One Sided Process

During the summer of 2023, I produced a lot of work for 6 upcoming craft shows that started at the beginning of September and ended at the end of November. I never wanted to be a production potter. I have maintained a separate career in IT so that I can have the privilege of making what I want when I'm in the studio. At this point, I had a strong need to expand and change my work. 

For my personal art collection, I collect work, primarily, by local, abstract artists. I've always been envious of abstract painters. They seem to start with a concept and then let the paint guide them through it. Once I roll out the slabs for a piece, the only wildcard is which color I will glaze it. 

After 2023, I was at a crossroads and seriously bored with my work. I contemplated a significant change, but I wasn't sure how to go about it. I started several pieces, all with new techniques for forming. None were worthy of photos, but they taught me a lot. Whatever the results, trying new work and learning reinvigorated my interest in ceramics. I didn't know what to do next, though. 

Enter Wendy Liss, a friend and fellow ceramic artist. Her work can be seen here: Wendy's Website and on Instagram. The images don't do her work justice. They need to be experienced in person. She and I spent a morning discussing our work over coffee. I have had many conversations about art and work with fellow artists, but never this type of discussion with someone who needed no translation. I was talking to someone who knew and understood the medium. It was wonderful. As I was to learn, Wendy starts with a concept and then works from it, creating a piece as she goes along. It's not finished until it's finished. 

After our inspirational discussion, I was ready to get to work. 

I call these pieces "Franken-Vessels." For One Sided pieces, I start with a regular, twisted form and alter it. I concentrate on one side and let the others happen. The Franken-Vessels go one step further. Once I've formed the original piece, I alter the base. I want these pieces to have a tilt. I feel that tilt will launch something interesting with each side. 

Once the base is ready, I start adding slabs to each side. No slab is cut exactly the same. If the curve is convex, it's likely to accentuate a twist and sweep up and then down. If it's concave, it's going to create a curve upwards and around the side.  

I've tried to make some pieces like this in cone 6 porcelain. The finished piece is beautiful, naked, and very interesting. However, porcelain is so challenging to work with. It can be an exercise in futility. These pieces require a lot of handling, manipulation, and time. Porcelain just isn't conducive to it. I might do a few smaller pieces in the summer when the humidity will be working with me. TBD