Finished

Ideas for the next "SAW" film!

I thought I'd post some shots of my assembly process as I finished up the construction of this piece. I was lucky to find this hospital lift which allows me to suspend the figure for the attachment of the feet. I cut a slot out of a level board which I have placed beneath the figure which will support the feet and allow me access to the underside so I can attach the bolting mechanism. Once the figure is standing straight, I lower her onto the feet by releasing the pressure from the piston. I then back-fill the gaps with PC-7 epoxy between the feet and the cuffs and allow to dry.

Update

Here are some shots of my latest piece as I hollow it out. I have chosen to cut off the feet and cold connect them post fire, to avoid their deformation during firing.

I've been doing allot of glaze tests recently, like these tri-axial blends that are ready to load this morning. Hopefully I can find a nice base glaze so that I can begin to expand my surface pallet. ( I actually really like this color gradation. I wouldn't mind having glazes that look like these unfired tests, although a little juicer!)

I have a blog?

We only have about 4 or five months of nice weather here in Edinboro, PA: June, July, and August being the best which is why I haven't posted to the blog since May. Here is a shot of this piece in its compleet state which I am titling An Interruption.

These are some shots of the piece I am currently working on in the studio. I've got a couple other pieces in progress but I am finding it more an more difficult to switch back and fourth between pieces. I think this is due in part to the difficulties of keeping multiple pieces at the right state of hydration especially when I have such an inconsistent studio schedule.

Caught in the Act!

So, I caught Derek throwing on the wheel for the first time since hes been here and I thought you'd all like to see this sublime spectacle! Who Said they would never throw on the wheel?

I dont have a Title

I finished this guy and loaded him in a bisque kiln. I slip trailed this piece with some of my drawn layers. This piece is the first of a deeper investigation of fragmenting the surface and possibly the actual figure in the future.

Natural Appearences

I have recently decided to add stalking to the list of my many hobbies! Here are some photos of my first target that I took as he was standing in the loveland ceramic studio. There's something really creepy about posting them all on a board, but hey, I take my hobbies seriously! ....In reality I have decided to start working from photo reference, and thought I'd let you all know.

Surface exchange

Here are some photos of the Pieces that I finished for the surface exchange project. I never thought something that seemed so ominous could be so much fun!....

Materieal or Craft?

I've been thinking allot about the choice of materieal when making work and how that influences an artists course of study. I look at the sculpture grads and I see them dooing all of these materieal studies, experimenting with the nature of each medium. In ceramics I dont think we do that so much because clay is such a direct and integral part of how we define ourselves. If I had to place a lable on my art practices I would consider myself a sculptor, but I chose a material ie. Clay, and decided to use it to communicate my ideas, based on its properties. I am questioning the logic of the decision to find a material and develop your content through it, vs. experimenting with materials and letting the content come from them. Should one aim to establish content first and then find the appropriate material, or experiment with materials until they find content?

Work in the studio

Its feels like its been ages since I have had the luxury of walking into my studio, sitting down and working on the sculpture in front of me. The structure of this semester more than any other seems to put demand on everything but studio work/making and it has been driving me nuts! I think a big part of it is having GAs that do not directly pertain to our studies, and partly the time intensive nature of the classes I am taking, but in conversation with peers it seems like its not just me. I understand that there is allot more to grad school than making work, but at times like this it seems like time for work is getting a little shafted. I guess I am just wondering what you all think or feel about the structure of our graduate program, and its relation to our studio practice? do you all feel like you have sufficient time to work on art specifically in your concentration?.... Any way I made this post because I finally got a chance to hollow this out.

Time traps aka Lithos

Here are some shots of the photo lithographs that I have been working on this semester. My aim is to bring some of these shapes and lines into the surface of my clay figures. printing is also providing me with an arena to experiment with color combinations that I can apply to my ceramic works.

Art of The State

Work Exchange

Making some figures for the class exchange gave me the opportunity to just make work without overthinking. After feeling a bit stuck and unsure of the direction of my current work, this exercise helped me to remember what is is that I like about the figure. this gave me the freedom to try to apply some of the input I have gotten on my work such as varring textural applications (using different brush sizes!), and including a bit more narative without spoon feeding. Anyway I had fun and I still like making people.

Arts at Edinboro

I just thought I'd throw in a plug for the Bates Gallery blog. I have been documenting the shows that pass through the galley for the past semester and unfortunately it doesn't get much traffic. So check it out! become a follower and spread the word! It would be great to get feedback and its a good way to see what students have been up too on campus.

influences

Lately I have been considering my approach to sculpting the figure and working with clay in general. i thought I would examine some of the work I like that has the qualities that I find exciting and attractive. Theses works by Peter Voulkos, Stephen De Staebler, and Wanxin Zahng demonstrate the freedom, and expressive qualites that inspire me.

New work

Here is a photo of the piece I am currently working on. with this piece I plan to draw simple forms on the surface like a tattoo, and color it with slips terra sigs, and post fire paints. Since the beginning of grad school I have been struggling with the application of the drawing I make to my sculptural figures. with this piece I hope to shorten that gap, and perhaps use it as a departure into sculptural work with more emphasis on environment, space, and shape.