Artnotes: Terra Cotta

 

Orchid on Gold Background  Laurie Fox Pessemier  acrylic/paper   24  x 12"  60 x 30 cm   275.00 Every week, I try to do something new that I can write about in Artnotes.  I thank you for that, because it gets me out and moving, putting on my "new eyes" glasses to see something that will surprise and hopefully, delight. Fish Stew   Blair Pessemier Acrylic/flat Canvas   7  x 19"  17 x 47cm 275.00 I did manage to get to the beach this week, Santa Severa, with its big castle and lovely coastline.  The sky and the water were both deep blue, different from the classic Mediterranean turquoise, and almost painfully strong.  My best description is a small drawing where rock outcroppings look bright orange, the air and sea dark blue.   Sketches from Santa Severa:The Castle (right on the sea); Berlino  by Blair  Orange rocks, Blue sea by Laurie Today, we drove 30 minutes from Stimigliano to visit the Museo della Ceramica of Casimiro Marcantoni.  The Civita Castellano area, and the museum, address all forms of ceramics, from decorative sculpture, to lighting, to bath fixtures.  My favorite pieces were a futurist vase, and the absolutely ridiculous giant loo used as an advertising prop.  The young man at the counter was most helpful and enjoyed practicing his very good English.   I am working on a project to create a collection of ceramic dishes to mount to the wall – maybe for a friend’s place, but if he isn’t keen, I’ll glue them (they are on paper) on my own dining room wall.  I could buy dishes, but it’s nearly impossible to hang things on the stone and plaster walls in most houses.  Italy is a huge force in ceramics.  Closer to our other house, in Roccamalatina, are the ceramic tile manufacturers.  The soil of Italy, forged into ceramic products, must be all over the world.  I believe the official center of ceramics is Sicily where Majolica found its way from the potters of North Africa.  Terra Cotta, as in tile and sculpting material emerged in Tuscany during medieval times.  My favorite terra cotta sculpture, the Crying Maries, is in Bologna (from 1461).

Vladimiro  Laurie Fox  Pessemier  acrylic/paper  70 x 50"    27 x 20cm   375.00     I’ve all but abandoned my small drawings of late – I was so sure of it since early in 2025, and now pffft.   How does that happen?  I talked about it with my weekly painting partner, and she has experienced it at times in past.  Neither of us had an explanation.  My muse knows, but she’s not talking, only allowing me to paint on large sheets of paper. Frog King   Blair Pessemier  acrylic/canvas 21.5 x 21.5"    55 x 55cm   475.00     HOUSEKEEPING:  We make art to order, including portraits by Blair Pessemier.    Follow us on Instagram @lauriepessemier See all of our painting at https://paintfox.com Most of our work is available as reproductions, custom sized and framed. Write to me at lfpessemier@gmail.com   Happy Thanksgiving!!!  sign up for Artnotes, our weekly art missive, by contacting me at lfpessemier@gmail.com or https://mailchi.mp/341f508cecf8/artnotes INVITING All Artists to present their Work:   Paint, Literature, Crafts, Food.... Pessemier's Sunday Salon Weekly on Sunday  No Reservation Necessary   How it works: Bring a piece of your ART: that could be visual, like painting or printmaking; or literary, as in poetry or prose; or crafts, like metalwork or knitting; or food, or music.  Something you made, or feel particularly inspired by.  You have about 5 minutes to present, and we'll ooh, ahh, or answer questions you have.  You can also come and see how we work before diving in.  Just show up on Zoom at a minute or two before the hour.    No selling, no networking until after everyone has presented.  No politics, no sales pitches, please. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88093708954?pwd=M04zNHB4dFZkREp3bThweUd1YnVDZz09 Meeting ID: 880 9370 8954 Passcode: 886402 Rome 8PM; NY 2 PM; LosAngeles 11AM