Clay figures extraordinaire!

 Roxanne Swentzell

New Mexico

Ceramic Figures

“She is known for her expressive, hollow-build clay figures that capture a full range of human emotions. She uses traditional Pueblo hand-coiling technique. Her style is highly distinctive from facial expression and body posture, often Native American women and children, exaggerated hands and feet”

Photos credit to the artist & galleries

Clay demonstration in Santa Fe

I've covered Santa Fe paintings and prints and now for all those with an interest in ceramics this photo captures a historic Santa Fe moment, one of global importance in the world of studio pottery. Taken in Santa Fe in 1952. Demonstrating are Bernard Leach, Shoji Homada. Seated in the audience are Maria Martinez and behind her son Popovi Da. Leaning against the wall is Georgia O'Keeffe!

Santa Fe, Pictures on Face Book

By Noach Hoffman, Mar 27, 2024

I'm so glad when an old photo like this turns up! Of course nobody got the name of the potter actually throwing on the kick wheel!

 

A process

 Clay comes in a big bag. Heavy. Plastic which keeps it from getting dried out and hard.

Cut some off and then wedge it down (to make sure no air bubbles are in it)

Roll it through a wonderful slab roller device, where the clay becomes thinner and thinner each time.

Then cut, tear and assemble any way you wish.

So besides dragons (more on Number 4 in a minute) I needed some new orchid flower pots.

In process...

This is as the clay is drying, at it's most fragile stage before being bisque fired to cone 06...about 1300 degrees F.

If I want to stain or glaze it, I then can do that before firing it to cone 6...(2330 F) quite a bit hotter, which vitrifies the clay such that it will be food safe, or in my case, hopefully mold safe.

I may add color in some places. Haven't decided yet!

I did make 2 other flower pots, smaller. They are now finished bisqueing.

Art is alive and well in Black Mountain NC

Yesterday I visited the clay studio at Black Mountain Center for the Arts...and said hello to a few of my old clay buddies. I didn't stay long, but was glad to see 6 or so people working masked at wheels and tables doing their creative thing.

I also picked up some checks from sales in the little office shop. I have just a few more pieces there, and since I'm not working in clay these days, I was grateful that they are keeping them there. I won't add any more at this time.

And I looked at the gallery show, in which I have one piece. 

I'll share other pieces as long as this exhibit is up...I think only till Oct 23.

Chapter 4- more of my creations of 2019

I'm just keeping track here, so I understand if you've already seen these and are not interested. A record of sorts...all these before September.

The clay bends as it fires

When this was dry from being made, all the tendrils had  separated on the outer ends, and curled up away from the body where they were meeting it as I made it.  They had only been attached on the inner ends.  Some of them even broke off (thus the wider spacing between some.)

After bisque firing, they remained separated on the outer ends...about a quarter to a half inch away from the body.

So I dipped them into white glaze, and voila...they moved right back down and reattached to the body.

Clay also becomes very fluid in a hot temperature.

Stained bust of Kali

Finished, now I've got her around to catch every little thing I no longer need (psychically at least)...and thus I give her all that I don't want in my life any more.  She can take it.

In dry stage, waiting to be fired

Bisque fired

Finished with stains

This Soldate stoneware from Laguna clay works well for hand building. It has lots of tooth, and takes stain fine.  Fired to cone 5-6. No glaze, just red iron oxide stain.

More Bugs and Flowers !

Yesterday was Earth Day.  Did you see my Facebook posts? Well, one of them was from a few years ago, where I made a commitment to do something for Mother Earth, Gaia, daily.  Mmm, I may have let that ball slip through my fingers.

But now I've made a small figure of Goddess Gaia reclining on top of the mountains. Perhaps that will make up for a week of forgetfulness. She's in the kiln right now, so next week you'll get to see what she looks like.

And here's another of my bugs and flowers series...Blue Dragonfly on blue lotus blossoms.Clay is Little Loafers, glazes are Mayco Stroke and Coat, Designer Liner, and Matt Clear.

So I'll add another for your pleasure!

 

Another version of dragonfly on a luncheon plate (8") with some fish underwater! (more plates were posted last week Here) 

More goddesses are coming along.  But I've got some new clay also, so it will be fun trying it out, both to throw on the wheel and in sculpting! An alternative source for clay is now available in Asheville, Village Potters carries Laguna clays.  Highwater Clay has had the market cornered for too long, though they are still the pottery lovers "go-to" place.

Today's quote:


“What is needed to launch our societies along the humanistic path is some sort of evolutionary compass. Some way of guiding our efforts so that they are in tune with, aligned with, the general evolutionary processes of which we are a part… So rather than seek to dominate the planet, the quest becomes one of dynamic harmonization, of evolutionary consonance, in short, of syntony. The evolutionary compass, then, would be one that points our way toward syntonious pathways for future creation.” ~Alexander Laszlo