Wednesday, January 30, 2013

This is an Oregon Potter by the name of Patrick Horsley.  I went to one of his workshops one time as I was very inspired by his teapots.  I think this is fired to cone 6 (2232 F) on a red stoneware body.  The main body of the teapot is thrown and altered, though it would also be possible to handbuild the entire sculpture.  This came to mind, as one of the students in the class was making a teapot today and I showed this image to her, so thought I would share it with everyone else.  The spout and handle are both extruded. the "tail" is added on.  This is actually a "functional" teapot.  Pat said the inspiration for the form came from shoes, and that his fence was lined with teapots that didn't make it : )  I admire the technical aspect of this, the minimalism of glaze treatment, the simplicity of the form, the visual "movement of the spout, the gesture or posture of the piece has certain "personality" and there is certainly something to be said for persistence and the obvious patience necessary to make this.  Having the patience to take your time and do it right.  Not rushing the process, but being mindful of how it all fits together.  Purposeful, intentful, deliberate, yet subtle.  Not overcomplicating the form with unnecessary embellishment, but letting the form speak for itself.  Pretty sure the glaze application was by spraying to get the subtle variation of purple to blue.  This is a classic example of a Barium Blue glaze.  Barium is somewhat toxic and you are able to substitute strontium carbonate in place of barium, but then its just not quite the same : )