MFCarter Art

I’ve moved!

Hello friends! I have moved my blog to mfcarter.art. I will no longer be posting here.

Catnip and Leo the Cat

Yesterday, I was cutting branches from my catnip plant in my garden to dry them for the winter. Leo was on another floor sleeping and I thought I’d be perfectly fine doing this without taking any other precautions as locking the boy up. He normally loves his catnip so I knew I was taking a chance but he was sleeping and apparently oblivious. Garden Planter with Catnip Growing on the Right…

My Husband and My Loss 3 Years Later

Looking Back Three years ago, on this day I called an ambulance to take my husband to the hospital. I had no idea at the time how pivotal a moment this would be in my life and I had no idea what was about to happen. When we were at the hospital, he decided to quit fighting his cancer and they removed the life maintaining tubes from his body. The most anguishing moment I’ve ever experienced. It…

These Yunomi cups are a continuation of working on their design. I wrote more about them in a post a few weeks ago, Yunomi Japanese Cup Made Using Kurinuki a Clay Carving Technique. The idea of Wabi Sabi and finding beauty in the imperfect is something that I love. These cups are designed around that philosophy. For me, these works are gorgeous. No two of them are alike. Also, the imperfections…

I painted Enchanted Leo using my cat and our walks as inspiration. In the warmer months, we walk a trail that leads us through a strand of birch trees. It is always along this part of the trail that he is looking forward with anticipation for whatever creature we come across be it grasshopper, snake, or field mouse. It is always an adventure for him. Enchanted Leo comes out of the joy that he and…

Yunomi Cup for Tea with Style from Japan

About These Unique Cups This Yunomi cup is a continuation of working on the design of these cups. I wrote more about them in a post a few weeks ago, Yunomi Japanese Cup Made Using Kurinuki a Clay Carving Technique. I love the idea of Wabi Sabi and finding beauty in the imperfect. These cups are designed around that philosophy. For me, these works are gorgeous. No two of them are alike. Also, all…

“Chikyu kara” – From the Earth.

From the Earth Inspiration From the Earth is an inspired ceramic piece. I’ve always enjoyed an organic feel to artwork, particularly so in ceramics. A fellow potter was showing me a new technique she had discovered that involved creating a texture on a slab of clay and slamming the clay down on the table to spread it out. It gave me the idea to create a vase. Creating Texture on a Slab There are…

Wake-Up! Leo’s Call for Breakfast S01E06

Leo, My Little Monster, and His Wake-up Call. This morning I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep immediately. I did some tossing and turning but honestly didn’t feel like getting out of bed yet. Leo, my cat, climbed up on my chest and started purring. There’s nothing like the warmth of a little body purring to relax you.  I thought… this is great and started to fall back to sleep. Then… things…

Yunomi Japanese Cup Made Using Kurinukis a Clay Carving Technique

Yunomi Tea Cup The Yunomi are traditional Japanese teacups. They do not have handles. The Yonomi was originally a Chinese creation and it migrated to and became part of Japanese culture. These types of teacups are usually grasped with your right hand using your left hand to cup the bottom of the cup for support. It enables the holder to enjoy the warmth of the tea. Traditionally, tea is served at…

Breakfast for Leo S01E05

About Leo’s Breakfast Leo is a very active cat. He is always creating games for himself, going for walks with me, or we are playing together. He loves to eat. In fact, anything that’s on the floor usually goes into his mouth for a taste test. Breakfast is one of his favorite times, he always gets his canned food in the morning. Leo’s Before Breakfast Routine However, his appetite is not working…

The Ox-Blood, Turtle Bowl is an example of a concept. Let me first say that I love clay. I believe you are only limited by your imagination and skill in accomplishing anything you might visualize. In this case, I was thinking about the form of a turtle and how to conceptualize that into something that was both functional and fun.

This is the ceramic bowl that I created in response to that idea.…

Twenty Things I am Grateful for in 2020

I wanted to put together a list of things that I am grateful for in 2020. In many ways, this has been a horrible year for many of us. Between political chaos, pandemics, a worsening economy, unemployment, and an incredible number of deaths that are touching each and every one of us it was hard at first for me to reflect on what is good and worthy of giving thanks for. This is what I came up with…

What? A White and Blue, Paleo Bowl!

This white and blue bowl is part of a series of what I call, Paleo Pottery. This Paleo bowl has an irregular shape. I have created several others that follow the same theme. The inspiration comes from pottery that ancient peoples created but using a modern twist. This Paleo pottery generally has 3 legs and is thrown in a way that honors irregularities and imperfections. There is beauty to be…

Blue Paleo, Waterdrop Bowl

The Waterdrop Bowl is part of series of what I call, Paleo Bowls. This Paleo bowl is blue/green and has an unusual shape. I have created several others that follow the same theme. The inspiration comes from pottery that ancient peoples created but using a modern twist. This Paleo pottery generally has 3 legs and is thrown in a way that honors irregularities and imperfections. There is beauty to…

Paleo Bowl Inspiration

I am working on a series of what I call, Paleo Bowls. This Paleo bowl is white and has a starfish-like shape. I have created several others that follow the same theme. The inspiration comes from pottery that ancient man and indigenous peoples created. This Paleo pottery generally has 3 legs and is thrown in a way that honors irregularities and imperfections. There is beauty…

Wandering Amidst New England’s Old Stone Walls

Old Stone Walls Everywhere

I find Old Stone Walls during my walks everywhere it seems in New England. The walls are not simply used to mark property lines but also the stone walls can be found just about anyplace in the woods and forests. They never seem to be very tall. Normally knee-high and rarely up to thigh height. The people cobbled and stacked the walls used stones of varying dimensions.…

Sharing a Moment of Being Lost in the Woods

Getting Lost

There are many ways to become lost. In this instance, I was more lost in thought than actually physically lost. I love walking in the woods by myself. These woods are at Bunbury, a beautiful little farm in Massachusetts. The current owner has made trails to ride his horses through the woods. There is also evidence of prior owners of the property as well as loggers. Mankind has…