Sunday 21 December 2014

Ickworth house.

Ideas for future Christmas shows and pottery in general.

Would like to try throwing in a white earthen ware clay, maybe even porcelain and paint on the vessels. I would like to incorporate my sketches into the work either directly or throw transfer.  It would be good to have a go a drawing different species of birds as well as my quirky line drawing for Bird Chatter.

I do like the red clay and slip combination that I use for the bird chatter series, so will continue to make these, but just want to expand my portfolio.  I would also want to spend some on experimenting on the finish of vessels.  What level of finish does need to be or rather I want it to be.  I like the mark of the maker on a cup, so you can see where it has been removed from the wheel, but I do still need to make  sure the finish, once glazed is still of a high quality.     

Saturday 13 December 2014

Open house, last day

Il Last day of the open house.  Been a great few days, I always forget how nice it is to talk with people about your work.    The space we have is small but it works.  The new year will bring some changes though as my current studio partner will be moving out and I will need to find someone else to share with.    Will have to think about how to reorganise the space to make it work more efficiently .  The space will only really work with another ceramicist, so hopefully I will be able to find one.

In the meantime, I have work to finish and new work to develop, so the next few months will be busy.  I  may also have a large tile commission that I need think about and to price up. 

My project for the MA is shaping up, I fact the idea seems to be splitting into two.  in one the focus is more narrative based, and the other is exploring ritual vessels.   Will post more when the ideas are more solid.

Before signing off here is my quick sketch from yesterday evening while waiting for the bus home at 8.45pm. It was a 6 min wait so had to be quick.

I also did a sketch in the studio but not entirely happy with this, the lighting is tricky to captureand so is Liz's work as the finer detail is impossible without a sharper point, still using my fingers.



Wednesday 10 December 2014

Thoughts for the day

Disappointed that my glaze did not arrive yesterday for me to put a firing on, however I am hopeful it will arrive today for me still to do this.  I am currently on my way to a meeting, but after that I have the afternoon and evening to get the studio ready for the open house tomorrow.  I am excited to be involved again, even if it on a small scale. It is good to have a deadline to work towards and creatework for.   

Here is yesterday's sketch.   I am afraid that I did not do a drawing for Sunday or Monday, there  was just not the opportunity. Although I did do two sketches on Saturday, so I can count for of those for Sunday.


Still stuggling to get facial features with just the pressure of my figure, so will invest in a stylus at some point.  The drawing was also completed using the fine tip pen rather than the bolder fountain pen.  Both worlk well though.

Here is today's sketch drawn on my walk home from Falmer to woodingdean.  It is the view over Falmer village.


It was cold and there I was standing up drawing this so it really was quick.  You get an impression of the place though. 


Saturday 6 December 2014

Ovingdean cuppa stop.

Bycycles are particularly difficult to draw for some reason.  Got there in the end but the perspective is slightly off.

Having fun drawing this view from the cafe across to the marina.  Been trying out the different tools on Paper 57.  It is surprising versatile.  Will continue to experiment.  Right the sun is setting so time to get home for a spot of dinner.

On the bus home, 5 dec

Last night on the bus home I drew the following.

Despite my reservations about drawing on the bus, this came out okay.  As you can see there were not many people on the bus but I think that worked well.  Although the bouncing around caused a few issues, but I pushed ahead and tried to make the best of what was in front of me, as I knew when I got home I would just be too tired to do a sketch.

Today is a new day, there are not many days left to the open house but all seems to be progressing nicely.  I shall put a kiln firing on today or tomorrow and a glaze firing will go on early next week.  Just waiting for the glaze to arrive,

I am still buzzing from by visit to uca on Wednesday,  it has given me much to think about and I need to speed time developing by project as well as working on sketch books.  I shall start this today.  

At the moment I am waiting for a fireplace expert to come and investigate our chimney.  We are getting a small wood burner for our living room and we need to know if the chimney is sound or if we need a chimney lining.   Anyway perfect opportunity to catch up on the blog and post last night's drawing.  The Sun is shining and it feels like a great day.



Thursday 4 December 2014

Sketch for 4 December.


Trying out a larger composition, so working on a smaller scale to what I am seeing.  Always difficult for me as I always want to draw larger than life.  

Wednesday 3 December 2014

Open day at the UCA, Farnham

Really excited about the open day today.   Looking forward to finding out more about the MA in ceramics and whether or not it is what I want to do. Hopefully the day will help answer the question of whether I feel ready to do an MA.  I have a project in mind that would benefit from the support of fellow students and staff feedback, but the only thing letting me down at the moment is a portfolio of recent work, I need to get professional images produced.  I also need to spend time developing a cohesive sketch books ideas and research around one idea, rather than a collection of different projects and ideas that are not developed.   Need to also hone the research statement and develop a bibliography.  

To help with the sketchbook development I have signed up for a 10 week evening class in January February and March.  This is based around 3d and print and I am looking forward to this.  Would like to explore the green man theme as a side project to the my MA proposal.

I would also like to instigate a drawing project of one per day for the next 365 days.  This would be a great tool  to be creative, get me  drawing and exercising my visual awareness.  I want to attempt this using the Paper app on the ipad.  Will post images to this blog, or maybe create a separate blog, see how this goes.

Regarding bibliography, Ashley Howard's work I greatly admire.  He was a visiting lectuter will I was a student at Brighton and he was an influence on my final pieces in my degree show.   I love throwing on a large scale, the sculptural quality you can get is fantastic but unfortunately, space, money and a commercial market have made me downsize my work after graduating.  Working on a larger scale is something I would like to explore as part of the MA as I think size and setting could be appropriate for my project.

Approaching clapham junction so will continue blog post when back on the Farnham train.

Now on the Alton train from platform 9.   Had to wait 20 mins for the connecting train but fortunately there was warm waIting area, very chilli this morning.  

Started thinking about the logistics were I to do an MA at Farnham.   It is a 2 hour train journey or a 1hour 15 min car journey.  Which would be better?  Questions to ask, is there car parking? what time do lectures start?  How many days are you required to be in uni as a part-time student?  Cost by train is £25 even at 8am so it is feasible, depends on what I would need to transport.  So that is something to think about, the logistics if making large scale pieces.  I love travelling by train as you can utilise the time well, a car journey however will allow easy transport of work.  Perhaps a balance o the two depending on the day ahead.

To end this post, here is a quick sketch on the journey,  difficult to get the delicate facial features with the pressure of ones finger on the ipad, may have to investie in e-pen.  






Tuesday 2 December 2014

December 2nd, 2014

Paper app sketch, costa coffee, 2.12.14
First sketch I have done using this app.  Needs more experimentation and may need to upgrade to get the blending tool, but not bad for a first attempt.
Right off to the studio for an hour.

Thursday 27 November 2014

Hitomi Hosono

Ceramic review January 2014

The work of Hitomi Hosono is reviewed.   Fantastic work, the detail is exquisite.  Made in porcelain and carved in fine detail.  She also uses spring moulds, which is what ultimately interests me.  Sprig moulds are traditional to Wedgwood jasper ware, but the diference here is the become form not just decoration.  I love this idea and want to explore further for my current research into vessels with a nature theme (the woodwife).  

The sprigs are created using plastercine because you can carve fine detail, then plaster moulds are created - press moulds.  Porcelain is a versatile clay which will allow for much movement while wet but is very fragile in an unfixed or 1st fired state, but worth experimenting with.  Not really used it apart from the odd experiment.  Image below is a sample of Hosono's work.


Wednesday 26 November 2014

Work in progress

Owl brooches, fridge magnets and bag charms have ther underglaze on now, just to put a clear glaze on now and 2nd fire.


More bird chatter plates to complete first has been first fired and is waiting for colour and second glaze 2nd is almost dry ready for first fire.  These are approx 20cm wide.



Here are some handle less mugs drying, and one small mug which is an experiment re size and handle shape.  Will post am update when they are dry and I have drawn into the.

Other things on the go are: 
Large plate, platter
20cm plate x2
Saucer, small plate

While be throwing some utensil holders, knickers design, tomorrow.  Intrigued?  I will post an image once dry and I have drawn into them.





Friday 21 November 2014

Glazing day

Today is all about the glaze.  I have many tiles and small pieces that have been fired once and need to be coloured with under glaze and a clear glaze appled.  They are then ready to be 2nd fired.
See images below.  Will post an update when they are finished.


Thursday 20 November 2014

Library visit

Books that are of interest in my research for my next big project.

Breaking the mould, New approaches to Ceramics;  Black Dog Publishing
Ceramic and the Human Figure, Edith Garcia
Living in Fairy Tale World, Mister Finch www.mister-finch.com

Mister Finch is a textile artist and creates these wonderful creatures from another world.   His influences are from the natural world and British Folklore.  Exactly what I am looking at in developing my Woodwife project.   Will post more information later about this.  

The work of Bonnie Kemske is also of interest to me.    She makes tactile forms that are about the interactions of the person and the form.  A performance rather than just a visual experience.  Her influences seem to stem from a spiritual source - Zen, and this is also something worth exploring.

Further research needed in the Library to continue to investigate ideas and develop future projects.






Tuesday 18 November 2014

Jerwood Gallery


I visited the Jerwood gallery, Hastings on Sunday.  Image above is looking out from the gallery to the east lift.  I love this gallery, while it is small it is well designed and has a great cafe overlooking the fishing quarter and the stade.

Exhibition on show at the moment is work by jake and dinos chapman.  Compelling viewing .   The work reminded me of Dante's inferno.    I need to percolate the work more before offering a review, but it is worth going along.


Just for fun here is an image of the fire breathing dragon outside the gallery, on the stade.  He was part of the hastings storytelling festival.  Also performing stories in the yurt was storybeard. StoryBeard




Thursday 6 November 2014

Preparation for the Christmas open houses 2014 is under way

It has been an age since I last posted a blog.  However after a difficult fews months or I should say year,  I am finally getting back into the studio .  Been in today to sort the  space out and prep for a throwing session.  

Some of my clay has lost its labels, but think I have figured out which is which and have relabelled.  Need to have a big glaze clear out as well.

Plans for the open house, make more bird chatter pieces and some Christmas gift ideas that are reasonably priced.  - stocking fillers really.  Need to think about gettng some gift cards printed up as well.  

Ordered my business card and some postcards from moo.com.