Collagraph Print

 I love printing and I have tried lots of printing methods in the past

 - etching, woodcut, linocut, lithography and screenprinting

- but I've never done a collagraph print before.

I had opportunity to use a printing press (very briefly)

so I snatched the chance and made a collagraph plate.

It is basically a collage creating low relief surfaces and textures.

I rather like the plate itself.

It has a couple of coats of varnish on it and a residue of the ink.

Here is an expert though

Sue Brown 

Click on the photo to see the lovely detail of the textures.

Take a look at her blog and the beautiful enamel work she produces too.



New Project

William De Morgan

 I have long been an admirer of late 19th century Arts and Crafts artists and designers such as William Morris and William De Morgan. The ceramics of this era utilised such beautiful coloured transparent glazes and underglaze decoration but De Morgan's red lustre ware is particularly special.

 In his animal tiles I can see influences from medieval tiles, stained glass and carved decoration.

Sometimes he depicts fables or folklore. 

 De Morgan was also heavily inspired by Islamic designs. He used Islamic motifs but he also incorporated the feel of Islamic decoration into his own designs with swirling foliage. Ornament fills every space and the diagonal aids flow in repeating tiles.

 I have a ceramic project in mind and I will use William De Morgan as inspiration.

My ceramics will be for the garden. I particularly love the animals but prefer to concentrate on native creatures, the sort that might be spotted on walks.

I'd better get drawing then.



Kat Corrigan

I love Kat Corrigan's use of colour and her loose brush marks to portray these animals. Check out her blog and her "Dog a Day" for July.

Here are some of my favourites

Gus

Jet



Lulu





Tyler



A Vintage Piece

A commemorative beaker made by Mary Wondrausch



This is Mishima

A wobbly porcelain pinch pot with a ridiculously small foot. I carved decoration into the surface when it was dry, then bisque fired it. I then painted black vitreous slip on and cleaned it back until only the carving was stained. I made this pot and later found out about the Japanese term "Mishima".

And then this little one I did the same way. The drawing looks a little like a cave painting. Although I like the contrasting black glaze on the outside, that rim was so difficult and remains messy. 

Now look how the professionals do it........

I think Priscilla Mouritzen does her great insect decoration in one firing, then a glaze inside.

She is "The Tops", as far as I'm concerned, for porcelain pinch pots.  

Beautiful detail and just a touch of subtle colour by Molly Hatch.

A variation - I pressed tools into red clay to "draw" the fish features then covered it all in white slip. When it was dry I scraped back the white slip just enough to pick out the features and textures.

Next, more experiments pressing lino into the clay.



Sue Paraskeva

Sue Paraskeva // Artist profile from Jamie Isbell on Vimeo.


sculpture

sculpture, a photo by Rover's Eye on Flickr.

Some beautiful photographs of great sculpture from Flikr.

Miquel Aparici

Time for some more "hound art".

The elegant lines and patina of these various old pieces suit the subject so well.

Miquel Aparici's website contains many such characterful creatures in 3D and 2D.

I love to see artists bring inanimate objects to life. There's something special about seeing the potential in an object or a shape and using your imagination to create something new,

as does David Kemp . 

 Remember these hounds?.

I love the playfulness of these artists.



Harry Brockway

 Harry Brockway - stonecarver and illustrator. Take a look at his portfolio - highly skilled artist!

Two charity shop finds: Tom Sawyer and Huckberry Finn.

I was attracted by the wood engravings of course.

I'd never read these classics before and really enjoyed them.

The joie de vivre and ingenuity of the boys and the dialects spoken.

Eye openers to social history and attitudes in that time and place.



Mary Wondrausch Inspired

After watching this TV programme and seeing this potter I wanted to have a go at slip decoration myself.
I had done a few experiments when I first started at the college but the clear glaze was disappointing.
 Here I used a honey glaze which makes the white slip yellow and gives the red clay a lovely richness.

Mary Wondrausch gives the impression that slip trailing is easy but I found it really difficult. I enjoyed it though, as I like drawing. I shall do more. Also I'm very pleased that these are 3D and functional pots (though you wouldn't want to drop one on your toe).

 I am making progress.



Ceramic Inspiration - Ted Dutch

Porcelain robots.

 

 

 Some Palozzi influence here I think.



Ceramic Inspiration BBC 4

Ceramics: A Fragile History

I don't watch TV but made a special point of seeing this series. The first programme made me really want to make some slipware.  

Sort of wobbly and crude looking but difficult - it takes a skilled artist's hand.

Alphonse Mucha and daughter

 

and completed poster.



 Images from:  The Pictorial Arts

Henry Moore with daughter.

A precious moment.
All that was within the man, tender and patient too.
Such concentration in the child.

Alberto Giacometti

 I enjoy Giacometti's paintings and drawings
perhaps even more than his sculptures.

 Loose, energetic lines. Limited colour.
 

 Layers building to reveal form.  

Area of focus becoming clear, peripheral left incomplete.

This image always reminded me of my Dad. Tall and lean, pointed knees and long legs.

Happy Fathers Day!



Mark Hearld



"Salad Days" Mark Hearld (lino cut)

I love Mark Hearld's work. I'm particularly fond of his collages.

His most common subjects are birds but I think his rabbits are super. 

"Curwen Menagerie" Mark Hearld (lithograph)

Great whiskers!
Happy Chinese New Year!

P.S. Get that fence fixed now. You have been warned!