Saturday 13 February 2010

New Work

Here are some pictures of Julia's pot mark II completed, quite happy with the way this one turned out, it has an antique feel to it, slightly decadent, and a little bit cheeky.






A change is a foot...

Last night I went out for a beer last night with my old friend Dan Moran who studied ceramics at Camberwell and although he is now training to be an accountant, I believe will end up being a ceramic man again. In fact I wish he was now. We had quite an enlightening conversation about the direction of my art work. Dan is of the opinion that its time to move on from the vessels I have been making onto creating more delicate, intricate and non-functional pieces. I have been having thoughts in this direction for quite some time. I have bought a bag of porcelain, some books on porcelain ceramics, on women in art, and the history of studio ceramics. I am looking for inspiration, stocking up on ideas. I just wish I had the time to invest in making change happen. A few hours a week in the studio means that my work develops at a snail's pace which is profoundly frustrating

I have been following the work of ceramic artist Conor Wilson for a few years now, I find his work highly inspirational, fresh, and more importantly it is Art...not 'just' pots. As much as I respect Bernard Leach and the role he has played in the formation of studio ceramics I feel that he has also indirectly played a role in the slow acceptance of ceramics as a medium in art. Generally people are unaware of the intellectual thought and the role of spirituality in the creation of these pieces, and the fact that the works of Leach and Hamada are fully appreciated as art in Japan and Korea. I know that I wasn't fully aware until recently. This lack of knowledge coupled with the fact that leach style pots have become so commonplace due to their successes that they have lost some of that original charm which they had when they were first produced. This means that people often see these pieces as just brown pots. To fully appreciate the work it was necessary for me to read extensively about the Leach tradition.

Having read in detail, I sometimes feel guilty for creating work that is not in line with Zen tradition, and not god forbid...not functional! And then I see the work of someone like Conor Wilson, and my confidence begins to grow. The time of change for me is very near. Hopefully my MA will push me over the edge, I think the main thing I need is confidence....


'Lemon Squeezer' (1998-2001) above is one of the first pieces a saw by Wilson....again the body as an influence. Apparently this piece was inspired by a dream he had about having sex with himself!!


'Hermit' (1999). Again an enormous phallus.

'Triple Necked Vessel' 2008, work in progress, with what looks like a little fanny on the front.

'Triple Necked Vessel' 2008, the completed article. It is worth checking out his web site http://www.conwilson.com/ He writes really well, and in great depth about his thoughts on the development of his work. It is an interesting insight into the mind of what I believe is a very important ceramic artist.

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Oh My God

Having just announced that I would like to explore the role of women in art and the idea of the vessel and its similarities with the female form, I was enthralled and a little bit disconcerted to find the following images on some of the bogs that I follow.

The one above 'Like Butter' (1997) is by Kate Butterly an American ceramacist who creates small sculptural vessels which are based around the human form. In my mind they ooze feminine form, although not the typical airbrushed and svelte forms we all see in the media. This piece looks like the lower half of a de-robed female cherub, all rosy and pink, there are even what appears to be little nipples on the cushion upon which the rather graceless little cherub sits. I think I love it.

'Above Normal' (2008) also by Butterly smacks immediately of the uterus, with what appear to be little baby feet where the eggs should be. These are quite powerful and unsettling works that work on a part of my brain related to bodily functions and wet sticky things. The glossy pink of the body of the sculpture make it seem as though this one has been whipped fresh out of someones body plopped on the side board.

'Uterus Vase' by Stéphanie Rollin makes no bones about the fact that the vessel relates to the female form. This one is a bit too slick for my liking but it is another example of a woman out there looking at femininity and gender through ceramics. Maybe someone should write a book on this phenomenon!

Tuesday 9 February 2010

Follow me!!

I am appealing for followers. I have put a little gadget on the right hand side of my page so it is easy to become a follower, thus far I have one follower, loyal fiance John. I was tempted earlier this evening to log in under a different email and follow myself, but I thought that was a bit desperate. Come on make me feel loved, and as though all those hours I spend in the studio are worth it! I thought untill now that unlike an actor I didn't need an audience to do my work, but I take it back, a little bit of recognition in the shape of a blog following would be great. Comments ideas, tips and anything would be gratefully received!

Sunday 7 February 2010

Moving On

I went for an interview for 'Artist Teacher and Contemporary Practices' MA at Goldsmiths Uni the other week and I got a place! I start in September. This will mean more time for my artwork which I am chuffed about. My work seems to be moving along at The moment. I have ordered a lot of books on the role of women in art. My work has been taking on figurative aspect and I have been thinking of the vessel and its similarities to the female form. I also just read Gombrich's 'The Story of Art' and not one woman is mentioned. If I am a woman artist I need to understand the time line I am operating in.
Above is the pot I made a few weeks ago, it came out good, but not really how I wanted in terms of colour. This peice shows change and development in the forms I am making.
A group of recent pots after bisque, John's is on the right at the back. The front one is Julia's pot mark II.
I love this shape. This is a sculpture I saw at 'London Art Fair', stupidly I didn't write down the name of the artist.
This drawing is from my studio sketch book. I am working on this piece now. I have finished Julia's Pot mark II. I will take a decent picture to put on. I feel like I have wimped out a bit tonight but its 11.30 and I have school tomorrow, so I best get to bed!!
 
John eating icicles outside the studio!