So this is a ceramic painting to the extreme. It is extreme because it is made totally with knowledge of what would happen and planning and I expected it to be essentially what it is. Its a bit darker than I would like but that is not bad, it just needs to be in the sunlight .. but so does iron spots on tea pots. The frame was not an experiment, the glazes I used were not an experiment ..... it all was just to melt and be.
I love the mixing. Its so intense and chaotic.
This is a mantle piece. Just for shelves. The back is pretty cool too.
The whole thing about the self standing pieces started cause I wanted to have paintings that didn't risk falling to the ground. They don't have to be on the wall.. they can just be paintings. Like a photo can be a photo in a frame. Luckily these don't need a frame or a stand or anything, they are the whole deal. I learnt that these "handles" are strongest when they are a loop, of course.
The diamond shape is soo interesting, I am glad I did it, it is the only one which I did end up making this kind of sideways.
I had to do it sometime...
The cadmium red is blood-like
And by firing it sideways I get a blood drool going up the wall !!
This is CP (ceramic painting) Cone Wars detail. Those bright purples and greens are all Copper Flambe glaze layered with a simple white satin recipe, mixed with the white of the cones it sets off the orange of the iron wash. I am happy with the colours, there was a risk that the iron would be too dark or the brown would kill the pinks but it's totally nice the way it is.
I was aiming for the look of an explosion; I built the cones into the layers of glaze, I knew they wouldn't float in the tray of glaze because the satin glaze doesn't move around, so the cones were fixed in an arrangement that would mean as they melt they curl outwards like a flower.
I should explain what cones are! Cones are a ceramic tool to indicate the temperature of the kiln. They are made of a combination of elements so that their melting point is controlled to a particular measurment, more reliable than pyrometers or just looking at the red heat. So I used cones as a bit of an in joke, but also because they curl eerily like fingers and if they are arranged right could look like a range of movement. Now that all didn't exactly work but that's ok too.
The tray frame was made when I was thinking about how free I am to use any shape in ceramics. I wanted it to be simple at first glance but also different on all sides. There are just so many different ways to frame in ceramics that his is just a tiny sample of a huge idea (Which I hope to explore next year)
The flat plain of the piece has kept the canvas detail printed on its surface as well as the rice impression within it. I wanted to create the opportunity for the glazes to be in different thicknesses so I could have a speckled effect rather than the one depth pour of colours, this was relatively successful but I will explore it further.
Its a shame I has a hairline crack but that's a good reminder that everything is fragile.
Layers of tests and exploring is what this is... a cumulative effect.
Cone wars? Because it looks like an explosion , duh!
Overall I love the piece! But what to do with it!? Perhaps a friendly trade ...
