I've been working on some new designs!
These are made from slabs, I roll them out with a rolling pin then roll in the grass or other material, then form a cylinder from the slab and attach a bottom. Then I use a tool (its basically a wooden spoon, so nothing fancy!) to force out the belly from the inside, leaving the imprinted material or just its imprint in the surface. You have to take care to not disturb the surface too much on the outside or you loose the imprint! Finally I use stains and transparent glazes to finish, so the imprint is darker than the back ground. This one has a black transparent glaze in the grass design, then a transparent green over it. The torn edge and rivets are a finishing detail I'm having a lot of fun with at the moment!
|
Exposed Coils
This particular coiling technique is one I first learned back in grade school in a summer pottery class. Over the years I've developed a style that I find fun and expressive, and its something my students have always seemed to enjoy.
Tan vase with turquoise throat
This is one of the first big vases I did, and its still one of my favorites. The way the opening is shaped and the random coil work are fun, then the flash of turquoise blue with the natural clay color of the exterior just keep the eye wandering around the piece. This one stands about a foot tall and is about 8 inches across at the widest.
Jade green vase
This one is smaller, but still has the funky opening and exposed coils. A lot of fun! This one is about 10 inches tall and 5 across at the most.
Smoothed coils
I admit this technique is one I started making large pieces with long before I decided to work the kinks out and do the exposed coils, but it still looks spectacular!
Swirled Blue Vase
I still love the lines on this vase, I might have to do some more like this. Its done in sections, and stands just about a foot tall. The swirl is from the glazes, they were applied to create the motion.