Graphic Tray, 10-2016

I am experimenting with different ways to use the underglazes on my thin ceramic pieces.  I have never used bright colors until this summer and have never tried any graphic painting techniques with the glazes.  So this is all new territory for me.  I like this and am looking forward to trying some more designs.

Top of 18" hand built, VERY thin ceramic square tray with graphic design on top surface.

Bottom of hand built tray pictured above.

Cone Vessel Tripod Sculpture 10-2016

I set up the tripod for the cone vessel today and I'm pleased with the outcome.  I think I would like to do a series of these with different shapes hanging from the center.  I need to finesse the tying a little more, but other than that, I like the way it looks.  

15" Primitive Cone Vessel, hand built ceramics, raw white clay with red clay engobe (liquid clay) with texture carved into the engobe (technique known as sgraffito), lavender glaze inside.  Tripod is made out of Maple branches with twigs and leaves still attached.  Hemp twine was ued to fasten the branches together and to hang the pot.

Closer view of the cone vessel hanging within the tripod.

R.O.A.R. Art Competition, Russell, KS 10-16-16

I entered my very first art competition this last week at the R.O.A.R. Art Show in Russell, KS at the 4-H building on the east end of town.  This is a huge show of artists from all over the state of Kansas and some neighboring states.  I entered my large primitive vessel that I just picked up from the Shafer gallery in Great Bend and also took along my little pod pot since I could enter two pieces for the same price as one.  And lo and behold, the little pod pot WON  Honorable Mention in the Ceramic Division!!!!!!!!  I was so excited, especially because the first and second place pieces were very large thrown pieces of pottery.  I was very honored that my little hand built sculpture was recognized!!!  I titled the piece 'Cradled'.

I also want to mention that eight members of the Artists at Large group from Great Bend, of which I am a member, entered pieces in this show and six of the eight members won awards and one member sold a painting for $500.  We were VERY excited that we made a good representation!!!!!!

5" pod pot cradled in a found piece of wood with natural tripod base, title card from the show and the Honorable Mention (third place) ribbon.

More Spirit Plates

I just pulled the pieces out of the last kiln firing of the fall.  I am pleased with all of them and especially excited about the use of the glaze on the Spirit plates and the possibilities for the new cone shaped vessel.  Wish I could keep working for another couple months, but need to start framing my 2D pieces and getting the details completed for the solo show in January, 2017 at the Deines Cultural Center in Russell, KS--OPENING on Jan. 13th from 5-7.  Hope you enjoy these last pieces.

8" Spirit plates, front and back.

8" Spirit plates, top side only.

Sculpted face, raw red clay with turquoise glaze wiped off.

Sculpted face, raw white clay with turquoise glaze around edges.

15" tall raw white clay cone shaped vessel with red engobe (liquid clay) over outside, carved through to show underlying white clay (sgraffito), raw white clay embellishments around top edge and lavender glaze inside.  This piece will hang from the center of a 7' tall Maple branch tripod.