New Work-2013 ("Possibilities", Circular Hand Saw)

I finished up another piece and photographed it with the other new work recently.  This piece is titled, "Possibilities".  It is hand made using slabs of earthenware as well as press molded additions.  I fired the piece to cone 6 and used glazes, tool dip, as well as enamel paints for the surface.  I'm interested in exhibiting this piece, but haven't decided which exhibition I should try to enter it yet.

New Work-2013 (Remnant)

This piece is titled "Remnant" and is hand built using earthenware slabs, with press molded additions as well.  I fired the piece to cone six and used glazes as well as enamel paints.  I'm glad it's done so I can update my portfolio on my web page as well as concentrate on new work I'm creating at the moment.  I fired this particular piece multiple times.

New Work-2013 (Technological Dependence)

Here is an image of a new piece I finished up recently.  The piece is titled, "Technological Dependence".  I hand built the mechanical form using terra cotta slabs, along with press molded additions.  The phone is slip cast porcelain, which I Raku fired, with a Raku glaze I made.

Wood Kiln Firing at University of Saint Francis

This week I helped fire a wood kiln at University of Saint Francis, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  I was lucky enough to get to put in a piece and hopefully it will turn out…at least interesting.  While I was there I got to meet Steve Smith and his two assistants.  He used to be the Chair at Defiance College in Ohio, and now is a full-time production potter and sculptor.  His studio is up in Angola, Indiana and it was a blast hanging out with him, and feeding and stoking the kiln Tuesday morning.  I returned Tuesday night for a later three hour shift and left with the kiln firing even on the top and bottom (2136).  I can't wait to visit Steve up in Angola and check out his studio.  Pictured below is the kiln we were firing at University of Saint Francis.  With help from the ceramic students, I'm sure the firing went well.  Ryan Bredlau is currently teaching the ceramic students at Saint Francis as well as being the Art Department Technician…he's a busy guy and it was great to help him out.  I'll be teaching at Saint Francis next semester, so it was nice to meet some of the students as well.

Pictured below is the kiln we were firing.

Raku Test Tiles/Cell Phones-Update

Well I have been working on refining the placement of my phones in the kiln I'm using, as stated in an earlier post.  As that work continues... I'm still working on my cup, vessel,  and a plate I threw earlier.  So, as those pieces are going through the drying stages, I'm getting ready to hopefully put them in a bisque firing this weekend.  Here are some images of those tests I did.  I didn't sieve the glaze I made up, so I'm assuming the glaze could look smoother without the larger particles in the glaze.  I've also made up a white raku crackle glaze, but I'll have to take a picture of those phones and post them in my next post.  Enjoy.

                                                              This glaze test was applied with a single thin coat over a black slip.
The more "copper colored area",  is a result of a thicker application.

This glaze test was applied with two
 "normal coats" of the glaze over a black slip. 

Here I applied two normal coats over black slip,
notice the larger glaze particles within the glaze.

Here is another test, this phone also has two
coats of glaze.  Notice that each of these phones
pictured have been placed in different areas of the kiln
and how it affects the glaze (heat differences).

This phone also has two coats,
as stated in the other tests.  With these tests
I tried to keep the application process the same.
The tests are also about location(placement) in the kiln.

This phone has the glaze applied the same as the others.

Here are the glaze tests all together,
as well as some phones that are without any glaze.

Raku-Firing Underway

I have been working on some glaze testing for my cell phones using raku glazes and will post some images soon.  Here are some images of the kiln I'm using at IPFW and the reduction chamber I'm using as well.  I'm starting to figure out the kiln and how the areas in the kiln, in relation to temperature, affect the glazes I'm creating.  I really love the process and how you the control is really out of your hands in reference to the reduction process.  I'll post some images soon of what the test glazes look like on the cell phones and test tiles.

Cordless Drill Batteries

Here is an image of the cordless drill batteries I have slip cast.  I created the prototype, from images I took of a real battery charger, and then created a five piece mold to use for slip casting.  I didn't want to ruin the battery, so that's why I took pictures and then made the prototype.
I created a porcelain slip-cast clay body and then went to work.  The chargers took a while longer because I was only using one mold to create the form.  I didn't mind though, since I was working on other work as well.  Here is an image of the slip cast battery chargers on my shelf.  I've done an initial bisque firing and will fire them to cone 10.

Wheel Thrown Vessel Form-Update (1)

So, I know I posted recently about a wheel-thrown vessel I was working on.  Here is a photo of the carving I had talked about previously.  The light colored area in the middle of the form is a light blue slip.  I still plan on building up layers through multi-firing the work.  I just thought I would post an update of the work.

Summer Work for the Nephews-Using my skills as an artist

I know I didn't post much over the summer, but the summer for me is a time when I'm not teaching and time I have for myself and family...catching up.  My nephews are very young and are into cartoons, as I  once was.  I remember wanting to learn to read because of the comic books dad would buy me from time to time and how amazed I was at an early age with the illustrations in those books.  I know I used to doodle...a lot as a kid, creating my own version of those comic books I loved.  I was given a good opportunity of the use of my artistic skills over the summer to create an inviting environment for my nephews bathroom.  So I took a break from creating the art I do, to use my years of learning my craft for the next generation.  The pictures posted are of the large scale Spiderman I did in their bathroom over the summer.  It was a blast to create outside of my current medium and get back to what got me excited about art at an early age.  I know they enjoy it, so it was a great time for all of us!  They helped paint in some of the areas as well, so it was a collaboration between just us.  It's great being an uncle.

The images posted are of the progress of the bathroom wall, of Spiderman, which they asked me to do for them. It was a nice break from the norm, and a lot of fun!

Wheel Thrown Vessel in Progress

Here is a vessel form I threw on the wheel, the picture was from last week and since then I have added a handle to the lid.  I also have carved away some of the clay around the base to mimic the cogs of a gear.  I will post more pictures as the progression continues.  I plan on doing multiple firings and printing on the surface as well.

Wheel Thrown Cup

I've been busy working on finishing up new pieces, so I can take images of the work for my portfolio.  I have also been working on the wheel to reinforce my skills.  I don't usually make functional work, but I'll be teaching advanced ceramics next semester, so I thought I should brush up on using the wheel.  It's interesting how my approach to using the wheel has changed since I first was introduced to it as an undergraduate.  I guess it's the years of watching other professional artists and how they use the wheel, that has seemed to alter the way I use the wheel now.  That being said, I enjoy using cups other artists have made and decided to create one for myself.  Below is an image of a cup I made recently.  It's in the drying stage and I plan on hopefully getting it in the kiln soon.  I'll post some updates of the cup and the stages it goes through, in becoming a finished piece.

Why attend Graduate School?

Since leaving graduate school at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, I've had students ask me what it's like and why should they attend graduate school.  I have had the pleasure to answer any questions they may have, and try to explain the different reasonings one may choose to attend.  It's no easy task and one must understand the dedication needed to succeed.
When I was at Edinboro I had the opportunity to be interviewed about graduate school.  I thought I would share the link of the youtube video explaining graduate school at Edinboro and what I came away from it.  Hope you enjoy the video and I hope it helps to understand at least a little bit more of the reason why I felt it was beneficial.

The link is posted below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEBXSqBvAV0


This image shows work I made prior to the installation of my thesis exhibition, back in 2012.

Fl3tch3r Exhibit: Social and Politically Engaged Art, National Juried Exhibition

I just found out that I had a piece accepted into the National Exhibition, "Fl3tch3r Exhibit:  Social and Politically Engaged Art",  (November 1-27, 2013).  The Juror of the exhibition is Michael Aurbach, Vanderbilt University and former President of College Art Association (CAA).  The Exhibit will take place at ETSU Slocumb Galleries, Tipton Gallery, in Johnson City, Tennessee.  The opening reception will be November 1, 2013 on First Friday at Tipton Gallery.  Hope to see you there!
 

Cell Phone-Test Glaze Picture

Hi everyone,

Sorry for not posting anything since May.  I have still been making work and working on finishing up the five sculptures in progress.  The last bisque is going into the kiln today.  Below is a piece showing a glaze test on a form I am creating in porcelain.  It will become a wall piece with the other forms I have slip cast.  There will be about 70 cell phones for the piece and I can't wait for it to be done!  I'm trying to get all the pieces done and photographed by the end of the month so there will be more photos of the works in progress.  Yesterday I made three hundred pounds of clay so I can start on some new work.  I have sketches for the ideas that I did over the summer and will be starting the new pieces after the five other sculptures are done.

Fun with Raku-2013

Sometimes while creating you step away from the norm and create for the pure enjoyment of creating.  This year in my mold making class we fired to cone 10, cone 6, and did Raku, for the surface treatments of the students work.  I had a piece that I had thrown on the wheel back in grad school and I never knew what to do with the surface, so it just sat on my shelf of bisque ware.

Well I finally decided to "just do it", and decided to Raku the pot.  The image below shows the finished piece.

Five piece mold

With the end of the semester coming to an end, it's been pretty busy around the classroom and not as busy in the studio.  I did have time to create a five piece mold of a prototype form, which I have worked on and off on, to go with another piece I have been working on.  I still have to round the edges of the outside corners of the mold, and clean up the interior a bit, but it should work fine.  I will try to get some castings to show in the near future.

Hard Ware: National Ceramic Exhibit

I recently found out that I had a piece selected for "Hard Ware: National Ceramic Exhibit".  The exhibit will take place at the Duncan-McAshan Visual Arts Gallery, (May 24-June 22) Hill Country Arts Foundation, Ingram, Texas.

 Here is the website for the Hill Country Arts Foundation:
www.hcaf.com

About the Juror: Juan Granados is an internationally recognized ceramic artist, having participated in well over 100 national and international group exhibitions and twenty-three solo exhibitions. His work has been widely published in more than 50 books and periodicals including: Art in America, Ceramics Monthly, Ceramica, Ceramic Arts, Perception and Ceramics Arts Monthly. Granados is currently Associate Professor of Art at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Prizes will be awarded at discretion of the juror.

Petroleum Paradox: For Better or For Worse (Narrows Center for the Arts-(April 6-May 18, 2013)

www.narrowscenter.org

I just wanted to remind those who are in the area of the Narrows Center for the Arts to check out a mixed media exhibition, "Petroleum Paradox:  For Better or For Worse?" (April 6, 2013-May 18, 2013).  For more information on the Narrows Center for the Arts: