chris staley Archives - saxtonstudio blog

April 23, 2013 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, design, inspiration, life and the universe, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “Outside the Frame”

As “Tuesdays with Chris” nears its inevitable end (sadly, all things must pass…), we’re given a glimpse of how these videos have been made. You’re going to like this a lot! It’s just as inspiring and well-done as all the rest, with a good measure of “informative” tossed in. For anyone thinking they’d like to whip up a quick 3-minute video, take note of the time and care involved. Kudos to Producer Cody Goddard (and his awesome mittens).

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.)

Next week will be the last in the series. Enjoy!

April 18, 2013 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, design, inspiration, life and the universe, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “Life & Death in Art”

A wonderful examination of the concept of cave paintings and their possible purpose, intertwined with thought-provoking questions about our modern experience with the environment, our surroundings and asking ourselves what’s of real value.

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.) Enjoy!

April 9, 2013 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, design, inspiration, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “Advice for Young Artists”

A delightful spectrum of views from do what you love, to stay vulnerable, to never give up, to make friends, to don’t do it for free ~ you’re gonna love these snippets of advice for young artists. : )

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.) Enjoy!

April 2, 2013 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, design, inspiration, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “Learning to Learn”

How do we learn? In particular, how does someone who might be unfamiliar with art learn to express themselves through an art class setting? With the premise that art is about a sense of wonder and the asking of questions, Chris shares a number of fun exercises he’s used to help students find their own voice.

Whether experienced or beginning artists, I get the distinct impression that Chris has a talent, not only for clay, but for gently drawing out people’s creativity, allowing them to discover what may lie sleeping deep beneath the surface.

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.) Enjoy!

March 26, 2013 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, design, inspiration, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “Tight or Loose Pots”

Every art form has two distinct expressions on either side of the creative spectrum: the articulate and the free form. Like ballet to modern dance or abstract painting to realism, a potter’s work can be tight or loose. And what can set a piece apart is what Chris calls a “sense of gesture”.

There’s an ongoing process of being in control and out of control. There’s presentation, and there’s representation. Chris is a master of both.

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.) Enjoy!

March 19, 2013 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, design, inspiration, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “Body as Vessel”

In this video, Chris eloquently describes the symbolic correlation between pots (vessels) and ourselves, and teaches that the strongest piece of pottery has a sense of breathing, of expanding and contracting. Personally, I found this one particularly intriguing, as I’ve long had a fascination with painting pots (on canvas) ~ something I eventually understood as subconscious expressions of the body as a vessel. So I was really interested in his point of view!

In the making of pottery, “the answer lies inside the pot”. Listen and learn why.

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.) Enjoy!

March 12, 2013 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, design, inspiration, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “Unconscious Muses”

Today Chris shares a couple of personal stories that revolve around the concept of triggers, epiphanies, and threads that weave consistently throughout our lives, our work and our psyche. The unconscious muses, as he calls them.

We all may recognize something of ourselves in what he says. And I’ll bet that my fellow artists out there will relate to his insights at the end ~ I know I did!

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.) Enjoy!

March 5, 2013 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, design, inspiration, life and the universe, philosophy, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “Slow Time”

“Beware the emptiness of a busy life.”

Oh boy, I think we can all relate to this video’s message about time… Beautifully done ~ and a beautiful horse, too! Thanks Chris, for this wonderful reminder.

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.) Enjoy!

February 26, 2013 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, design, inspiration, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “Beauty”

Chris Staley

What is beauty? Where do you find it? How? In what? Why is something beautiful? What is beautiful to you? Chris, and several graduate students, share their thoughts on beauty – sometimes poignant, sometimes comical. A treat!

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.) Enjoy!

February 19, 2013 In art, craftsmanship, creativity, design, inspiration, skill By Patricia Saxton

Tuesdays with Chris: “God and Art”

On a snowy mountaintop, Chris ponders God, love, curiosity, and art. As ever, one of the things I like most about this presentation is his sharing pearls of wisdom from both heart and mind in such an unaffected and accessible manner ~ even on a topic so broad and deep as “God and Art”.

And today, after listening to this, I feel inspired to walk somewhere I’ve never walked before… Thank you, Chris!

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.) Enjoy!