Raku Pottery

During high school I took a lot of ceramics classes, and my senior year our teacher set up a day to do some raku firing outside in the parking lot after school. I remember having some kind of conflict and not being able to go, but the way everyones work turned out from this specific type of firing was awesome and I've always wanted to try it.

I found some work from an artist named Steve Mitchell and thought his technique turned out really nice. It explains how he uses a method similar to raku but not entirely the same. Here is the link if anyone wanted to read it:

http://artpark.typepad.com/artblog/2008/07/raku-pottery-by-steve-mitchell.html

I thought these lamps would be really cool to make, but unfortunately I do not possess the skills and the steady hands to make these. Maybe I could make something similar with coils?

Favorite Pieces From Our Visit to Akar

Hey guys! I thought the trip to Akar today was really neat and they had some awesome stuff there. These candlestick holders were among some of the pieces that stood out to me. I thought that they had a really fascinating shape, so I asked Jim how these were most likely made. I was surprised to find out that they were probably made on a pottery wheel. He said that the top half and the bottom half  were most likely made separately and then assembled later on. When I think of objects made on the pottery wheel, I generally think of round symmetrical objects, however I guess this goes to show that thinking outside the box and being creative is key when it comes to making a one of a kind piece. I want to keep this in mind while working on some of my future pieces and hopefully use some techniques that I saw today while visiting Akar! If you didn't make it, you should check it out because it was really great!

made by: Gay Smith, North Carolina

Check out the Rosenfield Collection website, it has tons of images of hand built ceramic objects. I thought it was pretty interesting and might help you guys come up with some ideas.

Here is a link to handbuilding page:  http://rosenfieldcollection.com/?cat=24

Jenny Mendez

Ted Adler

Jerilyn Virden

Kathy Butterly

From Ceramics Today, "American ceramist Kathy Butterly earned a BFA at Moore College of Art in 1986 and an MFA at the University of California, Davis in 1990. Her awards include the Evelyn Shapiro Foundation Grant in 1993, an Empire State Crafts Alliance Grant in 1995, an NYFA Grant in 1999 and the Anonymous Was a Woman Award in 2002. Butterly makes colourful mixed earthenware and porcelain, small-scale, semi-abstract, whimsical sculpture and sculptural vessels, many with bodily references. Some of her slip-cast and softly folded, twisted and assembled forms are vaguely reminiscent of American master potter George Ohr’s work."

Here are a few of her pieces that liked the most:

While these artworks don't have much function, they are unique and visually appealing. The folds that she incorporates into the clay are sleek and modern. Its hard not to stare at them and appreciate how smooth and defined the clay was sculptured, and to try and figure out what these pieces mean, if anything. I think what makes these so unique are the organic shapes she makes out of the clay. Its hard to replicate what she has done, even when they look so incredibly simple. 

The Beauties of Spanish Art

I recently studied abroad in Spain this past spring and saw some really amazing Spanish art. I used to love going into small art stores and checking out some of the work that the locals made. I posted some of my own photos below (sorry for the poor picture quality). Many of the ceramic pieces that I saw focused more on the glazing technique or design rather than the form of the piece. As you can see below, all of the pieces I took pictures of have a lot of colorful fun designs. I loved all too many of these ceramic pieces and wanted to buy them all. Sadly I didn't due to the fact that they probably wouldn't have made it home in my suitcase..