This is my second jar reflecting two conflicting sides that may coexist in the same heart or in the same part of the world. Outside, a snake is constricting a crane chick, which is powerless. Inside, a flock of cranes, a symbol of peace and longevity, is crossing an ocean. This "Look Inside" jar is open to different interpretations. I will be honored if you could kindly share your thought with me.

I have been busy with garden work, but my preparation for the Sculpture in the Park Show is moving steadily. New business cards will be printed sustainably at Greener Printer. I will next order small boxes to put ceramic buffalo in. Meanwhile I want to make at least a few more new pieces. I feel new energy being generated.

In this blog, I'm going to simply line up images to see if "Follow It," an email notification app that I use, will send out all the photos. Yes, please click here to subscribe.

My work was featured on the Dementia Spring Foundation website. Their mission is to bridge the dementia with art communities. Please check it out by clicking here or the above photo. The organization gave me only 3 days to come up with answers to their questions—with a note "We will edit it for you." Indeed they turned my sloppy writing to a piece of art.

In the next few sculptures, I am going to explore the value of human connections. I just watched, for the forth times, a TED Talk by Robert Waldinger. Following his suggestions, I have been deliberately reaching out to some people in order to deepen the friendships. It takes time away from making art, but it is more important to me at this stage of my life. I am not good at building rapports, but it does not mean I should not try. New Little Buddhas will be reflections of such thought.

I tried to come up with less complicated new products. I also wanted to play with textures, which would enhance an ash stain I intended to use. On top of that, I wanted to sell the new items at the Sculpture in the Park Show this August. That meant they had to blend well with the rest of my work. First, I copied a Japanese wood sculptor Enku's style, but sculpting cute standing monks no longer satisfied me. After failing to simplify my Little Buddhas, I said to myself, "The new products do not need to be human figures." That opened my horizon.

When I teach hand-building this year, I plan to have my students make "this is me" jars. The jar's exterior represents how others or society perceive the person; and the interior, how he/she actually is. Taking an idea from the project, I decided to create "this is you" jars. The rabbit on the first piece represents a person, who often hides or runs away from conflicts. Inside, he/she carries a turtle, which is a symbol of resilience.

Some of you may be interested in seeing how I make sculpture bases. I give thoughts to each one, so that it will uniquely enhance the sculpture. These three pieces are the very examples.

Grocery shopping and swimming were done this morning. I'm ready to spend the next 2 days in this cozy house, while spring storms blow. After that, hopefully beautiful Spring will arrive here finally. Stay warm everyone!

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I was itching to go outside for a walk, but I wanted to finish coloring them. I will now put them aside and take a look at them from time to time. Usually areas that require recoloring will pop up. Happy almost spring to everyone!

I have been experimenting with a stain "Matsubai," which is pure pine ash. After a few trials on test tiles, the ash was sprayed on these vessels and fired in a smoky oxygen-deprived environment. As I am pleased with the results, I intend to try the stains on my new figurines.

Don't worry I am not feeling dejected, but these images come naturally to me. I am lucky I can afford to make pieces like this just to please myself.

I tried a new technique in this piece. The torso is the extension of the rock, and the legs are attached later. As the clay drys and shrinks, the feet may be lifted from the rock a bit, but cracks will not form on the ankles. Hope it will work....

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My friend uttered "agony" when I showed this piece to her last night. Since then, I have been thinking what causes extreme mental suffering. The answer will be this sculpture's title. What came across my mind was a vicious cycle of self-rejection.

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