Slab Stiletto

For our slab shoes, I am really interested in making a Stiletto, or just a high heel shoe. I am contemplating the difficulty of it, and the more I think about it, the less challenging it will be. I will have to bring in one of my own high heels, so it's easier to model. I think these shoes are very pretty and feminine and not often modeled by clay. I think the biggest obstacle I'm going to have to deal with is the thinness that the shoe is going to be. I need to be extra careful and soft with it. Additionally, I need to make sure the heel is able to support the rest of the shoe. It's a new challenge I want to conquer.

Artwork

My work lately has been very original. I made a pinch pot and splatter painted light blue and yellow all around it. However, when I brought it out of the kiln for the second time, It was all dripped in a certain way and it looked so awesome! I finished my flower, and that came out the exact color I wanted it to. I found my "character is your destiny" mug and painted it a deep blue. I also attempted making a blue-purple glaze. After it came out on my test pieces, I took other glazes like sargasso, indigo, black, and others, and painted them over the glaze. They came out all looking so different. I still need to put the clear glaze over it also. I am currently working on my chia pet, which I made as a running shoe. Due to technical problems, I cannot upload those pictures at the time. But, as a little preview, I made it as an "old-school" running shoe. It should work out pretty well. I'm excited for Raku week, and I still need to throw on the wheel. What I would really like to do this year, is make something that I can put glass at the bottom of.

SLABtastic

Regina Heinz creates hand built sculptural ceramics, ceramic reliefs and wall pieces from inspiration from the mountainous landscapes of Austria, her home country. Each one of Regina's pieces combines form, surface texture, and color in a unique way to become an exclusive piece. Created from soft slabs of clay, Regina’s work is abstract but evocative, displaying an organic and sensual quality, reminiscent of human skin and the undulating "landscape" of a body. To the right is an example of Reginas's work, titled: Urban Life.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

Originating in San Fransisco, Chia Pets are traditional Mexican animal-shaped clay figures covered with chia, which is supposed to represent the animal's fur. Chia pets are grown by applying moistened seeds of chia After three to five days of filling and refilling the Chia Pet with water as well as discarding water that has accumulated in the provided drip tray, the seeds sprout, having formed a gelatinous coat that adheres to the chia pet's body. The first chia pet was a ram, but other figures that have been created are turtles, pigs, puppies, kittens, frogs and even cartoon characters such as Garfield, Scooby Doo, Luney Tunes, Shrek, the Simpsons, Mr. T, and the latest invention: Chia Obama!

RAKU

The firing technique of "Raku" ware was first developed by Chojiro, founder of the first generation of the Raku dynasty, in the 16th century. The word "Raku" comes from the ideograph engraved on that gold seal. "Raku" when freely and loosely translated can mean joy, enjoyment, pleasure, comfort, happiness, or contentment. The word "Raku" thereby became Chojiro's family name/title. The Raku firing technique utilizes a rapid rise in temperature in a fuel fired kiln. At glaze maturity, the Raku items are then taken out of the kiln and placed in an air-tight container with shredded newspaper and sawdust, and a short time later the Raku items are taken out and either air cooled or sprayed or dipped in water.

Gary Ferguson is an artist whose main firing technique is the raku style. He believes that using this techinque makes every piece unique becuase the exact process can never be reproduced. His main influences have been from Japanese, Chinese, and Celtic art. He likes the geometric patterns that are present and often incorporates it into his own pieces. Ferguson often times combines elements from various cultures into a single form. http://www.rubensraku.com/rubens_raku_site/design_pages/Raku_History.htm http://www.garyrferguson.com/bio.htm

Below to the left is one of Gary Ferguson's pieces. And below to the right is what a Raku firing looks like.
A wheelthrown Raku platter by Beth Ann Maragas.

My Work

Ceramic buddies at prom! Not cleaning the glaze room though...

Wes and I were on on glaze room duty. We cleaned it very well and it's nice and clean now! We swept, dusted, rearranged, sponged, and ordered the room. Below, I have a picture of my garden art. It is my favorite type of flower that I always draw and doodle with. Before my flower was fired, the stem and one of the pedals actually broke off! I had to spend a whole class resurrecting this piece but it's healthy now.

The sea green piece below was supposed to be my mug, but the handle was not cooperating. So I just made it into a handleless whatever. I am probably going to be using it as a vase. "Your character is your destiny" is one of my favorite quotes and I wrote it in my mug. The mug is still being painted, but I want to make sure the quote is clearly visible. The picture on the bottom right is the "signature" that I have decided to use on all my pieces. It is my initials all connected. I think it looks really cool when the glaze goes into the imprint of the signature.

Garden Art

Hand-carved stone statues and wall relief's, ceramic and clay pots, as well as primitive vessels, are used to enhance the garden experience. Garden art can be used to hold plant life, or to further accent your garden. The owner of the pot at right loves her concrete pots. She owns several and both are decorated with lines of sea shells and waves
of very subtle colour.