Ceramic Artist: Katherine J. Dube

Rings

Tupolino's Serving Sets

I'm lucky. 
Lucky enough that I'm being able to watched her working on her pieces. 
How she put attention to detail, patience and idea showed a lot on every pieces she made. 

Artist statement:
"I enjoy the process of discovery, starting with vessels and familiar forms of nature, taken to their less logical conclusions; setting up a symbiotic or even parasitic relationship between the elements of my work. Trained in the sciences, I allows the habit of inquiry and love of complexity of form to take hold in her work, exploring the connection between science, contemporary art, and the natural world." Katherine J. Dube

She received a Bachelor of science in Biology and Biochemistry, then returned for advanced studies in both Education and Chemistry. 
(I wonder if I should ask her to clone some of her idea to my brain.)

Ceramic Artist: Ayumi Horie

Ayumi Horie is a studio potter and ceramic artist who works in the Hudson Valley of New York making functional, handmade pottery for use in kitchens, offices, and cars everywhere. The pots are distinctly handmade, where idiosyncrasies and imperfections are celebrated as evidence of human vulnerabilities and foibles. She believes that intuition often trumps calculated planning in making a comforting and meaningful functional pot. 

milk-jar

milk-jar, originally uploaded by Heldegard.

I forgot about this milk jar I did few years back.. It is one of my favorite, i like the delicateness of the handle... and the owl just "sitting pretty"

Tree House, Part 8

Tree House, Part 8, originally uploaded by Heldegard.

So far so good. 
The glazing part wasn't as easy as I thought... especially when the glaze I use has been discontinued.
I tried to cover all branches and trunk with glaze , then wiping it off to show off the texture and tree lines. 
But I notice that the tree branches are so narrow, I can't get my hand in between. 


I'll figure out different methods later... now time for duckey!
(duck for thanksgiving)

Sculpture by Beth Stichter

I am no one

A Rush of Blood to the Head

Beth Stichter "A Rush of Blood to the Head" behind the story:
 "The first thing I like to make clear when talking about my work is that the images I create are visual questions that I am asking of myself, and by extension, all those who come in contact with them.  They are questions, rather than statements of opinion, because I am constantly struggling to reevaluate my own assumptions about human behavior and motivation- my self as the primary subject of scrutiny.  This ongoing internal investigation allows me to delve into subjects I find deeply uncomfortable and personal, using the sculptures I create as a means to speak of things I find impossible to put into words."

Looking at her work of arts is like reading thru her diary. It's very personal, but I can't stop reading nor put the book down. 

So much to read that kept me staring, and wondering what and why.

Every detail and every movement of her works awed me so much.

I wish I could put the book down.. 

But too afraid I missed the whole story. 

Beast in process

Ceramic Studio, Bandung

I visited Kandura ceramic studio last year in Bandung, Indonesia. 
It was a small ceramic studio with 2 designers who runs the studio and 4 other ceramic artisan who makes all the ceramic magic happened.

As I was trying to make few ideas going into mass product. But unfortunately it's difficult to connect the chemistry between the studio and I. Just a simple basic email communication that failed us, and internet was not to blamed. 
Other than that, the studio had really excellent, super talented ceramic artisans that worked for them. And they are amazingly good! Despite all the limited source and space, somehow they made an excellent job.

I made the list that showing how good they are:
1. No throwing wheels. Use left hand to spin the wheel... (never knew it even possible)
2. No glazing containers, no glazing equipment. 
They mixed glazed in small containers and brushed it on. (still turned out even!!)
3. No city gas. They use gas small tank for firing, that looked more like oxygen tank for diving, only twice bigger. (imagine how many they use? A LOT!)

Plate making

I do want that machine that can flatten the clay so fast... as quick as a thunder!
"BAM!"
The result? cute dancing mice plate... makes me happy. :D

Kathy King Gives Helpful Tips For Using Sgraffito in Your Work

I really love this piece. Not necessary because of the snake or the bird (yes I put a lot of bird on my ceramic pieces lately). But the way Kathy King brought such a simple technique became such an amazing pieces.

And how nice of her to show us the better way to do it:
Learn of the day: "Use 5-7 coats (instead of 2-3 coats) to a little over leather hard piece before you start to scratch"

"Make sure the paint dry enough before scratch, check by touching it make sure not leave your fingerprint"

Go ahead check on her video:
» A Good Scratch: Kathy King Gives Helpful Tips For Using Sgraffito in Your Work

Tree house, Part 7

Tree house, Part 7, originally uploaded by ega-ega.

I always wanted to have a tree house, a house that sitting in the middle of a gigantic tropical rain forest tree. I've been nagging to my dad all my childhood years. Even told him, that he will never ever had to worry about me nagging anymore if he built me a house tree. I guess he kinda knew that that never ever happened....

Despite that I also wanted a puma, a monkey, and my best buddy, Fitz that should came along with the house tree (hey he really should blamed Janet Jackson for having puma at her music video)

And now.... I have my own house tree. MY OWN!! JUST ME and buddies. It's not done yet, still long way to finish.
And it's too small for me to live in, but still my dream house.

Yes proudly to say i'm a tree hugger, literally.

Throwing Large Bowls

Quite amazing to watch this guy » Throwing a Large Bowl. 
And Large Pots too.
He made it look so easy...I want to try one day..

(Click on the link to see video demo.)

mangkok ayam "chicken bowl"

I found fancier stoneware chicken bowl from Mikasa compare to the bowl I grew up with.
But still I would choose the original "not so fancy" bowl, especially when it comes with tasty noodle and spicy minced chicken. Add a little bit vinegar and meat ball.

Pak, mie ayamnya satu ya... jangan pake lama.
(translation: Mister, one chicken noodle please... but don't add too much time)
PS: it's not so funny when translated in english... boo!