6.17.2012

In the Studio: Huggable Fence Jars









I came home super charged from my trip to Australia. I had been throwing large forms for other people but I hadn't gotten to decorate one myself in quite a while. These jars are a leap back into larger work. They are about a foot tall and almost 10 inches wide. I've tried to set up the proportions to give them a monumental feeling. They are a huggable size that you feel compelled to touch.

The making process starts with throwing the bodies and lids. I trim them as soft as I can before adding the fence pattern with a cake decorating bag. As the trailed slip hardens I tighten up the pattern with an exacto knife. Porcelain slip is then brushed on with a total of three coats. The underglaze goes on next and the sgraffito drawings form the final layer of decoration.

These went in the bisque this weekend so I hope to get them out tomorrow. I'm in a good spot in the studio. My show commitments are far enough away that I can start working on new ideas. I'm pondering a new body of work based on Shanghai but I'm not sure what form it will take yet. Feels good to be treading new ground even if it is still in the sketchbook stage.

5 comments:

  1. These sound like you put a lot of work into them, but they look like they are totally worth it.

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    1. Hello Lori,
      These jars are a labor of love that I am happy to have in my studio rotation. They are a great challenge to make but hugely rewarding when I get one finished.

      I hope you have a good week.

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  2. the design works so well with the pot- I love how fluid and yet so simple it seems.
    You work always makes me want to pick up a brush.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the kind words. Glad to hear my brush strokes come across as fluid. I'm always going for maximum movement in a small space. Some marks are better than others but hopefully they all add up to a design that looks casual but ordered.

      Hope you are having a nice weekend.

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  3. Works well, yes they do look huggable.

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