The Living Room | Contemporary Arts Center

Another excellent show – a collaboration that includes the dynamic duo – Katie Parker and Guy Michael Davis, along with Paul Coors, Terence Hammonds, and Such+Such  on view until September. Don’t forget Patti Smith’s  “The Coral Sea” exhibit while you are there.

Ceramic Tumblers

It’s been a busy semester – we made lots of tumblers and finished them by experimenting with  lithophanes, silk-screen printing, red iron decals and firing at different temperatures. My favorite effect is the glass-like quality that was achieved in the higher heat of the gas kiln.

Altered Faceted Form

Ready for the gas kiln

Tumblers with Red Iron Decals

Tumblers with cone 10 glaze

Gas kiln melted the stamped green pattern

I like how the excess glaze pooled in the bottom of the tumbler

Another example from the gas kiln

We made lithophanes for some of the tumblers

The lithophane cups were screenprinted with Dr Who and fingerpainting

This cup was stamped,spoged and fingerpainted- reminds me of Delftware.

Dr Who cup

Dr Who – inside view

Ken Kewley- Hen Cup With Fruit Tart

Hen Cup With Fruit Tart

An image from the Painting Perceptions interview with Ken Kewley.The napkin reminds me of one of my ceramic Faceted Forms that was glazed a similar blue.

Second Mold Section

The new mold section was a little hard to separate from the form, but came away after a few taps with a rubber mallet. The next step is to clean the new piece and sand it smooth, put everything back together, section off another area with clay and pour again.Repeat, for each section.

Faceted Form – Slow Progress

Top View

Side view 2

Finally finished carving my form! I have been working on the faceted form steadily, allowing it to naturally reveal it’s shape. Progress has been SLOW because the techniques and tools are new to me.  I imagine an experienced carver could have whipped this out the same day it was poured!

I was being too careful – by shaving with a razor and chisel, and getting nowhere fast. Katie Parker, my professor, suggested I run the form under water. What a difference that made – not only did it cut down on dust but the added moisture made it feel as though I was carving through soap.

Side View

I think it is beginning to resemble a  “desert rock rose” . Today I’ll be creating the nesting piece which is the central section of what will become a 6 piece mold.

Spring Semester

Ceramics Class

We are going to learn how to make our own molds this semester.This is a picture of a plaster block that I cast and am in the process of carving a free-form faceted shape. It doesn’t look like much –  but I’ve spent about 4 hours chipping, scraping and gouging away it it. Today I carved for 3 hours and I think it’s starting to take shape. It’s quite messy but I don’t mind. There is a feeling of satisfaction and a little excitement as the form begins to reveal itself.