Clay

  Gwinn is experimenting with handbuilding at the co-op studio which operates under the umbrella of Carlsbad Area Art Association. Slowly she is learning about characteristics of clay, but mostly she is playing and attempting to express images of interest to her. Feel free to contact the artist about any of the work you see here. (method for contacting the artist is on the CONTACT page)

THE ALTAR SERIES: This series of pieces is an attempt to make something tangible of my ineffable experiences of worship. Each of the “Altars” has a small expression on the back side, usually a meaningful quotation. These pieces have been an intermittent part of my explorations in clay as you can see in the images below. They come into my need for expression now and then. As soon as I think the series is complete, they show up again. (A few Altar pieces have been constructed with cradled panels, they are on the ASSEMBLAGES PAGE of this site.)
THE ENVELOPE SERIES: The clay envelopes are relatively new but THE ENVELOPE SERIES has been a major part of my body of work for a long time. Once I thought I was through with the envelopes, but my sister exclaimed, “Oh no, the envelopes are a life-time series.” Perhaps she is right.

Bisque fired clay with small balls embellishing a small niche lined with red collaged archival papers & containing a small clay bird, ancient musical text and wrapped twig with tiny gold star charm.
ALTAR SERIES: RISE
embellished bisque-fired clay, 16X5X1.5 inches, $125.00
smoked embellished clay, 16X5X1 inches, $110.00. Embellishments include faint bee hive pattern on the clay surface, tall old tree twigs wrapped with colorful twine and a disc charm with bee hive & bee pattern. A small niche in the clay is lined with patterned paper, wrapped stick with bee charms & small clay bird.
  ALTAR SERIES: LISTEN
smoked embellished clay, 16X5X1 inches
(sold)
$
Altar Series: WONDER, smoked, embellished clay with twig, twine, papers, beads. 10.5X5.5X1 inches
  ALTAR SERIES:WONDER
smoked embellished clay, 10.5X5.5X1 inches, (sold)

Altar Series: Gratitude, smoke-fired clay emballished with twigs, twine, beads, and postage stamp
(ALTAR SERIES: GRATITUDE
smoke-fired clay, embellished
8X5.5Xl inches (sold)
TINY ENVELOPE NESTS : smoke fired clay, embellished. They are in the range of 3X3 inches, they have clay “eggs” and actual nest filler (sold)

THE ENVELOPE SERIES: SINCERELY smoke-fired clay, embellished (the clay portion only approximately 25X6X.5 inches) $200.00 (sold)
THE ENVELOPE SERIES: YOURS TRULY
smoke-fired clay, embellished. (the clay portion only is approximately 17X7X.5 inches) $150.00 (sold)
THE ENVELOPE SERIES: THE SECOND MILE, smoke-fired clay, embellished, 11X8X2.5 inches $150.00
THE ENVELOPE SERIES: WE SHALL SEE
smoke-fired clay, embellished: 11x5x1.5 inches $150.00
SHALL NOT LACK has several artifacts (a scroll, clay shard, rocks, bound twigs, also a small clay bird) in the niche. Below the niche is a bound cluster of twigs, a gray beach-washed stick and a clay amulet Above the niche is a rounded cluster of gold leaf.
ALTAR SERIES: SHALL NOT LACK
bisqued, smoke-fired clay, embellished; approximately 14X4X1 inches: $150.00 sold
  ALTAR SERIES: HOME 
 bisqued, smokefired clay, embellished;
 approximately 14X4X1 inches: $150.00
ALTAR SERIES: ASSURANCE  bisqued, smoke-fired clay, embellished; approximately 14X4.5X 1 inches: $150.oosold
  ALTAR SERIES: SMALL BEGINNINGS
bisque, smoke fired clay, embellished, 14X6X1 inches: $150.00 sold

  ALTAR SERIES: SOLACE
bisque fired clay, embellished, 6.5X5X.75 inches: $40.00 (sold)
THE ALTAR SERIES: GIFTS, bisque fired and painted embellished clay, approximately 10X5X2 inches, (sold)
Cathedral window shaped clay with a niche filled with embellished rolled paper "scrolls" and stones. Wrapped clay twigs are attached to the sides and extend upward approximately 15 inches.
THE ALTAR SERIES: GUARDIAN, smoked, embellished clay portion, with gold leaf medallion is approximately 9X7X1.5 inches, the wrapped twigs extend up to about 15 inches (SOLD)
Peaked embellished clay niche with rolled paper "scrolls" embellished with beads and numerous "bee" charms.
THE ALTAR SERIES: BEE STUDIES,
smoked/embellished clay,
approximately 10X8.5X1.5 inches(sold)
Peaked smoked clay with small niche containing "scroll" rock, clay fragment, small bowl with pebbles. Also wrapped embellished antique key.
THE ALTAR SERIES:
ROCK OF REMEMBRANCE
approximately 9X6X1.5 inches (sold)
THE ALTAR SERIES: WISDOM WORDS, bisqued, smoked, embellished clay, approximately 14X6x2 inches. (sold)

THE PACKETS: These small pieces are extensions of the ongoing “ENVELOPE SERIES” which has been a part of my body of work for many years. They have evolved from the clay envelopes and are designed to be hung on the wall. They measure about the size of a traditional envelope, maybe 8X8inches and smaller (without the embellishments).

Vertical clay packet with postage stamps, dried stems, beads, wire and metal bird shape
Smoked Clay Packet (1) with embellishments  (sold)
Triangular shaped smoked clay packet with varied dried stems and a brown metal bird shape.
Smoked Clay Packet (2) with
 embellishments  (sold)

THE TABLET SERIES: The tablets are clay images inspired by a scripture in Habakkuk written during a time when God’s people urgently needed clarity. God’s answer to Habakkuk’s prayer was “Write down the revelation, and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it….Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:2-3) Some of “The Tablet Series” are glazed, some are painted. They are embellished with a variety of trinkets, strings, weavings and beads.

Glazed stoneware with antique key embellishment
Blue Angel, 18X4 inches, (sold)

Glazed Stoneware with embellishments
“O” 15X4 inches, (sold)
TULIP (sold)
CREVICE (sold)
“FEW WORDS” 15x4x .5 inches, embellished clay. (sold)
"Few Words" is a clay image, 15X4X .5 inches, embellished with acrylic painting, beads and weaving.... $75.00
“FEW WORDS” (detail)
MORE WORDS” 16x4x.5 inches, embellished clay. (sold)
"More Words" is rusty brown and sky blue with a bird image, words spilling down the center to delicate, emerging foliage. It has a "nest-like" raffia weaving
“MORE WORDS” detail

THE ALTAR SERIES
(embellished clay)
The clay portion of these pieces is approximately 5X5X1.5 inches. “Intercessions” is approximately 10X5X1.5 inches. Some of them are glazed, others are painted. The embellishments are varied, including twigs, string, antique keys, beads, papers, feathers etc. They are designed to be hung on the wall.

Clay Altar approximately 6X6X2 inches, painted and embellished with scrolls, beads, sticks, string etc.
THE ALTAR SERIES: SACRED MESSAGES
approximately 6X6X2 inches, (sold)
Altar Series: Missives
MISSIVES (sold)
Altar Series:Listening
LISTENING (sold)
Altar Series: Intercessions
INTERCESSIONS    (sold)
Altar Series: Offering
OFFERING     (sold)

Altar Series: Refuge
REFUGE  (sold)

EARTH ANGELS: A SIDE TRIP
(painted and embellished clay)
BUNNY ANGELS:

Bunny Angel #1
Bunny Angel #1 detail
Bunny Angel 2
Bunny Angel 2, detail
The Tablet Series-Email (detail 1)
The Tablet Series-Email

THE TABLET SERIES

EMAIL
(glazed stoneware clay with embellishments) sold

The Altars: Offerings
OFFERINGS : approximately 10X4X1.5 inches    (sold)
The Altars-Offerings (detail 1)
OFFERINGS (detail)
The Altars - Seems To Tarry
SEEMS TO TARRY  approximately 10X4X1.5inches  (sold)
 The Altars - detail
SEEMS TO TARRY  (detail)
Wings of the Wind
Wings of the Wind


Altar Series: Formed for Frolic

ALTAR SERIES: FORMED FOR FROLIC earthenware clay with embellishments 15X8X2 inches (actual clay portion 5X5X2) (sold)

Altar Series: Petitions

ALTAR SERIES: PETITIONS earthenware clay with embellishments 7X5X1.5 inches  (sold)

Earth Angel 10

EARTH ANGEL 10 (sold)

Earth Angel 8 detail

EARTH ANGEL 8 (detail, sold)

Earth Angel 2

EARTH ANGEL 2 (sold)

Earth Angel 4 detail

EARTH ANGEL 4 (detail, sold)

K's Word Angel

K’s Word Angel (sold)

A's Word Angel

A’s Word Angel (sold)

The Altars: Confessopm

The Altars: Confession Bisqued, smoked clay and embellished with text (graphite), bamboo sticks, twine,  and acrylic paints. 12X5X1.5 inches                                   (sold)

The Altars: Sea Shrine

The Altars: Sea Shrine Bisqued, smoke fired clay with sea shells, pecan twigs, twine, beads, and rusted metal. 12X5X1.5 inches (sold)

Clay Mail: Raven Talk
THE ENVELOPE SERIES:
 RAVEN TALK (sold)
Clay Mail: Mogollon Mail Pouch
THE ENVELOPE SERIES: MOGOLLON MAIL POUCH (sold)
Clay Mail: New Beginnings by Helen Gwinn
THE ENVELOPE SERIES: NEW BEGINNINGS (Handpainted clay with embellishments)sold