  In spite of the hail, all went well.  Of course, after we were done, the sun came out.