Fused Glass Art

Wire-Wrapping . . .

2011-08-04T04:48:00.000-07:00

. . . requires:

Lots of patience
Considerable dexterity
The right tools, and
Know how.

Fortunately, Katka has a plentiful supply of all four ingredients.

Home Show, 2010

2010-11-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

I ordered a postcard today for this year's home show.
Here's the front:

and here's the back:

Click each image for a bigger picture.

What do you think?

Thanks, Rachel!

2010-10-27T06:55:00.000-07:00

Rachel is hosting another home show for me! Last year's show was a lot of fun and I'm really looking forward to doing it again. If you're going to be in the Rockville area on Sunday, November 7, let me know and I'll send you all the details. I'd love to see you there.

If YOU would like to host a home show, please drop me a line.

Publicity

2010-10-26T11:00:00.001-07:00

A nice bit of publicity about me on the Ballston Art Market's blog.

Thanks, Jessica!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2010-10-04T17:12:00.000-07:00

Two nice shows this past weekend and another coming up in a few days.

The weather was perfect last Saturday for the 15th annual Art on the Avenue show in the lovely and vibrant Delray neighborhood of Alexandria. I've been doing the show for several years and always look forward to returning. I saw lots of familiar faces, both among the vendors and the customers.

The weather was not nearly so lovely -- chilly and damp would be more accurate -- the next day for the 29th annual Takoma Park Street Festival in Takoma Park, Maryland. This was my first visit to Takoma park, and despite the weather I certainly enjoyed getting a sense of the neighborhood and its fascinating diversity.

As at other shows this year, business was good, but not as good as I might have hoped. Many other vendors at both shows reported similar results. The Great Recession has not been kind to artists and crafters.

This coming Saturday, I'll be at Ballston Arts & Crafts Market. It's Ballston's last market of the year, so if you're in the area be sure to stop by.

Reflections

2010-09-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to announce that a couple of my pieces (below) have been selected for inclusion in the current exhibit -- "Reflections" -- at the beautiful American Craftworks Collection in Annapolis. If you're in the area, do drop in.

Help fight childhood cancer

2010-09-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

Photos

2010-08-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

Photographer extraordinaire Gerry Bishop came by the shop a few days ago to shoot some of the items in my "Artist of the Month" display.

Click an image for a bigger view.

Thanks, Gerry!

First Friday

2010-08-07T16:54:00.000-07:00

My "Artist of the Month" month at C'ville Arts got off to a grand start Friday:
Many thanks to Lisa for her wonderful PR work and to Jennifer for her expert help with my display -- and, of course, to Pam and Gerry for their most gracious hospitality.

Whew! I worked really hard to get lots of exciting new things ready for the show. I think now I'll kick back and relax for a few hours.

But only a few. Tomorrow I'm off to "do glass" again with Sherry and Michelle and Reesa!

Poster art

2010-07-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I sent C'ville Arts a photo to be used for publicizing my stint as Artist of the Month:

Click the image for a bigger view.

Kilns

2010-07-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

While typing the previous post, it occurred to me that I never told you what kind of kilns I have. So,

the Paragon from the previous post, with a 20" shelf
a Paragon with a 22" shelf (size does matter!)
2 Paragon Quickfire kilns with 6" shelves (mainly for jewelry)
an Evenheat kiln with a 6" shelf (also mainly for jewelry)

I know.

You don't care.

But I love every one of them like a baby.

The 20" Paragon is back in operation

2010-07-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Dave Snyder.

Dave has to be the best kiln repair technician in this galaxy. He came by the other day and quickly got the old 20" inch Paragon kiln up and running. I had turned it off a couple months ago after a couple wires in the control panel burned through. My wonderful husband fixed that problem, but soon thereafter the kiln started tripping the breaker in our main circuit box. Now, I LOVE doing glass, but not enough to risk burning down the house. So . . . the kiln has been unplugged for a couple months. Or I should say, it had been unplugged for a couple months.

Until Dave came by. Now it's good as new.

I can't sing his praises loud enough. If you've got a kiln in need of attention, send me an e-mail or leave a comment with your e-mail address, and I'll be happy to tell you how to get in touch with him.

Photos

2010-07-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

My favorite photographer in Northern Virginia worked his magic again a few days ago. What do you think?

Ballston Art Market

2010-07-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite places to show my work on a spring or summer Saturday is Ballston Art Market. However, I never realized how wonderful the Market's blog is until today when I learned that it is spreading the word about a certain glass artist who is going to be artist of the month at C'ville Arts in August.

And now I'm more than caught up. I'm ahead!

2010-07-10T14:19:00.000-07:00

My husband and I are thinking about driving up to Niagra Falls and Toronto and Montreal at the end of September. We've got about a week in all to spend. Got any suggestions for us?

And now I'm caught up

2010-07-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

I'll be "Artist of the Month" at C'ville Arts in August. If you're in Charlottesville on August 6, please come by the shop and say hello.

Lisa Woods did a FABULOUS job on the press release:

C’ville Arts Features “Fusion in Harmony” - During August

Charlottesville, VA, July 15, 2010 – Well known fusion glass artist Mary Ellen Larkins will be C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery’s featured artist during the month of August. She will be at the gallery on August 6th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., during the Historic Downtown Mall’s First Friday event.

This gifted artist expresses the harmony found in life through a refined technique of glass fusion. Larkins used a unique process that can require up to eight or more separate firings (heating process) in a kiln to achieve a high quality product with sparkling results. Most contemporary fusing methods involve stacking, or layering thin sheets of glass, often using different colors to create patterns or simple images.

Mary Ellen Larkins is challenging the boundaries of glass fusion with a tender but inquisitive approach. The body of work on display reflects her true nature and demonstrates her sophisticated skills. One can easily see the talent Larkins reveals even in the smallest creations. Each pair of earrings glimmers with a gentle grace. Please join us for the First Friday event to hear first-hand about the glory she finds in the creative process. For more information visit her blog at www.fusedglassart.blogspot.com or contact her directly at melarkins@verizon.net.

“Visitors are astonished by the effort it took to portray a landscape in glass fusion.” said Amy Melville, administrator of C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery. “Mary Ellen has such an array of unique creations; it’s easy to find that special memento or last minute gift that will bring a lifetime of compliments.”

For additional information, contact Amy Melville at 434-972-9500. The gallery’s web site is www.charlottesvillearts.com. The C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery, located on the historic Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, is open Monday-Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m.

ABOUT C’VILLE ARTS – C’ville Arts, a cooperative membership gallery of more than sixty local artists and crafters, was established in 1997. Original works include photography, painting, glass, fiber, clay and pottery, metals, mosaics, jewelry, leather, candles and wood.

Catching up, 8: Did someone say Thanksgiving?

2010-07-10T14:04:00.000-07:00

Shari MacFarlane and I have started planning the Unitarian Church art and craft show for the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving?!

Yikes. It's hard to think about Thanksgiving when the temperatures are in the triple digits.

Catching up, 7: New products

2010-07-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

My creative juices have really been flowing of late and I've got lots of new and exciting products to offer. Here's a sampling:

candle holder centerpieces
built-up landscapes,
menorahs,
framed flowers and abstracts -- I don't have any photos yet, but trust me, they're very nice
funky electric lights -- ditto, except for "nice," substitute "funky"

and much more.

Catching up, 6: Glenview Mansion

2010-07-10T13:12:00.000-07:00

Sherry and Michelle and Reesa and I all had pieces selected for inclusion in the National Capital Art Glass Guild's "Generations in Glass" show at Glenview Mansion in Rockville, Maryland. It was a fabulous show in a fabulous setting! I've heard reports that it was one of the most successful show's ever produced at the Mansion.

By the way, the first piece of art shown in the video, the mosaic, is by Sherry. The fifth piece shown (look quick!) is my "Conception," followed immediately by one of Michelle's landscapes. One of Reesa's pieces appears later.

Catching up, 5: The best medicine

2010-07-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

While my foot was mending, I didn't do a lot of dancing or jogging or hiking. Or standing, for that matter. Mostly I sat at home.

Dreary!

Friends Sherry and Michelle and Reesa (glass artists all) realized that my spirits could use a boost, so they arranged a series of get-togethers at Michelle's house where we could "do glass" -- and have a lot of laughs at the same time. My spirits improved dramatically.

And our glass work has been a revelation, as we've shared ideas, techniques, tools, and materials. In later posts I'll be describing some of the work that came out of these sessions. Here, I just want to say, "Thanks, Ladies."

Catching up, 4: "Pins," hell! They're spikes!

2010-07-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

I had foot surgery (again!) on December 16. Now, almost 7 months later, I'm doing well, but the recovery was certainly much slower and much more uncomfortable than I expected. Enough said. I just want to forget the whole experience, especially the "pins" that the surgeon used to hold my toes in alignment while the bones mended. If you're in the mood for gruesome, however, my dear husband has photos.

Catching up, 3: Hendry House

2010-07-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

I was honored to have my work selected for inclusion in an art show at the lovely Hendry House in Arlington. The show ran from December 12 to December 20, and it was a treat to see my plates and jewelry displayed alongside the wonderful paintings, sculpture, and fabric works of other artists.

Catching up, 2: Home show(s)

2010-07-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

My home show in early December was a big success, thanks to wonderful artists who joined with me and thanks to loyal (and first-time!) customers and thanks to my long-suffering family who allowed me to turn our house upside down for a week or so.

Um, er, . . . is it too early for me to mention this year's show?

No, of course not, Mary Ellen. What can you tell us about your 2010 home show?

Well, OK, since you ask: The dates aren't certain, but December 10 - 12 look like a good bet. In the past, my home show has been my last event of the year. And each year, I've heard from disappointed customers who were sick or who were out of town or who were busy with visitors or who, for whatever reason, were unable to get to the show. Good news: This year there's a good chance that I will be displaying my wares again a week after my home show at the home of Patti and Bonnie Brown, artists who have been participating in my show since the beginning. Want more information? Check back here periodically; when I know more, you'll know more.

Catching up, 1: JOEY!

2010-07-10T11:51:00.000-07:00

Since I haven't posted anything in about 7 months, there's lots to catch up on. The first thing, however, is something that happened last summer. Even though I was still blogging at that time, I unaccountably failed to mention the grandest event of 2009:

Joseph Daniel Studner, born 6/30/2009, shown with his adoring sister Abby.

PS. Let's see. What's 6/30/2009 plus 1 year? Oh, yes: 6/30/2010:

Ditto.

Sundays in Annapolis with Dan

2009-11-03T14:22:00.001-08:00

My husband and I spent Sunday afternoon in Annapolis, where I picked up a couple of my pieces that had been on display for the past month or so at the American Craftworks Collection, a lovely gallery on historic Main Street. If you're in the area, you owe it to yourself to stop in. I was bowled over by all the lovely art on view, and I was honored to have mine in the same gallery.

My pieces were:

Desert Dream

Escher-esque
Click an image for a bigger view.

PS. The photos--terrific, aren't they?--are by Jim Goodridge of JPG Photo Events.

Kind words

2009-11-03T13:48:00.000-08:00

The "Long Solutions LLC Newsletter" for November 2009 is distributed by e-mail and is not available on their web site, but I have permission to quote from it:

Some of us do more than others...recycling, that is. Recently I found a recycling effort that struck me as being unique and very useful. We all know that a glass of wine can have beneficial effects for our health, but did you know that the bottle of your favorite wine could be made into a keepsake or gift?

Vienna's own artist, Mary Ellen Larkins, fires bottles in her kiln to produce remarkable cheese platters. Along with a cheese spreader and handsome gift wrapping, this would be an excellent gift for just about anyone.

It's always a treat when someone takes the trouble to say such nice things about my work!

Wait a minute! Did I ever show you my cheese platters? I don't think I did. Well, that oversight is easily remedied:

Click the picture for a better view.

Bottles come with a cheese spreader and are placed in a stylish foil gift bag, all set for you to present to a host, a co-worker, a friend -- anybody!

(PS In addition to wine bottles, I also make platters out of some lovely liquor bottles.)

ANOTHER Home Show

2009-10-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Let me share with you an e-mail that a new friend has just sent out to her friends:

Please join me in some post Thanksgiving fun!

My house, 4819 Cloister Dr.
Sunday, November 29th
1:00 - 3:00pm
with glass artist Mary Ellen Larkins

I met Mary Ellen at DC Arts on Foot and her glasswork, jewelry, etc. is beautiful. All her pieces are one of a kind, and she's a local based artist. There is no obligation to buy anything, and neither Mary Ellen or I have done this before, so we're treating it as a get together an opportunity for people to meet a local working artist! She'll also talk a bit about her artistic process and working with glass. Mary Ellen's blog is www.fusedglassart.blogspot.com to learn more about here and see samples of her work.

I will get it together to create a more formal invite, but wanted to get the date on the calendar as I know the holidays get busy for everyone.

Hope you can make it on Nov. 29th, I promise not to have any turkey, and feel free to pass along.

Rachel

Thanks, Rachel. I can hardly wait.

PS. If YOU would like to host a home show, please drop me a line.

Fredricksburg

2009-10-15T09:15:00.001-07:00

What are you doing October 28th? If you'll be near Fredricksburg, come on over to the United Methodist Church and say hello to me and my bff, Patti.

Click the picture for a better view.

The SHOW of Shows!

2009-10-15T08:54:00.001-07:00

December 11-13
Friday, Noon to 7 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Noon to 3 p.m.
6th Annual Home Show
317 Church St NE
Vienna, VA

Seven other Northern Virginia artists will also participate in the home show, offering pottery, oil paintings, weaving, painted mats, woodwork, and more!

Mary Lazar • Silk garments
Shari MacFarlane • Paintings and accessories
Rita Ann Butcher • Paintings
Patti & Bonnie Brown • Mats and coasters
Gloria Freund • Photographs
Dana Lehrer Danze • Pottery
Jessica Blaszczak • Ceremic pigs

Questions? Please contact me at melarkins@verizon.net

Here's what the postcard for the show looks like:

Click the picture for a better view.

Other Upcoming Shows

2009-10-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

Whew! What a fall! No time to stop and blog now. All I can do it alert you to my upcoming shows:

October 17
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hollin Hall Senior Center
1500 Shenandoah Rd
Alexandria, VA

November 21–22
Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist
2709 Hunter Mill Rd
Oakton, VA

November 21
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church
1909 Windmill Ln
Alexandria, VA

December 5–6
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Our Lady of Good Counsel
8601 Wolftrap Rd
Vienna, VA

December 5
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Flint Hill School
2444 Flint Hill Road
Vienna, VA

December 12-20
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sundays, Noon to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Noon to 8 p.m.
Hendry House
2411 N. 24th St.
Arlington, VA

Necklaces

2009-07-01T19:26:00.000-07:00

One-of-a-kind fused-glass necklaces beaded with crystals, pearls, and glass.

Click an image for a larger view.

Awww!

2008-10-13T06:50:00.000-07:00

This has nothing to do with glass or art, but I've got to share it with you.

A couple days ago Holly, a friend who works at Town Hall, called to say that some Public Works workers had found a newborn turtle. "What should we do with it?"

I was on my way out the door on my way to Charlotttesville, so I suggested that Holly call Debroah, another friend and, like me, a turtle fanatic. Deborah has been taking care of the baby since then, and it seems to be thriving.

And is it ever cute! And TINY!

Click the picture for a larger image.

All together now: Awww!

Home Life Style

2008-10-13T06:46:00.000-07:00

The Vienna Connection ran another article about me in the "Home Life Style" section of its October 8-14 issue. (An earlier article appeared in April.) The print version of the latest piece has nice big colorful pictures. Check it out if you get the chance. If you can't find the print version, here's the gist of the story:

A Glimmer in Her Art
Vienna glass artist crafts in fused glass.

By Donna Manz, The Connection
Monday, October 06, 2008

In her Church Street home studio, glass artist Mary Ellen Larkins creates shimmering, vividly-hued fused glass jewelry, sculpted plates and display pieces.

"I’ve done all kinds of art, batiking, oil painting, beading, but I fell in love with fused glass in 1999, and now, I just can’t get enough of it."

Larkins is what is known in the glass art community as a ‘warm glass’ artist. She buys sheets of glass, cuts and shapes it, and fires it at temperatures up to 1,400 degrees. She has taken glass courses at the Corning glass studios in New York under world-renowned glass artists, and studied glass art in Italy this past May.

Over the past five years, Larkins has created thousands of pieces of jewelry … pendants, earrings, bracelets and brooches. When she turned to display pieces and functional plates not long ago, she translated her moods and her feelings into the art. Throughout her Vienna home are bowls, plates and freeform pieces, many with memories attached.

"Firing times are critical when combining very hard and very soft glass," says Larkins. "If glass is fired properly, it’s pretty durable."

Production of a single piece takes several days to complete. She allots one day to cutting the glass into its design, and another day firing it flat. In the final step of the display-piece process, Larkins fires the molded sculpted piece in the kiln once again. For jewelry, beading and wire-wrapping is the last stage.

Larkins’ studio houses one large kiln to fire her display pieces and three smaller kilns for jewelry. The equipment is expensive, as is the dichroic glass she fashions into opalescent, shimmering art. A 4X4 square of the NASA-created dichroic glass, a hard, glimmering, many-layered substance of metal oxides, sells for $28 or more.

Larkins’ finished pendants begin at $20; earrings at $13; wine bottles recycled into cheese platters are $27; and plates begin at $17. There’s no lead in her glass, Larkins says, so the plates can be used for food.

Her work has been displayed and sold at juried art shows around the region, and at Damon Galleries, Vienna Vintner, and Meadowlark Gardens, all in Vienna.

Larkins was a graphic artist professionally before turning her attention to the fine arts. As consuming as her passion for glass art is, she makes time from her busy days to continue volunteer work.

A community activist, Larkins was Vienna Volunteer of the Year in 2003 and is co-founder of Northern Virginia Reptile Rescue. In her backyard, sheltered from the elements, are rescued box turtles.

"I never know what I’m going to do when I come down to the studio," says Larkins. "I get inspired. Sometimes, I play creatively. Sometimes, I’m working really hard. But I love it."

Email Larkins at at melarkins@verizon.netfor information on shows and artwork.

Whew!

2008-10-13T06:38:00.000-07:00

Fall is my busy season, with at least one show almost every weekend. And, of course, my trips to Charlottesville continue. Something had to give, and what gave was the blog. Thus I haven't posted anything for . . . Gosh! . . . a month and a half! Let me take a few minutes now to post some things about what has been (and will be) going on.

Art from Corning

2008-08-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

A few pictures of some pieces I worked on at Corning a couple weeks ago -- and one of an older piece, "Trinity," that I did at Corning several years back and that the photographer was kind enough to include in the shoot.

Click a picture for a larger view.

Corning

2008-08-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

I'm back from an intense, exhilarating, fun week at Corning. Maybe I'll get around to a report soon, but for now, here are some pictures. Enjoy!

Click a picture for a larger image.

C'ville Arts display

2008-08-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are photos of my display at C'ville Arts, where I am the featured artist for August. Great thanks for the pictures go to Gerry Bishop -- as skilled a photographer as he is gracious a host. (Gerry's wonderful wife, and my wonderful friend, Pam is the "customer" in two of the photos.)

Click a picture for a larger view.

Day trip to Charlottesville

2008-08-04T04:12:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, the Washington Post had a very nice little article (in PDF format) describing a pleasant day trip from the Washington area to Charlottesville. One of the highlights? C'ville Arts, the "artist-run cooperative gallery [that] displays works of many media, including glass, fiber, soap and mosaic made by local up-and-comers."

One of those glass up-and-comers is, um, er, . . . little old me.

First Friday

2008-08-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hi, Everyone--

I'm just back from 4 days at C'ville Arts, where I have the honor of being the featured artist this month. Thanks to all my friends at the store for their help in arranging things, and thanks to Pam and Gerry for their hospitality.

I'll be posting some pictures of my store display in a few days. Meanwhile, here's the flyer that C'ville distributed:

Click the photo for a lager view.

And here's the announcement from The Hook newspaper:

Click the photo for a lager view.

Photos

2008-08-03T17:59:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago I had photos taken of some of my pieces -- a handful of jewelry, plates, and display pieces -- by JPG Photo Events. The pictures came out pretty well, no?

Click a picture for a larger view.
No, really, click a picture for a larger view!

Hi! It's nice to meet you.

2008-05-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

I'd like to use this blog to show you some of the work I'm doing, let you know about my upcoming shows, and, generally, to talk about my great love of glass art.

First, though, I should probably tell you a little about myself. I'm not terribly comfortable blowing my own horn, but fortunately, a recent piece in the Vienna Connection makes that unnecessary. It tells you most of what you need to know about me.

Art in Glass
Fused glass is Mary Ellen Larkins’ passion.
By Donna Manz, The Connection
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Mary Ellen Larkins’ artwork shines. Literally.

In her Church Street studio, glass artist Larkins creates shimmering, intensely-hued fused glass jewelry and sculpted plates and display pieces.

"I’ve done all kinds of art, batiking, oil painting beading, but I fell in love with fused glass in 1999, and now, I just can’t get enough of it."Larkins is known in the glass art community as a "warm glass" artist. She buys sheets of glass, cuts and shapes it, and fires it at temperatures up to 1,400 degrees. To prepare her pieces, she first scores the sheet glass and then uses a pliers to cut it. "I get cut all the time," she says. "You live with it."

COLORS have different price ranges and different attributes of hardness. "Black is softest; white, hardest," said Larkins. "Firing times are critical when combining very hard and very soft glass. If glass is fired properly, it’s pretty durable."

Larkins dedicates a day to cutting the glass piece, another day firing it flat, and finally she molds the sculpted piece in the kiln once again. For jewelry, beading and wire-wrapping is the last stage.

Larkins’ studio houses one large kiln to fire her display pieces and three smaller kilns for jewelry. The equipment is expensive; larger kilns run $1,800 - $2,000 or more. A 4X4 square of space-age NASA-created dichroic glass, hard, glimmering, and made of many layers of metal oxides, sells for $28 or more. There’s breakage and molded pieces that do not come out as intended.

"I’ve taken big courses at Corning glass studios in New York, classes under world-renown glass artists, where you live and eat glass. It’s intense that way."

Over the past five years, Larkins has created thousands of pieces of jewelry … pendants, earrings, bracelets, brooches, and she takes custom orders. When she turned to display pieces and functional plates not long ago, she entered an artistic phase that reflects her moods and her feelings.

Pendants begin at $20; earrings at $13; wine bottles recycled into cheese platters are $27; and plates begin at $17. There’s no lead in her glass, Larkins says, so the plates can be used for food.

HER WORK has been displayed or sold at juried art shows in the Washington/Virginia area, and at Damon Galleries, Vienna Vintner, and Meadowlark Gardens, all in Vienna. Every year, Larkins participates in the Reston Town Festival and the Fairfax Fall Festival.

Larkins was a graphic artist professionally before turning her attention to the fine arts. Desktop publishing gradually gave way to fueling her passion for glass art, yet she makes time to continue volunteer work.

A community activist, Larkins was Vienna Volunteer of the Year in 2003 and is co-founder of Northern Virginia Reptile Rescue. In her backyard, sheltered from the elements, are rescued box turtles.

"I never know know what I’m going to do when I come down to the studio," said Larkins. "I get inspired. Sometimes, I play creatively. Sometimes, I’m working really hard. But I love it." Larkins turns over cut hands and fingers. "My hands don’t. But I love it."

E-mail melarkins@verizon.net for more information on Larkins’ shows and merchandise.

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