Triaxial Blend for Glaze development

This semester I am taking a glaze calculation and materials class in ceramics.  I'm hoping to learn a lot more about the materials I use within ceramics and possibly develop some new glazes for my own work.  I'll post a picture of some of my favorite glazes from the test I'm running.  I'll be exploring low-fire glazes within my research and hope to find some really cool glazes.  Posted is a picture of my dry materials in their designated cups, so I don't get them mixed up. 

KACA Material Mastery and Members Exhibition 2011

"Precious", Terra Cotta, 2011 (KACA Material Mastery)

"Fossil Fuel", Earthenware, 2010 (Members Exhibition)

I found out recently that I will have two pieces in two different exhibitions coming this October sponsored by the Kansas Artist Craftsmen Association.  The first one is titled "Material Mastery", which will run from October 17-November 5, 2011(Exhibition reception is November 4, 2011), at the Norman R. Eppink Gallery, Emporia State University, 1200 Commercial St., Emporia, KS.  The National Juried exhibition was juried by Elaine O. Henry, who is the editor of Ceramics Art and Perception and Ceramics TECHNICAL magazines.  The Members Exhibition will take place from October 25-November 5, 2011, at the Emporia Arts Council, 815 Commercial St., Emporia, KS.  The exhibition reception will take place on November 4, 2011.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the exhibitions due to the fact that I am still finishing up my last year in graduate school at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.  If you are able to attend the shows I would recommend it...it looks like there will be a lot of great art from the list of those showing in the show this year!  The works pictured, are the pieces that will be in the upcoming exhibitions.

Clay Club Sale 2011

On October 6th and 7th the Clay Club had it's annual sale.  Everyone did a really great job producing the work for the sale, and we were fortunate to have really nice weather.  I thought I would post a picture of Gratia Brown(2nd year graduate) and myself working our shift at the sale.

Screen Printed Ceramic Tiles

Last semester I took a screen printing class with Franz Spohn who is one of the print making professors here at Edinboro University.  I had never tried screen printing and really wanted to learn how to screen print underglazes onto ceramic work.  As with any new process an artist is learning, mistakes happen and though it may be slow going at first, the time put into the process will eventually pay off.  In times of frustration, I always like to remind myself that I had to learn to walk first, before I could run.  It's exactly the same with art, when learning new techniques and processes.  I really would like to explore more of this approach within my work, but for now I need to just make work for my thesis exhibition and explore more of this surface treatment after graduate school.  Pictured are the tiles that I screen printed with underglazes and made up a cone 04 clear glaze that I sprayed on top of the underglazes.  I used commercial bisqued tiles to save time, rather than making my own tiles.

Outside the studio

I know I have to post a picture of the other collaboration piece I had talked about in my last blog, so that is the first picture posted.   The collaboration piece was created by Michelle Ghisson and myself.  I created the form and handed it over to her to finish the surface.  I really enjoyed the imagery she used and the process of decoupage.  The following pictures are of my piece in the show "Supersize:  Bigger is Better?"  I unfortunately was unable to attend the opening of "Supersize: Bigger is Better?", but it was really nice to see it still up when I arrived to pick up my piece at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center.  I am posting two other works that were also in the show, but unfortunately didn't write down the titles of the pieces, so I thought I would at least give credit to the artists who created the works.

Mayan Robotics, 2010

My piece, "Excess" in the show "Supersize:  Bigger is Better?"

Damian Yanessa

Emily White

Summer work 2011

With summer soon coming to an end and school starting within 28 days, I thought I might show what type of things I've been working on lately.  I know in my last post I said I would try to get the last piece I did in the collaboration series photographed, but I kept forgetting to bring my camera to the studio.  The way our room is set up for photographing work it is best to photograph at night, so I still have not done that, but I will try to this week.  So in the mean time, I thought I would show what I've been working on in the studio.

The above pictures show a piece underway, which I'm working on at the moment.  If you notice the second picture in this series, you will notice the "coupling" nearest the viewer has some carving.far  I tried exploring the surface a bit, by going back to a decorative carved relief on the surface of the form.  I thought by going back to carving a bit more with elements of decoration that it may create a different feel to the object.  I'm not sure yet, and will have to hold my thoughts on it at the moment.  The "couplings" as I call them, will go with the tool I am working on as well.  I have already fired a cone 6 black bronze glaze on the tool form of the piece and still have to finish the surface with cold glazes, along with the addition of found objects to finish it off and make it complete.

The pictures below, shows forms that I've been working on for a wall piece. I still have to create more forms to complete this one, but you can get an idea of where I'm going.  The forms are all hand built using slabs and hand carved, with additions of some press molded accents(bolts).  The idea behind the piece is to create a machine, that represents what we use in our daily lives.  I will have to add some slip-cast additions later, but hopefully it turns out...I'll have to keep updating posts on this piece as it progresses. 

Collaboration work

Last semester in graduate school we took upon an idea to exchange work with the other grad students in our class, and have those students finish the work.  This image represents one of those pieces that was part of the original three I originally made and exchanged with those graduate students that chose my work to finish.  This piece was chosen by Gratia Brown and she ended up finishing the surface. I think she really did an interesting look on my form.  When I asked her what we should title the piece she came up with the title of "Doll House Artifact".  I think it fits, and really enjoyed the exchange between the other graduate students in class.  I have one more to still photograph out of the three, but I should be doing that this week, and then I'll post that image as well.