Tierra Sky :: Ericka O'Rourke

2012-02-25T09:56:00.002-08:00

Tierra Sky the Earth Faerie
by Elise Hollandsworth Hartmann | Dark Faerie Creations

I am thrilled with my new art doll hand made by the very talented Elise Hollandsworth Hartmann of Allentown, NJ. She is absolutely gorgeous and the craftsmanship is unbelievable. So many little details that cannot be seen here... She graces the shelf above my work desk in the studio perfectly...We all can use a little faerie magic...

bezel

2012-02-13T05:22:00.000-08:00

Getting closer to setting my own ceramic components in silver! Here is my first ever successful bezel setting! This happens to be a rock collected from a Maine shore. . . More soon!

Winter Gala Group Show

2012-02-09T09:36:00.001-08:00

I finally got the rest of my work for show delivered! Stop in this Saturday February 11th between 11am-7pm at the Artful Deposit in Bordentown City, NJ to check out the opening for the 2012 Winter Gala Group Show! Featuring my new signed limited edition photograph of Allentown's ducks on Conine's Mill Pond "Winter Stroll" and new winter themed ceramics. Here are a few more pics of some of the new work…Enjoy!

Off to the Gala . . .

2012-02-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

Some of my new ceramic work as well as the Limited Edition "Winter Stroll" prints, are starting to trickle in for the Winter Gala at the Artful Deposit....Opening Day is Saturday February 11th!

New Work at the Winter Gala 2012

2012-01-16T07:33:00.000-08:00

"Winter Stroll on Conine's Mill Pond" Photograph © Ericka O'Rourke

It's time for our Winter Gala, 2012! Please save the date for Saturday, February 11th from 11-7pm at the Artful Deposit Gallery, corner of Farnsworth and E. Church Street!

We have plenty cooking for this annual and artful event....including but not limited to, new work from all your gallery favorites, ice sculpting, new glass art from Karen Deets, Vermont, and a new line of Winter pottery from Ericka O'Rourke! We will be featuring unframed pieces on Gallery Special! and lots of delicious food and beverages.

Recent work . . .

2011-12-07T13:57:00.000-08:00

Tierra Sky on Etsy

New!

2011-10-26T09:20:00.000-07:00

Some of my new autumn inspired ceramic pieces

just delivered to the Artful Deposit, Bordentown City, NJ!

-Ericka

Sunset Crabbing

2011-07-16T10:25:00.001-07:00

TierraSky's photostream on Flickr.

What a beautiful night for sunset crabbing at the Jersey Shore...

Nature Walk Series

2011-06-29T07:09:00.000-07:00

in progress

I had wanted to play with combining encaustic paint with my clay art pieces for awhile now . . . the clay is such a perfect substrate for the encaustic. It goes on so smooth, you do not need to gesso or prepare the clay at all, other than firing it. It is obviously rigid enough and can retain heat when warmed to keep the wax workable longer. The wax also adds a layer of depth and luminosity to the piece that cannot be achieved any other way. It allows for natural objects to be embedded as well. I carry little ziplock bags around with me so when I am out and about I can collect natural objects or other finds to use in all of my work. I also always keep some fimo type clay on me to pick up textures and make stamps from things I may find . . . this works well with various types of leaves, moss, and lichen. These small pieces are my first from this series and are set in handmade poplar frames crafted by my very skilled hubby. I love the natural color variations in poplar, particularly the purple hues that sometimes come out. We do hand select the woods that are used, usually one board at a time. I have chosen to keep the wood on these frames natural color for this reason and simply seal them. I am working on creating a more 3 dimension clay piece that will hang on the wall directly without using a frame at all so keep your eyes out for them . . . I am starting to list these pieces in my new etsy shop!

On another note, I started a new facebook fan page for Tierra Sky that will be used as an e-mail list to promote new work, upcoming events, and shop news. My old fan page is dead . . . you can visit it here if you are interested . . .

Back by Demand . . . Easy Rainbow Tie Dye Cake!

2011-06-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

This is just the regular version that I made for my daughter's tie dye birthday party, for the healthy version, click here . . . Use a regular box white cake mix, divide batter equally into # of colors you want...use the gel food colors, not regular (they have a huge assortment of colors at Michael's or ACMoore in cake dept) mix food colors into bowl a little at a time until the color is what you like and layer colors in your cake pan . . . I made this cake in a standard bundt pan and it was much easier than 2 layers and came out beautiful!

Princeton Afternoon

2011-06-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

I finally got into Princeton and tried some of the famous Whole Earth Kale salad I hear so many raves about and I must agree it is the best massaged kale salad I ever had...it is worth the trip for sure...on my way over there I found this breathtaking plant store which is more like a plant gallery Viburnum Designs . . . awesome inspiration for the plant enthusiast or gardener . . . I went on a thursday so I was able to stop in the Princeton Farmer's Market which is running every thursday now from 10am till 6pm. The portobellos I bought from Davidson's Exotic Mushrooms Fresh Mushrooms were the best I have ever tasted hands down. You can also pick up some of the kale salad at Whole Earth's tent at the market as well.

25 Years of the Artful Deposit at Ellarslie

2011-06-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

On exhibit at the Ellarslie Mansion at Caldwater Park NJ from June 18th through July 24th 2011 . . . It is a really beautiful exhibit and definitely worth a visit! More pics here

a little peek . . .

2011-06-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

Wetlands Series - Symplocarpus II 
Ericka O’Rourke  ©2011
Hand-formed, carved slab-construction stoneware clay ^6 oxidation

Just a few pics of some of my new work featured in the upcoming exhibit 25 Years of the Artful Deposit at the Ellarslie Mansion at the Trenton City Museum. Opening reception is this Saturday evening June 18th, from 7-9, Artists and Members only from 6-7pm. The exhibit will be up for a month, so check it out if you can!

25 Years of the Artful Deposit at Ellarslie

2011-05-23T06:38:00.000-07:00

Please join me in celebration of the Artful Deposit's 25th Anniversary. It is such an honor to be among such a talented group of artists.

June 18th through July 24, 2011
Artful Deposit Gallery 25th Anniversary Show
at the Trenton City Museum in Ellarslie Mansion

Opening Reception
Saturday June 18th 6-9 pm
Members and Artists Only 6-7 pm

Hope to see you there!

saying goodbye to elmstudios

2011-05-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

Yes, things have been very quiet here on the creative front . . . by now, if you know or follow my work at all, you know something is up . . . After over 7 years of trying to dissolve a corporation that was formed over 20 years ago (before LLCs were around) as my commercial freelance illustration company, the inc. has finally been laid to rest. I realize very well that this is not something that people want to do from a business standpoint...I have been known as elm studios for a very long time...way back when elm was actually my intials ;) . . . but artistically I have felt very disconnected from that name for some time. That combined with the fact that what should have been a simple "pay my accountant $500 and dissolve the company legally and open my LLC", has now turned into a 7 year logistical nightmare and over $6000 in payments later because of an accountant who never did what he was supposed to do, followed by my wonderful state losing checks and paperwork. Elm Studios was a black cloud hanging over me and you cannot simply open an LLC with the same name...the state won't allow it. So now, crawling out from under my pile of paperwork, taxes, and boring new business obligations, I am taking a leap of faith and going forth . . . You can find me at my new home . . . Tierra Sky from now on . . . I feel liberated, renewed, inspired and looking forward to many creative years ahead . . . xo