Yesterday I mentioned a few ideas were percolating in my mind. I thought I'd show you glimpse into my process and development behind the scenes. Here's some initial work on a couple of my ideas. The circle bowl or basket came to my mind's eye, so I decided to make it. I have a few more of these open bowl or basket shapes in my mind's eye. This one won't even be fired because the circle shapes ended up uneven which wasn't what I had in mind. That and I don't think the seams are going to hold, but it's a start. Many of the pieces I work on never show up on the blog or make it to the kiln. Still others are fired and sitting in the cabinet waiting for further development, but have only been seen my me.
This piece developed without an idea or shape in my mind at all. I happened to cut the wavy strips in a slab but not all the way to the top. Then the idea popped into my head to try and form the whole together into an enclosed form. There is no bottom or top. As I looked at the form it reminded me of a grass skirt I might have seen in Hawaii as a kid. I could also envision a top to the form in a vague human shape. I also thought of adding a tray under the bottom but I like the curved up bottom and wouldn't want to obscure that from the eye. I'll be working on these thoughts and ideas.
Next I tried adding handles to the top of a similar form. Not sure about this, maybe just a single handle across the top. Although this form reminds me of a skirt being held up with suspenders. Ha. In order to come up with something feasible or acceptable to my mind's eye I sometimes work on several forms intuitively. Later many of the forms are tossed out, completely rejected. Sometimes these intuitive workings lead to something and other times not. Some of these ideas may stimulate me to develop another form. I might not think of the new form if I didn't make the attempt at the rejected forms. What about your process and development, how do you work. Do you draw an idea first, do you work intuitively, do you reject forms or ideas about surface treatment. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
One of the great things about clay is the ability to experiment without a huge commitment In time and materials. I'm drawn to the basket. Possibly because I made woven forms about five years ago?
ReplyDeleteHi Suzi, thanks, yes clay is so maleable, I've always been drawn to weaving clay, perhaps it's the process. Not sure how I'll get these circles or donuts to hold together bu I do like the shape, simple and sculptural.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing about the grass skirt with suspenders. Ha. These pieces do have a basket quality to them and the handles help that, then I looked at the handless one upside down and it became more vase like. You could play all day with this texture.
ReplyDeleteI don't "process in clay" for new ideas. I usually come up with them in the wee hours of the night. And often they are just to follow through with a problem I posed to myself sometime earlier...like, can I make something that says..."trees" or something like that. I think of ways I might express the idea by technique after having some kind of inspiration. Sometimes that goes in the sketch book.
ReplyDeleteI really like the circle bowl. I hope you can work out the details because it looks like a great design.
ReplyDeleteLove the circle bowl...there's always a way around....I have so many bits and pieces of experiments with big question marks out on my shelf. I think of them as 3-d doodles.
ReplyDeleteI love the circle bowl as well. I see it as a wonderful fruit bowl - something which would allow you to see the glorious colours of the fruit, and appreciate the bowl.
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara, thanks, sometimes I come up with ideas at times other than working with clay, but it is fun to play around with the shapes and surfaces for no reason at all. I've sort of given up on my sketch book although now that I have a notepad by my bedside it is filling up. Ha.
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Sparrow, thanks, I will try to get this one to work as I really like the empty spaces between the circles. I want to make a totally enclosed one I am sure there is a way, perhaps a balloon to work around. Will see what I come up with.
Hi Charlene, thanks, that's just what they are 3d doodles. Ha.
Hi Elephant's Child, thanks, yes this would be great for fruit or vegetables to be seen through the circles thus becoming 'a part' of the piece.