New website!!

Check out the new website!  www.julieelkins.com
I will be posting all future work and upcoming events on this site!
Brought to you by Brad Moss @ Mossweb.co

Show at Eric Shindler Gallery!

And then suddenly everything was new again - new work, ceramics by Julie Elkins and paintings by Jack Lawrence

Opening reception, Friday, May 22, 7 to 9pm. Exhibition runs through June 20, 2015

At the Eric Schindler Gallery 2305 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA

p. 804.644.5005

Gallery hours: Wed-Sat. 11 to 5pm

Winter Solstice Open Studio and Sale!

Hey friends, wanted to invite you to our Winter Solstice Open Studio and Sale. Perfect spot to meet some nice folks, support local artisans, and have a mug of Uncle Julie's magic cider on a Sunday afternoon!

Featuring Work and Handmade Goods by Local Artists:
Julie Elkins: www.gaptoothstudios.com
Jack Lawrence: Jack Lawrence
Ahmad Karimi: www.helmandcraft.com
Angela Bacskocky: www.angelabacskocky.com
Lily Lamberta: ALL THE SAINTS THEATER COMPANY
Lynn Crounse: The Living Factory east
Maria Galuszka: Maria Galuszka
Tara Baugus: Tara Bauguss
Liz Swerdlow: Liz Swerdlow

Sunday, December 21 at 1:00pm

959 Myers Street Apt DRVA 23230

Check Out The New Tile Mural!

This past summer the students at The Peter Paul Development Center's summer camp came to VisArts to learn about clay and mosaics. I lead a group of the older students to come up with the mosaic design and then each student created a handmade clay tile. We also had help from some of the participants in Peter Paul's senior program. The mural recently was finished, installed and sealed in the center's garden!  We love it!

The Kamm Teapot Foundation

The Kamm Teapot Foundation has a new online catalog of their collection. I am excited to be included in the world's largest teapot collection! Take a loooksee, some fantastic stuff!

The Kamn Teapot Foundation

Teatime! Exhibition at the Clay Art Center

The annual teapot exhibition is happening now at the Clay Art Center in Port Chester, NY. February 1- April 1 2014. Check out their site for upcoming teapot related workshops and events!

This exhibition of functional and sculptural teapots explores the history of tea and its relevance in our culture. The exhibition will highlight the teapot, whose form and related ceremonies has inspired artists for centuries and continues to be a valid form of expression in studios of contemporary artists today. 

Teapot Workshop!

Teapot Workshop Tomorrow! Sign up today!! There are still a few seats open.

I'm sharing all my secrets!!!....About bad ass teapot making. All the questions to "Julie how do you do that?" will finally be answered and I will guide you in the making of a bad ass teapot of your own! There is still one day to register for my Teapot workshop at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond.

Sat, Sun Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Sunday: 1:00 - 4:00 PM, 
January 25 - January 26. Sign up here! http://www.ssreg.com/visualarts/classes/classes.asp?catID=4311&page=3
Please share.

Art Forgery! Does this mean I've finally made it?

I received an email inquiry this morning with a link to this post. The inquirer asked: "Hello, I have run across this sculpture and not 100 percent if it is made by you the originator Julie Elkins
can you confirm it?" Well the answer is absolutely NOT!...but my surrealist tendancies are making me second guess that absolute...my name IS carved on the butt. Thanks internet. Please exit through the WORM HOLE to your right.

Really Really Nice Review by Ann Starr

Read it here:  Starr Review:Porcelain of the Possessed

 

Upcoming Show at Sherrie Gallerie

Salty Influences.

Here are some works in progress for my upcoming show at Sherrie Gallerie in October. The Keys have had an interesting influence.

                The spectacular view from the Florida Keys Community College Ceramics Studio.

The FKCC Crew!

Chinese Year of the Water Dragon!

I had fun reinventing this retired paddle from previous Dragon Boat Races. The paddle is up for raffle at this years' race and the proceeds will go to the Cancer Foundation of the Florida Keys. The festival is being held at Sombrero Beach, Marathon, FL. May 12, 2012.

Sea Change: The tale of two landlubbers in a little canoe named Suji-Loo.

On August 1st my husband and I set off on the James River, from Richmond, VA in a 16 foot canoe. 1,200 miles and 81 days later via the Intracoastal Waterway we arrived in the Florida Keys. Our story was covered by Richmond Magazine: Sea Change

Thanks Chris Dovi and Richmond magazine for sharing our adventure!

Fairytales, Fantasy, & Fear at the Mint Museum

One of my sculptures is included in this exhibition!

CHARLOTTE, NC (February 9, 2012) – Fairytales, fantasies, and horror stories are inescapable in our current culture – and now an exhibition exploring these primal themes will open at Mint Museum Uptown on March 3.

Fairytales, Fantasy, & Fear will be on view until July 8.

Generosity of Spirit: The Gifts of Penland Artists

An exhibition of contemporary ceramics, jewelry, and metalwork by 68 artists affiliated with Penland School of Crafts. A portion of each sale will be donated to expand Penland’s ceramic and metal studios.

Check out this show online!

I

donated this sculpture:

Show at Eric Shindler

And here's some of the goofy stuff I made after the 81 day canoe trip:

Finally! Settling into my new island lifestyle and trying to update photos of new work. These are from the November show "Fighting Rainbows" at the Eric Shindler Gallery in Richmond. A two person show with my friend and amazing painter Scott Phillips.

Mouth in Progress

What's happening!? I have a suspicion these subterranean levels are about to birth something terrible. Why you do this to me porcelain?

Etsy Shop!

I did it! The GaptoothStudios official Etsy Shop is now up and running. Take a looksee!

GaptoothStudios Etsy Shop

Toothy Teeths

Hooray! Well, here's the finished pendant amongst some others after the high fire. Hope you enjoyed the mini process documentary. On to chain making and photographs!! So close...

A Work In Progress

Here is one of the pendant ideas I've been working on.

My goal is to have the Etsy Shop up by next Wednesday!

The first photo shows the piece in its' green (unfired) state and the second in its' green state after painting. After the preliminary bisque firing (approx 1800 F) I will add a black wash with stains, carefully apply clear glaze to the teeth and then fire to cone 6 (approx 2200 F). In the high temperatures this porcelain will shrink 20%. The end result: the colors will be deeper with better contrast, the teeth will be shiny and the clay will have a vitrified sheen. Keep posted! (Just added the third photo: after bisque firing with black wash.)