Japanese Inspiration

I'm just back from China and Japan and you can not help but be inspired to create after returning from such a trip. I had the amaizing chance to walk on the Great Wall and to visit a Japanese Ceramic Museum (Toguri Museum of Art). I also just yesterday visited the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco were I saw a symbol very similar to the one above.

It is called, Ensō (円相) a Japanese word meaning "circle" and a concept strongly associated with Zen. Ensō is one of the most common subjects of Japanese calligraphy even though it is a symbol and not a character. It symbolizes enlightenment, strength, elegance, the Universe, and the void; it can also symbolize the Japanese aesthetic itself. As an "expression of the moment" it is often considered a form of minimalist expression. In the caption at the Asian Art Museum they also said something like that it can mean "everything and yet nothing" which I found so interesting.

I want to use this symbol of Enso on some new work. I can wait to get started.

Bear Gulch Montana

My wife and I just returned from Vacation to Montana and Idaho. We had the chance to visit an amazing "Pre History" site called Bear Gulch. This is a gorge on a private ranch near Lewistown, Montana that has the largest concentration of Petroglyphs and Pictogrpahs in the US. There is also a huge fossil site. The color of the rock with this ancient art work (3,000-10,000 years old) was awe inspiring. I keep thinking about how I might capture some of this feel in some new work.

Jars! Jars! Jars!

I started loading the kiln this morning for a bisque fire and I wanted to make sure I captured for you these jars I made to be companions for the small pitchers. I created several slightly different forms and lid treatments as some what of a study. Enjoy.

Chinese Character Vases

I picked up some very small Chinese wood type blocks on an EBay auction and I have been looking for away to use them. They are so small (1/8 x 1/8) that when used as a clay stamp they become nearly impossible to read. Since I don't know Chinese and they are so small I decided to use them only as a decorative texture. Here are my results from yesterdays work in the studio.

Fish Mugs

8 Fish Mugs made Saturday. These are 4.25" in height, 3.25" in diameter, extruded handle with handmade custom fish stamp. Earthenware.

I made a pair of mugs like this for my last kiln fire but the glaze I choose for the outside decided to run and pool around the foot ring. I liked the overall result, so I'm trying again.

New Take On Handbuilt Brocade Bowls

I am still very interested in adding these delicate textures to surfaces and this week I have been exploring a 1/2 and 1/2 idea. Half the bowl or plate is stamped with the texture leaving the other half smooth and clean in contrast. I think this takes the idea into a more contemporary feel which I'm liking.

I also made two new rounded square plaster molds to experiment with. This is an image of a small bowl and a 8" square plate using the molds. Both these pieces are using a new brocade design and the 1/2 and 1/2 design concept.

Pictured is a square bowl with steep sides. Each side has been embossed with a Brocade relief. This container was hand built and has an archaeological feel about it. The red clay green ware body helps give this vintage feel.

My green ware shelves are full so as soon as my new pieces are fully dried it's time to fire the kiln and mix glaze. I have found several new glaze reciepes I want to try.

Hot Syrup!

There is nothing better than hot syrup on pancakes or waffles. This little pitcher is inspired from a piece my wife has and uses to heat syrup in the microwave. It measures about 3.5" tall and the opening at the top is about 2" in diameter. A well formed spout and handle complete the piece.

These were just made and are shown as greenware. I have never made a piece with a spout before and I was somewhat please at how these turned out.

I created a paper template to rough out the spout from a rolled out slab. I then draped it over a piece of cardboard that was folded like a tent. They were allowed to dry almost leather hard allowing me to attach them to the thrown body. Once attached I cut away the body that intersected the spout.