But shapes start forming in the imagination, and like a summer thunderstorm which have been numerous of late in the Midwest- eventually it unleashes and takes shape in our physical world.
This latest round of making all began with cabbage.
A couple years ago you may remember that I used spring cabbage leaves to imprint clay and create a variety of leaf dishes.
Picking back up this thread, with new inspiration and more complicated shapes has occupied the brief time I’ve found in the studio of late. I imprint the leaves onto a slab of clay, and incorporate mold slumping, wheel throwing and coil building techniques to create shallow bowl shapes which are raised on pedestals.
The piece are feeling at once exquisite and elegant in their silhouettes, but rudimentary and honest in their build. What I mean is that I am leaving traces of their making, a viewer may be able to tell how it was constructed, where a bowl was turned on the wheel the neat even smoothness left by a sponge is visible, a coiled pedestal is attached securely, but without completely smoothing and erasing it’s origin, onto the base.
I’m having fun, exploring something new. My husband finds these to be a little, ‘clunky’ compared to the stylings of other collections, and I agree. Growth can sometimes be clunky, but I enjoy their heft and the push and pull of daintiness and roughness in these pieces. I am excited to see these to fruition. In the glaze I am feeling the mystery of tenmoku- which is a dark brown molasses like glaze, nearly black which will break into a warm reddish brown. I am hoping this effect happens around the texture of the cabbage leaf imprints, and other areas where the loose handedness can be accentuated.
Certainly, while I am enamored with how these pedestal bowls and Irish coffee styled mugs are looking at present, they are not done yet- this week they will be bisque fired and the glaze in the end will tell if they are a success or not. My biggest concern right now is that with the thickness of the glaze I am desiring, it will melt and run too much in the kiln, so I am hoping that careful glazing along with some precautions will lead these where I see them in my mind’s eye. I think they will look moody and pop when holding with fruit, specially of the citrus variety. They are meant to be center pieces and scene stealers on a table weather displayed with a full spread, or a solitary piece.
In other news - I have decided that I will not be applying to a Chicago show this Fall. I will miss seeing my people- but the level of preparedness and production nessary to make it worth my time and energy is something I don’t feel up to this Summer. My youngest is still a baby and with all that comes with also having a toddler in the mix, I am happy to soak up baby land , all whilst trying to maintain my sanity on the sleep deprived days.
Not doing a big show should also free up my creative liberty- I expect to dedicate some time developing a new line of dinner ware, and also working on some new birdie pieces in time for holiday shopping.
Next year I hope to pay a visit to Chicago with my pots (and maybe beyond!) but this Fall I will be at three smaller local shows - check *here* for further info on where to find me!
I am also considering hosting an open studio- I have larger pieces which I will be ready to part with soon - as of now they are in the garage serving as a rainwater collection for the plants which clearly prefer water from the sky rather than the soft water from the tap, but they are much too pretty to linger there forever. Having pottery collectors and friends to see these pieces is something I have thought about for a while now, and in the absence of a big show this Fall- maybe it is the right time!
As always, thank you for reading, collecting and supporting my work. I truly appreciate it. Wishing you a lovely remainder of the Summer- until next time, Emilie.
