Fragile, but Fun...

I am currently working on two large pieces that are somewhat fragile, but very fun!  The first is an "orb"  that will hang off of a wall hook.  It is being made for a gallery show themed "light and shadow".  Hard to shoot photos and I am trying to be careful not to break it!!!

The second is a commissioned mask that a friend requested I make.  She is a an animal lover, so this is reflected in the rabbit, raven, bird theme...

Both pieces will are greenware so they are in the very early stages...

UPDATE:  Only 30 minutes after this post, I broke off one of the orb spirals!  LOL

I Finally Got Production in the Studio Today!!!

It has been a long time since I was in the studio?  After my metal sculpture class ended in early May I had lots to do around the house before I could go on my 10 day trip back east.  And now that I am back from the east coast, I am catching up around the house, especially landscaping.  So, finally today I took most of the day to work in the studio!!!

spirals for a metal project I plan to make this fall

1 of 4 bird feeders I am making for the Master Gardener plant sale in July

Another crazy pot

a very fragile quail orb!

All greenware, but I need lots more before I can fire away!  :)

Time to Get Back into the Studio!

Just got back from my east coast family vacation and now it is time to get back into the studio!  Some tall grasses have inspired me to work in both clay and metal...

Before I left for vacation, I remembered a project I volunteered to do but had forgotten all about it!  The 6"X6" mosaic project for Yavapai Community College.  So two days before I was leaving I created this little canvas.  I can't wait to see all of the 230 created by local artist assembled.  Each piece is $25 and the proceeds go to the Yavapai Community College Art Garden.  The event is September 14, 2014

Didn't Win...

...but I was honored to be part of such a great Student Art Show!  There  are some very strong works in this show.  My piece is in the 3D category which includes furniture, ceramics, jewelry, metal sculpture and regular sculpture.

At the Artist's Reception on Friday, many people commented that they liked my work.  One person said it was "weird", but they liked it?!?  Another loved it and wished it was for sale; her favorite piece in the show!

Since I am taking the metal sculpture class next semester, I will submit two works into the Fall Student Art Show....

My Metal Sculpture Class is Winding Down...

Next Thursday is my final metal welding sculpture class at the local community college.  It has been both challenging and fun.  From a welding point of view, the enclosure project was the most technical with the self-portrait running a close second.  The found object project was the most fun as I introduced several ceramic elements and there was less metal manipulation.  Just assemble and go!  I made two found object sculptures.

The first project of the semester was to create a wall hanging self portrait.  My sculpture below, titled "Middle Brained:  In Search of the Artist a Self-Portrait", is currently hanging in the juried Student Art Show at the Yavapai College Gallery.

My enclosure sculpture titled "What Weather?" was based off of a sketch I had created over a year ago that I wanted to create in clay.  This metal and ceramic sculpture will eventually end up outside on a wooden post in my backyard grape vineyard.

The final project was to create a sculpture from found objects.  Since I knew that I wanted to use ceramic pieces I sketched the design and created the ceramic pieces well ahead of the project due date.  As a result, I had time to create a second found object sculpture.

The first sculpture is made from found objects; a VW clutch (or so someone told me...), three railroad spikes, a flange, flat gear and rusty pipe.  This sculpture is titled "White Forest Found"

The second sculpture is created from found objects; square tubing, two railroad spikes and manzanitta branches.  On this piece I experimented with "brazing" to add the decorative brass color on the square tubing.  This sculpture is titled "The Industrial Revolution Meets Mother Nature".

I have signed up to take the advanced class in the fall!  

Some Wins and Some Losses...

I unloaded the kiln when I returned from welding lab around 4PM yesterday.  The most disappointing was the "water slide" decals I created. The failure ruined my dolphin gift!  Oh well... Only one of the decals that went on green or bisque works survived the firing.  However, they all had glaze on top of the decal which may have been the problem.  They all burned away leaving fragments of sepia color and the clear glaze puddled.  The two decals that appear to have fired properly were those on the already glazed surfaces.

It's amazing to me how much work goes into ceramics and there is always a risk that something will go wrong!  But, I shouldn't complain since I am still in the prototype and learning stage, especially with glazing.

A win...I will add decals and fire again...

A loss...you can see the "sepia" remains of the decals

this is where the decal actually worked!

this pot will get a wash in the textures area and be fired again

The work below is a metal and ceramic piece I am creating for a call to artist show.  The steel and copper metal metal circle still needs finishes and then the ceramic piece needs to be attached to the metal.  Finally live plant will be added to the copper "cups" and perhaps some other embellishments...  I will post a final picture of the completed work.

The photo below is my "found object" sculpture for my metal class.  It still needs some work before it is completed.  I will post the completed work.

Took a Quick Peek!

Although the temp was at 10444degF  I took a quick peek and YES my dolphin sculpture is in one piece!  NO explosions!!!  This evening the kiln might be cool enough to unload and I can see how my transfers did.

Finally Loaded and Firing...

I took my car in for service early this morning.  They shuttled me home which gave me time to finish last minute glazing for the kiln.  At 1PM I fired off the kiln and I am still waiting to hear about my car.  

Per the last post, I have my fingers crossed!!!  One suspect peice is in the foreground on the right.  It is a dolphin sculpture I have made as a gift.  At 212F water begins to boil. 

from http://www.dogwoodceramics.com/support/speed-is-not-your-friend.htm

 "The moment a water molecule changes from the water state to the gaseous state the molecule undergoes rapid expansion to a volume 1,600 times greater than volume occupied by a water molecule.  Explosive expansion would be a better way to describe the event. Thick walls of clay and other water molecules hanging around will not present much resistance to the rapidly expanding water molecule.  The sound of the clay exploding in the kiln has been described "like a flash-bang grenade" going off.  Hopefully only the single item will be destroyed, though all too often complete kiln loads of ware can be destroyed by the shock waves reverberating through the kiln. "

Shock waves doing the damage.  Amazing!!!

Kiln Almost Full!

I need to fire again and I am working hard to get the kiln filled!  I have some pieces that are part of a metal sculpture project for my class so they have to be ready in a week or two! Much of the kiln is re-glazing pieces that I did not like from the last firing.

In addition I am trying a new process; transfers.  I hope it works because instead of doing "test" pieces, I have put them directly on work that I want to give away!  Cross my fingers again!  I also created a sculpture that is on the edge for thickness.  I dried it in the oven for several hours hoping that I get all of the moisture out so that it does not explode!  I probably should have used a coiled process to create the sculpture.  Cross my fingers again!!!

A few more greenware plant pots and I will be ready to go.  Hopefully no later than next weekend...