My "bird series" is inspired by my love of amateur bird watching; these pieces are functional pitchers and bowls shaped to resemble birds native to my home in California. So far, the series includes bitterns, grouse, winter wren, quail, robin, and a parrot. Although not from California, the parrot is highly valued by Southwest Indian cultures for the colorful feathers used in decoration and ceremony. In creating the parrot, I strove to capture the mischievous humor of this intelligent bird. The challenge of building bird vessels is to convey the essence of a particular species, its habits and personality, without loosing sight of vessel functionality, and to produce simple, flowing lines that conform to the will of the clay and that showcase the elegance of this glittering medium. The addition of yellow and red iron oxides to slipped surfaces helps to highlight the more abstract renderings of bird anatomy. Yellow is used to color a beak and red the breast of a robin, for example. When fired with care, these oxides produce subtle but striking results.
Picuris Mountains, New Mexico
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Photographs by Harvey Spector
Mountain Grouse
When my husband and I go to pick wild mushrooms, we often will see this little guy running down the road in front of our truck
Price $375.00
SOLD
When my husband and I go to pick wild mushrooms, we often will see this little guy running down the road in front of our truck
Price $375.00
SOLD
Winter Wren
This little guy is very illusive. If you listen very carefully for his call you might get lucky and see him skittering around in the bushes.
Price: $375.00
SOLD
This little guy is very illusive. If you listen very carefully for his call you might get lucky and see him skittering around in the bushes.
Price: $375.00
SOLD
The Sentinel
This is the ever watchful male quail that takes his job very seriously. I see him perched on the fench post watching while mom and her babies feed.
$475.00
SOLD
This is the ever watchful male quail that takes his job very seriously. I see him perched on the fench post watching while mom and her babies feed.
$475.00
SOLD
Bittern Water Jar
I have attempted to capture the character of this secretive marsh bird.
Size: 9 1/4 h x 7 w
$275.00
SOLD
I have attempted to capture the character of this secretive marsh bird.
Size: 9 1/4 h x 7 w
$275.00
SOLD
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Parrot with Attitude
The feathers of this intelligent bird were used as decorations by the native peoples of the American Southwest.
$450.00
SOLD
The feathers of this intelligent bird were used as decorations by the native peoples of the American Southwest.
$450.00
SOLD
Robin Water Jar
This migratory bird loves the nandina berries at my home. The bushes shake during their feeding frenzies.
Size: 9 1/4 h x 7 w
Price: $450
SOLD
This migratory bird loves the nandina berries at my home. The bushes shake during their feeding frenzies.
Size: 9 1/4 h x 7 w
Price: $450
SOLD
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Pelican Caserole Dish
Pelicans like this one rest at the lakes near my home in Northern California.
Size: 7 3/4 h x 7 3/4 w
SOLD
Pelicans like this one rest at the lakes near my home in Northern California.
Size: 7 3/4 h x 7 3/4 w
SOLD
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