Meeting Artists is FUN!

Two very different types of 3D art - on the left a piece by Luisa Baldinger and on the right a piece by Alicia Jones.

Recently I attended two studio visits with the New Mexico State Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Both were 3D artists making objects of beauty. Generally speaking, I'm not drawn to 3D art possibly because as a child I spend far too many hours dusting my grandmother's collection of random objects. Or maybe I simply prefer to see non-human made objects in nature. Regardless of any of that, I decided to attend these studio visits and learn more about the artists and their 3D work.

Dear reader, I'm so glad I did!

Alicia Jones showing a sculpture of a rabbit in progress.

The first artist, Alicia Jones, had a fantastic life story that she brings to her artwork. Her parents built a wooden "RV" pulled by a team of horses and took their young family on the road eventually ending up in a remote part of Colorado where they lived on the land. As a result, she had amazing experiences with wild creatures which forged a special bond. She now captures those animals in her artwork, carving them out of clay and etching intricate designs on their bodies reflecting their environment, ecosystem, and habits before casting them into bronze and using patina to add color to their form.

Both Alicia and her art were delightful and created a sense of joy in all who attended.

Luisa Baldinger inflating a clay sculpture.

The second artist, Luisa Baldinger, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Peru where she fell in love with making pottery. But she has a very unique method...she starts by finding a shape that she likes, maybe it's a rock or a bottle or some other form. She flattens the clay and drapes it over the form letting it dry enough that she can then remove it from the item. Then she takes another piece of flat clay to cover the opening and seal it shut. After letting it dry a little longer, she then pokes a hole into the clay and uses her breath to blow into the shape and make it expand and grow. She uses a wide variety of tools to then adjust the shape, viewing it from all angles, until she is satisfied. Then she uses things from nature to add texture to the exterior of the shape. For example, she adds a glaze and then rolls it in salt which will burn away in the kiln and leaves crackles in the surface.

None of us in attendance had ever seen someone inflate clay before and it was magical!

At the end of the day I was struck by how unique each artist's journey and their work is. In a million years I would ever imagine making a bronze sculpture of a rabbit or inflating clay objects. But it was incredibly fun to meet people who DO think of those things and who are called to create them despite incredible odds against them.

Taking the time to talk with artists, even those who don't create things you assume you will/won't like, has the power to change your perspective, enhance your life, spark creative ideas, and provide a sense of wonder. I highly recommend it!