Upcoming Holiday Sale!

Pottery, design, illustration..it is all coming together! Here is a flier I made for the Northern Colorado Potter's Guild holiday sale. There already is an official postcard made, but I wanted to make an additional flier to attract the young crafty crowd. I am loving how I can simply scan in my drawings and transform them into digital illustrations.

If you are in the area come check out the sale. There will be upwards of 50 potters selling their wares..along with free holiday treats, beverages and live music.

The Leaves are Falling..

The leaves are falling, the nights are getting colder, and I am making ornaments. It feels a bit silly to be drawing Christmas trees and reindeer when it is still 80 degrees outside, but it never hurts to start early. Here is a preview of what is to come. They are my new favorite item to make, so there will be plenty. Who ever knew that reindeer would be so fun to draw?

Graphic Art

While I am truly in love with clay as a medium, I am also excited to be learning new tools for creating art. Today I finally finished all the lessons in my Photoshop and Illustrator manuals. In a few short months I will be applying to graduate schools for graphic design, which means that I need to bust out a whole new 2D portfolio. This task is daunting..most of my work has been 3D for the past 5 or so years, but also a great challenge.

Black Rock City

mmm.. I don't know where to begin when trying to describe my burning man experience. Living in a city of giving, loving and open people creates an opportunity for incredible self discovery. Black Rock City is a place that offers anything you could ever want or need. The playa will provide, and often did for me. For instance..after beginning a long, long walk home with tired feet from dancing all night long, I was offered a ride home on a "taxi" motor scooter. On another occasion I was exploring the city during the day and started to feel light headed and there before me was a camp giving out homemade kombucha! At night it felt as if we were in another universe. People and moving objects are lit up in spectacular blinking colors. Art cars buzzed by in the forms of cruise ships, giant roosters, butterflies, and pirate ships. The art was alive with bursting fire, and the music was out of this world. Such care and attention was paid to the music venues..for instance my favorite spot was Nexus, which was designed to be an adult playground. Rope ladders, rings, and wooden platforms created the areas to dance on. In the center was a giant ball of flames and platforms where fire performers spun poi and hooped. The experience was like a long dream, where anything could happen. I met so many beautiful, brilliant people that I hope to see again in Black Rock City.

New New Oreans!

For the last two years my grandfather has taken my family on week long trips to a destination of his choice. Last year we all (my parents, sister, our boyfriends, aunt, uncle) went to the Grand Canyon and this year it was a trip to New Orleans. There were nine of us in all, quite a group of characters, exploring the New Orleans area in 95 degree heat with what felt like 200 percent humidity. I have never been to the South (excluding the Carolinas) and it really was amazing how different the culture is down there. For one, New Olreans is in a class of its own. It truly is an incredible city filled with musicians, artists, and characters. I have never been to a place that felt so alive with creativity.

Of course we had to do a swamp tour while we were there and our guide was perfect. He was classic: missing teeth and hanging off the boat dangling chicken over the alligators mouths, he even had a pet alligator that he passed around the boat for everyone to hold. (poor little guy)

Our last stop was down to the plantation houses. We stayed at an old plantation called Oak Alley, where we rented the old hired help cabins. The building and grounds were beautiful, but it was a sobering experience to feel the weight of our country's past.

Bean Cycle Art Show

Let the adventures begin! (or has this summer been one long adventure?) This month I am showing my cardboard creatures at The Bean Cycle, in Fort Collins Colorado. I found out that I could show my work 5 days before it had to be hung on the wall! Minutes after I agreed to do it, my house began to fill with cardboard. I decided to make a wall of animals native to Colorado..of course they are riding bicycles through the air, which wild animals are known to do. I love the challenge of making art with no time to spare. It keeps me up late and gets me out of bed early..and it feels great to work on a project that lasts for days. If you are in the area go check it out, it will be up until the end of August.

HOT

This past week has been so very hot and steamy. Saturday I had a sale in Fort Collins where the temperature reached 104 degrees! This heat has made it difficult to do anything productive, the studio is a giant hot box where my work drys out too quickly. However, there has been some good to come out of the sweaty conditions of Colorado. Mojitos made with garden fresh mint, and bike adventures to swim in Snake Lake! I have also learned to appreciate waking up early and going to studio when it is still cool, then working on my blog and etsy at the hottest point of the day, and finally enjoying summertime fun in the evening. (Grilling out with mojitos of course!)

Trip to Hawaii!

Adventure #2 fulfilled. Two weeks in beautiful Hawaii. Highlights included kayaking with dolphins, snorkeling with sea turtles, and hiking in the rain forest. Now its back to the studio!

Summer!

In the spirit of summer I have been making many vases. Flowers are out everywhere and the roses are in bloom. Nothing is better than smelling roses as you ride your bike on a summer afternoon.

The Great East Coast

The last 10 days I traveled to 6 states on the east coast: New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It was great to see so many familiar faces! Here is a collection of photos from the trip. Enjoy.

Favorite Platter

This platter is an example of the direction I am trying to move towards with my work. Modern design with a vintage quality. This is my favorite piece that I have made lately..and it is staying in my cabinet.

Website!

I now have an official website! My good friend, Chris Jusell, designed it for me.
Check it out at: www.allieogg.com.

New Pots

Here is a look at my pots right after I have decorated them. Lately it has been all about the tandem bicycle...which is probably because I want to own one. Our neighbors used to have a tandem that we would borrow when friends came to visit, and it was hilarious to watch them truck around on it.

The French Nest Market

My first official day as a business, I put up my booth at the French Nest Market in Old Town Fort Collins. This awesome event happens every third Saturday all summer. It went really well, the best part being that everyone who came into my booth started to smile and laugh when they looked at the images on my pots!