An Infinity Arts Feature Has Bloomed At Indie Quarter

We would like to thank the folks over at Indie Quarter for featuring our wall clocks and art yesterday - Indie Quarter is a UK independent design blog with lots of cool handmade items. Click here to check out our feature!

Contemporary Baby Bib Design Project

Who doesn't need a pair of contemporary, handmade baby bibs in rich burgundy and deep taupe soft corduroy for their newborn infant to spit up on? They close with velcro, which is just so much easier - that is unless your little sweet pea is a grabber! This was my first experience making baby bibs and, of course, I thought it was going to be much easier than it was. That happens to me often. So, there is lots of room for improvement, but I would definitely experiment with it again. In fact, if you live in the PDX area, e-mail me before your baby shower and I'll send a pair of contemporary bibs as a gift (maybe weird, but I'm just throwing it out there). The bibs that are shown here are going with me to a baby shower on Sunday. I just hope my friends, Rachel & Brian, don't find this blog before then! Shhh!

Spring Equinox Clocks!

Happy Spring Equinox!

Today is my 33rd birthday and I have to say that I get more excited about the beginning of Spring than I do about my birthday! Although, who can complain about home-made cards and cake?! And, what could be better (and more confusing) than being a Pisces-Aries cusp girl?
To celebrate, I have created a new group of Spring-y wall clocks with Spring-y names to ring in my favorite season. HOP, SKIP, JUMP, LEAP & BOUNCE are their names, the colors are fun and the designs are loose. They are a continuation of my "sidebar" series, but the clock style is a little different than the first group...

HOP by Mary Preiser Potts / 7½" x 16¼" / $90 / sold

SKIP by Mary Preiser Potts / 6½" x 16¾" / $90 / purchase

JUMP by Mary Preiser Potts / 7" x 17½" / $90 / sold

LEAP by Mary Preiser Potts / 6½" x 16¼" / $90 / sold

BOUNCE by Mary Preiser Potts / 8" x 22½" / $110 / sold

Also, if you haven't checked it out yet, the Spring Sale at Infinity Arts Gallery is in full swing. What's that? You haven't heard? Well, you get to take 25% off a wide selection of our art clocks and wall art. Enjoy!

Without further ado I call for spring fever to begin....NOW!!!

SOLEIL / New Wall Clock Design

I took a detour from my usual rythm of working on 5 or so designs at one time to create this wall clock. I think it was really just a prayer for sun, embodied by all the sunny designs I could fit in that center column. The prayer goes like this: "I'll take sun, any sun!" - can't you hear it? February is sure a gray month in Portland. It must be helping because things are starting to look brighter now - or is that just Spring making its way onto the scene?
I am offering SOLEIL at an Introductory Price of $150. Save $25 if you order before Easter. And, we are still having our Spring Sale at Infinity Arts Gallery.

SOLEIL by Mary Preiser Potts / 9" x 25" / Intro Price: $150 / purchase

Ode to Trees...

Our Spring Sale is still happenin' at Infinity Arts Gallery, so click on over to see what we're offering at 25% off!!!
Jonah and I returned from a week in sunny Dallas, Texas last Thursday. Justin was busy recording songs while we were away; I, of course, was busy teaching my mother how to build a website; and, though no fish were actually caught, Jonah got in a much needed fishing trip with his Grampie (Justin and I have an aversion to sticking hooks through fishies' mouths)! So, I apologize for the lack of brand new clock designs, but I am working on 5 or so new ones and hope to have them ready to shoot by week's end - so check back!

I just wanted to share that someone took advantage of the introductory price of $225 on the ODE TO TREES Block Clock and bought it!

"ODE TO TREES" by Mary Preiser Potts / 12" x 33½" / SOLD!

I still have the SEEDS TO TREES Block Clock and the introductory price of $375 is still on for the rest of the week (until St. Patty's Day), so if this clock calls to you, then act fast!

"SEEDS TO TREES" by Mary Preiser Potts / 15" x 40" / Intro price: $375 / purchase

Cheers!

11 New Clock Designs From Justin

I'm off tomorrow for a week of sunny Dallas weather and time with my mom. But, before I go, I want to showcase several of Justin's 11 new art clock designs. He has done some amazing things with medium brown, tan and taupe, plus a darker design that I love! So, here they are, and I'll be back the week after next with some new designs of my own.

Oh, and I want to remind everyone about our Spring Sale! Check it out at Infinity Arts Gallery... PRIMAL by Justin Potts / 9½" x 21" / $135 / sold

"Primal" is my new favorite Justin Potts clock design. The textured black with the medium brown and the hint of deep cranberry is just yummy!

SIGNAL by Justin Potts / 8½" x 12" / $60 / purchase

"Signal" is a stunningly rich combination of tan, brown and black, minimal on design, maximal on pleasure. And, at $60, a screaming deal as well!

TRIBE by Justin Potts / 8½" x 12" / $65 / sold

I posted "Tribe" just in case you were wondering what happened to all the intense design work that Justin's clocks usually provide.

There are 8 more of these beauties (in all price ranges), so go see them for yourself at Infinity Arts Gallery!

Early Spring Sale & 2 New Block Clocks!

Justin and I have decided that we're ready to move on into Spring - a little early perhaps, but the Groundhog did say....

So, please hurry to Infinity Arts Gallery because we're taking 25% off most of our art clocks and wall art pieces!

My latest 2 Block Clocks were a painstaking labor of love. They are extreme experiments in wall art clock design and I know they are just perfect for someone out there!

The first, "Block Clock - Seeds to Trees" is a massive composition of seed and tree designs with an assertive 15" golden ochre face. The introductory price is $375 (after St. Patty's, $425).

"Block Clock - Seeds to Trees" by Mary Preiser Potts / 15" x 40" / Intro: $375 / Purchase.

"Block Clock - Seeds to Trees" Detail with pendulum.

Number 2 - "Block Clock - Ode to Trees" is a tribute to the quiet giants in my back yard. This clock came to me all at once, like a vision in black and white. But try as I did to maintain that first vision, this piece evolved in its own special way, including the bold mixing of peacock blue, with deep rusty red and several shades of green. The introductory price is $225 (after St. Patty's, $275).

"Block Clock - Ode to Trees" by Mary Preiser Potts / 12" x 33½" / Intro: $225 / SOLD!

"Block Clock - Ode to Trees" Detail

I should be back later this week to give you the first glimpse of Justin's new clocks! Happy Spring!

More New Clock Designs...

Well, I've been busy through the weekend and some nights finishing up my 7 new designs. I am calling them my "sidebar series" - as they reflect the many designs found throughout my sketchbook, translated onto wall clocks. In keeping with my style, the clocks are quite minimalist, drawing on the design work and the pleasing color combinations to carry them off.

I am still working on 2 more large block clocks, so expect them sometime next week.

Here are my 4 favorite new designs. You can find the rest at Infinity Arts Gallery.

"Flourish" by mary preiser potts / $90 / 4¾" x 21" / purchase

"Blossom" by mary preiser potts / $90 / 6" x 19¼" / sold

"Thrive" by mary preiser potts / $90 / 6" x 17¼" / sold

"Rise" by mary preiser potts / $90 / 6" x 17¼" / sold

Happy Love Day!

New Clock Designs, As Promised

Whew! I'm finally getting Justin's beautiful new clocks up - now that it's Friday. I'm really excited about these new designs. He continues to do what he does so well - earthy tones and brilliant, beautifully-rendered accent design work, but it comes across in a fresh way each time. I'm going to post my favorites, but to see all of the new ones and to purchase, visit Infinity Arts Gallery .

"DIAL 2" by justin potts / $125 / 11" x 12" / purchase

"TERRA" by justin potts / $135 / 11" x 20" / sold

"LOFT" by justin potts / $150 / 15½" x 20" / sold

Happy Weekend! I hope to be back early (?) next week with a few of my own new clock designs...that is, if I can get away from this computer long enough to make them!

A new project.

I thought I'd assert myself, blog-wise, and actually go ahead and write one! So, here it is:
Just before I turned 30 (I'm 34 now) I had some anxiety about hitting the big 3-0 and wondered how this might impact my art. I decided to undertake a big and ambitious project just to start my thirties off on the right foot.
When I was very young my dad used to make paintings and collages. I remember one collage in particular that was simply phenomenal to my 5 year old mind. I had always wanted to play around with collage and hadn't up until this time. I purchased some extra-heavy canvas material and some 2x4's and built a 99" x 44" canvas. I had amassed a great collection of odd paper pieces to use for the collage elements throughout the years- things I had found here or there, original sketches, photocopies of my old paintings and drawings, things people had given me to use in art projects, Mary's sunrise photograph copies, and my artist friend Tom's incredible art-ready detritus. I decided to make a piece that would somehow encapsulate or represent my life up to that point, in some way.
I worked on the thing intensely and obsessively for weeks. I called the finished piece Into Existence. It's very dense and it needs to be seen in person for the full effect. It's hanging in my music room right now and makes a great thing to stare at as I record songs! Here is the thing in its miniature entirety:



Anyway, lately I've been taking detail photos of it with the idea of making inexpensive prints available on our website. Below are some detail shots which may or may not be available as prints in the near future. If you're interested in prints let me know...it will help motivate me to get it together! Thanks for reading and viewing- Justin

Indie Obsession

The word 'obsession' keeps coming up today somehow, so I'll go with it...I'd like to say a great big thank you to Brandy at Indie Obsession for blogging about our clocks. We're happy to see our clocks mingle with other cool finds. If you haven't checked out this blog, now is the time. Right from the scripty title graphic on her indie art blog, you know you're going to like what you see and you do! Thanks again!

Iffy The Cat and Portland's, The Joggers

NOTE: Justin's new designs are now up for sale on our website!











I finally finished "Iffy The Cat", a custom clock I've been working on for a friend of Jonah's (our six year old son). It's very bright and design-y, with a swinging tail and I'm really happy with how it turned out!


On Saturday, Justin dragged me out to a live show at BERBATI'S PAN. I mean dragged, not in the sense that I don't enjoy live music, but in the sense that I firmly believe if I'm out past midnight, I'll turn into a pumpkin (a referendum on my thirty-something-mom status perhaps).

Anyway, Justin and I are going to do a joint blog about THE JOGGERS, a local indie band that, I must say, ROCKS! I'm soo glad I went! I managed to snap a few shots from the left of the stage and I even got a few good ones of the drummer way in the back - once the lady with the blonde ponytail and camera left, that is. But, I'm not really a music critic, so I will leave the rest to Justin.

Justin: I love synchronicity, and the fact that Portland's The Joggers were playing a show minutes from our house just as my obsession over their album "With a Cape and a Cane" was peaking, made me very happy! I don't get out to shows as much as I would like these days, but this one made up for that in a "quality over quantity" kind of way. Their sound reminds me of a long-ago favorite band of mine called Polvo from Chapel Hill, NC- but updated and chanelled through their own strange and wonderful prism. Cheers, Joggers!

Mary: One more thing - my personal favorite of the evening was drummer, Jake Morris, who was a pleasure to watch. He's an incredible drummer, and whether he knows it or not, a great performer as well. I apologize for the less than flattering photo, but I'm attempting to convey this guy's awesome energy and intensity!

Fun, fun!

Unveiling New Art Clocks!

Here are some images of the Monster Block Clock that Jonah and I collaborated on, as well as some of Justin's new clock designs. I hope to complete the cat clock that I'm working on for Jonah's friend soon so I can put it up, too!

The Block Clocks are my latest group of art clock designs. I use 3x3" painted squares and then build my clock design on a larger foundation. I am going to be making some more large ones like the Monster Clock (which measures 15" x 33.5") soon!

"Flow" by Justin Potts (I just love how this one turned out!)

"Magician" by Justin Potts

"Delta" by Justin Potts (with a hammered copper pendulum)

"Ornament" by Justin Potts (another of my favorites)

And, just for fun, here's an abstract shot of Justin's drum brushes (sorry, I'm not up on music instrument lingo) that I took last night - who knew an 70s orange countertop could be so cool!

I may be back sometime this weekend with the cat clock. Either way, happy weekend!

New Clocks - Clocks in Progress - Legend of Zelda Project

As usual, the three of us have many things going on. Among them are a new group of Justin's clocks, a custom cat clock I'm designing and Jonah's Legend of Zelda / Ocarina of Time project...and, I am sneaking in two more photos of the snow fort, which fell at the end of last week, may the "shawl lady" rest in peace.

.......

Here are the finished Block Clocks (most of them, I'm still not ready to unveil the BIG one yet).


Flow Wall Clock in progress:

Wow!

Jonah is deep into Nintendo's Legend of Zelda/Ocarina of Time and is currently working to recreate some of the important equipment in this dimension. This is his latest completed project - the fairy hero's shield and sword (with some help from dad and mom). Now, he's on to the bow and arrow. I'll post the slingshot next time, too, which he and Justin made several months ago.

Finally, this is the cat clock design that I'm working on for one of Jonah's friends for her birthday (it's a present from her parents, not me, just to clarify!). The tale will swing and I'll post a photo of the finished piece, too!

And, that's how the Potts Family is shaping up on a Tuesday. We've had a bit of wholesale activity lately, so we've got to get going and make more clocks!!!

One Possible Scenario Resulting From 4 Inches of Snowfall In Portland (OR)

Snow Fort

We woke up Tuesday morning to the unusual sight of a snowy blanket covering everything and lighting up our usually cavernous house with the whitest of light. (Unusual because in Portland the thermometer hovers around 42 degrees from November - March/April.) It was going to be our first and possibly only snow day of the winter. Jonah had been talking for so long about how when it finally did snow, he was going to build a "snow fort". At first, the snow was so powdery that it would not be packed into a brick or even a proper snowball. Jonah waited patiently and impatiently for a while longer...

A few hours later, Jonah and Justin had several rows of trash can bricks going around an imperfectly elliptical fort (my design - Justin would have never made an imperfect ellipse). They worked until it was almost dark and then came in to build a fire and make dinner. All while I worked on clocks, watching them through the studio windows.

On Wednesday, it was my turn. I painted and worked on clocks in the morning and then after lunch, I was out there. We worked until past dark and past time for me to be preparing dinner. This photo was taken early in the afternoon. We still had a long way to go!
It was only by sheer determination of will overcoming such challenges as hunger, fatigue and darkness that the fort has anything resembling a roof.

Here's the bizarro snow sculpture from one angle looking like a lady in a large dress with a shawl covering her head. That's Benjamin our Border Collie, thrashing with a rock he's found. He feels no pain now - being a Flagstaff dog, the snow is euphoric - but later he'll be limping.

I wanted to put up one more photo from the front of the fort, but I can't get it to upload - perhaps I've reached my limit. So, that's it for now - Happy Weekend!

Introducing the Block Clocks

We have had a few flurries in Portland over the past few days. A true novelty experience in a city where the thermometer is mostly stuck on 42 degrees F from November through March/April. But, the sky has also been amazingly blue and the sunshine bright enough to make you cry. For these things and so much more, I am grateful!
I've had a bit of a creative surge and purge this week - a welcome feeling after the holiday blur. My latest family of clocks (12, I think) are the Block Clocks. I've made one before with the idea of making more. And, now, after looking around my studio at all the unused 3" painted squares in a variety of designs, the Block Clocks have been born. The Block Clock family is made using 3" painted squares to build a usually bright, always contemporary clock. Here are a few shots of the Block Clocks in progress...

And, here is a glimpse of one Block Clock that I'm making using Jonah's monster blocks. He wasn't interested in designing the rest of the clock, but he did paint the monsters and tell me I could do whatever I wanted with them. Naturally, I'm making a clock! We are still discussing what his cut will be when the clock sells....Any suggestions?

Happy Weekend!