An Artists Date/Pottery Workshop at the Clay Company

Clay Company/Highwater Clay/Morean Art Center

throwing workshop

c

out door kilns

outside of old train station

wood burning kiln

Electric kiln

Gas Kiln

out door workshop area

clay arc

chimney stacks of outdoor kiln area

I often refer to Julia Cameron and the Artist's Way because she understands what it is to be an artist so well.  She understands what motivates and inhibits creative people.  One of her suggestions that I think is so valuable is to take yourself on an artists date.  It need not be anymore than a trip to a junk store or a walk in an old train yard, but something that supports your creative self.  This past week I went to an all day pottery workshop at the Clay Factory (please click on highlighted word) which is a wonderful pottery center in an old train station.  The place is wonderful, an antique red brink station with big arching windows.  The area is huge, allowing for three separate ceramic facilities.  It is a wonderful reuse of an old space.  There are so many buildings in communities that go unused. All I ever see is studio space in ever abandoned building I see.  I image it if full of artists, students and creativity! It is hard for me to imagine why unused spaces all over the world go unused.  So much could fill them, classes, workshops, shelter for homeless...why let them sit decaying?  Corporations and governments can certainly be more creative and generous than what is happening from one community to the next at the present time.  But here is one good use, one good community project and one success to share with you.  If there are good community uses of old buildings in your area please share with us and we will share with others.  

Welcome Portugal!!!!

Chrono/a community based project to paint art on abandoned buildings

a young emerging Portuguese Artist/Alexandre Farto

Welcome Portugal, it is so nice to have you visit.  I can't tell you how much I have wanted to visit your wonderful country and yet have to do so.  It is on my list of places to see.  I hear such wonderful things from all who visit.  We look forward to learning more about Portugal and its artists.(click on the highlighted area for information about artists of Portugal. 

Look at Who Visited from Around the World This Week!

United States

Russia

United Kingdom

Malaysia

Germany

France

Italy

Ukraine

Hungary

India

An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one.  ~Charles Horton Cooley

Jennifer Tetlow/Sculptor/New Artist Series

Jennifer Tetlow/Sculptor 

Jennifer is another artist I have been so fortunate to get to know through artists groups on line. It is so nice to think of so many wonderful artist that are creating all over the world.  I can imagine Jennifer carving away in Shropshire, England and that is a wonderful thing. The internet has done many things, but one thing that very unique is how people can connect and share their art and creations. 
 There is a beautiful elegance to Jennifer Tetlow's stone carvings.  The simplicity of line, the curving arc, yet smooth and gentle.  One might think of Scandinavian designs or the Inuit Indians of the Pacific Northwest.  Or one could think of sculptors like Henry Moore. Jennifer almost catches the soul of the thing she is carving.  I remember reading once about Michelangelo that stone felt alive to him, and it told him how to carve it.  I think Jennifer must be like that, her carvings are earth bound with an understanding and love of stone work that is fascinating.  I think you will enjoy learning more about Jennifer and her work. 
http://www. http://www.jennifertetlow.co.uk/index.html

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings 

“We cannot live without the Earth or apart from it, and something is shrivelled in a man's heart when he turns away from it and concerns himself only with the affairs of men”
― Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Cross Creek

Cross Creek, Florida

Author of the Yearling,

Art is not a thing; it is a way.
-Elbert Hubbard




Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was the famed author of the Yearling and Cross Creek, both of which were made into movies.  She and her husband were New Yorkers, city type, not country folk.  But Marjorie found an orange grove for sale and decided they could move South and she could write.  At the time Florida was not the easiest of places to love, mosquitoes, snakes, sand and shell roads, no air-conditioning, and hurricanes.  Her husband did not last long, but Marjorie relished the her new life.  She was a character, hard drinker, assertive woman, hunter, fisher and strong woman.  The local country folk had not a clue how to deal with her, especially when she begin to write about them in a not so flattering way.  Leaving New York behind, the social life, and civilized world changed her writing and her focus. She adapted and ran a successful orange grove, learned to put up marmalade, shoot rattlesnakes, and cook for all her friends who dared to come visit.  Her life reflected her art, and her art reflected her life.  
Her home now is a state park that you can visit. It is set up to look as if she still lives there and just walked out the door.  You can go to the Yearling restaurant near by and have Florida Cracker food, like turtle and alligator.  And you can drive the back roads through the oak canopies with moss hanging low.  You can walk through her orange grove and almost think you hear typing on the front porch.  I often stop when I am driving out of the state or back in....it can be a bit on my way.  I also taught the last 12 years at a school named after her Rawlings Elementary, a writing focus school.  
I think for all of us visual artists, writers, actors, dancers or musicians...our lives are our art...it is our way of life.....and aren't we so very fortunate!

Yahoo We Did it...7,000 hits!

That is wonderful we have hit our newest benchmark at 7,000 hits.  Now there are some blogs that might get that in a day or in a week, but when I sat down in August with my computer here on the Gulf Coast of Florida I had now idea any of this would happen.  It is you the readers that have made this such a successful blog read by so many all over the world.  I thank you, for you have opened a new world for me and in return I hope I am offering a world of art to you!  It is so wonderful to get to know you as artists and fellow blog writers.  Thank you all again!  Betsy

New Site you will like

Here is a new site some of you may like if you are interested in reading art blogs from around the world.  This site catalogs sites alphabetically.  It is a British based site.  Enjoy traveling through the world with art!
http://art-blogging.blogspot.com/
Thank you Jennifer for this site listing I found on your blog! You are a wonderful resource there in Shropshire working on you stone sculptures!!!

High Museum of Art Special Exhibit/Atlanta/Picasso to Warhol

This year I bought membership to the Dali museum and the St. Pete Museum of Art.  With the Dali membership came the additional perk of a NARM membership.  That is the North American Reciprocal  Agreement of Museums.  It is a wonderful program which allows you to visit museums all over the country that are part of the program.  You may want to check and see if your local museum have reciprocal memberships.  There is also the Southern Museum Reciprocal agreement I believe that covers museums not covered under NARM. I join several museums every year to support art in my local community and because I enjoy going to the events sponsored year round.  There are many talks, art history insights, museums store specials, plays and music.  A membership offers much more than just see the main collection.  I highly recommend you support your local art institutions.  
The High Museum in Atlanta has a special exhibit on now that I would love to see.  It is called Picasso to Warhol.  With the NARM agreement you can get into the main museum collection for free, but for the special show you must pay...but you get a discounted price!  Good deal I think.
I also discovered though a little research on line there are certain hotels in downtown Atlanta that offer museum packages with your stay free tickets to the museum! ( only an example of a hotel, I am not promoting any hotel in particular) The special exhibit goes on unit April, so you still have a chance to see it.  

It Could Happen Today! A new benchmark for us!

Why is Mona Smiling, she knows!

We are closing in on a new amazing benchmark for us.  It will happen either today or tomorrow depending on number of visitors and readers.  If you want to help put us over the top sooner, ask a friend to view the site today.  I can hardly wait, so amazing!

Meet a new Artist Series/Meet Martin Stynes/Manchester, England

Martin Stynes/Manchester 

In the last year I have joined a few on line art groups.  I have enjoyed getting to know different artist around the world.  Martin Stynes is one of those artist. He is from Manchester, England.  He does the most wonderful landscapes.  The colors almost jump off the canvas and makes you think of the time when you look at at sun rise or sun set and gasp at the awesomeness of the creation you are witnessing.  Martins work reminds me of those moments...he captures them well, but he is an experimenter also.  He abstracts his work at time and at other times he takes it to a minimalist world.  He is also unbelievably prolific.  I thought you might enjoy getting to know his work as well.  

Matisse

. . I have always sought to be understood and, while I was taken to task by critics or colleagues, I thought they were right, assuming I had not been clear enough to be understood. This assumption allowed me to work my whole life without hatred and even without bitterness toward criticism, regardless of its source. I counted solely on the clarity of expression of my work to gain my ends. Hatred, rancor, and the spirit of vengeance are useless baggage to the artist. His road is difficult enough for him to cleanse his soul of everything which could make it more so.
Henri Matisse

Creativity takes courage. 
Henri Matisse

Joining Rabbit Moon Studio Blog/Why?

JOIN ME IN A WORLD OF ART

Miro Museum

Gaudi/Barcelona

Miro Museum/Barcelona

Art Class/ Mask Making

Image Transfer/Summer Class

art class/love of art/Florida

 Lets share the arts together.

African Art/Montreal

Montreal

HELP ME BUILD ARTS COMMUNITIES

Alternative Universe/Elizabeth Gordon

detail of Alternate Universe

Ray Azcuy/Miami Florida

Learn about artist

 and art from around the world

Marie Menes/Miami 

Meet Artist, Art educators, and share their vision.

Ray Azcuy/Cuban born/ Artist and Arts Administrator

Experience arts and crafts from regional centers like Asheville

Artist made books/Penland School of Arts

Blue Spiral Gallery, Asheville

Strasbourg 

Share and learn about other cultures and their arts around the world

Mark and Ann/photoshoot/Asheville

Sally/Strausburg

Sally and me/Germany

Learn new techniques and see art through the eyes of an artist

Metal etching

pottery/Weaverville, North Carolina

Pottery/Blue Spiral/Asheville

Blue Spiral/Asheville

Betsy and Ann/Dali Museum

Blues Singer/Cross Creek

Go to galleries with me and learn about new artists

Ann Burdett/Artist and Arts Teacher

 Meet friends in the arts and share yours

Scraftio Pot/ Monica Gurererro 

Monica/Artist and Potter

Pottery Studio/Hyde Park Art Studio

Eileen/Thrower of large pots

See how art is for all people and all ages, how it enriches everyones life

Mother and daughter in art class together

My Raku, windows

A very pleased artist/me

My Raku/sculpture pot

Happy Artist/Successful Art Show
Dali Museum

Dali Museum Show/Liquid Desires

 Join me as I show my work, struggle with new media, work out obstacles, think out concepts and processes and share your experiences

Dali Museum Show

April Gordon, potter, sister

April throwing large pot
Hyde Park Art Studio
City of Tampa Recreation

 I will open my world of the arts to you and share yours.  Together we can promote art and artists around the world.  We can build a more positive creative world for all.  

Monica, me and Brian. Monica is from Peru/art historian and artist
Morean Art Show/St. Petersburg/Florida

Morean Art Center Show

One Sassy lady in the Art
She dresses to the 9's to do Raku!

Dali Museum/Night of Liquid
Desires Show

Why Join? Simple, I want to get to know you!

Me meeting people like you!

You may click on many blogs and you not join them.  I did the same until I started Rabbit Moon.  What I have found out from this end is I can see the numbers of people and pretty much where they are from that check in.  But I can't see you personally, and I do like people, artists, and other cultures a great deal.  I like sharing your world of art and your countries culture with others.  I think it helps us build a world community through the arts.  When people join they can join with their name and picture or they can join anonymously.  You can also subscribe by e-mail.  Both options are at the top right hand corner of the blog. Joining helps me see you and builds a two way contact. 
This not any kind of an advertising plea, it is truly that I want to know you, your art and your culture.  I would love to post museums, galleries, art schools, pictures of your studio and things of interest from your corner of the world.  I am an artist yes, but I am a teacher also.  When you spend 37 years of your life teaching others about art, art history and other cultures the interest and it becomes part of one.  I am also an art advocate, spending many years on committees and organizations that promote the arts in my state of Florida and nationally.  I lobbied for the arts at the Florida state capital with congressmen and senators.  I love doing art , and I love promoting art in schools, in communities and around the world.  I am interested in art on all levels for all ages.  I taught special education for mentally disabled and emotionally disabled students.  I have taught the elderly and informed in nursing homes.  I have taught at most levels and ages from 3 to 100. I have taught in two different cultures for extended lengths of time. So my understanding is wide and my love of art and people great. 
Please help me promote the arts worldwide.   By joining and following this blog my hope is that it will show others the strength artists and art lovers can have when they join together.

Ray and me/friends in life and friends in art

YOU MEET WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Peter Tush, Education Director of the Dali Museum  and me at Dali Show,/Liquid Desires

The other thing you need to know is that since I started this blog in August 2011, I have not missed one day of posting which truly has surprised me.  But, what I found out was as I saw new countries reading and the numbers growing worldwide, I was hooked.  What keeps me writing and sharing is seeing and knowing people around the world are reading.  Thank you, Betsy