Sharon Ho: Surface Stories

Posted on August 14, 2016August 14, 2016 Posted in Ceramics, Island Reports, Studio NewsTagged Artists Studio Tour, ceramics, Felt and Ceramics Studio Shop, handbuilding, handmadeliving, OIceramist, OptimismandCo, Orcas Island, Orcasceramics, pierced, potteryonorcas, wearableart

Next weekend, Aug 19-21, come and see what I have been up to in the Felt + Ceramics Studio at 109 North Beach Road, in the heart of Eastsound! The annual Orcas Island Artists’ Open Studio Tour 2016 is an incredible way to catch up with 29 of the many artists on Orcas Island, and treat yourself to a visual and sensual creative feast.

Meanwhile, here is a sneak peek at my recent work that I am collectively calling ‘Surface Stories‘. Click the link for more pictures and the full story. See you soon!

Source: Sharon Ho: Surface Stories

Summer plates

Posted on July 14, 2015January 27, 2020 Posted in Ceramics, Functional, Island ReportsTagged beach inspired, ceramics, functional art, handmade, Interiors, island life, optimism, Orcas Island, pottery, serving plate, summer living, textured2 Comments

Long, late, evenings outside in other people’s gardens, shared platters of salads and fresh berries, watching the last sunlight trail on the flat water, cool mountain hikes as that favorite birdcall echoes in the gathering dusk, kids on the grass until the stars come out. I was thinking about how to safekeep these beautiful summer moments and how to keep them fresh, so, when I looked over these shots I took of my new work, I realised – this being the seventh summer I’ve enjoyed on Orcas – I may have already stored them in the plates I just made.

Handbuilt porcelain dish, 18" long — Handbuilt porcelain dish, 18″ long

Handbuilt dish in cassius clay. 19" long. Food safe. — Handbuilt dish in cassius clay. 19″ long. Food safe.

Sneak peek: Greeting cards with original Orcas Island photography

Posted on May 8, 2015 Posted in Image, Island Reports, Photo cardsTagged art, cards, coastal living, floral photography, flower close-ups, iconic images, Orcas Island, photography, San Juan Islands, still lifeLeave a comment

Send a good old-fashioned card with a hand written note. That NEVER goes out of style! I have always made my own greeting cards and this is a fresh, new way for me to share the many photos I’ve taken on and around Orcas Island, thanks to fantastic printing technology that captures the colors of my originals so vibrantly on beautiful card stock with a nice weight. I am so happy with how these have turned out. If you are familiar with the islands, see if you can spot where some of these were shot. Cards are now available in my studio in Eastsound Square, $3 each, including a white envelope. Come check them out!

Eastsound Square, 109 North Beach Road, Eastsound, WA. (Across the street from Ray’s Pharmacy.)

Fri-Sat, 11am-4pm. Other days, by appointment. (360) 220 8221.

Spring shore

Posted on April 7, 2015April 7, 2015 Posted in Ceramics, Island Reports, Studio NewsTagged beach inspired, ceramics, coastal living, design, Eastsound, functional art, handcarved, handmade, ocean colors, Orcas Island, pottery, Puget Sound artists, San Juan Islands, shell artLeave a comment

Spring had sprung when I looked up from my pinched pots; the hills and shores are alive. Millie, my mother-in-law a.k.a personal florist, brought me this beautiful bouquet picked this morning from her garden and I knew exactly which vase it should sit in.

Petite clam dishes with carved detail, oxide washes

Spring is here on Orcas Island and the pace in my studio has been fevered. I have been working on a new flock of birds that are awaiting their first firing and jewelry for the studio mixed media/ceramic line. One project I am really excited about is a small-batch collection of tableware for a local retailer to be launched this summer. Sneak preview soon, maybe 😉

And, very special thanks goes out to Outlook Inn on Orcas Island for featuring our very large mixed media wall piece, Collaboration I, by Christa Smith and I, in their restaurant, New Leaf Cafe – the must-do dining spot on my Orcas list for visiting family and friends. Heading out for a walk in the spring sun now, see you on the shore!

At the hostess table, New Leaf Restaurant, Orcas Island

Baskets of good intent

Posted on January 28, 2015January 28, 2015 Posted in Ceramics, Found Object Assemblies, Island Reports, Photo cards, Studio News, WearableTagged baskets, beach inspired, ceramics, coastal living, design, functional art, handcarved, handmade, Interiors, island life, Orcas Island, pierced, San Juan Islands1 Comment

Baskets in the studio window - porcelain, food-safe — Baskets in the studio window – porcelain, food-safe

Baskets for bag ladies - in shop window — Baskets for bag ladies – in shop window

I still say Happy New Year to people at this time of January to stoke a little of that fire of good intent that, I believe, most of us begin every new year with, even those among you who have sworn off resolutions. In the shop, the front table and the window display has been refreshed. I’ve started on a series of black clay vessels and a line of photo cards I’ve been working on are in print as I write this. Come visit soon and wish me a happy New Year in return.

Sweet turtles

Posted on July 16, 2014July 16, 2014 Posted in Ceramics, Functional, Island ReportsTagged ceramics, design, dish, functional, handcarved, handmade, island life, Orcas Island, pierced, pottery, San Juan Islands, serving plate, tapas, textured, Turtles1 Comment

These turtle dishes put a smile on my face, and I hope it brings a smile to you too. Maybe it is the colour in bloom all around me that’s inspired me to explore tones that are not in my usual glaze selections. Fun to be out on a limb and hanging on for a bit. Enjoy the sunshine everyone!

Sweet turtle tapas dishes in a clear glaze over carribean blue and rubbed salmon coloured stain.

Thank you friends!

Posted on May 19, 2014 Posted in Ceramics, Image, Island Reports, Studio News, WearableTagged art, ceramics, design, felt art, handmade, Interiors, island life, nuni felting, optimism, Orcas Island, San Juan Islands, wearableLeave a comment

We had a wonderful, well attended opening party two Fridays ago. A big Thank You to all of you who came by, and also to all of you who sent hugs and well wishes from afar. It was a buzz to have so many people in the studio all at once, after all the nerves Christa and I had building up inside as the hour approached. Not too much wine was spilled, so that was good too 😉 Cheers!

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Opening this Friday, May 9

Posted on May 8, 2014January 28, 2015 Posted in Ceramics, Image, Island Reports, Studio NewsTagged accessory, beach, design, fall, handmade, Interiors, nature, optimism, Orcas Island, pierced, San Juan Islands, textured2 Comments

Christa Smith of Feltsmith and Sharon Ho of Optimism and Co. invite you to our

Studio Opening

at Eastsound Square #D3 (behind Mia’s Cafe and Olga’s boutique)

on Friday, May 9, from 4.30pm to 7pm

It is finally warm enough to keep our door open, come and see what we have been up to.

New working studio/gallery in Eastsound

Posted on May 3, 2014January 28, 2015 Posted in Ceramics, Island Reports, Studio NewsTagged handmade, Interiors, island life, optimism, Orcas Island, wearable3 Comments

My wish for an in-town working studio with gallery space came true this past winter. I found a perfect studio partner in felt textile artist Christa Smith and over a two-month period, we found a spot in town and set out to create a well-lit, contemporary blank slate that was versatile for accommodating our art making needs. It called for pulling out old carpet, tearing down walls, scrapping out old floor paint, and a total whitewash – lots of sweat equity made possible by supportive husbands and children. Now we share a space we love in Eastsound Square that is enjoying a revival of sorts at the moment, having had several artists move in and set up intriguing spaces too. I think we are on to something…

I hope the pictures say it better, but when you are next on Orcas Island, stop in for a look yourself.

After: Concrete floor and white surfaces. Yay!

Now: recent work in the front room gallery

Walk with me

Posted on October 3, 2013October 3, 2013 Posted in Ceramics, Found Object Assemblies, Functional, Island Reports, Mixed media, WearableTagged accessory, autumn, beach, beads, handcarved, handmade, island life, nature, necklace, Orcas Island, pendant, pierced, San Juan Islands, textured, tribalLeave a comment

Seed bead Hand carved ceramic bead with relief glazing. — Seed bead
Hand carved ceramic bead with relief glazing.

Hello! From two summers ago, a memory of a tangled seaweed necklace studded with rocks inspired this recent work. I named this ‘Walk with me’ because I think of the person wearing it as a collector who picks up bits and pieces on long meanders on the beach or in the woods and strings them in her memory.

This is one of the artworks featured at the annual Edge Arts Collective show at the Orcas Centre Gallery on Orcas Island. The show is one of the most anticipated of the year among island artists and collectors, not least because of its swinging opening night party. It opens this Friday October 4th, party starts at 5.30pm. All invited.

I’ve had a long busy summer, and Fall (my favourite time of year! featuring my favourite colours!) signals my time to hunker down in the studio and translate my summer’s travels and inspirations in new work. Off I go. Won’t you walk with me?