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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jerwood Gallery

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

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.