P is for Patience…
Is it Wednesday already?? I had meant to post yesterday, but our torrential downpour Monday night prevented me from photographing some of my new work. So, I had to postpone my “photoshoot” till last evening.
Back to the title of this post. Now, I don’t want to have a pity party for myself or anything, but I have been learning or maybe re-acquainting myself with the nuances of working with clay in the past few months. She’s a demanding mistress and will not be rushed. But, if one waits too long, then the opportunity to manipulate the medium quickly disappears. How am I learning this lesson? The cake platter above, is one that I threw Sunday, May 6th, and it’s only been ready to handle in the past couple of days. I had already trimmed the piece, but I’m drying it very slowly. I don’t want it to warp or crack at any stage of the making process.
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I really think that I have a touch of ADHD. One of the reasons clay works for me is that I bounce from project to project depending on where the pieces are in said making process. I can throw something, put it aside, carve something else, glaze something, fire the kiln, etc. etc. all in the same day. The ultimate multi-tasker’s nirvana. Or, maybe I enable myself?? Not sure.
Despite the bouncing around that I do in the studio, I’m learning not to rush the clay. I have had more than my share of warped and badly glazed projects come out of the kiln in the past month, not to mention cracked handles etc. I am really trying not to become attached to a piece, until after it comes out of the kiln for the final time, which is hard to do when one spends X amount of hours on a piece. All of my pieces become like my babies.
I have to say, that I really like how this one is turning out. In the top 2 images above, I hadn’t yet finished carving the design. I’m pleased to let you know that the carving is complete as of last night. I finished carving the platter while I watched AI and Haus last night. It’s always good to multitask while watching TV. I don’t have a new photo of the finished platter, but you get the idea. Now, my project has to finish drying so that I can bisque fire it this Friday/Saturday.
As far as the design goes, it came about as the result of 2 mugs whose handles I cracked while transporting them from one side of my studio to another. My first instinct was to launch them accross the room, but then I thought I should use these as test carving pieces/colored slip pieces.
Anyway, must get going now,
Misc. Eye Candy…and Cake Platter Again
It’s been a lazy weekend around Denver, mainly because it’s been raining on and off and all I want to do is take a nap.
I did manage to get out into the studio today and weighed out 5 pounds of clay to attempt another cake platter. It sort of boggles my mind that a plate requires that much clay. But, after you take into account 10-15% shrinkage, trimming etc. I guess that’s about right. I probably could have used 6 lbs, but I just didn’t want to waste too much clay since this won’t have a foot like a normal plate would.
I need to let these set up a little bit so that I can assemble it tomorrow. Though, I am tempted to fire them separately and attach the pieces after firing. At this size, I worry about warping during the glaze fire. While I was out in the studio, I threw some more mugs. My goal for the Summer Art Market is to have at least 20 mugs. I have a schedule of how many platters, vases, spoon rests, plates, etc. that I want to have ready in time for the market. I should just spend the next week throwing and then the following trimming, followed by a week of glazing so that I’ll be ready for the market come June 9th.
In other news, I was contacted by a gallery in Louisiana asking if I would be interested in being represented by them. We’ve been emailing back and forth and I’m trying to see if this would be in my best interests. It’s a fine art/craft gallery so it seems like it would be a good fit medium wise. I’ll let you know in the next week what I decide.
I was glancing through a magazine on Saturday and came across the work of artist, Ingrid Calame. I was immediately drawn to her art work and paused to read the article and look up information on her art on the ‘net. She considers herself a realist. Not my first thought when I looked at her artwork. Her work is similar to the philosophical idea behind “Trashball Art”; she traces stains and other marks left by humans and then transfers the marks to aluminum. Her drawings are exquisite – multiple layers of vellum trace.
Have a good week everyone!
In the meantime, I’m looking forward to hearing about “Art Ball” by Jafabrit and cohorts.
