I have a decidedly low tech ceramic studio. It can be frustrating at times, but at others, I am glad to have learned how to make it work. With the exception of my electric wheel and kilns, everything else is done by hand the old fashioned way. Ceramics and pottery is an art that has changed little over time. Take clay, make something with it, decorate, fire piece to a high temperature, and enjoy.
Last year while I was making work at the Art Student’s League of Denver, I lent my “chuck” to a fellow artist. What is a chuck, you ask? He’s not my latest boy toy, it’s a thrown clay hollow cylinder which is used to stabilize more complicated thrown forms when trimming and finishing the bottoms. When I trim a bowl or other stable form, I simply turn it upside down on my wheel to trim. But, with a bottle form, it won’t stay upright making it impossible to trim without assistance of some sort.
Back to lending my chuck…. I don’t fire my chucks, preferring to leave them green (or unfired) so that they remain softer than bisqued pieces. A softer chuck is less likely to damage my freshly thrown bottles or other forms. I lent my chuck to woman who proceed to wash it off afterwards. I had forgotten to tell her that the chuck was green, and needless to say, it disintegrated under running water and scrubbing. I’ve been getting by with some other sized chucks that I had already made, until I threw some more work this last weekend, and decided to make a smaller chuck to accommodate the new form.
What could I use if I didn’t have any thrown chucks? Well, if I had a higher tech studio, I might use the Giffen Grip, but at $179.00 it’s another item to add to my wish list. At this point, I’d rather have heat in my studio and better lighting than a Giffen Grip.
*New * Wheel thrown porcelain vase for David, 10″ x 5″
A few days ago, I wrote a “true confessions” blog post about being a procrastinator - a not so nice trait that I recognize in myself as it’s happening but over which I feel powerless. A wise bloggie friend, Mary, of Bead Fluff, emailed me privately after reading my post along with a link to an article by Robert Genn that she had just read. Before I had even clicked on the link, I emailed her back to tell her about how until recently (maybe the last year or two) I hadn’t recognized this self destructive tendency in myself. Later on in the day, I read Robert Genn’s article about how often times, artists possess both the yin (female) and yang (male) tendencies which tend to balance each other out. In the article, Robert mentions that often times, many artists who go on to be quite well known are out of yin/yang sync (think Van Gogh, Basquiat et al), meaning that one or another of the traits dominates, creating a successful, yet poisonous imbalance.
The article gave me something to think about since I don’t exactly want to self destruct and am trying to build an art career. I know I recently wrote about becoming a “certified” teacher. I was most likely seduced by the notion of a monetary paycheck and a steady job. I don’t want just any job and left my last job because I was tired of being a monkey and unappreciated. I, along with a lot of other people/artists, am looking for career enhancing satisfaction, self fulfillment, and a longing that I can’t quite describe. Simply put, I am just looking to create a path for myself that is authentic and one I feel good about. I can still teach without going back to school by just doing it - see the going back to school part is the avoidance, ie. I’ll be happy when I do (fill in the blank). It’s easy to romanticize a paycheck when I have to make my pantry stretch for a few weeks and my family’s car experiences a major repair. But is money everything? If I decide to become a “certified” teacher, I want it to be for the right reasons… Boy oh boy, I feel a tangent coming on that I had better divert right this very minute. At any rate, suffice it to say, thank you *Mary* for your keen insight and wisdom - You’re an angel!
Space hogging elliptical trainer that up until today shared studio space with moi
Speaking of angels, I had posted the above elliptical for sale on Craigslist Denver this past week, and woo hoo - a kindly gentleman took it off our hands this evening! I can’t believe how much space that netted my studio - Scratching my head in wonderment??? Next up is an upright piano which was my parent’s when I was growing up. I don’t exactly want to get rid of it, but no one in my immediate family is interested in playing the piano and there’s no space inside our small house either to store or display it. I’m thinking of donating it to someone who maybe can’t afford one, but who is passionate about playing piano. Once the piano is out of the picture, we’re going to begin insulating and dry walling my studio space so that I can work there year round. If you think going on vacation can stall my art making, imaging what a cold winter would do?? Desperately seeking balance….
Meanwhile, today marked the Josh and Gus Run for a Cause that benefits SUDC, or Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood - a cousin of SIDS. I donated the above piece to their silent auction and hope that the group raised a ton of money for research that can prevent future deaths. As a mom, I can only imagine what parents of SIDS or SUDC children are coping with!
So, after much rambling, I am signing off for today,
Slab rolled porcelain glasses with ginkgo stamp, 5″ x 2.5″
After my last post, I was hoping for some really juicy confessions, but alas, not many unburdened themselves in a public forum. I understand, really.
Meanwhile, yesterday was a terrifically productive day for me in the studio. A few months ago, I wrote about making some ceramic wine glasses after sharing a bottle of wine with my good friend, Mary Cay and some other ceramic cohorts at Mary Cay’s home. She served the wine in some of the ceramic cups she’s collected over the years from other artists and I remember how much better it tasted in a beautifully crafted and glazed cup. I made a few attempts, but they weren’t what I had in mind. So, yesterday I rolled out some slabs of porcelain and got to work.
The ginkgo stamped glasses above, are really tumbler sized, and not really the right size for wine, unless of course you like BIG glasses of wine. I need to figure out the volume that these should be able to hold, though I haven’t done that yet. That would involve math, and it’s too early for that right now, nor have I had enough coffee!
Handmade ginkgo stamp, carved linoleum
Slab rolled & faceted porcelain wine glasses, 3.75″ x 2.5″
Then I decided the glasses needed to be smaller, so I cut a new template and voila, these are the results. They’re super light and just the right size. They remind me of another friend’s Italian wine glasses that look more like juice glasses. They’re deceiving, however, because you think you’re just drinking a little glass of wine and not a big one. Now, before you think I’m an alcoholic, let me put your concerns to rest. I’m not, I’ve broken all but 2 of my wine glasses so I need a new set and I’ve got my heart set on making them. If all turns out well, I will be making more to sell - and they could be used for a number of different uses than wine - maybe juice, tea etc.
Porcelain, canvas, rolling pin and 1/4″ wood guides
I roll my clay the old fashioned way, mainly because I don’t have a slab roller - though it’s on my wish list. It’s a bit like making a pie crust.
Porcelain, canvas, rolling pin and 1/8″ plastic guides (window blind slats)
To get the slabs extra thin, I downsize my 1/4″ wood guides to 1/8″ faux wood slats. At this thickness, I have to work fast, since the slabs will start to dry fast. Drying means cracking which will make the slabs less workable.
That’s it for today…. Have a good weekend everyone,
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