In The Studio

Here are some snapshots from the second half of September:
(Clockwise from the top)

Mineral bowls drying
Lithic vessels about to be fired in the kiln
Mineral bowls being glazed
Lithic vessels made for a Luce et Studio order
Mineral bowls in the making
Gazing from above onto the small Lithic vessels
A view from my Barcelona studio
A larger Lithic vessel posing on the table as I contemplate its form

In The Studio

 

I have been spending countless hours in the studio getting ready for my show at Luce Limited on August 3rd.  As I am taking a little tea break I wanted to post some images of work in progress.

Inspiration

A form and color study for my new project!

In The Studio

I just finished a firing and unloaded the kiln.

These are my Functional Landscapes.

In The Studio

In the coming few months I plan to focus on my Off Circle vessels again.  There is something about the organic shapes and thick lips that keep me coming back to these forms.  It has been a long time since I have sketched out my ideas.  I was having fun in the studio with my large pad, favorite pencil and a hot cup of tea.  It's nice to just sit back and sketch.  Trying out a form quickly on paper is much easier than building it in clay!

In The Studio

These are the results of my color tests.  I tested 1%, 3% and 5% of each stain in both a clear glaze and in Limoges porcelain.  The top photo shows the mini test bowls before the firing and the rest of the images show the final colors.  Of course, as always, the colors are not exactly what I expected, but I think there are a lot of beautiful ones.  I am especially into the really pale glazes and the deep purply-blue porcelain.

Bulusma IV

 I wanted to share some images from my mini booth setup at Bulusma IV.  This was the only art show that I did in 2012 and it was great.  I love the solitary tranquility of working in my studio, but I also realized how much I love sharing my work with others.  It's a lot of fun to put my work out there and see how people react to it.

The last picture is of my beautiful friend Burcu (owner of the amazingly delicious Cupcakery in Teşvikiye) modeling her new porcelain earrings!

In The Studio

I have spent the past week making molds for my new tableware line.  I like taking the time to make my molds pristine.  It's important to me to apply the clean and simple aesthetic of my finished work to the whole creation process.  I like treating the molds as mini sculptures in their own right.

In The Studio

Plaster, plaster, and some more plaster!!! 

I have been carving away at the prototypes for my new tableware line.  My hands are dry and cracking, my nails are worn down, but I think it is worth it.  I just finished making the plaster models of my dinner plate and small plate.  They both have organic pebble like shapes with subtle curves.  It's exciting to see my ideas come to life!

Lithic

Lithic is my new line of sculptural vessels.  It all began when I discovered this beautiful chocolaty clay.  Unlike my previous pieces I decided to work purely with handbuilding techniques.  I realized that off the wheel I could create more dramatic angles and severe curves.  Lithic is the result of an experiment with new clay and new techniques.  I can't wait to make more of them!  But, that will have to wait for just a few months, because I am now working on another new and exciting project!!

In the Studio

Today was my first full day back in my Barcelona studio. I am working on expanding the visual vocabulary of my Off Circle vessels.  I have been experimenting with fully hand-building them, instead of throwing the pots on the wheel and then altering them.  I think with this change in method I am able to create pieces that have a stronger organic feel.  Each new piece seems to be getting closer to the image I have in my head.

It's great to be back!

New Studio

At last my studio is done and I can begin to create!! I have so many new ideas I don't know where to begin. I guess my first task is to find some clay.

If you are a ceramist from Barcelona please leave me a comment and let me know where I can get clay.

The last image is my amazing view of the RENFE tracks!