Hummingbird bench, final colors.

Here's the final result for the hummingbird bench for Chandler Center for the Arts.  I went with a stronger color for the background tiles because the green celadon just didn't have enough punch to it.  This is blue matt, with a spray of oribe over it.  I'm taking the tiles over to the CCA this weekend to see how they fit.  Then it's time to check grout colors.  I'm thinking probably just a variety of a pale brown so it won't detract from the design. 

Progress Report: Cat Retablo

I've applied underglaze to the unfired altar.  These colors will be much less bright after the glaze firing.

What I'm trying to decide now is whether to put an oxide on the background to "age" it a little bit.

When I was young it was the rage among the newly marrieds to make decoupages of old prints, using strong coffee or tea to age the work, much like the effect oxides have on clay work.

If I do use the oxide, I'm going to keep the black and white rope pattern un-aged for contrast.  Would it look better to darken the altar portion to make it stand out more:  what do you think, black or brown?

Inspiration or Imitation

Our ceramics teacher asked us to prepare to discuss where our inspiration comes from, i.e. where we look for new ideas when we're feeling a little stale.

We were at the Tubac Festival of the Arts on Friday when I saw these little bowls, and fell in love with the feet.  I rarely do stuff with feet, but I think I want to explore this area for a little while.  These have so much personality, don'cha think?

There were several ceramic displays with the crystal glaze that seems to be popular, but these really caught my eye.  That's what we want to make, right?  
Something that stands out from the pack.
 

New Project

A client of mine wanted to know if I could make a custom altar, or retablo, and wanted it's subject to be cats.

Sure I can.  Even though I never have, why not?  So I researched some cat pictures online and came up with this layout.  I traced it on stencil paper to lay out on porcelain clay.

The stencil paper didn't work well because it absorbed the moisture from the clay and crinkled all up.

Sam at the studio suggested that in the future I put plastic wrap between a paper drawing and the clay.  I'll try that next time.

Anywho I used a dry calligraphy pen to make the impression and after working on it A LOT after the initial impression I got what you see below.  I'm actually pretty happy with the results.  Now I have to let it get bone dry, then I'll put some underglaze on it and bisque fire it.

I'll take a picture when that phase is done so you can see how it turns out. 

All fired up

Here is the coffee table after firing.  Colors are richer, and look more painterly, which was my goal.  The client was happy with the finished look.  Now we need to get the table prepped, tiled glued and grouted.  That little strip of brown in the middle is the grout color the client picked, and the color of the metal table will be that brown as well.


What'ya think?

Almost done

Here is the coffee table top, all underglazing done.  Taking it to the studio for glazing and firing and should have it back by the end of next week, I hope.

It's always interesting to me to compare the colors before and after they're fired.  That blue that you see will be much, much darker.  The pale tan will be a rich brown.

At least that's the plan.  We'll see!

Which one?

The background color for one of the benches I am making is supposed to be a celadon green as you can see in the bottom photo.  I thought, and so did some others I polled, that it looked a little pale and washed out, so I did a second sample with a deeper green.  Which one do you like?