Renewing with Spring

I feel like the animals who just begin to poke their noses out of their hiding places from a long winter into spring. Tenuous steps at first, then bold and striding as they realize the meadow is calling their names.

So many ideas, new old mutated, swirl in my head. This time I will begin to tackle a form long sitting waiting for me. This piece is hollow and I glaze it now as a test, future pieces will be carved, sculpted, delicately detailed. An egg shape says so much about new birth, new life, new light for me.

I revisit what I set aside when last I worked. Ah, these little guys are ready to be bisqued, glazed and go out into the world I think.

Revelation when you least expect it

Over the last few weeks I have been exploring the swirl that seems to appear in my work whether I plan it on not.  How it is created and flows through the piece is becoming more natural and rhythmic after much practice.

In the meantime something else interesting seemed to evolve. As I am exploring the vessel shapes, how thin, how wide, etc. I have been pushing how far I can go with them. Some interesting forms began to appear.

Creating the work has triggered a thought process around the disintegration of what is precious. As I observed the de-evolution of each piece, I began to see how one would disintegrate due too much water, too little, too much force, overworking or rushing it.

How often in life is what we hold precious compromised because we rush to judgement, overwork a situation, neglect it or try to force a particular path to occur? Do we take something that is precious all in its own way and try to force it into to something it isn’t? Do we ignore it, being neglectful thinking it will always stay pristine and precious even due to our neglect?

I plan to continue creating these forms side-by-side with those intended to uplift. I am curious to see where this vein will take me….

Spouts are Sprouting!

One of the most complex functional objects in clay making is the teapot. Not an easy task. You have the body, spout, lid and handle all needing to be in balance with one another on several levels. How high should the spout be? Does the lid stay in when it’s poured? How about how heavy the sucker is when its full of water? What kind of handle makes sense? Does it pour right? So much to think about! In the afternoon I threw potential spouts on the wheel and last night in class I played with which one would look right on the body shape of the pot.

Handle Making

I continue to explore the shape and function of handles and their relation to the form. Check this out-

The artist is Maruja Fuentes. She also makes interesting Green Pockets from recycled materials that are a wall tile and hold a plant. Interesting stuff! I learned about her on Slipcast- The Ceramics Blog.